More than 70 years ago, my younger sister and I had a Japanese babysitter. Her name was Muniko and was an exchange student at the College at New Paltz (1955-59). Our mother Adeliade McKinney edited newspapers in Ulster County and we grew up with afterschool help. Muniko was one of our babysitting crew.  I’m remembering her because I asked her what I could say to the girls in our 5th grade class for Valentine’s Day in Japanese. I asked her to teach me to say kiss me quick baby (I was 9 or 10!).

She taught me to say “heshe tay hi a ko”. Out of curiosity I looked online recently and found that phrase. Using online AI here’s what I found.

“That is a lovely memory! It sounds like your babysitter was teaching you a very playful, slightly sassy phrase that perfectly captures the "Kiss me quick, baby!" sentiment.

Based on what you heard ("heshe tay hi a ko"), you were likely saying a combination of Shite (do it) and Hayaku (quickly).

What you were saying was the phrase was almost certainly:

"Kisu shite, hayaku!" (キスして、早く！)

Here is how the sounds break down to match your memory:

• Kisu (Sounds like Key-su): The Japanese loanword for "Kiss." (In quick speech, the "Ki" can be soft, or she might have omitted it, leaving just "Shite.")
• Shite (Sounds like your heshe-tay): This means "do it" or "give me."
• Hayaku (Sounds like your hi-a-ko): This means "quickly" or "hurry up."

When put together, "Shite, hayaku!" translates to "Do it, quickly!" In the context of a "kiss me" lesson, it translates perfectly to "Kiss me, quick!"”

I hope Muniko continues to be alive. In my memory, she lives!

For those who might want to know more:

How to write it

Depending on how formal or "cute" she wanted it to look, there are a few ways to write it. Since she was your babysitter and it was a playful phrase, the most likely versions are:

1. Katakana (For the word "Kiss") + Hiragana (Standard)

キスして、早く！

• キス (Kisu) — Kiss
• して (shite) — do it
• 早く (hayaku) — quickly/fast

2. All Hiragana (Very cute/childlike)

きすして、はやく！

3. Kanji (More formal/written)

接吻して、早く (Note: "Seppun" is the older, more formal word for kiss, but "Kisu" was already very common 70 years ago due to Western influence).

A Bit of Context

Seventy years ago (the mid-1950s), Japan was heavily influenced by American pop culture and cinema. Using the English loanword "Kisu" was considered very trendy and "modern" for a young woman to teach a child.

The fact that it stuck with you for seven decades is a testament to what a fun teacher she was!

Muniko, I’m thinking about you today! Domo arigato gozaimasu!!

Bruce McKinney, who lived at 67 North Plattekill Avenue, Ext.