Heavy Metal Rockin’ Japanese

Since I have been transferred to Tuner department, I didn’t know any headquarter members from Japan until last week when one of our Mechanical Designers arrived! So, there will be no more Murata-san this time but Miyazaki-san. He is around 40 years old and at first, he seems like a very strict and serious person. But he cannot hide the real him from me because I just know how to bring it out! That is why, after just 1 day of working with me.. I managed to expose the real him!!

He is actually a very funny guy. He laughs a lot and shockingly he is Metallica fan just like me!! He played guitar and even have his own band when he was younger. Not only that, he also knows a lot about other famous bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple etc quite well! I never met any Japanese that enjoys heavy metal before. This is the first time. Since I never heard Metallica song in Japanese accent before, I asked him to sing one song for me. Then he chooses to sing “Sad But True”. Fuuyyooo…he is really one cool Japanese although he was actually ruining that song pretty well!!

While working with him, we have to drive to our vendor almost everyday for 7 days. It also means that free expensive western lunch for me everyday. Haha!! At one time, while driving back from Malacca, my handphone was ringing with Space Cop Gaban’s theme song. He was quite shocked and asked me how do I know Gaban / Gyaban / Gavan? I told him Gaban is very popular in Malaysia about 17 years ago. He told me that in Japan, Gaban gained popularity about 25 years ago and he wondered why there is almost 8 years of gap!! Here is what I told him…

It is normal for Japanese to retire in Malaysia because in Japan, not only that the cost of living is very expensive but there are also too many monsters around, stepping on big buildings and killing people! Same goes with Space Cop Gaban, after retirement from the Space Police Force, he chose to retire in Malaysia and now maybe he can be found in Mont Kiara with Ultraman Hayata and Masked Rider! It is actually a sarcastic joke but he loved that joke so much and he couldnt stop repeating it and laughing all the way to back Bandar Baru Bangi. He kept on singing the Gaban’s song and offered me to translate this verse..

Wakasa Wakasa tte nan da
Furimukanai koto sa
Ai tte nan da Tamerawanai koto sa
Gyaban! Abayo namida
Gyaban! Yoroshiku yuuki
Uchuu Keiji Gyaban!

This is the translation that I got from him..

Young…young…what is young
No regret
Love.. what is love..
Never hesitate

Gaban..good bye tears
Gaban…thanks for your bravery
Space cop Gaban..

To me the song sounded like a rock song but the lyrics is so much of a love song…
EEmmmm….no difference with our own rock bands at that time.

Now I wonder…. if Gaban really does exist and retired in Malaysia, he must be the first person our Angkasawan should seek for advice..