How to pray in Japanese

Prayer Page


Begin your prayer with an invocation to God so any of the following is suitable for a christian prayer in Japanese if you ever are called upon to bless the food in a Country that is 92% Buddhist. If you are lucky enough to be called upon to bless the food and say grace as some Christian churches call it.

Invocation possibilities

TEN NO O-TO^SAMA

TEN NI MASHIMASU AI SURU KAMISAMA

AI SURU TEN NO CHICHI NARU KAMISAMA

After invoking the presence of the Creator who dwells in TENGOKU mainly and he is very well beloved or ai shite iru or the God whom we love dweller of the heavens

Chichi naru kamisama - God our Father

As I was saying, after you do the Ten no otosama part then you will want to thank God for your many blessings. So some typical stuff you might want to bless could be said like the following.

(_____) ga aru koto ni kansha shite imasu - or your are thankful for having (____) etc.

then after you give thanks then go on to bless people, circumstances, situations, anything that you feel needs to be blessed by God or have something good happen to it then you could do it like this by saying

(____) o shukufuku shite kudasai and say please bless that (____) will happen or please honorifically bless whatever I say in the (____) O Lord. Say for example, ai suru kazoku o shukufuku shite kudasai where some christians take their language to the extreme honorifics and say for suru nasaru, so it would be ai suru kazoku of shukufuku nasatte kudasai which means, please bless the family whom I love.


and for the closing benedicts choose something with Jesus' name in it so you could use any of the following for closing your Christian Japanese Prayer in/

Iesu Kirisuto no minna ni yotte o inori moshiagemasu --- amen---

In the name of Jesus Christ, I humbly pray.

The language one uses to pray in Japanese is a lot like when English sounds like the King James version of the Old and New Testament with thee 's and thou's and ye and for behold, etc. The reverence you bring by your wordage will and can affect your prayer, and altitude of your attitude in my opinion. I hope that everyone that searched for How to pray in Japanese finds my little blog on the subject and hopefully found some use for it and God Bless you all of you! ....

Always remember to speak to God in Honorifics and humble yourself sufficiently. If you are praying in Japanese correctly there will not be too many words that are spoken colloquially. That is not to say that speaking to God however you feel comfortable with is wrong, I am just saying that in Japan, they really exaggerate the difference in the politeness of their speech when they speak with well... A higher power, a Deity like Kamisama. Now remember, in Japan holding the Bible is a sacred event. It's not just another book, it;s the word of TEN NO OTOSAMA - FATHER who dwells in Heaven.


So in Recap here is a full blown prayer in 4 main parts divided as such
1.INVOKE
2.GIVE THANKS
3.BLESS ASK
4.BENEDICT

a-men
remember that amen is pronounced aaaah men like the men in ramen even.

In Japanese we can say the following things in stead
1. Ai suru ten no otosama
2. (___) o kansha shite imasu
3. (___) o shukufuku nasatte* kudasai or try other verbs like mamoru, michibiku, taskeru etc.

bless all of us by saying
- Watakushi tachi o
a. michibiite kudasai - please guide us
b. mamotte kudasai - please protect us
c. tasukette kudasai - please help us



As always do your best
GANBATTE NE!

How to pray in Japanese by
Makurasuki
Brett McCluskey

YOKU Verb (Base TA) + koto ga aru

A Brief History of the tradition of the Japanese Genkan.
By Makurasuki Sensei,
Brett McCluskey

