The 55th Episode : Sukebe suki? (<= Japanese, means do you like obscenity?)
[July, 1991 Hawaii]
Japanese were spoken in the night town, too. I went to the main street in Honolulu, Kalakaua Avenue, for dinner with two my seniors of the trading division. We could rather have a conversation in Japanese in the shops and restaurant around there. I don’t like to hear/speak Japanese in foreign countries because I would like to feel the foreign country. The two seniors have no problem with speaking English. One of them knew around the avenue and said no Japanese were available a few blocks behind. OK, let’s go.
We got into a certain restaurant. Only the written menu is available in most of the foreign countries. No pictures like Japan’s ones. It takes time to read and even if I read it I don’t understand well what dish it is. I ordered Mahi Mahi. All I recognised was that was a fish. The reason why I chose it was that the sound was interesting and the waitress recommended. Was delicious! It’s a common dolphinfish. I’m not sure in English well but it’s called “Shiira” in Japanese.
The Hawaiian language has repeating sound. Honolulu, Waikiki, ukulele, muumuu, Kamehameha… etc. That is not pronounced but Hawaii is the one. The last “i” is repeated.
After dinner, we three began to walk to our hotel approx. 0.7 miles away. It was around 11:00 p.m. People seemed less on the street. One of my seniors, who knew around there, said here were touts. Touts? Hawaii was not the place to come with only guys!? I said. The touts couldn’t have a good business, could they, because the visitors were couples for honey moon, family, women's group. We were walking in such a conversation.
Then at the very time, a young woman’s voice “Oniisan sukebe suki? (<= Japanese, means hey guys do you like obscenity?) was heard in Japanese from the behind. We looked back, where three young white women stood with smile as if the number of persons matched us.
Even the people in such a business knew Japanese. I was admired with their enthusiasm for their business. At the same time I also felt miserable that Japanese were good customers here as in Singapore. Since we three had no problem in English, we spoke only in English, that surprised them. Do you speak English? Still more you all three! English speaking Japanese like us seemed to be uncommon for them. They three were all from Canada, they said. From Canada to Hawaii such a long way.
We all didn’t intend to play and we stayed in shared room at the hotel. “We won’t play. It’s wasting time. Better to look for others.” We said repeatedly but the poor ladies didn’t give up and followed upto our hotel. But we got into the hotel saying Bye bye.
