I really like Fiddler on the Roof, I saw it in English many times, so first it was a bit strange to hear it in Japanese (even though I can speak some Japanese), but I must say it is a splendid performance. The costumes, the voices, the tune all followed the original, and I especially liked the dance! It was almost like in the musical film! A very good Japanese adaptation! :)
@ljonesvc That makes no sense because Fiddler was written in America by Americans and the stories it is based off of were written in Hebrew. The original is the English/Hebrew and the Japanese would have been the dub.....
Amazing what art can do to unite people. The Japanese really love this musical because they have the same problem: older people enforcing tradition and arranged marriages, while the young want to follow their hearts and do things their own way.
I don't think they understood that traditional Jews usually dance Traditional Jewish dances, which really aren't hard to replicate... That was a little disappointing, though I'm sure if we sped up around 2:30, it'd be funny to watch people running in circles waving their arms.... They got the Russians well, though.
It was a pretty good translation though, all considered.
@xfx1118 - I have many Orthodox-Jewish friends, and those dances are very much like the dances I've seen at their weddings and bar mitzvas and so forth.
I saw the orginal cast from Broadway on the 25th Anniversary Tour at Gotanda in Tokyo. My husband and I were the only two in the audience laughing and enjoying the play. The Japanese subtitles could not really translate the meaning effectively. This performance in Japanese is great and depicts enough Jewish Culture to be understood. We lived & worked in Japan and Okinawa for over 12 years. It is beautifully understandable in Japanese. To Life, L'Chaim, Kampai! Susan
I'm a neurologist watching this. The movements singing and playing are amazingly Parkinsonian (stiff, rigid, expressionless). In fact I'm thinking of showing this to my medical students!
If the words L'Chaim aren't translated in the English version why did they change it here? Am I just hearing it incorrectly? Are they actually trying to say it? And what the hell is with the Russian translation too?! Ridiculous, killed an otherwise nice attempt at a foreign production.
Makes no sense. I liked it except for that. Bad choice on the director/MD or even MTI's part for allowing that be changed.
@dstack9781 yup, you're right but when the hebrew "L'Chaim" is called for they are either badly mispronouncing or not saying it which is not the way it's intending in any production or any language. They are Jewish and they would be saying "L'Chaim" purposely because that IS the saying. On any planet or any production the phrase has to be sung in Hebrew. In english we sing ce sera sera in the song "Ce sera sera" because it's a French expression and that's the basis of the meaning.
@everythingbobbywolfe that's "que sera sera" and it's spanish and -just as in the song L'Chaim- the phrase is translated within the lyric of the song ("que sera sera, whatever will be will be"). So really, stop being a pedant.
@schrire39 obviously you're not comprehending the point I'm making or else you would not have called me a pedant which of course you should know is some one that throws their "book smarts" or education around superfluously which is not the case here being it is in reference to an artistic choice the director made. The point I made is quite, quite simple...I'll spell it out again in layman's terms: if it's not changed in the English version it shouldn't be changed in any other. Case closed sir.
@everythingbobbywolfe er, disagreeing with you is not the same as not "comprehending" you. You've moved from being "pedantic" to being "patronising". Well done. My point is that song lyrics make meaning on their own terms and the same goes for translations of those lyrics. There is nothing that "should" be other than artistic integrity and meaning. Aslo apologies if you felt I was accusing of flaunting your "book smarts" - anyone confusing French and Spanish is clearly doing no such thing.
@schrire39 you've certainly hit the nail on the head now as i am patronizing you (as it is actually spelled). I've confused no language w/ the other. You simply cannot comprehend my original point because like most anonymous posters on the internet you read, do not fully comprehend, and initiate an insult. Calling me a pedant is insulting and I fail to see how I insulted you at any point prior to that sir. You insulted and you disagreed with a point I was not making. I forgive you, let's drop it
@everythingbobbywolfe that's ok!!! I had already forgiven you :) ps: you might want to check the differences between British and American spelling conventions before you issue your corrections.
I found it interesting that the translation added "shalom" to the dialogue, but took both the hebrew (L'chaim) and the russian when the tenor starts to sing) out from the song.
