Hey Niko, just want you to know that you really helped me on my path for learning Japanese. It’s been about 4 months and your tips, especially about having a golden hour of studying everyday, has really helped me make progress even when I feel super stuck. A long way to go obviously still, but I don’t think I’d love this process so much if it wasn’t for your help. Can’t wait to see where im at by the end of the year.
Just so you know, this comment made my day. I am so happy that you are seeing progress in your studies. Best of luck maintaining that "golden hour of studying every day". Sometimes life happens, and even that sacred hour can get messed up, but it's so nice once you get back to it, and you develop a cherished study routine. Thanks for commenting!
I feel the same, I generally don't let it bother me but sometimes it is supremely silly. One time at a specialty coffee bean shop I asked for 200 grams of a specific bean. The store staff tries to fill a bag but it only amounts to 140 grams because they're out of said bean. She tells me sorry, we can only sell you a 100g bag of beans because we don't have enough for the 200g bag. So I'm like okay a really nice place would give me the 140g for the price of 100g because they sell by set prices and not by the gram, but I offer to pay for a calculated 140g price. Of course protocol doesn't allow that. Now, this place roasts their coffee fresh every day, which would mean that this 40g goes unsold... They have like 10 different beans every day which means they would have 10 different leftover beans every day. The store is staffed by 1~2 people every day, surely they can't be taking all this home. What happens to those beans? Why not just sell them to me? They could've made an instant returning customer out of me by just making me feel lucky for getting a slightly good deal but instead they throw away perfectly fine coffee. It's been like 2 years and I'm still astounded at this situation lol
All right, you convinced me to sign up for native shark I absolutely love your videos and I want to support you I have been using the old anki deck you made for about 2 to 3 hours every day and I probably should have some other structure with learning Japanese. I also am using Genki but I really want to learn more Kanji as it’s just a lot. Again, I really appreciate it like this and all the breakdowns I know editing is not an easy task. You are awesome
Thank you for the comment and kind words. I glad you're finding value from these videos! As for the deck, I'm not sure why a link is not working. Maybe there is a setting I need to change to allow them in comments on my videos. Maybe this one? ankiweb.net/shared/info/126242908
@@japanesewithniko I believe I am using a older one because in the list it also has the N5 and N4 deck you made. I will try linking it again, but it was when you called it nihongo shark instead of native shark
Love your breakdowns Niko. Not sure if you have a queue of content loaded up, but I would love to see you break down some Japanese music (famous song or perhaps one of your favorites.) Regardless, thank you for all of your hard work.
Last time I went to Japan I went to have breakfast with my family to a place called “coffee and milk”. We ordered our coffee and food and I also asked for a cup of just milk for my little one. They refused telling me that they don’t have just milk on the menu! I was like: “are you serious?” I then asked for a caffe Latte without the coffee and the cashier totally panicked! He called the manager and explained the situation and the manager apologised but explained they can’t justify the spoon of coffee that will remain on their inventory! I was shocked! They follow rules to the letter to an annoying point! Another similar situation was when I went to another shop to have breakfast before taking a train and I asked for 3 pieces of toast to take away and they told me it was only to eat in and not take away. I didn’t want to argue so I paid for them, they brought to my table and I wrapped all 3 in a piece of tissue to take with us. Most of the time the experience was amazing but it’s very often Japanese people will be extremely annoying by following the rules to the letter!
@@Intolerence1234-rv3fd of course I’ll come back. I’ve been 3 times and I loved it all 3. It’s people like you that ruin the experience but thankfully most Japanese are amazing.
I think it's fine to complain, though? Much like I wouldn't complain about a stranger's behavior - because I'm indifferent to them - I wouldn't care much about a country that wasn't close to my heart. It's precisely bc I love Japan that some things about it frustrate me more. All that said, when something frustrating happens, I try to laugh it off or reframe it in my mind (like the in-flight analogy) instead of getting annoyed.
@@japanesewithniko exactly this! I love Japan and its culture but things like this don’t really bother me that much but it’s part of the experience. Of course I get annoyed at the time but then I remember it as a funny story to tell.
