How Do You Write そ?

The other day I was teaching a friend some ひらがな. I had explained to him when we got to さ that some ひらがな looks different in print than it does in handwriting. Why? I didn't know. But I was taught to write さ like this:

See, the bottom and top don't touch - つながっていない. As I taught him I showed him the stroke order, and then we looked at a Japanese language learning website so he could see how the ひらがな looks in nice handwriting instead of my chicken scratch.

Then we happened upon そ. Like き and さ, I write it differently than it's seen in print:

It kind of has a てん on top, which isn't connected. I showed him, and then we looked at the site... which had written the character in one stroke instead:

Of course I deferred to the better handwriting, guessing that I had just internalized a certain way of writing based off my own (probably bad) habits. But today I happened upon a site that explained that both forms are completely valid. The only difference is that one is more common than the other, according to the Mr. Hideki Oshiki of the  押木研究室 at Joetsu University of Education:

社会的にどちらも「そ」という文字として認められています。一般的には「つながった字形」が多く使用されていますが、これは個人の使用に任せられていると考えられます。

Society accepts both forms of the character そ. The "connected form" is typically used more often, but this can be left up to the individual.

 Mr. Oshiki then goes into the a lot of detail concerning the origin of the character, which type is easier to write/has more 'impact', and how the connected form may have gained more precedence, among other things.

Image from 押木研究室

If you're interested in these kinds of questions, and in trends in calligraphy, the printing of Japanese characters and handwriting, you can find a good deal of information here. There is an English menu as well, and a list of recent updates which aren't reflected on the site's main page.

How do you write そ? Is yours つなげっている？Or つながっていない？

Part 4 of "Happiness Has the Form of a Kitten" (Otsuichi)

Part One Part Two Part Three

The next day school was over and the sun slid by, marking the evening sky in red. The number of passers-by had dwindled, and there was no one but me at the lake. It was quiet. There was no wind, and the water in front of my eyes, still and without the smallest ripple, seemed like it swallowed every living sound. The lake was silent, a single giant mirror spreading over the land.


The lanterns placed at regular intervals around the lake blinked on. The branches of the trees in the forest arched hungrily toward the water, as if trying to jump in. I sat on one of the benches, and after a while Murai appeared. 

"So what'd you call me to this place for?" 

He had parked and walked here. I slid down to give him some space, and he sat on the bench with me. The kitten meowed from inside the bag I'd brought with me. 

"It looks like you found the kitten," he said. 

I nodded and lifted the bag up onto my knees. Inside, there was more than enough room for the kitten. The bell around its neck jingled; it sounded like it was clawing at the inside of the bag. 

"I called you here today because I had something to tell you. There's a chance you won't believe me. But since you lost your best friend here at this pond, it's something I have to tell you, no matter what."

And I started to tell him about the Yukimura and the kitten. How I had enrolled in college and started living in my uncle's house. How the previous tenant, who was supposed to have been killed, hadn't left yet. How she wouldn't let me close the curtains in the afternoons. How the kitten followed her invisible owner around, and loved her old clothes. 

It grew darker at the lake, and we sat motionlessly in the lantern light. Murai didn't interrupt me, just listened to my voice. When I finished the story, he sighed. 


"So that's how it is... Is that all you called me here to say?" he asked. He sounded annoyed. It was clear he didn't believe my words. 


I forced myself to look into his eyes. I honestly wanted to look away, to tell him it was all a joke. But I couldn't cover everything over like that. I knew I couldn't run away from the problem. 


"After the neighbor, Ms. Kino, brought the kitten back in her arms, there were some things I couldn't stop thinking about. For example, why would Yukimura expose her photo paper to light, making it useless?"


"Yukimura is that person in your story, the one that should be dead, right?"


"The day before yesterday, when the kitten disappeared, Yukimura tore the house apart looking for it. She often moved furniture when I wasn't looking. That's why I didn't realize it at first. I thought that she had moved things in the darkroom, like always. But isn't it strange for her do something as inept as purposefully ruining her photo paper? The drawer was left open and the windows weren't closed! It's inconceivable. Someone who didn't know the darkroom must have come in, searching for something, and left the photo paper exposed to light. That someone had no knowledge of photography, or photo paper. At a glance it looks like normal, white paper, doesn't it? But suddenly the owner of the home returned, and that someone left the darkroom without tidying up. Basically, I came to think that the person who moved things in the dark room wasn't Yukimura after all."

"Hold on a second. You've been saying 'Yukimura such-and-such' from the beginning, but this ghost stuff, it's all a story, isn't it?" He laughed, trying somehow to tear down the serious atmosphere of the moment. But the tranquility of the trees, the lake, didn't allow for that.


"Murai, why did you suggest we have beer the night before last? To make me leave to buy the alcohol, so you would be left alone in the house like you wanted. You already know that I don't drink. You made me go and buy the alcohol because you wanted time to search the house, didn't you?"