Most excellent! We all share the language of music and expression no matter what ethnicity we are. I'm of Sephardi Jewish stock and at one point in the clip I forgot that this was a Japanese troupe portraying Russian Jews. Col Ha Kavod!
One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite shows. At first this clip made me giggle... Japanese playing Jews? I was thinking it was an amateurish attempt at a great scene. But then, as I watched the whole clip, I began to feel the same emotions that the original Broadway cast, and later the feature film, elicited. This material transcends language and culture, it is universal. I was moved to tears when the Japanese Tevye and Constable join hands and dance to life. L'Chaim indeed!
Do Africans have their version of it too? XDD I'm just kidding. I'm not saying it's bad. I think it's funny. Love the original version too. Just never seen Japanese play Jews.
Seems like a nice adaptation.
The theme of a world moving too fast and children growing away from the family is universal.
sincerelyyours2000 3 weeks ago
The guy @ 2:55 can really hold a note. I'm impressed, and a little jealous.
v1de0gamr 3 weeks ago
すごい！
Orenjism 5 months ago
KAMPAI! Hahaha, I love it!
SushiBrawl 5 months ago
Kampai!
ipanemared 8 months ago
Kampai!!!!!!!!!
ipanemared 8 months ago
I really like Fiddler on the Roof, I saw it in English many times, so first it was a bit strange to hear it in Japanese (even though I can speak some Japanese), but I must say it is a splendid performance. The costumes, the voices, the tune all followed the original, and I especially liked the dance! It was almost like in the musical film! A very good Japanese adaptation! :)
BlueDove415 9 months ago
No one gets drunker then Tevye. No matter where he is. :D
Josiahiswatching 11 months ago
lol we're doing this as our winter musical and i'm golde, but anyway these japenese do this song much much better than we do, lol
Sarcasmize 1 year ago
THIS CLIP IS HURTING MY BRAIN
superzombiepower 1 year ago
So so epic!
remyworldpeace 1 year ago
I do prefer the superior Japanese original language over the English/Hebrew dub when they exported this to the US.
ljonesvc 1 year ago
@ljonesvc That makes no sense because Fiddler was written in America by Americans and the stories it is based off of were written in Hebrew. The original is the English/Hebrew and the Japanese would have been the dub.....
TheFatComunist 8 months ago
@TheFatComunist Oh, wow. Your analysis is so spot on. It's almost like... it's like you *completely missed the joke*! :D :D :D :D
ljonesvc 8 months ago
פשוט נפלא ולא צאחך להוסיף אף מילה
ג.עטרה מכל הלב
attaragal1 1 year ago
Crying laughing right now. I'ts a great production and it's awesome, but it's just so bizarre since I know the original so well, hahah.
Eilos 1 year ago
Good to see everybody is NOT anti-Semitic!
Good boys!
Hatorah 1 year ago
Loved it. The cossack's opening note was as long as a Toshiro Mfume death scene.
rutimizrachi 1 year ago 2
It was absolutely fascinating to see this number sung in Japanese. Looks like a good production, too. Thanks for the chance to see this!
starry61 1 year ago
that cosak sure can hold a note!
but he should have still sang in russian, then translated, just like the american prod's
then again, i do understand that maybe it didn't fit into the melody that way.
this was a great number, well done, Sugoi! (sp?) that means "awesome" in japanese, don't know much more than that.
etraig 1 year ago
Amazing what art can do to unite people. The Japanese really love this musical because they have the same problem: older people enforcing tradition and arranged marriages, while the young want to follow their hearts and do things their own way.
musicfanBRA 1 year ago
that Russian Japanese guy REALLY held that note for a long time!!! amazing!
Arkeyana 1 year ago
I don't think they understood that traditional Jews usually dance Traditional Jewish dances, which really aren't hard to replicate... That was a little disappointing, though I'm sure if we sped up around 2:30, it'd be funny to watch people running in circles waving their arms.... They got the Russians well, though.
