When Australian musician Tal Wilkenfeld randomly asked a fellow coffee shop patron for translation help, we don’t think this was quite what she was expecting.
Tal Wilkenfeld gained international fame after playing bass alongside artists such as Eric Clapton, Toto, Herbie Hancock and Jeff Beck, with whom she toured during her last visit to Japan in 2009. This time she’s back to debut with her very own band, appropriately named the Tal Wilkenfeld Band, and is scheduled to perform a number of shows in Tokyo and Osaka.
In order to promote her November and December performances, Wilkenfeld uploaded a humorous promotional video of her and a Japanese translator, which quickly became a hot topic among netizens.
Most viewers in Japan and abroad saw the humor in the video and praised it for its originally, with some even volunteering to translate for Wilkenfeld should a future need arise. On the other hand, a handful of netizens took the video rather seriously and accused the video of being insensitive and even “racist”, for some reason.
One thing everyone seemed to agree on, however, is how amazing the artist’s hair is.
While it goes without saying the stereotype that all Japanese people can’t speak English is an unfair one, in Japan it’s also highly unlikely in you’ll find many fluent English speakers just chilling at your neighborhood Starbucks. Heck, sometimes even professional companies have trouble finding translation help.
Wilkenfeld promises Japanese concert-goers that she’ll be performing all-new material at her upcoming gigs, so we recommend anyone interested check out Billboard Live for more details and ticket reservations.
Source: YouTube/Tal Wilkenfeld via Yurukuyaru
Feature/top image: YouTube/Tal Wilkenfeld
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
6 surprising things about having a baby in Japan
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
6 surprising things about having a baby in Japan
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Japanese company selling bear-proof automatic doors
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Nintendo releases Metroid-shaped ice cube/cooking tray and Samus arm cannon pillow【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases the new Soupuccino, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
Osaka teen arrested for hacking into Internet cafe’s app to steal data, was helped by Chat-GPT
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Japanese company selling bear-proof automatic doors
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Nintendo releases Metroid-shaped ice cube/cooking tray and Samus arm cannon pillow【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases the new Soupuccino, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
Osaka teen arrested for hacking into Internet cafe’s app to steal data, was helped by Chat-GPT
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
We try “the worst-tasting ramen in Japan” – How bad could it be?【Taste test】
Mop dogs are here to clean your floors with their furry bodies
Sushi passed up by ramen in survey of foreign tourists’ favorite thing to eat in Japan, but why?
Toyota City civil servant arrested for using government access to run a detective agency
Foreign driver’s license conversion test passes plummet from over 90% to 33% in Japan
Leave a Reply