Japanese and Economic Humor..

[two_heads_talking]

The continuing economic slump is causing great problems not only in Britain and America but also in the important and influential Japanese banking sector.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.


(The previous message is satirical and in no way is a cause for anyone to go jump out of a window... Unless you are a Ninja and then extreme caution is forewarned..)

[richvh]

I think the humorous piece you quoted is fairly old, but shouldn't that properly be Sashimi Bank rather than Sushi Bank that has something fishy about it?

[two_heads_talking]

I think the humorous piece you quoted is fairly old, but shouldn't that properly be Sashimi Bank rather than Sushi Bank that has something fishy about it?

It might be old, but I don't think I've ever seen that posted up here, so I thought I'd share it with those, like myself that might not have seen it before..

As for the Sashimi/Sushi question, I suppose that in the literal, traditionaly sense it should be Sashimi, but Sushi does use "Raw fish" too. Either way, I found it rather humorus, YMMV<<

[furrykef]

I have to admit it took me a minute to fully catch on to the joke even though I knew the names were suspicious off the bat. >.>

[chikara]

..... As for the Sashimi/Sushi question, I suppose that in the literal, traditionaly sense it should be Sashimi, but Sushi does use "Raw fish" too. ....

Sushi Bank could conjure up images of California Rolls but I believe Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (sound like hamburger joints to me) were bank rolled from Washington.

[weirdo36]

You should not make jokes about this I feel to unhappy with the entire exhange rate situation. I have become so poor just by not having exchanges all my euro's to yen the first day I arrived here. It went from 1 euro to 178 to 124 :S I feel so unhappy about it.

[two_heads_talking]

You should not make jokes about this I feel to unhappy with the entire exhange rate situation. I have become so poor just by not having exchanges all my euro's to yen the first day I arrived here. It went from 1 euro to 178 to 124 :S I feel so unhappy about it.

ummm.. the joke is about the names of the institutions and word play.. besides, if one can't make fun of the harsh part of life, what is there to make fun of? We are all feeling the crunch, so, don't think for one minute you are the only poor soul out ther who is feeling it.. I just lost my house, and most of what was in it, and I still thought this funny.. care to take a piss on that would you?

[weirdo36]

Well I just didn't think it was funny enough to reply with something as lol.

[chikara]

..... I feel to unhappy with the entire exhange rate situation. .....

There was a story on a news and current affairs TV show here last night about a rush on USD in Japan because the Yen has hit 13 year highs against the Greenback. Apparently investors are borrowing money from Japanese banks at near zero interest rates and buying USD.

But as my bicephalic friend has pointed out the humour is in the word play not making light of the global financial crisis so lighten up

.... I just lost my house, and most of what was in it, .....

That is very sad news. がんばって

.... care to take a piss on that would you?

Do you mean "take the piss"?

[furrykef]

.... care to take a piss on that would you?

Do you mean "take the piss"?

I doubt it. "Take the piss on that" means "to get the worst of it"; "take a piss on that" means something like "rain on that parade".

(I just realized I translated idioms with other idioms. Oh well.)

- Kef

[chikara]

I doubt it. "Take the piss on that" means "to get the worst of it"; "take a piss on that" means something like "rain on that parade".

(I just realized I translated idioms with other idioms. Oh well.)

- Kef

In Australian English "to take the piss" means "to make fun of" which would have fitted in with the humour context.

[Harisenbon]

There was a story on a news and current affairs TV show here last night about a rush on USD in Japan because the Yen has hit 13 year highs against the Greenback. Apparently investors are borrowing money from Japanese banks at near zero interest rates and buying USD.

The trend is HUGE right now. They even have live sites where you can change your money into/out of yen in realtime.
But a lot of people don't want to wait for the US economy to improve, so are buying New Zealand dollars, as their rate is supposed to increase by 3% in the next year or so (according to my co-worker at least).

I've been considering it, but putting enough money into that to make it worth it just scares me.
Same reason I try not to play the stock market too much.

[two_heads_talking]

I doubt it. "Take the piss on that" means "to get the worst of it"; "take a piss on that" means something like "rain on that parade".

(I just realized I translated idioms with other idioms. Oh well.)

- Kef

In Australian English "to take the piss" means "to make fun of" which would have fitted in with the humour context.

I meant as furrykef mentioned "rain on my parade".. Although I am familiar with the British and the Australian meanings, I wasn't trying to be funny at that point. Now, as I look back on your response, it would have definately been right in line with my real life drama vs comic relief, I will keep that in mind in the future. In the US, pissing on something is hardly seen as a positive thing and many times it is equated to rain...

two_heads_talking wrote:
.... I just lost my house, and most of what was in it, .....

That is very sad news. がんばって.

It is sad and rather emberassing as well, but I can only move forward and try not to replicate the same situation that put me in this predicament. Your concern is appreciated, thank you very much.

[Infidel]

Funny. As an American, when I hear "Take the piss" i imagine a urine sample on a counter somewhere and someone ran off with it.

Sorry to hear about your house.

[fog]

. I just lost my house, and most of what was in it, and I still thought this funny..

Sorry to hear about the lost house. (I took some blows too but not that big). The real economy is certainly no fun nowadays. But I also found the joke great , it was new to me, so I just e-mailed it to a bunch of friends. Thanks for sharing it, two_heads_talking.