I See Happen
Posted on 05. Jan, 2008 @ 2:03 pm by harvey in Food, Language, Osaka
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
5 Responses to “I See Happen”
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Thomas
Jan 5th, 2008
at 14:59
Something must be working, because now I’m craving takoyaki.
Alex
Jan 5th, 2008
at 16:20
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?!
Ken Y-N
Jan 5th, 2008
at 22:33
The sign in the second photo is 足８本, ashi happon, which is perhaps a bit closer to “I see” than “oishii” is.
harvey
Jan 6th, 2008
at 14:37
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!
Stephen
Feb 5th, 2008
at 08:22
I see! Is it delicious?
(sorry, couldn’t resist) :)