Japanese Accent
by
Prof. Dr. Naoyuki Takagi
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
This page contains recorded samples of spoken English by Japanese mariners and cadets.
Click here for a more detailed description of the Japanese accent.
The phonetic alphabet and numbers below were recorded by the author mimicking the typical Japanese accent.
The SMCP phrases were recorded by TUMSAT students and the sea stories were recorded by experienced captains.
The SMCP phrases recorded are as follows:
1 My flag state is X. My last port of call was Y. My cargo is crude oil. (X is the speaker's home country, Y is the nearest port.)
2 Aft station, aft station, this is bridge. Make fast the tug on the starboard quarter.
3 The pilot boat is approaching. Rig the pilot ladder 1 meter above water.
4 My present course is 135 degrees. My speed is 15 knots.
5 The CPA of the vessel 30 degrees on our port bow is 3 nautical miles, the TCPA is 13 minutes.
Special Note: Japanese speakers often fail to pronounce 13/30, 14/40, 15/50, etc. distinctively.
6 We will use the starboard anchor and put 7 shackles in the water.
7 Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
This is motor vessel X, spelling. (X is the speaker's mother's name, and its spelling Mike Alpha Mike Alpha, etc. follows.)
Our present position is 090 (zero nine zero) degrees from the Bravo Buoy, distance 5 cables.
I am on fire after explosion. I am sinking.
SMCP Phrases by Cadets
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| Speaker 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speaker 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
Sea Stories by Captains
1. Flying Tug 2. Berth Change 3. AlmostAground
4. Crabbing 5. Crowded Anchorage 6. God's Wind (Kami-Kaze)
7. 0.5 + 0.5 8. Docking in a Squall 9. Too many men on the Bridge