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For a good many years now, I've addressed my karate instructor here in Memphis as either "Sensei" (teacher) or "Gary-san." Yes, I know that it would be more correct to call him by his last name when I apply the honorific "-san," but he knows I do it as a combined gesture of respect and of friendship.
Earlier this week, I sent him an email concerning an upcoming seminar that we're going to be attending, and I opened it by addressing him as Gary-san, like I often do. When I got his reply, it completely shocked me -- he opened it by addressing me as "C___-sama." Ebbeh?
For those to whom this makes absolutely no sense... in Japanese, you add -san to a person's name as a sign of courtesty/respect. It's like the difference between addressing John Doe as John, or as Mr. Doe.
Use of -sama is less clearly defined, but it is generally the equivalent of "-san times two (or more)."
Excuse me, I'll just be over here, boggling...
Earlier this week, I sent him an email concerning an upcoming seminar that we're going to be attending, and I opened it by addressing him as Gary-san, like I often do. When I got his reply, it completely shocked me -- he opened it by addressing me as "C___-sama." Ebbeh?
For those to whom this makes absolutely no sense... in Japanese, you add -san to a person's name as a sign of courtesty/respect. It's like the difference between addressing John Doe as John, or as Mr. Doe.
Use of -sama is less clearly defined, but it is generally the equivalent of "-san times two (or more)."
Excuse me, I'll just be over here, boggling...