It was a pretty good translation though, all considered.
xfx1118 1 year ago
@xfx1118 - I have many Orthodox-Jewish friends, and those dances are very much like the dances I've seen at their weddings and bar mitzvas and so forth.
andyandymax 1 year ago
@andyandymax Odd, I'm Israeli, is why I say that. I don't often see much of that... Interesting...
xfx1118 1 year ago
@xfx1118 - Maybe only by hassidim? come to think of it, I think that's where I've seen it.
andyandymax 1 year ago
oy veh
honshumark 1 year ago
My first thought, what would Emperor Hirohito have thought about this?
slugstucker 2 years ago
That was awesome! Very much like the original, too!
AForceOfHobbit 2 years ago
My High school is doing this now, very complicated yet very beautiful piece. Worth every sweat and thigh cramps ;-)
FlightcrewEmirates 2 years ago
Great post Susan!
To Life, L'Chaim, Kampai!
karlasona 2 years ago
Comment removed
kurt851 2 years ago
I saw the orginal cast from Broadway on the 25th Anniversary Tour at Gotanda in Tokyo. My husband and I were the only two in the audience laughing and enjoying the play. The Japanese subtitles could not really translate the meaning effectively. This performance in Japanese is great and depicts enough Jewish Culture to be understood. We lived & worked in Japan and Okinawa for over 12 years. It is beautifully understandable in Japanese. To Life, L'Chaim, Kampai! Susan
kurt851 2 years ago
Strange, you'd think that with two cultures so set in traditions and a respect toward their past that it would transfer beautifully.
clemenceau16 2 years ago
Comment removed
kurt851 2 years ago
חחחח, גדול!!!
yachichi19 2 years ago
Now you know how Japanese look at you trying to play samurai.
blog2038 2 years ago 8
@blog2038 very insightful!
DrSnook 1 month ago
I'm a neurologist watching this. The movements singing and playing are amazingly Parkinsonian (stiff, rigid, expressionless). In fact I'm thinking of showing this to my medical students!
bigdad285 2 years ago
За Одессу, по японски - круто!!!!
Kiyanovsky68 2 years ago
hahahah!
beprobama 2 years ago
If the words L'Chaim aren't translated in the English version why did they change it here? Am I just hearing it incorrectly? Are they actually trying to say it? And what the hell is with the Russian translation too?! Ridiculous, killed an otherwise nice attempt at a foreign production.
Makes no sense. I liked it except for that. Bad choice on the director/MD or even MTI's part for allowing that be changed.
everythingbobbywolfe 2 years ago
They are singing "Kampei!" which means "to LIfe" in Japanese.
dstack9781 2 years ago
@dstack9781 yup, you're right but when the hebrew "L'Chaim" is called for they are either badly mispronouncing or not saying it which is not the way it's intending in any production or any language. They are Jewish and they would be saying "L'Chaim" purposely because that IS the saying. On any planet or any production the phrase has to be sung in Hebrew. In english we sing ce sera sera in the song "Ce sera sera" because it's a French expression and that's the basis of the meaning.
everythingbobbywolfe 9 months ago
@everythingbobbywolfe - Nope! they are saying "Kampai"! That's "L'Chaim" in Japanese!!!
ipanemared 8 months ago
@everythingbobbywolfe that's "que sera sera" and it's spanish and -just as in the song L'Chaim- the phrase is translated within the lyric of the song ("que sera sera, whatever will be will be"). So really, stop being a pedant.
schrire39 5 months ago
@schrire39 obviously you're not comprehending the point I'm making or else you would not have called me a pedant which of course you should know is some one that throws their "book smarts" or education around superfluously which is not the case here being it is in reference to an artistic choice the director made. The point I made is quite, quite simple...I'll spell it out again in layman's terms: if it's not changed in the English version it shouldn't be changed in any other. Case closed sir.
everythingbobbywolfe 5 months ago
@everythingbobbywolfe er, disagreeing with you is not the same as not "comprehending" you. You've moved from being "pedantic" to being "patronising". Well done. My point is that song lyrics make meaning on their own terms and the same goes for translations of those lyrics. There is nothing that "should" be other than artistic integrity and meaning. Aslo apologies if you felt I was accusing of flaunting your "book smarts" - anyone confusing French and Spanish is clearly doing no such thing.
schrire39 5 months ago
@schrire39 you've certainly hit the nail on the head now as i am patronizing you (as it is actually spelled). I've confused no language w/ the other. You simply cannot comprehend my original point because like most anonymous posters on the internet you read, do not fully comprehend, and initiate an insult. Calling me a pedant is insulting and I fail to see how I insulted you at any point prior to that sir. You insulted and you disagreed with a point I was not making. I forgive you, let's drop it
everythingbobbywolfe 5 months ago
@everythingbobbywolfe that's ok!!! I had already forgiven you :) ps: you might want to check the differences between British and American spelling conventions before you issue your corrections.
schrire39 5 months ago
Great! Really.
