Source: © Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. / © Infinia Co., Ltd.

Japanese Voices: @17 no Gokitaku Shimasenka? #38

Japanese Voices 日本語のままクールジャパン is a regular series designed for learners of Japanese to enjoy real Japanese language programming from Nippon Broadcasting System, one of the biggest commercial radio stations in Japan.

In our first round, we bring you @17 no Gokitaku Shimasenka? あっとせぶんてぃーんのご帰宅しませんか? (@17's Won't You Come Home?), a weekly short radio show featuring the idol unit @17 composed of active maids at the popular @home cafe in Akihabara. Their cafe on the airwaves is open for business, ready to serve masters and mistresses everywhere!

Menu #38: Moe-Kakizome (2019 New Year's Resolutions)

ring, ring!

Welcome home, masters and mistresses!

On this week's menu, @17 leader Akarin (whom we interviewed last year), Minarin, Aiku and Kurumi show off their kakizome panels expressing their resolutions for 2019! (Kakizome 書初め, which literally means "first writing," is a traditional Japanese practice, conducted at the beginning of January, of writing a message, either with auspicious kanji or expressing personal resolutions for the new year).

The four wrote their kakizome on very "moe" pink shikishi panels. Can you figure out what they wrote?

Clockwise from bottom left: Akarin, Kurumi, Aiku, Minarin | © Infinia Co., Ltd.

Menu #38

Post-show talk

If you'd like to read the original Japanese at the show's home page on the Nippon Broadcasting System website:

Menu #38 (1/2): Moe-kakizome

Today's Hosts

NAME: Akarin

Birthday: March 25th
Origin: Kirarin world of idols
Blood Type: Star

Social Media

Twitter: @maid_akarin

NAME: Minarin

Birthday: January 27th
Origin: Kingdom of Rinrin
Blood Type: O

Social Media

Twitter: @maid_minarin
Instagram: minarin_maid_17

NAME: Aiku

Birthday: November 4th
Origin: Kingdom of the Sun
Blood Type: Rechargeable Battery

Social Media

Twitter: @maid_aiku
Instagram: aiku_maid_17

NAME: Kurumi

Birthday: March 13th
Origin: Kingdom of Custard
Blood Type: Cream

Social Media

Twitter: @maid_kurumi1
Instagram: kurumi_maid_17

Special Glossary

Goshujinsama ご主人様 = master = male listener
Ojosama お嬢様 = mistress = female listener
Hoso-jo no oyashiki ni go-kitaku 放送上のお屋敷にご帰宅 = returning home to the manor on the airwaves = listening to the show
Hoso-jo no okyuji 放送上のお給仕 = service on the airwaves = broadcasting the show to the listeners
Aikome あいこめ = abbreviation of aijo wo komeru koto 愛情を込めること = sending love
Moe-henkan 萌え変換 = changing normal language into moe words

More Information

@17

@17 is an idol unit composed of active maids at the @home cafe in Akihabara (who are forever seventeen). It's also a coming-of-age story in which maids leave the fantasy world of @home cafe and bravely set out to follow their dreams.
In hopes of becoming cute and dreamy pop icons who can make everyone smile, the maids of @17 hope to pursue activities in music, fashion, art, anime and more. Using the magic they learned at home, they hope to deliver the best possible service to "masters" and "mistresses" all over the world. The maids' new adventures begin now!

Website: @17.

Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc.

Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. is the one of biggest commercial radio stations in Japan and is well-known for its call sign, JOLF. In addition, it plays a central role in the radio network called NRN (National Radio Network) across the nation. Since its establishment in 1954, the company has produced a massive array of Japanese-language programs including entertainment, sports, culture and news, headlined by “All Night Nippon”, one of the most popular and longest-running radio talk shows in Japan which has been broadcast for the past 50 years.

Website: Nippon Broadcasting System.

By - Ben K.