38 What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese?

<p>On this episode of <em>Ichimon Japan</em> we ask: What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese?</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Topics Discussed<br /></strong></h2> <ul> <li>The most common first person pronouns used in Japanese</li> <li>The tendency for Japanese speakers to avoid using pronouns</li> <li>The lack of true pronouns in Japanese</li> <li>How choosing which first person Japanese pronoun to use can be confusing even for native Japanese speakers</li> <li>Whether <em>ore </em>is only used by tough guys in Japanese</li> <li>Theories about the history and evolution of the first person Japanese pronoun ore</li> <li>Who uses ore</li> <li>The concept of direct index vs indirect index</li> <li>Whether ore is innately masculine</li> <li>What traits people associate with ore</li> <li>Whether women use ore</li> <li>The evolution and history of <em>boku</em></li> <li>What traits are associated with boku</li> <li>Whether women use boku</li> <li>About <em>watashi</em>, <em>watakushi</em>, and <em>atashi</em></li> <li>Using honorific language in Japanese as a way to scare or build a psychological wall with the listener</li> <li>A traumatic experience stemming from someone's reluctance to schoose a pronoun</li> <li>And much more!</li> </ul> <h2 style="padding-left: 40px; text-align: center;"> <strong>Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.</strong></h2> <p>To learn more about Shoe Murakami, check out episode 45 of <em>Japan Station</em>.</p> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.japankyo.com/2020/08/about-shuhei-shoe-murakami/">The Fascinating Life of Stand-Up Comedian Shuhei “Shoe” Murakami | Japan Station 45</a></li> </ul> <p>You can find Shoe Murakami on the following platforms.</p> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWNr34ixo_7YofviTonuQZQ">Standup Comedian Shoe Murakami YouTube Channel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/shuhei.murakami.9">Shoe Murakami on Facebook</a></li> </ul> <p>Here are some of the main English-language sources used while doing the research for this