Vladipiano 2 years ago
I found it interesting that the translation added "shalom" to the dialogue, but took both the hebrew (L'chaim) and the russian when the tenor starts to sing) out from the song.
bbofun 2 years ago 2
better then topol
motekhall 2 years ago
They did their research well.
p1a2d3w4e5e6 2 years ago
anyone else notice japanese-lenin at 1:43?
mccarthyistcommy 2 years ago
Most excellent! We all share the language of music and expression no matter what ethnicity we are. I'm of Sephardi Jewish stock and at one point in the clip I forgot that this was a Japanese troupe portraying Russian Jews. Col Ha Kavod!
Biggonces 2 years ago 2
One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite shows. At first this clip made me giggle... Japanese playing Jews? I was thinking it was an amateurish attempt at a great scene. But then, as I watched the whole clip, I began to feel the same emotions that the original Broadway cast, and later the feature film, elicited. This material transcends language and culture, it is universal. I was moved to tears when the Japanese Tevye and Constable join hands and dance to life. L'Chaim indeed!
jeffcam63 2 years ago 2
Wonderful!
7inga7 2 years ago
Wonderful payback for Marlon Brando in Tea House of the August Moon, Ricardo Montalban in Sayonara. This company
does a wonderful job with L'Chiam and I'll bet with the rest of
this show.
tizzybean 2 years ago
How incredibly great. I read somewhere that there are linguistic similiarites between Hebrew and Japanese languages.
Thank you.
USABOYMAN 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
i'm a Russian-Jew. i can't stop laughing. i'm about to pee in my pants. lol
DeepHauz 2 years ago
Beautiful. Thank you for posting.
mk181818 2 years ago
campai! campai! לחיים!!!!!!
מגניב.
בשבילנו המזרח זה אקזוטי.
בשבילם יהודים זה אקזוטי...
pink0is 2 years ago 2
exelent
nurit50il 2 years ago 2
Oy-vay!!!! Kosak Fedka sings in Japanese along with The Milkmen....I'm speechless
zubnik1 2 years ago 11
Do Africans have their version of it too? XDD I'm just kidding. I'm not saying it's bad. I think it's funny. Love the original version too. Just never seen Japanese play Jews.
PlanetVerdia 2 years ago
This is absolutely amazing. I love it. Brilliant.
MrCallecc 2 years ago 4
人生に
Mmelech 2 years ago 2
Thank you very much. Beautiful!!!
yakrud01 2 years ago 3
and beautiful!!!
cre8factory 2 years ago 4
this is, hands down, THE most brilliant thing i've seen on youtube!!!! LMAO PIMP ROTFL!!!!!!
cre8factory 2 years ago 2
It's their revenge for "The Mikado".
Why couldn't they have kept the word "L'chaim!" I wonder.
kuffpah1 2 years ago 3
HAHA at the mikado comment!!!!
otherjoe1234 2 years ago
Now we know where is Jewish lost tribe!
stevy6669 2 years ago 3
epic!
eVile14u 2 years ago
YES!!!!!!!!!
kikodawgz 2 years ago 2
English, Yiddish, Japanese...Who can't understand this?? It's great!!
evac93rd 2 years ago 4
good play. So what they wanted to b jewish for the time of the play. Japanise people also want to see it; how Great great job
speakingofdevil 2 years ago
I don't think this is an occasion to demonstrate our wit. This is a joy to see, pure and simple.
videoguy6 2 years ago 2
Funny - they don't look Jewish!
nycbbcoach 2 years ago
Tefilin made in Japan. Guefilte Sushi. Very good !!
betowm 2 years ago 16
@betowm
and samuray Tevie
likafrenk 1 year ago