During my first stay in Japan, I used to get embarrassed because my American friend’s feet would give off the most putrid of odors, and for long distances too. The smell of his feet could cut through a stable full of horses and cattle chewing their cud. It was hard not to gag on occasion. I mean his feet stunk. I can’t really tell you if the odor emanated from his feet, or his socks, because, well it didn’t matter; they both stunk. I would be embarrassed for him and me, because I thought that I could control the way things smelled on other people or something, but alas I couldn’t.
Can you imagine eating at the dinner table or trying to have candid conversation with some new friends you just met only to find out the friend you had brought didn’t have control on his feet hygiene and the odor most unbearable. How atrocious! How outrageous! I thought to myself, be-gone you foul beast at once! Come back when you can be more civilized, or at least when your feet aren't noticeable to the olfactory senses at the distance of 6 feet.
Let’s imagine we are in Japan at a small gathering of some friends. Because it can get pretty chilly in the winter, are all gathered around a nice, warm, and fluffy kotatsu ((quilted) electric blanket \ table), to play the card game buta no shippo (Pig’s tail) Oh no! Not that smells again. Like incense rising up from the depths of odor hell, your friend subjugates everyone to that wretched, didn’t mean to know you, go home! Take a bath! Wash your feet! That wretched friendly scent of your friend’s sweaty polyester, fibrous odor drip that is by now smelling all too familiar.
In America, we wouldn’t have this problem because Americans go everywhere in their shoes, and it doesn’t matter, because you never have to take them off. You can keep your shoes on all day in America. Not in Japan. Before you step foot inside a Japanese dwelling you must take off your shoes. I am full blooded American and can remember as a kid going to sleep in my shoes a couple of times. They wouldn’t have had that in Japan. Also I remember accidentally stepping on some doggy doo and accidentally walking all over my mom’s carpets and then jumping on my bed. Well that sort of thing wouldn’t happen in Japan. Shoes are great, but in Japan, shoes can become cumbersome due to the limitations on living spaces, but more importantly the act of taking off one’s shoes before entering a home or dwelling is a tradition. A good custom as you shall see.
Like other countries of the East, the Japanese take off their shoes before entering houses, dwellings, apartments, condo’s, etc. When I first got to Japan it was awkward at first to take off my shoes, because I had shoes with laces and it was mendoukusai (tedious) when I left to tie my shoes up again after just un-tying them when I arrived. I followed the custom at first only because every one else was doing it. Yes! This was one of those times that if the whole Japanese country were going to jump off the cliff I was going to jump too. *When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do!* There were places I thought were abnormal for taking off my shoes like kindergartens, eating establishments, bowling alleys, karaoke rooms, lots of weird places you wouldn’t even think of taking your shoes off at in America, even the bathroom at bars and weirder places yet.
I had one friend who was so particular about this custom, he would insist on me taking off my shoes before getting into his car. I was obliged to follow the tradition. *When in Rome Do as the Romans Do!* This friend was a little more gung-ho than your average Akira, but it shows you just how far this tradition extends itself into everyday life. He was a little overly devout or passionate about keeping his car clean but at the same time did it for other beneficial, even religious type reasons which we will explore in the coming paragraphs.
Why do the Japanese take off their shoes before entering a home or other things including cars? Why is it considered rude to stand on a chair, or a table or a sofa or seat etc. with your shoes on? In this lense I am going to share my experiences with the custom of taking off your shoes before entering a house and the traditions of the genkan (place where you place your shoes before stepping into a house.) And we will talk a little bit about the way the genkan has been extended in use in modern Japanese society. We are going to try to answer the reasons behind this strange custom and why this genkan thing exists. Also after relaying as much as I can about this custom, we will continue our JPPGG© or Japanese plug and play ghetto grammar sessions so that you will add one more grammar principle to your growing list of Japanese language weapons.
I’m not prejudice nor am I generalizing that all Americans have stinky feet, but, I know that even my feet have a tendency to get stinky when I sweat, run or wear keep my shoes on for too long to wear my shoes everywhere and anywhere in any situation at all times, even to bed, even jumping on the bed, even standing on chairs, cars, wherever on whatever, it didn’t matter. I, being an American having no background in Japanese customs and not having any tradition similar to taking my shoes off before entering the house, I felt quite comfortable doing as I always had done. It wasn’t until I saw the expression of horror, surprise and shear shock of my Japanese friend that I ever began to take seriously the Japanese tradition of taking off my shoes before entering places. I saw on a man’s face as I simply stood upon a chair to change a light bulb, mind you, I had my shoes on, but he gasped in horror and made me instantly get down from the chair. What on Earth could I have possibly done to make him gasp in horror? All I did was stand on a chair and was attempting to change a light bulb. I thought so what gives
So the tradition of taking off shoes before entering a dwelling has many roots in Buddhism.















This is JPPGG© bunpo principle #87.
Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar Japanese Language Learning
By Makurasuki Sensei, Brett McCluskey
Towards better Japanese Mastery.

To say in Japanese that you used to ~ verb, (at fairly regular intervals and at some point in the past) use the following construction:

I. (I/You/He/She/They/We/It) used to ~ verb.

I. yoku verb(base TA) mono desu.

The following examples will help you grasp today’s JPPGG construction. After you get a feel for how this grammar is made, just keep plugging new verbs into the verb area in Base TA and then continue playing by making your own unique and interesting sentences. And don’t forget to practice saying all your newly created sentences out-loud. Drilling and killing, or plugging and playing words into the constructions in this way is bound to improve your Japanese conversation skills quickly. You’ll be adding yet another grammar principle to your Japanese language arsenal, for your benefit and use at any time you see fit. Keep plugging and playing until your friends tell you they can’t stand how much you practice your Japanese or until they say stop. But even if you start bugging people because you practice too much just keep telling yourself that the practice that I am doing will surely cause me to improve. Just keep practicing the grammar constructions and saying to yourself new sentences of your own creation until your friends or you go to sleep, whichever comes first. You want to get better at Japanese, don’t you? Well don’t bicker…do quicker! Here are some nice examples with an occasional ghetto phrase sprinkled in here or there to spice up the flavorful fun, so that you can have a good time studying Japanese.