So I work in a fast food joint in Australia, customer service is a lot more casual, like if someone is hitting you with company policy you're probably being unreasonable at that point, like for the most part I'm actually complemented for my customer service skills, the most common being 'efficient' and when I try to be like 'we try' I'm often told that they're referring to me specially. I also get told I'm being to formal if I use 'sir' or 'ma'am', using by tradies. Like the only time I've had to use 'company policy' is for a lady who wouldn't leave the drive thru after three separate people (me included) and fifteen minutes of her not moving. So yeah wildly different experiences with how to handle customer complaints, in saying that the guy in the video would be doing a great job, non-return policies are common, and probably one of the few times mentioning 'company policy' is more beneficial and less trying to get an unreasonable customer to just leave already.
Yeah. There’s retail/restaurants and there’s “customer service”. Real customer service is absolutely the best in the world. Our team at work will bend over backwards to solve a problem for a customer- they will own it! The Marriott and Hilton local service centers will go almost as far as give you their home number to solve a complex problem. Amazing.
Yeah, some people/companies really take it to the next level, which can be impressive. I liked my years of working at restaurants in my twenties, and I'd like to think I was pretty good at customer service, but I wasn't about to give anyone my home number! lol Thanks for commenting ^_^
Living in Japan I can honestly agree with the generalisation that the rigid approach to protocol can become annoying at times and in my opinion can make Japanese appear robotic and even slightly imbecilic on occasion because they can’t/won’t adapt to situations that don’t follow the script. The fuss that ensues can make any thought of breaking protocol or questioning it at all just not worth the hassle. But at the same time it’s their adherence to following the rules that I honestly can appreciate overall even when it seems stupid from a western perspective.
Great video - but I'd love to hear your comment on the 'deep throat' voice in which the customer says 「全然」the second time around. I've heard several Japanese women use this techniquie, and I guess it's basically for emphasis, but I wonder if there's more to say about it?
I thought that too until I want to Japan and every 店員さん spoke to me like they were delivering a diplomatic request to the royal court and the only thing I could understand was whether or not they accepted tap to pay.
I'm not a fan of any extreme conformity, but as an American I also see what happens when you allow the majority (especially non-native to a culture) break protocols. Give an inch and they eventually take a mile. I love core ideals based around personal liberty, but humanity really seems to struggle with the whole balance thing. haha
I don't know about the food clips, but when a friend brings you beer to your sick/death bed, you don't look that gift keg in the tap. It's just polite.
All I can say to this video is you're not wrong about the faults in Japanese customer service but at the same time, it's obvious you've been away from your old home for a long time. Customer service has taken a NOSEDIVE across the western world in the past 5 years or so and it's so awful it almost makes you not want to leave your house or interact with any employee of a business. Despite all it's faults the gap in excellence between Japan and the west grows larger every day as things decline there and there is no sign that things will be getting better in the west in the future.
Been living in the US my whole life, and customer service has definitely taken a nose dive at many locations. Not all, but many. To be honest, it sounds like the issue with Japan and customer service is that they need to add more abnormal situations to their list of policies. In the example with the milk in the video, it seems illogical to not simply have that as a menu item because it would not be a strange order to have given what is kept in inventory.
I've actually been in the US for most of the last few years. However, I haven't been going to restaurants and whatnot much because of kid and trying to save money ^_^ Thank you for sharing your perspective
not good customer service. problem here is not bending rules that mutually benefit both parties. We had the same experience at a karaoke joint. I could tell the staff’s speaking is heavily scripted because how robotic, automatic, her approach. I noted this to my native partner, she did not understand me. But we had a good time!🎉
Yeah, I think the key is to still have a good time, even if some of the Japanese people around you don't really understand why you're frustrated with how scripted things are. ^_^ Thanks for commenting!
Hey Niko, just want you to know that you really helped me on my path for learning Japanese. It’s been about 4 months and your tips, especially about having a golden hour of studying everyday, has really helped me make progress even when I feel super stuck.
A long way to go obviously still, but I don’t think I’d love this process so much if it wasn’t for your help. Can’t wait to see where im at by the end of the year.
Just so you know, this comment made my day. I am so happy that you are seeing progress in your studies.
Best of luck maintaining that "golden hour of studying every day". Sometimes life happens, and even that sacred hour can get messed up, but it's so nice once you get back to it, and you develop a cherished study routine.
