(Japanese-style music)
- Konnichiwa.
That's Japanese for "hello".
Do not touch any of my sushi.
It is mine, and only mine.
But help yourself to as much "retasu" as you'd like.
I'm Miss Communication,
and today's lesson will demonstrate
the perils of misusing a word
when introducing your mother to your fiancée.
"Lettuce" travel to Japan.
(funky 80's music)
Meet Ben. (bell rings)
He's from Michigan,
but has been living in Japan for a few years.
Ben is very nervous, because his mother is in town
to meet her son's Japanese fiancée, Teruko.
Let's see how the situation unfolds.
(bell rings)
(laughter)
- Mom, Teruko, nothing makes me happier
than having my two main gals in the same room.
I'm just going to step out and use the little boys' room,
and leave you two to get to know each other.
- These snacks are so...
Kowai.
(dramatic music)
- Let me explain what just happened.
Ben's mother was trying to fill an uncomfortable silence
by telling Teruko that this Japanese treat
is very "kawaii", which means "cute".
The problem is, she said "kowai",
which is the Japanese word for "scary".
This made Teruko think she was insulting her culture.
Let's see how the situation unfolds.
(bell rings)
- Excuse me?!
- And you're so kowai!
And those glasses, they're so kowai.
They make me want to cry.
- (gasps) Well, I think Michigan is kowai!
- Oh, no.
When you come to visit Michigan,
you'll see, Michigan is not kowai.
But Japan,
oh, Japan,
and the fashion is kowai.
And the food is kowai,
and the babies, oh, the babies are so kowai.
And when you and Ben have a baby,
it's going to be the kowaiest little baby
in the whole wide world!
- What's wrong, honey?
What on earth happened while I was in the little boys' room?
- I never want to see your mother or you again!
(thump)
- What a tragedy.
Ben and Teruko were so in love!
Now it's all been ruined by a single word.
This is too heartbreaking for me to bear.
Let's give the mother a chance to re-do the situation,
knowing the correct way to pronounce the word.
(bell rings)
- Mom, Teruko, nothing makes me happier
than having my two main gals in the same room.
(laughter)
I'm going to step out and use the little boys' room,
and let you two get to know each other.
- Oh, these snacks are so...
(drumroll)
kawaii!
Not to be confused with the word "kowai",
which would be insulting,
because that means scary!
- Yes, my dear mother-in-law, that is correct!
But you know what is kowai?
- No?
- Ben's breath when he wakes up in the morning!
(laughter)
(bell rings)
- Don't worry, Ben will be okay.
And now his mother and his future wife
have become the best of friends.
And with that, we conclude another episode.
Don't forget to be careful with your words.
And most importantly,
don't forget your "retasu".