1. When I was younger, I used to ride my bike to school.

Watakushi ga motto wakai koro, jitensha de yoku gakko ni itta mono desu.
{As for I, in the more young time, by bike often school went thing is.}1


2. He used to cheat, but the teacher busted him, and now he is a good boy.

Kare wa mae yoku kanningu shita mono desu keredomo sensei ni barete shimatte ima orikosan desu.



3. I used to play there a lot.

Watakushi wa soko de yoku asonda mono da.


G.A.B. or the Ghetto After Blast – One point advice
The Japanese verb nareru means, “To get used to” which is similar to the used to that you have been getting used to in this bunpo. Nareru is a really cool word, and you will hear it a lot in Japanese conversation.

Ex.1 He is used to that job.
Kare wa sono shigoto ni narete imasu.

As Always, Do your Best! Ganbatte Ne!
Makurasuki Sensei.

Base TE + kureru

Oh won’t you do it for me? Will ya? Wouldn’t you like to be a pepper too
Verb (base TE) + kurenai (TE + kureru)
Verb (base TE) + moraenai (TE + Morau)

kashite kureru? - would (you) lend it to me?


orite moraenai? - could I get you to get down from (there)?

Comparison of Exalted and Humble Japanese Family words

Family words
This is a Quick Japanese Vocabulary Chart demonstrating humble and exalted forms of family words for those serious in making Japanese their SL2.

Humble –when speaking of ones own, of oneself Exalted

Father chichi O-to^san (^ denotes long o)
Mother hahao O-ka^san (long a)
Older Brother ani O-ni^san (long i)
Younger Brother ototo O-totosan
Older Sister ane O-nesan
Younger Sister imoto imotosan
Parents ryo^shin (long o) Go-ryo^shin (long o)Husband shujin (lit. my lord) Go-shujin
Wife kanai okusama, or okusan

sama versus san - san is less exalted but still polite and most commonly used as with any word in column on the right. San can be exchanged for sama in any case and is dependant on how polite you choose to speak. Don't over do it. A Japanese person will always win a verbal joust to see who can be more humble and exalt another.

Ganbatte ne! Do your best!
Makurasuki Sensei

Ebay Exchange Meta Tag Off Topic Advice to nNwbie Auctioneers

#1 Tip To Avoid Regretting Purchases You Make At Online Auctions

Do you remember Yul Brenner and his "Whatever you do.... DON"T SMOKE" commercials"? Well if there was a similar tip that I would want to say to the whole world in so many words to all new members of online auction sites, and to anyone who, in their own natural enthusiasm and desire for an item and had the chance to say it, it would be this.
* In this article I have replaced all inferences to the most famous of online auctions with the imaginary online auction site P-buy. Thanks in advance for

1. DO NOT MAKE A BID UNTIL YOU CHECK THE SHIPPING COSTS!
Let me put it another way, if you want to avoid regretting your purchase, the first thing to make sure of is the cost of shipping. I reiterate for the sake of Clarity of the intent of my guide and message the following:

DO NOT BID ON ANY ITEM, UNTIL, YOU BEHOLD WITH YOUR EYES THE COST OF SHIPPING!

