Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The names of the mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have been announced, Miraitowa and Someity. According to the committee, the name of the Olympics mascot, Miraitowa, fuses the Japanese words for future (mirai) and eternity (towa). Someity, the Paralympics mascot, is derived from Somei-yoshino, a type of cherry blossom, and is a play on words with the English phrase “So mighty.”
I can see what they tried to do, i.e., combining English and Japanese words to make them sound familiar and understandable to both Non-Japanese and Japanese speakers. But it falls between two stools. Who would understand the meaning of mirai and towa other than Japanese? And how come did the committee believe that general Japanese would take the trouble to understand the pun of Someity and so mighty? These are funny only for those speaking both English and Japanese or the committee members who were briefed on their meaning and how they should respond when being asked about these names.
By the way, I watched a TV program a few days ago about Tom Cruise coming to Japan for "Mission: Impossible - Fallout Japan Premiere." Asked by a reporter if he was taking any measures for this heat (the temperature was 34 degrees Celsius), Tom answered, "Fans!," indicating a big fan nearby and fans coming to see him despite the heat. Which pun do you think is funnier, "Miraitowa & Someity" or "Fans"? I would vote for Tom!
東京オリンピック&パラリンピックのマスコットの名前が発表された。ミライトワとソメイティである。未来と永遠、ソメイヨシノと英語の so mighty を組み合わせたものらしい。英語と日本語を組み合わせてみんなに親しみやすいものにしたいという意図は分かるが、あぶはち取らずでしょ。mirai と towa という日本語の意味を分かる外国人なんていないだろうし、so mighty の意味を知ろうとする日本人もいないでしょ。日本語と英語の両方が分かる人、それか、最初に意味を説明してもらっている委員会メンバーの間の内輪受けでしょうか。
先日、Mission: Impossible - Fallout の公開を記念してトム・クルーズが来日し、酷暑の中ファンサービスに努めていた。記者に、暑さ対策してるか聞かれ、答えた一言が「Fans!」すぐ横にあった大型扇風機とたくさんのファンをかけたわけ。どっちのダジャレセンスが上でしょう?私はトムに1票です!
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