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DOZO means please. And because the Japanese are such a polite and pleasant people, it pops into their conversation as often as does the word ne, a question-mark word which apparently doesn't mean much of anything. (For instance, "You pay money now, ne?")

Brittle yet nice, the word dozo is typical of the language. The Japanese often pronounce it with a rolling sound, saying do-o-o-zo. The American equivalent to this prolonged pronouncement is "pretty please with sugar."

The GI has a fascinating, a frantic, and a downright funny time learning the Japanese language. It is full of weird and baffling structures. But in time, because he likes to be able to talk to the people in their own language, he does learn at least the more common words and phrases.

The Japanese apparently do the same. Because, more often than not, when the serviceman says domo arigato to a Japanese, he will say you re welcome; when the serviceman says ohaiyo gozaimasu, he will say good morning; when the serviceman says konnichi wa, he will say good afternoon; and when the serviceman says komban wa, he will say good evening.

It's frustrating but fun.

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