Thanks for commenting!
I feel the same, I generally don't let it bother me but sometimes it is supremely silly. One time at a specialty coffee bean shop I asked for 200 grams of a specific bean. The store staff tries to fill a bag but it only amounts to 140 grams because they're out of said bean. She tells me sorry, we can only sell you a 100g bag of beans because we don't have enough for the 200g bag. So I'm like okay a really nice place would give me the 140g for the price of 100g because they sell by set prices and not by the gram, but I offer to pay for a calculated 140g price. Of course protocol doesn't allow that.
Now, this place roasts their coffee fresh every day, which would mean that this 40g goes unsold... They have like 10 different beans every day which means they would have 10 different leftover beans every day. The store is staffed by 1~2 people every day, surely they can't be taking all this home. What happens to those beans? Why not just sell them to me?
They could've made an instant returning customer out of me by just making me feel lucky for getting a slightly good deal but instead they throw away perfectly fine coffee. It's been like 2 years and I'm still astounded at this situation lol
All right, you convinced me to sign up for native shark I absolutely love your videos and I want to support you
I have been using the old anki deck you made for about 2 to 3 hours every day and I probably should have some other structure with learning Japanese.
I also am using Genki but I really want to learn more Kanji as it’s just a lot.
Again, I really appreciate it like this and all the breakdowns I know editing is not an easy task.
You are awesome
Where can I get this old anki deck?
@@UnknownUser-eb1lk I don’t know why it’s not letting me link it in the chat. The comment keeps disappearing.
If you go to anki or just the Internet and you look up native shark you will find it.
I found it on accident on accident
Thank you for the comment and kind words. I glad you're finding value from these videos!
As for the deck, I'm not sure why a link is not working. Maybe there is a setting I need to change to allow them in comments on my videos.
Maybe this one?
ankiweb.net/shared/info/126242908
@@japanesewithniko I believe I am using a older one because in the list it also has the N5 and N4 deck you made.
I will try linking it again, but it was when you called it nihongo shark instead of native shark
Love your breakdowns Niko. Not sure if you have a queue of content loaded up, but I would love to see you break down some Japanese music (famous song or perhaps one of your favorites.) Regardless, thank you for all of your hard work.
Last time I went to Japan I went to have breakfast with my family to a place called “coffee and milk”. We ordered our coffee and food and I also asked for a cup of just milk for my little one. They refused telling me that they don’t have just milk on the menu! I was like: “are you serious?” I then asked for a caffe Latte without the coffee and the cashier totally panicked! He called the manager and explained the situation and the manager apologised but explained they can’t justify the spoon of coffee that will remain on their inventory! I was shocked! They follow rules to the letter to an annoying point!
Another similar situation was when I went to another shop to have breakfast before taking a train and I asked for 3 pieces of toast to take away and they told me it was only to eat in and not take away. I didn’t want to argue so I paid for them, they brought to my table and I wrapped all 3 in a piece of tissue to take with us.
Most of the time the experience was amazing but it’s very often Japanese people will be extremely annoying by following the rules to the letter!
@@Intolerence1234-rv3fd of course I’ll come back. I’ve been 3 times and I loved it all 3. It’s people like you that ruin the experience but thankfully most Japanese are amazing.
This milk story is exactly what I'm talking about! lol
Stuff like this happens so often.
Thank you for sharing. ^_^
I think it's fine to complain, though? Much like I wouldn't complain about a stranger's behavior - because I'm indifferent to them - I wouldn't care much about a country that wasn't close to my heart. It's precisely bc I love Japan that some things about it frustrate me more. All that said, when something frustrating happens, I try to laugh it off or reframe it in my mind (like the in-flight analogy) instead of getting annoyed.
@@japanesewithniko exactly this! I love Japan and its culture but things like this don’t really bother me that much but it’s part of the experience. Of course I get annoyed at the time but then I remember it as a funny story to tell.
Latte without coffee🤣
happened to me while asking for a plastic bag, it was SOOO irritating
So I work in a fast food joint in Australia, customer service is a lot more casual, like if someone is hitting you with company policy you're probably being unreasonable at that point, like for the most part I'm actually complemented for my customer service skills, the most common being 'efficient' and when I try to be like 'we try' I'm often told that they're referring to me specially.
