Once the initial connection is made, you will want to keep the conversation lively and interesting. With limited vocabulary skills on either side, both parties may find that they quickly run out of things to say. It will put your mind at ease if you have a few fallback topics.

Animal Sounds

If you think that roosters crow the same way all over the world, you are mistaken. Ask any Japanese person to mimic the quintessential “early bird” and you will hear an unfamiliar squawk. Frogs say gekko-gekko, cats say nyan, and dogs go wan-wan. These sounds can be found in songs and baby talk.

Conversations comparing the cries of animals in the United States and Japan are entertaining and may even border on performance art in some arenas. If you have any theatrical talent in you at all, broach this topic at any gathering for hilarious results:

Any time you are interested in finding out the style, appearance, or manner of something, you can include the phrase donna fuu. For example:

Making Comparisons

Another way to keep the conversation lively is by comparing lifestyles in Japan and your home country. You can make these comparisons using the verb kuraberu (“to compare”). Food, as usual, is a great way to start. Here's a sample dialogue for making comparisons:

95