Staff: Section chief! Mr, Abe’s train has been delayed. (shainn: kachou! abe sann no densha ga okurete imasu.) Section chief: What! We are due to start giving an important presentation soon. (kachou: nanndesutte! mousugu daijina purezenn ga hajimaru noni.) Staff: What shall I do? (shainn: dou shi mashou ka.) Section chief: Act quickly to resolve the problem. (kachou: sugu te wo uchinasai.) Staff: Ok. The shrine is this way, isn’t it? (shainn: hai, jinnja ha kochira no houkou deshita ne? Section chief: What are you doing? (kachou: nani shite iru no?) Staff: I prayed to the gods to solve our problem. (shainn: kamisama ni kaiketsu wo onegai shi mashita.) Section chief: I throw up my hands. (kachou: oteage dane.) Scene 1. In Japan, staff address their superiors by their job title, as in kachou (section chief), instead of by name. The word “presentation” is now used in Japanese, but it is generally shortened to “purezenn.” Scene 2. The phrase “te wo utsu” means “to plan” and “take action to solve an issue.” Scene 3. When Japanese pray for something, they go to a shrine. It customary to clap one’s hands together before the altar. He has misunderstood his boss and thinks that he has been asked to pray. Scene 4. The phrase “o te age” means “I’ve given up hope.” This literally means “raising hands,” a phrase related to “hands.”