Good evening, friends. EMILY here.
I do apologize for how long it’s taken me to update this blog again. The past three or four days have been filled up with hours of band practice, which I’ll make sure to write about in more detail later.
In any case, let’s get moving onto the next segment of ‘Video Nostalgia’– today I’m going to talk about my most widely known video, Pretty Intense Japanese Lesson.
Truth be told, I don’t like this video. At all. I wasn’t even going to upload it until my dear friend, Mad1, forced me into uploading it. I find this video to be annoying, presumptuous, redundant, and absolute ridiculous. Every time I hear myself say ‘Hello, friends…’ in that voice I feel like some moron is standing behind me scraping his nails over and over on a chalk board. However, the story behind the video (and the series) is kind of funny, so maybe I’ll share it with all of you.
Pretty Intense Japanese Lesson was filmed in October, 2006– it wasn’t uploaded until January 2007 because I was ashamed of it and hid it in a safe in the corner of my room. In fact, this video was randomly recorded in a Panera Bread while Mad1 and I were waiting for a ride from one of our parents (I can’t exactly recall whose…) because we were both young and uncool. It was also filmed on the same day right after we recorded Pretty Intense Mall Tour and Pretty Intense Fashion Repair. Obviously, we were bored. And had no shame. At that point in my life I would record anything, anywhere.
We were bored, and so young. Oh, back in the day. Nostalgic, really.
Anywho, Mad1 got mad at me because I had uploaded all of our other Pretty Intense videos, but not her favorite. Eventually I gave into her whining and begging and posted the damned thing, and for some God-only-knows reason it now has over one million views. Shameful, really. I’d much rather have another one of my videos be the most popular. Hell, even my ocarina video is cooler than Pretty Intense Japanese Lesson.
Oh well, that’s the Internet for you.
Also, this video was a featured video back in the day– Mr. Gimmeabreakman from Japan decided that he wanted to help out a fellow gaijin living in Japan, so when he was guest editor he put it up for me. I’m thankful, of course– being featured on a site like YouTube will really skyrocket your videos to the top, as it did for me to an extent. It still took ages after being featured for my videos to catch on, though. Why do you guys watch my insane YouTube videos?! Haha.
Enough whining.
Can you say sushi? I sure as hell can.
Anyway, muffins– have a lovely evening. And comment plox.
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Thanks, Emily! I appreciate you mentioning me. Unfortunately, I don’t have your freakish ability to learn Japanese but I have a few Japanese vids myself. Did you see my video using HEROES to teach Japanese?
Check it out… LONG but actually one of my better teaching vids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkUJmHIpmY4
It’s safe to say that the majority of people who follow you now, discovered you from this video because they were looking for japanese lessons on youtube. xD
It may be extremely embarrassing to you, but it also got you the popularity you have today.
I personally find this video amusing.
I find this video to be quite awesomesauce.
The ocarina video is excellent…
I think a teacher of Japanese should not be Japanese, but a native English speaker.
Agreed! But keep in mind that the video is for humor, not educational reasons.
I can say sushi in Korean! 스시 스시 스시… I’m in Seoul but was thinking of moving to Japan, your video came up when I wanted to see what Japanese stuff was on youtube. I’d be poor just like you if I went there! Yay. One of my students called me the King of Sarcasm recently so I guess I can identify with the videos you’re making. Keep them coming…
This was actually the first video I ever saw with you. I was starting to get into Japanese stuff and this popped up. This is the video that really got me into wanting to learn Japanese. I finally have a grammar book and have started learning. Ringo and neko were my first words, though, thanks to you. This was my fav. video of yours until you put up the Pikachu bread one. Now I watch that all the time.
I think I have always seen your videos in order. Like, the first video I ever saw was this one when it was featured, and then all the others.
And no, I was not looking for japanese classes. Haha. You were funny so I subscribed.
I feel like you are bragging to a 5 year old….
I remember when I first saw this… it was a while ago. It felt awkward. But for some reason… a reason I can’t explain… I looked at your other videos. I found out that you weren’t… um… whatever you wanna call what you were in that Pretty Intense Japanese lesson.
Anywho, I think you’re funny. Just, y’know… in other videos. XD
And now I don’t know what to say… hm… Pikachu Pan!
This was the first video I saw too, probably because it was on the page of the “fastest rising videos of the day”. Don’t feel guilty because it’s the most popular, this video is pretty damn good. One of my very favorites. I like it for the derision, the sarcasm and the single take ad lib performance.
It’s like for the rock stars who are bummed out by their old hit singles because the fans want to hear them at every concert, while the singers want to move on and play their new stuff… lol
Thank Mad1 for me for forcing you to upload it. That was pretty intense!
Your Japanese is awesome anywasys. How long have you studied Japanese ’cause I have studied English for,,,6years and I had studied English in England for 1years but my English is still,,,,,nuh,,,lol
I live in Tokyo now but I speak English everyday with my English friends on skype….lol
Like many other people I found this video while searching for Japanese lessons on the internet. While this can be seen as a bit sarcastic, i enjoyed it and became a subscriber to your channel. ^_^
what have you been you to now-a-days?
