Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something!
If at first you don’t succeed,
... maybe the universe is trying to tell you something!
Virtual and Socially Distant 7s featuring Hiroshi Ogawa
Recently I thought I’d take on a bit of a challenge.
I have been trying to encourage more people do a “Virtual and Socially Distant 7s” interview with me and thought I’d try to touch base with a member (and article contributor), Hiroshi Ogawa.
Hiroshi has been developing an aluminium canopy for his Dax Rush and has faithfully submitted photos of his development journey.
I thought it would be great to get an interview with one of our Japanese members so I sent him a FB Messenger request.
There was just one problem.
Hiroshi Ogawa does not read English and I do not write in Japanese.
Thank God for Google translate!
Although it took a while for us to translate each others “scribbling” we did make some head way.
Hiroshi was quite enthusiastic about the opportunity and asked if he could do the “walk around” in Japanese.
I thought, … Why Not! … What could possibly go wrong?
So we agreed on a date and I wrote up the advert for the show:
“Virtual and Socially Distant 7s featuring Hiroshi Ogawa
Hiroshi Ogawa will conduct SevenSpot's very first Japanese Language only walk around.”
Live from Sayama, Saitama, Japan
SevenSpot Jim will interview, well ... pass the microphone over to Hiroshi Ogawa who will conduct SevenSpot's very first Japanese Language only interview.
... That's because Jim really hasn't a clue and used Google Translate to arrange this stream.
... Absolutely no Japanese language skills at all!
This should work out well! ... What could possibly go wrong?
... Make Sure that you are Tuned In to this one because:
1. You're really only interested in Hiroshi's 7 anyway!
and
2. Everyone enjoys watching another one of Jim’s train wrecks!
Well, show time came, … and went!
… but not because Hiroshi didn’t show. … He was just having connection problems with Streamyard.
… We managed to figure it out and went live about 5 minutes late!
As I said, I have absolutely no Japanese speaking skills, so what I did was Google up a few phrases that I thought might help and prayed that he understood.
Turns out he did (… a little) and he conducted a very nice walk around.
He managed to understand:
“Chutta Mat Tay” … wait a moment.
“Say Boon” … Seven
“High” … Yes
“Ban Go” … No
“Bike u enjin, o?” … Bike engine, yes?
“Key Ray Na” … Beautiful ( I looked up Roof and Canopy as add ons) … Turns out that Roof is Roofa and Canopy in Canopia (at least according to Google translate).
I was listening intently, straining to hear a word or two that I could match to my dialogue cheat sheet.
It was pretty much flying by the seat of my pants and I didn’t really understand much, but it all worked out.
Upon reviewing the video, there was one phrase that Hiroshi said that I found quite interesting.
It was a quaint Japanese phrase “Oben Bo Net” and, naturally, I had no clue, but it had a nice ring to it.
Have a look and see, but ... just at that point in the video, one of his employees stepped in and “Opened the Bonnet”! ... go figure!
Thank you Hiroshi! … You were fabulous and your Dax Rush is a Star!
Cheers!
Jim