A. "Banzai（万歳）" literally means ten thousand years (of life). It is written with the combination of the kanji characters for "ten thousand（万）" and "age（歳）."
"Banzai" is a Japanese cheer that can be translates as "Long life!" or "Hurrah!" It is usually repeated three times to express enthusiasm, celebrate a victory, applause and favor on happy occasion while raising both arms. It is commonly done together with the large group of people.
Foreign people seem to confuse "Banzai" with a war cry. It is probably because the Japanese soldiers shouted "Tennouheika Banzai!(天皇陛下万歳!)" when they were dying during World War II. In this context what they meant was "Long live the Emperor" or "Salute the Emperor".
[ http://japanese.about.com/blqow41.htm ]
Merong nagsabi sa'min two years ago na ang ibig sabihin daw ng "Banzai" ay "May the emperor live ten thousand years!", or "Long live the emperor" for short. Tama nga naman, through the eyes of a foreigner. Nabubulagan lang siguro siya ng sobra niyang PAGMAMAHAL sa bansang Japan (well, obviously, I'm being sarcastic. He loathes Japan... well, maliban na lang sa magagandang cosplaye-- I mean, cosplay activities.^_^)
Pero naisip ko lang, can "Banzai" be applied to Filipinos? Can "banzai!" be shouted by soldiers when they are in the battlefield?
Siguro, pag ordinary Filipinos lang, ok lang na magsabi ng Banzai. It's kinda similar to saying "Hurray" or "Mabuhay!". Pero pag soldiers... Kung kukunin natin yung meaning ng banzai from He-who-LOVES-japan, pag sinabi ng soldiers na Banzai, parang sinabi nila "May the emperor live ten thousand years!" or in our previous context, "May madam President live ten thousand years!!!"... Oh my goodness.. Uh, I don't think so. Pero masagwa din ang present context nating, "May Pnoy live ten thousand years (along with Kris Aquino, baby josh and baby james)." Basta ba walang wang-wang at budget cut.
Siguro, mas bagay kung ang isisigaw nila imbis na BANZAI, ay BONZAI, o kaya naman, BANZOT... O diba, ang cute!
Grabe.. Kung sakaling nasa Brunei or Myanmar ako ngayon, nasundan na 'ko ng gobyerno, pinakulong, o kaya naman chinop-chop ang katawan at itinapon sa magkakahiwalay na biodegradable trash bin. Super limited kasi ang press freedom dun. Bawal mong pagsalitaan ng masama ang state ruler. Buti na lang talaga, I'm here in our beloved Philippines, kung saan libreng libre ang mga bloggers na kutyain ang height ng pangulo. At syempre, bonus na rin ang pagiging UP ko, kung saan, may freedom of expression din.
Pilipinas... Banzai!
Pilipino... Banzai!
UP... Banzai!
PGMA... Bonzai!...? umm.. Banzot!...?
PNOY... Banz... Banz... (shet, wala akong maisip) Banzen burner? Sunugin ang budget cut!!!
Huwag niyo akong gagayahin. Our country needs good citizens
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