"Honto ni Honto ni Gokurousan" - Inugami Circus Dan

犬神サーカス団(Inugami Circus Dan, or the Circus Troupe of the Dog God) has been around for quite a while. Like, since 1872, according to their history. They are alive today because they were resurrected by alchemy in 1994 after a hundred year internment. You see, the 4-members of the band are siblings, children of a famous Noh actor of the Inugami family, which kept a crazed, hatred-filled dog's head with which to curse the unfortunate rival, etc. After a time they set out on their own, traveling around as an actor's troupe in Japan, when in 1894 they were buried alive by those who feared that the four had become possessed. After being resurrected in 1994, as I mentioned before, they began a rock-band, because  「もともとロックという表現形態は、怨念を娯楽化し魂の自由を獲得することを目的とした音楽である。それは迫害されて殺された四人の呪いを世間に放電するのに最適な手段であったのだ。」 That is, "(f)rom the beginning, the way of expression known as "rock" has been a kind of music which endeavours to change hatred to pleasure and gain freedom of the soul. It was the most suitable means by which the persecuted and executed four's curse could be discharged over the world."


If this back story doesn't intrigue you, what will? I've been listening to Inugami Circus Dan since high school, and for all of their dark or off-putting songs -- 「 皆殺しのララバイ」 or "Lullaby for a Massacre"  begins 体の中で骨が砕ける, the bones in my body are broken -- they have some fun (and funny) songs. These songs aren't completely devoid of the "this is kind of sad/gross/wrong) factor, but they get a giggle out of me. One of my favourites is ほんとにほんとにご苦労さん. The video is all one-take, and that's pretty impressive too. 

(It's been so bad for you, seriously, thanks for the trouble. It's been hard, let it out, seriously, thanks for the trouble.) Don't you think it's unpleasant, Chief Clerk, sir? You'll never ever be a popular guy but all of your puns are dirty or about you and the people that you talk to only manage a strained smile. Truly truly thanks for all the trouble you went through. Don't you think it's unpleasant, Section Chief, sir? Although you never hear what people have to say you'll muscle your way into a conversation and the stories you tell are always about your manliness. Truly truly thanks for all the trouble you went through. (It's been so bad for you, seriously, thanks for the trouble. It's been hard, let it out, seriously, thanks for the trouble.) Don't you think it's unpleasant, Department Head? Always obsessing over work and work alone you were tossed away by your wife and your kids and now when you retire you will be living on your own. Truly truly thanks for all the trouble you went through. Don't you think it's unpleasant, coworker, sir? When you are on your own you've really got no fight but once you're in a crowd you get carried away and you'll hurt someone and not even think of being contrite. Truly truly thanks for all the trouble you went through. (It's been so bad for you, seriously, thanks for the trouble. It's been hard, let it out, seriously, thanks for the trouble.) Don't you think it's unpleasant, young President? What necktie should you wear today? You can't decide. At the bar you can't decide what drink you want to get. You can't even decide how you should phrase your pick-up lines. Truly truly thanks for all the trouble you went through. Thanks for the trouble, thanks for the trouble, thanks for the trouble.

(もう沢山 かなり悲惨 マジ御苦労さん もう散々 要・発散 マジ御苦労さん) いやじゃありませんか 係長 人気者でもあるまいに ダジャレにシモネタ、自慢ネタ 取引相手も苦笑い ほんとにほんとにほんとにほんとに御苦労さん いやじゃありませんか 課長さん ひとの話は聴かないクセに 突然 会話に割り込んで 語るよいつもの武勇伝 ほんとにほんとにほんとにほんとに御苦労さん (もう沢山 かなり悲惨 マジ御苦労さん もう散々 要・発散 マジ御苦労さん) いやじゃありませんか 部長さん 仕事仕事で気がつけば 女房子供に捨てられて 定年退職一人きり ほんとにほんとにほんとにほんとに御苦労さん いやじゃありませんか 同僚さん 独りだけでは弱いけど 大勢になったら調子こき 平気で誰かを傷つける ほんとにほんとにほんとにほんとに御苦労さん (もう沢山 かなり悲惨 マジ御苦労さん もう散々 要・発散 マジ御苦労さん) いやじゃありませんか 若社長 今日のネクタイ決まらない 飲み屋で注文決まらない くどき文句が決まらない ほんとにほんとにほんとにほんとに御苦労さん 御苦労さん 御苦労さん 御苦労さん

Here's a bonus video of them playing Matsuda Seiko's pop hit, 夏の扉:

Oh, and they each have a blog.

Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya: Takanoyama Shuntarou

The Grand Sumo Tournament began yesterday in Nagoya. It lasts until the 24th of July. That's a lot of Sumo for any enthusiasts in the Nagoya area. I wonder if my host father as tickets! If you happen to be there try visiting the official event site. Otherwise, you can see match results in English and watch it streaming (if you have WM11 installed) here.

