Japanese Mumsnetter sought, or able to communicate in Japanse

[TheMoreItSnows]

Long story I'll try to keep it short, very precious toy dog, placed on woodburner, melted to a frazzle, hysterical 3 yr old, hyperventilating - the works.

Contacted manufacturer - no longer made. Searched the internet high and low for replacement - found one on a Japanese website - I need to try to contact them to find out if they have any in stock - please can anyone help me??

[Lionstar]

My brother is fluent in Japanese, he could maybe draft an email for you?

[catinthehat2]

Write email in very simple terms, putting request for Japanese person who reads English to look at it as first line of note.

TRanslate the lot using Babelfish, attach English verion as well
Send it
Hope for best.

[flyingcloud]

I thought you meant an actual toy breed ! Please tell me that I am wrong...

[TheMoreItSnows]

Hi Guys - great advice thanks - if I were to ring the number in Kobe that is on the website what do you reckon are the chances of someone being able to speak English to me on the phone? (Strangely it seems to be a chocolate shop - with side line in soft toys!)

Lionstar - I shall try a simple English e mail and then if I ahve no luck ca I come back to you?

Flying - Fear not you are indeed wrong, soft/cuddly toy...!!

[Lionstar]

No problem. I'm my bro won't mind being press-ganged

[TheMoreItSnows]

I've just tried Babelfish - it translates my e mail but the result is just a load of 'boxes' rather than japanese symbols...am I being dim or do I need to do something else?

[TheMoreItSnows]

Lionstar - no luck from the e mail I sent in English - I wonder if you could get back in touch with me so we could explore your brother's translation of an e mail? Thanks

[Lionstar]

Hi, do you have CAT? If you do then ping me a message (bit reluctant to put my email here). If you can send me a draft email I'll forward to my bro. BTW Japanese characters won't render on your PC if you don't have a Jap character set installed. I'll see if my bro can send an email directly from his account to prevent any mangling of the characters.

[TheMoreItSnows]

Hi Lion, I don't have CAT, but am happy for you to mail me, our e mail address is widely available on the web. You can reach me at sequoia tree services (with no spaces between each word) at gmail dot com. Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Lionstar]

Have emailed you