I think it’s due to “when” those Japanese words were introduced. If I recall correctly (and it’s possible I don’t), there was a time when it was policy to create a “proper” kanjified Japanese word for new technology. Hence “old” words like 帳 for book and even 電卓 for calculator which would’ve been around then. After a time (I think after WWII) that kinda died off, and people just learned to accept loanwords.

If I were to guess, I’d say it’s to keep “computer/technical” terms separate from “normal” terms, for ease of context? Hence ウィンドウ as opposed to 窓. But, I’m just guessing.

As for converting my OS to Japanese? Eh, I think I’ll pass on that. I thought about doing it once, but I have a hard enough time deciphering error messages and whatnot in English, let alone a language I can’t even properly read.

I’d done it to my iPhone, to Firefox, and my game consoles, which is all well and fun, but as I sometimes use this computer for working, I just don’t have the patience to trudge through a dictionary for hours trying to work out what every little button does.

Heck, as soon as a problem pops up in my phone or game consoles, or if I have to change some advanced or important settings, the first thing I do it switch it back to English.

Oh, I certainly can. ;)

I love Japanese Hip-hop, I have a whole playlist on my mobile, lol. Hip-hop seems to be fairly underground still in Japan, so it’s harder to find than Western artists. Collabs are really common, from what I’ve seen.

My favourite artists include: SEEDA, Ken the 390, Cherry Brown, MINT, SHINGO★西成, NORIKIYO, WAX, OZROSAURUS, Nitro Microphone Underground, BOMBRUSH, Microphone Pager, to name a few, lol.

YouTube is the best place to find them, sometimes uploaded by the artists themselves. Let me know and I can gladly provide some links. :)

@Crystal: Indeed, that’d be nice. Wouldn’t mind chatting with a fellow Floridian with similar interests. :)

@Kanjiman: In TF, really not very far at all, I’m afraid. I don’t remember exactly where I left off, but I was fairly early in on it before I stopped studying altogether. Also, the UK, though I’m of Italian heritage. :3

Ah, I’ve been up to the Tampa area a few times, always found it nice. I’m more or less to your direct southeast, in the outskirts of the Fort Lauderdale area (similarly, the town I’m in is somewhat obscure). I’m not natively from Florida so I’ve still not gotten used to this weather, lol.

Welcome to another resident of Florida. :)

Whereabouts are you in FL?

To “86″ something means to get rid of, end, cut off, or otherwise stop or take away something/one.

I reck it’d be much the same as it is in the West whenever someone’s name rhymes or otherwise resembles an existing word. Some will probably snicker, and some won’t. I think it’s hard to say that “everyone” in Japan will have a laugh at it sounding like “fat”, or that no one will. And if they do, just laugh it off, it’s not likely they’d be trying to deliberately upset you.

As Joel said, the extremely common name “Joe” translates to a ton of words, some of which are not particularly attractive ones (jailer, old man, uselessness, to name a few).

It’s inevitable that someone out there will have a name that sounds like something else, and I’ve seen many a Japanese name that rhymes with something unfortunate in their own (and others’) language.

Japanese do love puns, but I highly doubt that most of them are constantly on the lookout for funny rhyming words to people’s names. And those that do are likely considered every bit as immature as they would be anywhere else.