On the 8th November 2020 (Sun) broadcast of the TOKYO FM radio program “Sugisaki Hana’s Flower TOKYO” (every Sunday from 8:00 to 8:30).
Sugisaki Hana: Okay, I’d like to send another message.
29 years old, Nagano Prefecture, radio name Hatomame.
Listener email: Ohana-chan, good morning.
I have a habit since I was little of calling dogs “wanchan”, cats “nya-chan”, elephants “zo-san”, tigers “tora-kun” and monkeys “sarutchi” at the zoo.
As I’m approaching 30, I’m thinking of stopping because it seems a bit childish, but I just naturally call them that.
Ohana-chan, you call animals normally, right?
If there’s anything you’ve been doing since you were little, please tell me.
Sugisaki Hana: (laughs) I wonder why. It’s kind of funny.
Isn’t it interesting that there’s no standardization, like calling a dog “wanchan” or a monkey “nekochan”?
Why is it that an elephant is called “zo-san” and a monkey is called “sarutchi”?
Maybe it was written that way in a picture book I read when I was little? (lol)
I wonder why? I’m curious.
Maybe it’s something I’ve been doing since I was a child…
When it comes to animals, I still call dogs “inu” and cats “neko” (lol)
Ah… Well, this is pretty embarrassing, but I only refer to myself in the first person, by my name, when I’m at home or eating meals with friends, or when I’m with friends I’m close enough to go out to eat.
But even so, it’s pretty bad now that I’m 23 years old.
I’ve been thinking that I really have to be careful, but it’s a habit I’ve had since I was little, so I feel a bit embarrassed about calling her “Hana”… and sometimes, I really try to always call her “Watashi” but, I don’t know, for example, when I’m suddenly talking about private matters with my manager, like going out to eat or something, I end up saying “Hana” (laughs), and I almost call her by her own name, and I’m like, oh no, no, no, no (laughs).
I’m trying to be more careful.
It’s really about time. I really want to be more careful (laughs).