That is the #1 tip to avoid regretting your purchases on P-buy. Make sure to look at the shipping costs and do research for what would be considered a reasonable rate for the shipping of your prospective items.
This tip is so important that it should be requisite for all new future members of P-buy to read before signing the dotted line understand the concept of "Caveat Empore" or "Buyer Beware". It should not be proclaimed throughout the entire P-buy kingdom, coming forth not as an omen or prophecy; nor should this be divined neither from the Oracle at Delphi, nor from the wise sayings of King Solomon and re-iterated in his proverbs, but should be understood that as a new member of P-buy there are inherent dangers to membership. It is called in some places, the hornswaggle.
The agreement a bidder/consumer/customer/buyer signs electronically. P-buy should relay the message "Buyers Beware" so thoroughly on their home page that we would be able to say, “Caveat Empore”, in 4 different languages as easy as we can say our own Alphabet.
If I haven't already said this it warrants a replay: Buyer Beware The statement doesn't mention. My warning is to all classes of buyers, many of whom, like myself, may harbor, (no doubt, as of this reading), regrets about a purchase or purchases which they have fallen prey to the Hungry Dollar P-buy Selling Wolf Bandits in the guise of our most endearing and trusted household name, donning Grandmother's apron and hood, that, as sellers, are ever diligent in their efforts to secure their lucre that a little dishonesty can pull the wool over the eyes of their potential customer, thereby getting their sell. They finely tune their listings, and use every device, technique, method, story, picture, html, FORTRAN, Cobol, verbiage, photo bait and switch, whatever it takes to get $5 extra dollars from the American Democratic principles laid down by the forefathers of our great nation. P-buy should make every effort to protect these types of scams from occurring.
P-buy has been doing, as good a job, as can be expected from the evil few that really want me to be miserable after making a stupid buyers mistake. Avoid pain in the future, whatever you do… Always, always look both ways before you cross the street, making sure to wear clean underwear. A human mistake I made and it cost me $6 dollars. Yes a whopping $6 dollars I still feel to this day that the item was misrepresented, and the item that I got was a harsh reality of a grand illusion that I had just taken part of.
I paid close to $8 for $1.89 worth of value in the item in question. It even makes one feel bad about the choice but only later when it’s too late to back out of the deal. A seller that offers no return policy needs to be asked why they do not offer a return policy. But before even looking at whether the seller even offers a return of goods policy check the price of the shipping.
Here is my bad experience with one bad apple at P-buy. (Told in all my naivety as an P-buy-er who has already sold and bought items on P-buy) Boy what a sucker I am, I thought to myself as my blood boiled from the shock I received after getting my auction item. The item was a Sacagawea Dollar being sold at $0.99 cent. A measly dollar for a Sacagawea Gold Sparkling Coin and a super prize bonus of untold value awaiting my PayPal completed transaction, or the offered bonus which was stated as being an uncirculated coin.
With promises of grandeur I quickly jumped to the bidding button and laid down my amazing $0.99 bid." So I kept thinking to myself, Boy what a good boy am I...Didn't I do well… Look Mom... No Hands! I am such a good a smart shopper…Etc. And I got all excited because I was seemingly getting a superior deal. Gee...what a good boy am I… NOT… Due to a lack of bad experiences on P-buy I Hastily jumped on the bidders stump and said boy let me tell you what.
I guess you didn’t know it, but I'm a coin collector too; and, if you care to bid on my item I'll give you an uncirculated coin too. I fell for it jumped on the band wagon and bid the only bid for this item in which this seller floods P-buy with pages of her swaggle. With 2175 successful sells, you got to give this seller their due. After all this is America and it is the land of opportunity. I was almost converted to the dark-side in thinking; wow this seller is smart for being able to rip me off like that. If just I wasn't as stupid I wouldn't have fell for it. I believe P-buy’s incredible growth as a company has done a very good job in all sectors of its being. Hats off to P-buy for succeeding. For making improvements to their site, in spite of the enormity, and complexity of their tasks. Nobody is Perfect, Even Monkeys Fall from Trees.(Saru mo ki kara ochiru.) We can cut P-buy a little slack for the enormity of their enterprise.
I have no qualms with P-buy at all, and it just seems to improve day by day in every way. P-buy is such an amazingly dynamic place and provides bountifully and continues to be helpful to an ever improving and changing customer/consumer/buyer experience. P-buy can't be held responsible for buyers not being careful. "Caveat Empore" or "Buyer Beware" should at least ring forth into my head each time I open the My P-buy page or right before I put the numbers in the box for my bid price and before I input any digits of my credit card, again it wouldn't hurt to put a pop up right in my face, yeah a dirty little popup reminding me of that Phrase "Caveat Empore" I would even at that point welcome such an unwelcome pop-up for reminding me that as a buyer I need to be forewarned, I need to beware less I regret making a purchase on P-buy .
Not looking at the shipping price before bidding on an item is a no-no. If you want to avoid regretting a purchase you make on P-buy, follow my #1 Tip and you will fare much better. You will avoid regretting things later on down the line. It is so easy to get enraptured in a fabulous looking offer that at the peak, the apex of my rapture about finding such a golden treasure of an item to bid on, only after patting myself on the back for what seems to be superific deal of my lifetime, offer, or prize that I totally forgot to look at the #1 tip on how to avoid regretting my purchases on P-buy. That is, if you allow me to repeat it again
DO NOT BID ON AN ITEM UNTIL YOU HAVE BEHELD WITH YOUR EYES THE SHIPPING COSTS!
I am positive I am not alone in when I complain but little about how I have been hornswaggled by the wicked witch of the shipping north and how on top of being burned for shipping costs I was also scammed out of an item I thought I was going to receive and the difference between it and the item I actually received.
I would like to end this little guide, lense, article of mine by saying thank you to all the honest people that anonymously or knowingly work hard to make P-buy a really safe and cool place to hang out, have fun, shop, or just dream about stuff.