Good evening! This is my commentary about the globally popular Netflix show, Terrace House. I observe how the six strangers living together interact, and I analyze the impression they make on Japanese viewers. This blog represents my unhealthy obsession for the show and my first-hand understanding of Japanese culture as someone who was born and raised in Japan. There is no bias at all in my analysis…or at least, I try!
My oh my. What can I say about this episode? It was full of scenes that seemed to have been pulled straight out of a shōjo manga! Today I will focus on Risako’s comments, as she is obviously the star of this episode.
Playing Games
The highlight of this episode was in the last 3 minutes. To quickly summarize the scene, it shows Risako and Ruka giggling and playing card games late into the night. Risako suggests that they spice up the final game with the condition that the loser must fulfill the winner’s wish. The god of fate was apparently on Risako’s side that night, as she wins. Risako happily asks Ruka to “be [her] buddy forever,” to which he obliges. Soon after, Risako blurts out the words that none of us expected: “Be my boyfriend.”
The reaction to this scene was almost completely the same among both the Japanese and non-Japanese viewers. Out of the two main responses, the first was: “OMG is this scene too cute or what!!” The other was: “Why would Risako say such a thing? I don’t understand her thought process.”
Personally, I found this charming and sweet. Perhaps the difference in reaction is mainly due to personal taste rather than cultural differences. That being said, I noticed that the English subtitles sounded a bit more direct than what Risako actually said in Japanese. This may have made the scene a tad confusing for non-Japanese viewers.
When stating her wish to Ruka, Risako says:
できることなら、一生…一生遊んで？ (Dekirukotonara, isshō… isshō asonde?)
Subtitles: If at all possible, can you be my buddy forever?
一生 (isshō) means “forever,” and Risako is repeating that word because she is thinking about what to say next.
遊ぶ (asobu) literally means “to play” or “hang out.” In Japanese, this verb is not limited to children. Even grownups can ask someone out for the weekend by saying: 今週末遊ぼう (konshūmatsu asobō)! However, most adults would be a bit more specific, as many of us tend to be busy with work and other commitments.
Some of the most common ways to invite someone out are:
- 買い物しよう！ (kaimono shiyō) Let’s go shopping!
- お茶しよう！(ocha shiyō) Let’s grab a cup of tea/coffee!
- 飲み行こう！(nomi ikō) Let’s grab a drink!
- 映画観よう！(eiga miyō) Let’s watch a movie!
and so on.
Both Risako and Ruka are young, energetic, and have all the time in the world, so the verb 遊ぶ (asobu) seems appropriate for them.
When Risako asks Ruka to “play” with her forever, it’s clear that she isn’t pushing him into the friend zone. Rather, it seems that she is trying to express her feelings without being too direct or labeling their relationship. Most Japanese viewers interpreted it as:
If at all possible, could you spend time with me forever?
Readers, I think no further explanation is necessary: this is nothing but an indirect confession of love.
I’m not entirely sure if Ruka understood this hidden meaning and decided to let it slide, or simply took it at face value. Either way, it seems like Risako wasn’t too happy with his reaction, as she blurts out:
付き合って (tsukiatte)
Subtitles: Be my boyfriend.
Although many Japanese viewers were convinced that Risako said tsukiatte as in “I want us to be exclusive,” a few of them were perplexed by this transition and wondered if she meant something else. This is because the same phrase is also used when asking someone to accompany you somewhere. For example, you can ask someone to tag along with you to the convenience store by saying: コンビニまで付き合って？ (Combini made tsukiatte?)
Taking this into account, perhaps a more appropriate translation for this scene is “Go out with me.” I think this makes her confession just a little bit more ambiguous and enhances the romantic suspense.
Regardless of the subtle nuances, this scene was super adorable. I found it a bit ironic that this whole interaction occurred as they were playing cards, though. Risako won the card game…but unfortunately lost the relationship game.
The Spotlight
Speaking of unclear expressions, I now realize what Kenny really meant back in Episode 1 when he said he preferred any women aside from those who go out in front (表に出る人以外 omote ni deru hito igai).
When talking about his past relationships with Haruka over dinner, Kenny says that he has mostly dated people from the same industry, such as artists, musicians, and models. He refers to them as:
表に出てる人 (omote ni deteru hito)
This literally translates as “people that go out in front,” and in this context, specifically refers to people who are in the public eye.
So what Kenny probably intended to say in the first episode was that he preferred women who weren’t in the entertainment industry. Now that I think about it, this comment also ties into his wish to date publicly. In Japan, it’s extremely common for people in the limelight to hide their relationship status in order not to disappoint their fans.
The expression 表に出る (omote ni deru) has several meanings according to the context and Kenny simply wasn’t clear enough on the first night. Even the members were taken aback by his comment and took it negatively.
I still have my eyes on Kenny but I’m letting him off the hook, for now. (I still haven’t forgotten the “three steps” comment…)
What do you think about this episode? Did you gush at Risako and Ruka’s interaction as much as I did?
See you next week!
