I hope your family has something special planned for you! Happy birthday Tomo!
Wishing you a fabulous stellar day Tomo!! Happy Birthday to you my favorite guitar teacher :) you are awesome. Wishing you and yours lots of laughter and bliss on your special day. All in music, peace, and love, - johno
Happy 60th birthday, Tomo-san!
Please continue to guide everyone to a happy guitar life!
Happy Birthday Tomo!
WE REALLY appreciate you and all you do to help us here at GW.
We are so lucky to have you for a friend and teacher.
Hope you have a super-duper fun day!
Kurt
Happy Birthday Tomo!!
All the best for you; thanks a lot for your effort and wisdom
Juan
Happy birthday to Tomo ! 🎂
Wish you happiness and health !
And have a super sweet birthday :)
Very thankful all you do , So lucky be here ♥️
A grateful teacher and friend for us , Thank you Tomo !
Happy birthday Tomo!! Wishing you all the best! ❤️🙏🎸
Tomo, happiest of birthday wishes to you! Welcome to "Level 6". Celebrate these milestones that you have earned, they become the memories of a lifetime.
Happy birthday Tomo!!!
Happy Birthday Tomo!
Oh man - late to the party. Hope you have a great birthday Tomo!
Thank you so much guys!
Thank you for your kind words!
I taught all morning at Berklee... then I did two tape lessons this afternoon.
Tomo
Happy Birthday, Tomo sensei!
還暦も迎えられておめでとうございます！
I do now a LITTLE Japanese (and I cannot read Kanji). With that said and with a little (okay, a lot of) assistance from Grok:
Japanese
トモ・フジタ様、
お誕生日おめでとうございます！60歳という素晴らしい節目を迎えられて、心からお祝い申し上げます。61歳の私、ラルフ・H（ラルフ・エイチ）から見ても、トモさんはまるで「若弟」のようにエネルギッシュで、ギターの魔法でみんなを魅了し続けていますね！これからもその素晴らしい音楽と笑顔で、世界を明るくしてください。健康と幸せを祈っています！
敬具、ラルフ・H
Phonetic English
Tomo Fujita-sama,
O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu! Rokujussai to iu subarashii sekime o mukaerarete, kokoro kara o-iwai moushiagemasu. Rokujuuissai no watashi, Rarufu Eichi kara mite mo, Tomo-san wa marude "otouto" no you ni enerugisshu de, gitaa no mahou de minna o miryoushi tsuzukete imasu ne! Kore kara mo sono subarashii ongaku to egao de, sekai o akaruku shite kudasai. Kenkou to shiawase o inotte imasu!
Keigu, Rarufu Eichi
English
Dear Tomo Fujita,
Happy Birthday! Congratulations on reaching the incredible milestone of 60 years young! From this 61-year-old, Ralph H., you’re like the “younger brother” I never had—full of energy and still captivating everyone with your guitar magic. Keep shining with your amazing music and smile, lighting up the world. Wishing you health and happiness in the year ahead!
With respect, Ralph H.
Ralph, what a nice note. I enjoyed the phonetic translation that you included.
ありがとうございます！
素晴らしい！
Amazing! Your Japanese is really happening!
Thanks so much!
Tomo
That's amazing Ralph! Your and Glock's Japanese is perfect!! :)
森田忠さん、温かい言葉と励ましを本当にありがとう！
Morita Tadashi-san, atatakai kotoba to hagemashi o hontō ni arigatō!
Tadashi Morita, thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement!
It is mostly Grok but I know enough to kind of puzzle it out and (hopefully) not say anything terribly offensive. Also, if it's very important, I have a Japanese friend, Yuka, who I met in culinary school, and I can ask her to review. She helped me with a Japanese message in a birthday card to one of my nieces who is interested in Japan and has learned a little Japanese.
My wife also knew some Japanese. She helped a Japanese student in grad school and he taught her a bit of Japanese in return. Then she studied more at Japan Society in NYC. (And I took some classes with her there too.)
She loved to listen to Gackt and watch interviews and tried to learn his style of Okinawan (?) Japanese.
She did a very funny Gackt impression!
Best wishes,
- Ralph
So cool Ralph!