MovieChat Forums > The Karate Kid Part II (1986) Discussion > Why does he call him Daniel-san?

Why does he call him Daniel-san?

posted 4 years ago by avortac4 (3746)
4 replies | jump to latest

I know the initial reason - Japanese culture uses honorifics, and someone that was born in Okinawa would have this cultural feature deeply embedded in their treatment of others.

However, when japanese people become friends, using honorifics is usually dropped, because it's just too formal. It would almost be like calling your friend 'mister' in english, it would just feel clunky, weird and almost insulting.

So why does Miyagi-san still use honorifics even in the second movie?

Haven't they been good friends for a long time already? Haven't they been through a lot together? Haven't they drank and joked around together?

Miyagi-san is comfortable enough with Daniel to share his history and other vulnerabilities with him, even in this movie, and YET not comfortable enough to drop the honorifics?

What's going on?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Well, miss off the honorific in front of a Samurai warrior and you're likely to get your head chopped off!

In the TV version of James Clavell's Shogun, Pilot Major John Blackthorne is shipwrecked off of Japan and is rescued by the local Samurai, who treats him and his (to them) uncivilised crew with contempt. When Blackthorne is introduced to the Samurai by a Jesuit priest who happens to be bilingual, Blackthorne casually misses off the honorific that the Jesuit stated he should use, and the Samurai suddenly becomes enraged. Blackthorne swiftly corrects himself and the matter is resolved.

It seems that any kind of honorific is needed for formal situations, like -san for general use, -sama for important personages, and -sensei for a teacher.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 4 years ago

It is a mark of respect also.
Blackthorne is initially known as Anjin (Pilot). He later demands that they say Anjin-san .

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yes, and quite right, too. It can't just be one way, it has to be reciprocated. He does earn their respect later on, anyway.

[–] mcqueen (1150) 4 years ago

it's a gay thing