I also get told I'm being to formal if I use 'sir' or 'ma'am', using by tradies.
Like the only time I've had to use 'company policy' is for a lady who wouldn't leave the drive thru after three separate people (me included) and fifteen minutes of her not moving.
So yeah wildly different experiences with how to handle customer complaints, in saying that the guy in the video would be doing a great job, non-return policies are common, and probably one of the few times mentioning 'company policy' is more beneficial and less trying to get an unreasonable customer to just leave already.
Yeah. There’s retail/restaurants and there’s “customer service”. Real customer service is absolutely the best in the world. Our team at work will bend over backwards to solve a problem for a customer- they will own it! The Marriott and Hilton local service centers will go almost as far as give you their home number to solve a complex problem. Amazing.
Yeah, some people/companies really take it to the next level, which can be impressive. I liked my years of working at restaurants in my twenties, and I'd like to think I was pretty good at customer service, but I wasn't about to give anyone my home number! lol
Thanks for commenting ^_^
Living in Japan I can honestly agree with the generalisation that the rigid approach to protocol can become annoying at times and in my opinion can make Japanese appear robotic and even slightly imbecilic on occasion because they can’t/won’t adapt to situations that don’t follow the script. The fuss that ensues can make any thought of breaking protocol or questioning it at all just not worth the hassle.
But at the same time it’s their adherence to following the rules that I honestly can appreciate overall even when it seems stupid from a western perspective.
Great video - but I'd love to hear your comment on the 'deep throat' voice in which the customer says 「全然」the second time around. I've heard several Japanese women use this techniquie, and I guess it's basically for emphasis, but I wonder if there's more to say about it?
I don't care too much about customer service to be honest but thanks for the lesson, very chill and informative!
I thought that too until I want to Japan and every 店員さん spoke to me like they were delivering a diplomatic request to the royal court and the only thing I could understand was whether or not they accepted tap to pay.
I'm not a fan of any extreme conformity, but as an American I also see what happens when you allow the majority (especially non-native to a culture) break protocols. Give an inch and they eventually take a mile. I love core ideals based around personal liberty, but humanity really seems to struggle with the whole balance thing. haha
I don't know about the food clips, but when a friend brings you beer to your sick/death bed, you don't look that gift keg in the tap. It's just polite.
I watch your videos just to see your smile and your eyes ❤
I'd be lying if I say I don't do that also 😅. His smile and eyes are so pure and welcoming. I hope that doesn't sound weird.
Different channel? Do you have another channel?
このチャネル最高よ
いつもたくさんのことを学んでいるね
All I can say to this video is you're not wrong about the faults in Japanese customer service but at the same time, it's obvious you've been away from your old home for a long time. Customer service has taken a NOSEDIVE across the western world in the past 5 years or so and it's so awful it almost makes you not want to leave your house or interact with any employee of a business. Despite all it's faults the gap in excellence between Japan and the west grows larger every day as things decline there and there is no sign that things will be getting better in the west in the future.
Been living in the US my whole life, and customer service has definitely taken a nose dive at many locations. Not all, but many. To be honest, it sounds like the issue with Japan and customer service is that they need to add more abnormal situations to their list of policies. In the example with the milk in the video, it seems illogical to not simply have that as a menu item because it would not be a strange order to have given what is kept in inventory.
I've actually been in the US for most of the last few years. However, I haven't been going to restaurants and whatnot much because of kid and trying to save money ^_^
Thank you for sharing your perspective
あれ❓英語の勉強してたら、いつの間にかここに来てしまった😅
でもめっちゃ勉強になる。
コメントをありがとうございます！
英語の勉強のチャンネルも作ろうかなー(笑)
not good customer service. problem here is not bending rules that mutually benefit both parties.
We had the same experience at a karaoke joint. I could tell the staff’s speaking is heavily scripted because how robotic, automatic, her approach. I noted this to my native partner, she did not understand me. But we had a good time!🎉
Yeah, I think the key is to still have a good time, even if some of the Japanese people around you don't really understand why you're frustrated with how scripted things are. ^_^
Thanks for commenting!