Life of two salary men in Japan


My friend Shinji, who works upstairs, visits my office
to talk to me for a short time.

Shinji: Hi.
I:      Oh, Shinji. How are you ?
Shinji: Good, and you ?
I:      Pretty good. Ah, let's go to the employee lounge.

Shinji and I go to the employee lounge.

Shinji: Well I think always everyone in your office doesn't talk much.
        You are all attacking computers without words.
        You are as quiet as mice.
I:      Yes, I think so.
        But we are quiet because we are all working like dogs.
        And if I talk to you in my cube like now, it's very distracting.
Shinji: By the way, let's go to Karaoke after work this evening ?
I:      Oh, it's a nice idea ! Of course I agree.
Shinji: Can we leave here at five thirty ?
I:      No problem. I'm an early bird and I come to my office
        at seven thirty every morning.
Shinji: Wah.
I:      So I can leave here anytime. No problem.
Shinji: OK. Then come to my cube at five thirty.
I:      Yes. See you later.
Shinji: See you !

Shinji and I are looking for a Karaoke studio.

Shinji: Well, to which Karaoke studio should we go ?
I:      It's six of one, half a dozen of the other to me, but
        how about the regular studio, Yumeya-Utanosuke at Kannai ?
Shinji: That's OK. Have you been to a Karaoke studio recently ?
I:      Yes, of course. I'm in seventh heaven while singing.
        Karaoke is second to none within my pleasures.
Shinji: You really love Karaoke, don't you ?
I:      Yes, I do.
        After I sing even for two hours, sometimes I become of two minds
        about whether I should continue to sing or stop singing.
Shinji: Well, we just arrived. Let's go in !

Shinji and I go into the Karaoke studio Yumeya-Utanosuke.

Shopman: May I help you ?
I:       We'd like to sing for two hours. We are two people.
Shopman: Thank you, sir. Please take your shoes off and put those
         slippers on. Your room is 220. Enjoy !
I:       Thank you.
Shinji:  Thank you.
Shopman: You're welcome.

Shinji and I enter the Karaoke room and start singing.

I:      OK. Let's pick out a song of Masaharu Fukuyama.
Shinji: Well, his songs are getting old now, doesn't he ?
I:      Shut up ! His songs are always in style. He is great.
Shinji: I see. I'm worn out because I work till late these days.
        You can sing as much as you like.
I:      Thank you.

Two hours passed, and Shinji and I are going to finish singing.

I:      Oh I can find this song once in a blue moon. I should pick out
        this song, and the song-number is ...
Shinji: But it's almost 8 o'clock now.
I:      Gosh ! I can't believe but we should finish !

Shinji and I pay, and get out Yumeya-Utanosuke.

Shinji: It was just eighteen hundred yen. It's dirt cheap.
I:      I think so. Well, Karaoke is out of this world.
Shinji: You always pick out different songs from before.
        You have a lot of repertories, don't you.
I:      Yeah. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
        I can sing much more songs.
Shinji: For example ?
I:      Masaharu Fukuyama, Chisato Moritaka, Eri Hiramatsu,
        Noriko Sakai, Mariya Takeuchi, ...
Shinji: Wait, wait ! I understand. By the way, can we have dinner ?
I:      OK. Why don't we call Kono and let him join us ?
Shinji: That's good.
I:      A few weeks ago, he was very disgusted by his boss.
        He said his boss didn't know everything.
Shinji: Is he out of the woods now ?
I:      I don't know, but we'll cheer him up so that he doesn't go
        downhill.

... to be continued

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