I See Happen

Posted on 05. Jan, 2008 @ 2:03 pm by in Food, Language, Osaka Views: 890

This Takoyaki shop in Shinsaibashi has cute language game going on.

おいしい？8本? is pronounce, “oishii? happon?” in Japanese. It means…

“Is it good? (as in delicious), 8 (legs)?”

Because an octopus has 8 legs, and well, it’s a takoyaki shop. As you know takoyaki is Japanese food that has a bit of octopus inside.

As for the joke, it just so happens that “oiishii happon?” sounds like “I see. Happen?” In English.

Genius!!! Genius I tell you!

I guess it would be funnier though if the English made sense…

- Harvey

  • http://nihonhacks.com Thomas

    Something must be working, because now I’m craving takoyaki.

  • http://www.victorymanual.com Alex

    I’m convinced that if it’s not your native language, everyone is amused by 親父ギャグ. I love me some 親父ギャグ, but I always get the 「寒いッ！」response. Contrariwise, Japanese love corny English wordplay. How could you not?!

  • http://whatjapanthinks.com Ken Y-N

    The sign in the second photo is 足８本, ashi happon, which is perhaps a bit closer to “I see” than “oishii” is.

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Ken good call! Wow I wonder if that was intentional. Oishii and Ashi both sound like “I see”.

    This guy has an oyaji gag gold mine!

  • http://stephenshores.org/ Stephen

    I see! Is it delicious?

    (sorry, couldn’t resist) :)

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