Great T-shirt shop

[commando]

Was walking around the public market area in Naha the other week, and happened upon a shop with some English signs. Turns out the owner speaks English quite well, and will turn your name into kanji, and put it on a T-shirt. You can choose the font and the size and the position on the shirt. Only took like 15 minutes. He even gave me a printout that had the translation of the kanji so I can understand the meaning of each character, and the meaning in combination (took two characters to make my name, but some take three or four). He had like a dozen colors of shirts to choose from, and even had sizes to fit us foreigners.:cool:

Here's a map of how to get there...

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&q=naha+public+market+map&ie=UTF8&ll=26.214981,127.688829&spn=0.001612,0.003232&z=19

Should be in the center of the map. Kitty-corner from the curtain shop (平良カーテン).

It's on Heiwa Street, about halfway between Kokusai Street and the Tsuboya Pottery Museum on Yachimun Street. Right where there is side street connecting with Chuo Ichiba Street and on to Ukishima Street.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v406/otokonoyama/IMGP1378.jpg

He said he can put stuff on the front, back, sleeve, center or on one side. Some cute baby and kid sizes too.

[Zanpa]

Kanji or Katakana? If your going to have T-shirts made and wear them, maybe you should learn to read it first...

[commando]

He said he could do it in katakana or hiragana if I wanted. I liked the kanji. He also said he could put the name in English under the kanji, or on the bottom of the shirt in the front or back if I wanted. I just went with the kanji. The kanji he used is all explained in English on the printout he gave me.

[Zanpa]

not sure you can translate Ego to Kanji.....Someone please educate me if I am misguided.

[commando]

Someone please educate me if I am misguided.
OK. It's called "ateji", which means they take characters to match the syllables of your name. The trick is to both pick characters that are close enough in sound that they won't totally confuse the reader, and also choose characters with both a good meaning individually, and a good meaning when combined.

For example, if your name is Mark...

Ma = 真 = Truth
a = 亜 = Asia
ku = 久 = Eternity

As single characters, and in combination, they have a positive meaning, and make the name マーク, which is one of the most common ways Mark is written in Japanese.

You get the idea...:)

[dk]

What is David in Kanji???????

[dk]

OK. It's called "ateji", which means they take characters to match the syllables of your name. The trick is to both pick characters that are close enough in sound that they won't totally confuse the reader, and also choose characters with both a good meaning individually, and a good meaning when combined.

For example, if your name is Mark...

Ma = 真 = Truth
a = 亜 = Asia
ku = 久 = Eternity

As single characters, and in combination, they have a positive meaning, and make the name マーク, which is one of the most common ways Mark is written in Japanese.

You get the idea...:)
Ah, I see. I was sorta "wtf" on this one too. Cool.

[commando]

If you get the kanji wrong, you end up on this website...:D

http://www.hanzismatter.com/

[Jazz]

NO offense and maybe it's just me but why would you want to wear a shirt with your name on it, in kanji or otherwise. I guess maybe for work at a place that required name tags or something?

But just for fashion seems to me almost as bad the tattoo I have of my own initials. Turns out though my Dad has the same initials so if he goes before I do, it could become a nice memorial tat.

[Zanpa]

I see. Thank you for the insight!

[commando]

If you get the kanji wrong, you end up on this website...:D

http://www.hanzismatter.com/

Kanji is art in Japan. And, since most Westerners are unable to read kanji, and custom t-shirts like this seem unusual, it can be an conversation starter, a souvenir, stuff like that. Everybody has those mass produced ones that say "ichiban" or "samurai" or "Okinawa" on them...

I got mine with Ryukyu Karate on the front, and my name on the sleeve. If you are a sumo fan you could get 大相撲 on it, or if you are into cars you can get Nissan in the original (日産), or whatever turns yer crank.

[dk]

I must be the only gaijin without a kanji shirt. :D

[commando]

This is the kind of stuff I see all the time... http://www.cafepress.com/esangha/425248

A bunch of stock phrases or words on thin white t-shirts.

It's alright, but I wanted something different, and was lucky to run across this shop. Think I'll have some made for friends and family next time I travel back home.

[Blues]

Gaijin.......why must you tattoo and translate things do not belong???

Honestly, would it make sense if a JP person just translated their name to english, put it on a shirt or tattoo, and would that make it cool? NO......
It makes you look like your full of yourself. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[commando]

Gaijin.......why must you tattoo and translate things do not belong???
Global village, and all that. It's pretty trendy for kanji to be used in tattoos and on clothing. Custom designed kanji just give it a little extra. :cool:

Honestly, would it make sense if a JP person just translated their name to english, put it on a shirt or tattoo, and would that make it cool? NO......
It makes you look like your full of yourself. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
English is used in a major way in Japan (most of Asia for that matter) in advertising and also in fashion. Just like when we get it wrong and appear on Hanzismatter.com, when they get it wrong they show up on Engrish.com. :D

[Just John]

Gaijin.......why must you tattoo and translate things do not belong???