This video was my first look at you, the first hit of a youtube search result for “japanese girl”. And, well, it was love at first sight. To understate the case by a few hundred miles, you made my day. Year, actually.
Whatever you try to say, girl, the cold, undeniable truth will remain for all to see: Shockingly sweet as your sarcasm was then, you are only more magical, more intensely adorable than ever now.
Hi. I’m Japanese and live in Tokyo. Your Japanese pronunciation is very good and you are buautiful girl! I just need to sudy English more.
how do u say sushi again?!
You always look nice Emily. I’ve also learned to… stick with it.
Hey kinpatsu!!! where are you from????
your (nihongo) ha umai da!!!!!!
want you make friendship????
When will we see pretty intense college acceptance?
What is it about you that makes you so popular?
Is it just that youre hot? possible, but unlikely as your random, off the wall seemingly disjointed rambles are actually rather fun to read…and no one gets to look at your hot face during that.
Even I must admit there is something infectious about you…its gotten to me too…and i dont know what it is.
I watched this video ages ago and was annoyed by your sarcasm…im glad to know its not one of your favorite vids either. today your videos are entertaining to say the least and as much as I would want to deny it…youve gotten to me too.
so
cheers…keep doing whatever the hell it is youre doing
Andres
…hello yellow…
…hey, when’s an update coming up?
…777…
Pretty Intense Mall Tour ist my absolute favorite, anyway
I’ve seen your videos since you first started, and I find them entertaining. But recently I’ve been somewhat disappointed with your ebegging. I’ve seen rumors that you spend your University money – donation – on things that have nothing to do with it. Is this true ? If so, you better stop. Its not cool. I personally couldn’t live with myself if I did the same. I think you should make a video clearing out this rumor going on. Please respond.
Ceasar
※掲げたそれぞれの灯を
命と咲かせて
運んで往くことが運命
輝き刻む※
誰もが優しい刻の痕跡
When are you getting into college? Which college are you going to? What will your major be? Have you taken the JLPT? I’m sure most colleges require that, I believe that’s in december so I would start studying. When you get into college you should post up your acceptance letter and class schedule.
You should have a back up plan, especially since your modeling failed or whatever, that didn’t make you look good anyways, your body isn’t suited for it. If you’re getting into the music business you should have extreme talent, people won’t listen to you just because you have internet fame…well some will but that just means they have no brains or will to form an opinion for themselves.
I’m sure hundreds of people hound you on these things, you should prove them wrong if you want to be a public figure, that’s the difference between a celebrity and normal folk…I can say I don’t give a damn about people because I don’t have to deal with them on the sort of level you are. You seriously need to redeem yourself kid or you are seriously just some weeboo. Do you have any talent at all?
lol You have to start caring or it’s going to blow up in your face and you know…no matter how well you speak japanese, you can marry into a japanese family, become a japanese citizen, have japanese friends….foreigners will never fit into the model of Japan.
You’ll just be another thing to them…that’s all Idols are…things…material possessions that eventually get thrown away once they get old.
What university are you going to go to? The school year is coming up in a month isn’t it? Did you sign up already?
day by day, and night by night, nothing seems to be different; But pretty soon, everything will change…
Love your videos. I discovered them when I took up Japanese and I found them really amusing.
You got yourself another subscriber on YouTube.
Hi Emily,
I can understand what you feel but this video ( as well as the others ) is pretty funny.
I like the humor and energy you have.
A good point for me is that I learn two language when I watch your videos because I am french. English is ok, but it is good to keep working, and I just stat japanese, partially because of you ^^
Already learned the kana, now I am starting basic lessons.
But HEY Emily I want to know : do you plan new ” pretty intense japanese lessons ” in the futur ?!
Come on, you can’t stop now
Totally unrelated, but I had a dream about you last night… no not THAT kind of dream. You were substituting in my Japanese Art History class. Only… you were not actually teaching Japanese Art History. You were reading from a Star Wars novel and doing a damn good impression of Darth Sidious. Seriously. I closed my eyes and couldn’t tell the difference. You pulled off young Obi-Wan and a few others, too… but Sidious is where you really shined. Keep up the superbly awesome voice acting. Oh- and make a new video!
the “intensitivity” was off the scale. My mind is still reeling… Su-…. oh damn, I need to watch the video again to learn how to say sushi.
Teach me more Emily! My mind is a blank slate for you to carve–carve the intricacies of the nihongo.
ps – this video was great. I politely request more.
I just wanted to add to the immense list of people who find this video very amusing. What I believe people (including myself) like about the video is the “character” in it, not the language itself because anyone who is serious about it would look for other materials. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the sarcasm in this video is a much welcomed comic relief. I’m sure you’ve seen or at least heard of Colbert, I can see some of that here. “Hey friends” equates in a way to “Nation” but that might be a connection that only I see because my perception might be a little off, midterms. “In any case”, hang in there, you’ve got a fan in CA.
Hi Emily: I love your videos – I think they are really cute and funny. I’ve decided to be your fan from now on. 宜しくね！ ね！