“Compassionate Phrases in English (#22): Looking Back on the Year”
Here’s the latest for my column in “Sakura Shimbun,” a Japanese community paper in DC and Houston. This year has been a whirlwind for many of us who support U.S.-Japan relations. Stakeholders across all fields have been affected by countless issues, including tariffs, funding cuts, visas, the government shutdown, and a hardline stance toward foreigners. But even with challenges still ahead, it would be best to conclude the year with a positive outlook. In this issue, I explore ways to express gratitude to the people who supported us while reflecting on what we achieved in 2025.
普段から頻繁にやり取りしている相手には、ホリデーシーズンの休暇や事務所閉鎖について伝えたりするでしょう。その際、最後に As always, I really enjoyed working with you this year. Thank you for kindly answering my many questions about what you are doing to minimize the impact of funding cuts. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season! などと書くことができます。It was a difficult year for all of us, but being able to quickly establish a working group with other universities like yours and sharing our experiences was incredibly helpful. Thank you for all your support! といった言い方もできるでしょう。
顧客に対する企業メッセージでは、もう少し堅苦しい形になりますが、You have been so patient with us as we navigated a lot of uncertainties this year. Raising our prices was a very difficult decision that came after months of deliberation. We are grateful for your continued loyalty despite those changes. といった言葉を盛り込むことができるでしょう。スポンサーには、You kindly supported us just as funding became increasingly difficult to obtain. We have never been more grateful for your generosity and partnership, and are touched that you continue to support us despite the challenges many industries faced this year. と謝意を述べることができます。
上司として部下を称えることも重要です。Our company is nothing without our wonderful employees. While everything else was uncertain, one thing I could count on was how passionate you are in supporting our customers, providing consistent service no matter what. といった言い方ができます。We survived this tough year because of all your hard work. So this holiday season, I am closing our shop between Christmas and New Year’s, so that we can all take time off and get some well-deserved rest. といった対応もできるかもしれません。
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the end of the government shutdown and the political ramifications on both Democrats and Republicans, as well as the Epstein files/emails that are gradually being released. We also talked about a fascinating poll by Gallup that says that 40% of younger women (aged 15 to 44) in the U.S. would like to move abroad permanently if they had the opportunity (I totally understand women wanting to leave–but 40% is indeed a high number!
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above Spotify link.
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the various elections that took place on Nov. 4th (Mamdani and what his victory might mean for politics; the blue wave in Virginia, including the first woman governor-elect; redistricting in California; etc.). I talked about some common words that are used differently when it comes to elections, like “call [the race]” and “[at the] polls.” We also discussed the ongoing federal government shutdown that’s now the longest in history, as well as its impact (including reduced flights).
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
座右の銘ー言葉や文字が好きな私にはぴったりな気がして気に入っています！(My mantra: “Even if Plan A doesn’t work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet.” As someone who loves words and language, I like this expression a lot!)
While I was in elementary school and middle school in Japan, I very much enjoyed studying with Kumon, an afterschool self-learning program. I was able to learn at my own pace, and particularly enjoyed the opportunity to explore Japanese literature, including classics from 1,000 years ago. For middle school, I chose to go to a private school that was established by Kumon called Kumon Kokusai Junior/Senior High School (it was really new back then, and I was part of the second cohort!).
Based on this connection, Kumon recently interviewed me, and I enjoyed talking about my life choices until now and what I hope to achieve in the future.
Separately, I also had the opportunity to give a lecture to the PTA of my middle school. I’m so grateful to my friend / former classmate / now principal (!) of the school, Akiko, who gave me these wonderful opportunities!
“Compassionate Phrases in English (#21): Laying the Groundwork”
Here’s the latest for my column in “Sakura Shimbun,” a Japanese community paper in DC and Houston. The federal government shutdown continues, and there’s little sign of members of congress meeting across the aisle to engage in substantive discussions. Yet some remain optimistic, believing that lawmakers are discussing behind the scenes in an effort to reach an agreement. While “nemawashi” is a distinct feature of Japanese culture, the practice of quietly conversing or sharing information ahead of time–with the aim to make formal discussions more effective later on–also exists in the U.S. In this issue, I explore expressions we can use to lay the groundwork and prepare behind the scenes.
政府機関や大きな組織の場合、外部委託をする際、部内の承認に時間がかかるため、公式な依頼がすぐにできないことがあります。よく依頼をする業者には、前広にI wanted to give you a heads up that we have a new project coming down the pipeline. We cannot formally book you just yet, but would you be available during these dates? などと聞けます。また、締め切りが迫っている場合には、I’m afraid the deadline is the last day of the month, but it’s highly likely we would get approved to work with you within the next few days. Would you still be able to finish it, and what are your rush fees? と確認することができます。
会議においては、少しでも時間を有効に使えるように事前に議題を話し合い、特に言語の異なる出席者がいる場合には、しっかり読み込めるように資料を送付することがあります。If you have any questions you’d like us to address during the meeting, please let us know so that we can prepare a response or ask the person in charge to attend. といった言葉を添えれば、より丁寧でしょう。さらに、We have kept our presentation materials simple, with only photos, diagrams, and a few bullet points; we will explain the rest verbally. といった形に調整すれば、事前に確認してもらった資料と会議の内容の過度な重複を避けることができます。
仕事上の人脈に対しても、困った時だけ急に相談するのではなく、転職などの機会に連絡を取っておいた方が好印象でしょう。今やSNSで転職を宣言する方が多いですが、新しい連絡先はメールで伝えた方が適切です。My nonprofit strives to strengthen economic relations between the U.S. and Japan, and I’d love to continue working with you in this new capacity. Please allow me to contact you in the future for possible opportunities of collaboration. などと書けば、マスメールであっても、受け取った側としては、個人的に思い出してもらったことを嬉しく思うでしょう。
“Compassionate Phrases in English (#20): How to Give Sincere Compliments”
Here’s the latest for my column in “Sakura Shimbun,” a Japanese community paper in DC and Houston. Under the current U.S. administration, one’s position, role, and how they are treated seem to be heavily influenced by how much the president personally favors them–resulting in frequent praises of the president by many U.S. cabinet members and foreign governments. In our daily lives, exaggerated expressions often come across as insincere. In this issue, I explore how to offer sincere compliments by conveying respect and genuine appreciation.
まず、相手が一番だと言い切るより、相対的な評価をした方が本心が伝わりやすいでしょう。You’re one of the best bakers in DC. や、No other agency has grown like yours in the past year. などと、「トップの一人」として褒めたり、地域や期間を限定したりすることができます。I believe . . . と冒頭に付けて自分の意見として伝えることもできますが、少しありきたりな表現なので、むしろI’ve never met anyone who plays tennis as beautifully as you do. やYou are the best public speaker I know. などと、「自分の知る限り」という形にした方がもう少しクリエイティブですし、印象に残りやすいでしょう。
小さなことも褒められます。その日最初に会ったときに、（もちろん実際にそう思った時だけですが）相手の服装や持ち物を褒めると、いい雰囲気で一日を始められます。エレベーターなどで一緒になっただけの知らない人同士でも、会話のきっかけになるでしょう。You look beautiful in that outfit. や That color really suits you. などという表現は、女性同士などで使えますが、相手の身体的な見た目に触れるため、場合によってはセクハラになりかねず、注意が必要です。逆に、That’s such a cool umbrella. や What an adorable puppy! などと、直接身に着けていない持ち物やペットを褒めるカジュアルな表現なら、誰も悪い気はしないでしょう。
仕事など中身のあることを褒める場合、自分が上司や顧客なら、Our conferences keep getting better ever since we hired you as an event planner. などと、高く評価していることを淡々と伝えられます。ただ、目下の人から言う場合には、知識や経験が限られているため、I was so inspired by your keynote speech, and can’t wait to put your tips to practice! や I have so much respect for you as one of the most renowned litigators in town. などと個人的な意見として述べた方が丁寧でしょう。
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, Secretary Hegseth and President Trump’s speech addressing 800 senior military leaders, and the word “furlough.” We also discussed the importance of Bad Bunny being selected as the headliner of the Superbowl halftime show next year.
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the murder of Charlie Kirk, the ICE raid on Hyundai’s plant in Georgia, the Supreme Court’s decision on ICE raids in general, and more. There’s a lot of depressing news, but we did get to touch upon some positive developments, like Hitachi’s new railcar factory in Maryland, as well as GAP’s awesome marketing using KATSEYE.
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
“Compassionate Phrases in English (#19): Thanking Someone for Their Hard Work”
Here’s the latest for my column in “Sakura Shimbun,” a Japanese community paper in DC and Houston. In the U.S., Labor Day is synonymous with the end of summer. While some may have taken advantage of the holiday to enjoy their last barbecue this year, it is originally meant to be a time to honor and appreciate those who work. In this issue, I explore how to thank those who have worked for a long time or completed major projects.
Good job! はよく知られた表現ですが、軽い印象を与えます。高校生や大学生であれば、壇上に上がってプレゼンをしたクラスメートが隣の席に戻ってきた時などに小声でかける一言となります。こちらに歩いてくる時にいずれにせよ目が合いますし、中身に関係なく、「終わってよかったね」という挨拶です。社会人になって職場で使う場合には、きちんと何がよかったのかに触れ、goodよりも強い表現を使って、You did a wonderful job handling that call from an angry customer. などと褒めます。いずれの場合も、目下もしくは同等の立場の人にかける言葉です。
より大きな仕事を終えた人に対しては、もう少し丁寧な表現を使うとよいでしょう。自分が会員である団体の年次総会に出た後は、帰り際、スタッフにCongratulations for putting together yet another amazing conference. It keeps getting better every year. などと言えば喜ばれるでしょう。ある程度親しければ、You must be exhausted. I’m sure you have more to do, but I hope you can forget everything for tonight and get some well-deserved rest. と労わりの言葉も添えられます。
転職や退職で職場を去る人には、これまでの仕事全体に触れつつお別れを言えます。上司には、It’s been an honor to work with you and learn from the best. Thank you for being such a wonderful, patient, and inspiring boss. などと謝意も込めるのが理想的です。 部下には、With your expertise in marketing, you’ve transformed our organization from a little-known startup to a highly acclaimed brand. Your new company is lucky to have you! などと励ましの言葉も足すとよいでしょう。
ねぎらいの言葉は、日々の業務で疲れている人にもかけられます。同僚には、I’ve noticed that you’ve been staying late every day this week. I’m in between projects now, so can I help in any way? と聞けますし、燃え尽き症候群になりそうな部下には、You seem a bit overwhelmed. Let’s discuss what tasks we could delegate to others. Could you give me a list of your current responsibilities? などと声をかけられます。 レイバー・デーに友人を自宅に呼び、暑い中ずっと裏庭でお肉を焼き続けた人や、家族を海に連れて行った人の多くは、一週間働いた後に週末も活動し、かなり疲れたことと思います。自分のこともねぎらい、秋の忙しさが本格化する前に、少しでも休めることを願っています。