Honestly, would it make sense if a JP person just translated their name to english, put it on a shirt or tattoo, and would that make it cool? NO......
It makes you look like your full of yourself. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Yeah; I think it would make sense. Most people have a fascination with seeing their name written in other characters that they are unaccustomed to (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc).

[commando]

What is David in Kanji???????

出--->Out
意--->Ideas
備--->Preparation
導--->Lead

Idea and leadership naturally flow from your diligent presentation.

That's what the dude suggested when I emailed him.

出日斗 is another possibility. Something like "sun and north star rise".

[Muku]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v406/otokonoyama/IMGP1378.jpg


The front of the T-shirt in the OP reads Ryukyu Karate and the sleeve could be read as Todd. But the name on the sleeve is not "normally" associated with kanji as it is a creation of two different kanji used to pronounce the sounds of Todd. Yet they have no meaning as they are written.

Originally Posted by dk
What is David in Kanji???????

David in Kanji (http://www.zazzle.com/david_kanji_name_t_shirt-235896005542690698)

There are many ways to write the name in Chinese vs Japanese. One could write the name in Japanese Kanji however the average Japanese reader would not be able to read or understand the kanji as written.

For example David, as written with the kanji here 出--->Out
意--->Ideas 備--->Preparation 導--->Lead would be unreadable as David to the average Japanese person without either a hiragana or katakana furigana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furigana) writing.

If you are uncertain just ask your wife, she would be able to confirm what I am referring to to.

Anyone could have their name written in Japanese or Chinese Kanji, however to a native speaker of either language the kanji would probably be unrecognizable. More so in Japanese than Chinese.

This guy seems to be writing the names phonetically, and not to their actually "meaning".

Edited to add.......
I give them credit for trying. It is extremely difficult to write foreign names into Japanese Kanji and keep the original meaning. Yet people should be aware that the names while possibly "looking" neat or interesting have really no meaning in the Japanese language itself.

[dk]

出--->Out
意--->Ideas
備--->Preparation
導--->Lead

Idea and leadership naturally flow from your diligent presentation.

That's what the dude suggested when I emailed him.

出日斗 is another possibility. Something like "sun and north star rise".
Out of ideas? Prepare to lead! :D

Awesome. Thanks for asking him. :)

[dk]

For example David, as written with the kanji here 出--->Out
意--->Ideas 備--->Preparation 導--->Lead would be unreadable as David to the average Japanese person without either a hiragana or katakana furigana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furigana) writing.

If you are uncertain just ask your wife, she would be able to confirm what I am referring to to.

Anyone could have their name written in Japanese or Chinese Kanji, however to a native speaker of either language the kanji would probably be unrecognizable. More so in Japanese than Chinese.
Thanks. That's what I figured. There's no real meaning to the name "David", so I can't imagine there actually being a way to convert it to Kanji.

[TheLastDon]

Well it's good some entrepreneurs are cashing in. I went to Kokusai dori about 4 years ago and found a shop that was doing the exact same thing. Good on them for going strong.:thumbup1:

[mikersoft]

My wife had this shirt made for me a few years ago.. I dig it. :thumbup1:

-Mike

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/P1040452.jpg

[kintama]

This sounds like some "inside" free advertising for this shop. SPAM. It that allowed? JU moderators might delete this thread and make you pay. LOL.

[commando]

There are many ways to write the name in Chinese vs Japanese. One could write the name in Japanese Kanji however the average Japanese reader would not be able to read or understand the kanji as written.

For example David, as written with the kanji here 出--->Out
意--->Ideas 備--->Preparation 導--->Lead would be unreadable as David to the average Japanese person without either a hiragana or katakana furigana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furigana) writing.

If you are uncertain just ask your wife, she would be able to confirm what I am referring to to.

Anyone could have their name written in Japanese or Chinese Kanji, however to a native speaker of either language the kanji would probably be unrecognizable. More so in Japanese than Chinese.

This guy seems to be writing the names phonetically, and not to their actually "meaning".

Edited to add.......
I give them credit for trying. It is extremely difficult to write foreign names into Japanese Kanji and keep the original meaning. Yet people should be aware that the names while possibly "looking" neat or interesting have really no meaning in the Japanese language itself.
Thanks for the comments Paul. As mentioned earlier in the thread, foreign names rendered into kanji are generally ateji, which is using kanji whose phonetic values make a close approximation. Some prefer to stick with katakana, which is also fine.

I've found quite a few native Japanese speakers enquire about the ateji, and attempt to sound it out. Just like Japanese names which have more than one reading. I've been to plenty of events where names on certificates and diplomas are misread by the presenter. Sometimes the recipient is too polite to correct them, but not always. Parents are using more and more creative kanji to name their children these days. Expect more interesting combinations in the near future!:thumbup1: