

The team is eating breakfast at cycling camp in [Yowamush
Pedal](http://www.crunchyroll.com/yowamushi-pedal/episode-13-imaizumi-and-
narukos-1000km-648479) episode 13, beginning at about time mark 2:45. We see
the MC Onoda eating:

[![Onoda eating modest
sandwich](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mqEWc.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mqEWc.jpg)

One of his third year senpai, Tadokoro, sees this, and isn't having it:

> Hey now! What are you eating?!  
>  Is that a snack? It's so little!  
>  You have to eat more!  
>  You'll drop out after the second day!  
>  I'll share my Tadokoro Bakery Tadokoro Special **Burger** with you.
> [![Tadakoro offering huge sandwich to
> Onoda](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RXsUi.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RXsUi.jpg)
>
> [A _Tadokoro Bakery_ food truck had just been shown. I don't know if it is
> related to the character's family.]
>
> Don't hold back. Eat.  
>  (Onoda): There's no way!

In addition to the over-the-top (I assume) hilarity , the word **burger**
stood out. **Is that a poor translation of the Japanese word for _sandwich_?
Or maybe they are the same word in Japanese?** (There is a long-running (since
1930) American comic strip named
[Blondie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blondie_\(comic_strip\)), and her
husband is named _Dagwood_. Since he loves huge, multi-layered sandwiches such
as these, they were known as _Dagwood sandwiches_. I'm not sure that term is
still known generally, though.)

The scene takes place during the second day of their camp. Each team member
must ride 1000 km over the course of four days. I realize they will be burning
calories like crazy, but -- geez!


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-07T21:03:49.407
38846
2017-11-08T07:50:25.283
2017-02-07T21:09:53.147
19670
19670
question
japanese-language yowamushi-pedal
Hilarious, but is it a "burger"?


(This "answer" is technically a reply to a comment, but it includes a
picture.)

> But one certain thing, it's not a wordplay at all. – Aki Tanaka

I can accept that the word **burger** in itself may not be wordplay. That may
well have snuck in due to the overlap in meaning between _sandwich_ and
_hamburger_. But let's compare the anime scene to the same panel from the
manga by Wataru Watanabe:

[![Onoda faces Tadokoro deluxe special
burger](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YgMfv.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YgMfv.png)
(acquired from this [Wikia
page](http://yowamushipedal.wikia.com/wiki/Training_Camp); I love this panel
because the rye bread is called out, as well as Onoda's final line, _And the
banana's sticking out!!_ )

Compare Tadokoro's description:

  * (manga) _Tadokoro Deluxe Special Burger_
  * (anime) _Tadokoro Bakery Tadokoro Special Burger_

Why did the anime add the extra complexity? I have listened to that part
several times; My non-Japanese ears do not hear anything special, such as
rhyme or tongue twister. If it were that, a commenter would have likely
mentioned it. But I believe there is a reason the anime intentionally repeated
"Tadokoro". The only reason I can think of for doing so is some sort of
wordplay in those five words.

Theory ( _added 16:45 10feb17_ ): There is subtle wordplay. It involves both
**Tadokoro** and **burger**. Most Japanese are well aware that their
pronunciation of the latter (" _baagaa_ ") lacks the _r_ sound from the
original English. Yet here is a guy whose surname actually contains an _r_
sound -- I can hear it in the anime. The two _Tadokoro_ s supply the **r** s
missing from _baagaa_. ... I'm not saying this theory is likely or even
broadly funny, but it is what my subconscious came up with. It is a subtle
joke of the ear, mind, and context, which may be why the animators could add
it to a scene which was already really funny.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-09T07:48:33.550
38868
2017-02-10T21:54:15.223
2017-02-10T21:54:15.223
19670
19670
38846
answer


I don't know the creators' intentions, so it may be have been a
mistranslation. But [two of the claimants of the invention of a
hamburger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger#Claims_of_invention) served
the patty between two slices of bread. In the last hundred years, the meaning
of "burger" may have changed to exclude preparations made with sliced bread,
except for the fact that the descendants of one of the original inventors
still serve it that way, and still call it a "burger".

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/r0EX7.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/r0EX7.jpg)

To quote from <http://louislunch.com/menu/>,

> The birthplace of the hamburger sandwich, Louis’ Lunch is a family-owned
> restaurant located in the heart of New Haven, CT. Currently run by the 4th
> generation, our restaurant has been satisfying customers’ hearty appetites
> since 1895. We have served customers from across the U.S. and are proud to
> be recognized by The Travel Channel, The Food Network, and many other
> television and print organizations.
>
> Louis’ Lunch is committed to serving a classic hamburger that is hand-rolled
> from a proprietary blend of five cuts of meat, ground fresh daily. All of
> our burgers are cooked to order in the original cast-iron grills dating back
> to 1898. We want you to experience the meat’s true flavor, so **we serve it
> on white toast** with only cheese, onion, and tomato as garnishes. [emphasis
> mine]

In conclusion, their usage of the word "burger" may get them funny looks by
most people. But historically, people may not have found their usage odd. And
there are still people around who would serve (and accept) sliced bread for
burgers.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-10T04:07:12.793
41790
2017-08-10T04:07:12.793
2020-06-17T09:17:53.303
-1
35014
38846
answer