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minoru fujita

Ah the World Wide Web!  Sometimes we forget about those first two W's but there are all sorts of people in all sorts of places and sometimes they reach out to each other across the barriers of geography and language.  My hat's off to Minoru for giving it a shot and doing better than I could do with Japanese...

The only background you need is that on my homepage there's a scornful bit of fine print bit where I say "go see a comedian tell jokes about boobies and peepee!"  (I've since changed "pee-pee" to "poop" to reflect my growth as a comic and human being...) 

Enjoy...

From: Minoru Fujita

To: Dan Kaufman

Sent: April 26, 2002

Dear sirs

Make webs of comics telling jokes about boobies and pee-pee.

Such a simple comic can be accepted as

"My grandma's now in an awful panic.

It seems that she spilled very hot tea on her pee-pee."

Noru 

From: Dan Kaufman

Dan Kaufman
Thank you for your polite answer.
I only made a response to your rough and rude reply.
I found your site with Google's search for "pee-pee".
As you guess, I'm a Japanese, but not so young.
-perhaps just as old as you I think
My interest is how to call genitals in English.
I found your site in that process.
Excuse me for my indecent words.
minoru

From: Dan Kaufman

Sent: May 10, 2002

Minoru
No apology is necessary, although I did not intend to be
rude with my first reply.  I was just being lighthearted
and playful.
You did not answer my question about your gender.  It is
not intended to be rude.  But are you a boy or a girl?
As far as your genital studies, I would be happy to help
in any way.  Which genitals in particular were you
interested in knowing about?

Dan
 

Dan Kaufman
Where are you going, Kaufman?

My interest is not our subject.
Would you please show me whether you are ready to make a reply to my first asking.

Or you will do me a favor if I only answer your last question?
 

Minoru
 

From: Dan Kaufman

Sent: May 11, 2002

minoru
what favor would you like?
shall i call you sir or madame?
dan

Dan Kaufman
Could you please read again my first email.
I am a male as well as you.
Minoru

From: Dan Kaufman

Sent: May 11, 2002

Minoru
I did read it but I did not understand it.
Perhaps you could explain it more fully.
Please do not take offense.
Dan

Dan Kaufman
I thought you can entertain people with "boobies and pee-pee".
I noticed the character of these words in two points.
 1 These words themselves are not vulgar.
   "Peepee" is surely childeren's term.
   "Boobies" , I don't know well but, perhaps also is...
   I am not a native speaker of English, so could you please teach me.
 2 These words are, in a sense, taboo in adults' world...
   and make us feel somewhat embarrassment.

Problem is how to use.
I wondered if you can use them in comics with some rules such as below.
  *Never include expressions with nasty activities...
    sexual acts. urination, etc
  *Never include definitely vulgar terms such as "dick","cunt",etc
  *Had better use only for a word meaning a part of one's body.

Needless to say, the most important point is that the contents of comics
should be as funny as possible.
I'd given you a very simple example in the first email.
However I think bigger problem is you have to take a risk of being blamed at any time.
Minoru.
 

From: Dan Kaufman

Sent: May 13, 2002

Minoru
Thanks for your comments.  You sem to have a
sophisticated understanding of comedy theory.

Another childish word I like to use is poop.  Much funnier than shit.  I think in my actual act,  I never use boobies or peepee, but periodically the abbreviated versions - boobs or pee.

You use the word "comics" but I think you mean to say "jokes" "bits" or "routines".  "Comics" generally refers to comic books or cartoon strips (I believe you call them manga) but a comedian is also known as a stand-
up comic.

What do you do for a living Minoru?
Dan
 

Dan Kaufman
Thank you for your reply.
I see your way of thinking about your works.
At first, I had taken the word "comics", to mere interesting short stories
as you mentioned as "jokes", "bits" or "routines"
However, since there was the expression "see comics tell jokes about boobies and pee-pee" on your web, I understood the meaning of  "comics" just as manga as you also mentioned. Anyway, in having taken up only ordinary comics, running against mannerism is inevitable.
I hope you won't choose your way where you feel things are secure for
yourself.
I 've been engaging  design engineering of a manufacturing industry in about 30 years.  But in my usual life, I 've seldom been related with comics.
I would appreciate your favor in the future taking advantage of this contact.
Minoru

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