Today the Asahi Shimbun's English edition had an article about a Czech-born wrestler who, after 10 years in Japan, finally moved to the second-highest level, 十両 juuryou,from the third ranking 幕下　makushita division in the wake of a bout-fixing scandal (八百長・やおちょう) that banned many of the top-ranking wrestlers from competition. Incidentally, did you know if you type 相撲 into Google, the third suggestion down is 相撲八百長?

Anyway, what I thought was interesting about the Czech sumou wrestler, whose wrestling name is Takanoyama Shuntarou, was his (comparatively) diminutive stature. And yet he can really hold his own, if this video is any indication. It's a pretty exciting bout.

 He doesn't do so well here, though.

You may say, "What about the fact that he's a foreigner doing sumou? Isn't that impressive?" I will say I was surprised when I first realized that foreigners did sumou - officially, and in Japan! But yes, foreigners also participate in sumou, and even reach the upper-most ranks. Asashouryuu, who I wrote about earlier, is from Mongolia, for example. Most seem to be from there; others are from places like Russia and Georgia, South Korea, China, even places further abroad such as Brazil and the United States. But I've never seen such a (relatively) tiny sumou wrestler before. I don't watch much sumou, but he's definitely rare for his size. Takanoyama is around 230 pounds, 160 pounds or so lighter than most wrestlers.  Of course size is not necessarily a determining factor - there was a sumou wrestler in the late 90's named Mainoumi who was lighter and smaller than Takanoyama (so small that he had silicone implanted in his head to meet the height requirement) and still made his way to the top. Check him out in action:

Takanoyama trains at Naruto Beya in Chiba, which has a 'diary' blog if you're interested in sumou and want to work on your reading skills!

Part 3 of "Happiness Has the Form of a Kitten" (Otsuichi)

Part 1 Part 2


It happened the last week of June. That day it was clear all morning, with no sign of anything that might obstruct the sun. The rain started in the evening, so I ended up soaked on my walk home from school. Naturally, I had left the house without an umbrella, but I didn't even think of stopping on the way home to buy one. I wasn't carrying anything that couldn't get wet.

There was no one around the lake that I always passed by. Wooden benches were installed at regular intervals,  turned lonesomely toward the water. The opposite bank of the lake, blurred with rain, was foggy, and a haze hung between the water and the woods. There was no sign of life; the quiet sound of rain alone reigned over the lake and woods. My eyes were arrested by the unearthly scene, and I stood for a long while staring at the water. It was so cold the early summer seemed like a lie.


The quiet lake that spread before my eyes had stolen Murai's friend away. Its waters reflected an ash-colored sky. I was walking toward the lake as if being sucked in, but I didn't realize this until I was stopped by a thin fence.


The thought that Murai's friend might still be near this lake remained with me. They said his body had been removed. But he could still be there, like Yukimura, rising, sinking into the lake again and again. I thought it would be worth it to search the area more thoroughly. Even if he wasn't visible to human eyes, maybe the kitten would be able to find him. Murai needed to speak with his dead friend. That's what I thought. I had to come here with the kitten sometime.


I left the lake and began to walk home. When I got home, there might be a towel ready for me in the entryway. She could know that I'd be coming home soaked, and wait for me with dry clothes. Maybe she'd put out hot coffee to warm me up.


I felt an incomprehensible pain. I wondered how long this lifestyle could last. She would leave at some point. To that place where everyone goes eventually. Why didn't she leave now? Did she decide not to the moment she lost her life? Maybe she worried about the kitten she would leave behind.


The police said that the person who stabbed Yukimura was a robber. They still hadn't found the culprit.  Once in a while police officers would come to the house, talk, and leave. While it was  obvious she was loved by everyone, she didn't appear to have any close friends her age in the neighborhood. It couldn't be said that the crime was committed by someone she knew, just that she was attacked, unfortunately, by a robber who had come randomly to the house. It was a sad accident, equal to being struck by lightning and killed, or dying in an airplane crash.


In this world, there are many things that make you want to lose hope. Both Murai and I don't have the power to oppose that; all we can do is fall onto our knees and pray to God. We must wait for the sadness to pass over us with closed eyes and stopped ears, curled into ourselves.


What could I do for Yukimura?

"Shima Uta" - The Boom

I fell in love with "Shima Uta" the first time I heard it. It had the Okinawan sound I had come to love in my short time in Okinawa and beautiful lyrics. The sugar cane lines? They get me every single time. I also love the traditional style of singing. I've been listening to it for a year or so now, but I hadn't realized that it was inspired by the plight of the Okinawan people during WWII, who hid in caves to escape American soldiers. The singer of The Boom, Kazufumi Miyazawa, wrote the song after hearing one Okinawan's tale of survival. Since its debut, it has been covered countless times by many singers, including a singer of the Okinawan dialect; a rock star trained in traditional 民謡(folk) singing; and an Argentian, whose version was on the top of the charts for a while despite being in Japanese. These versions follow the lyrics below.

でいごの花が咲き風を呼び嵐が来た でいごが咲き乱れ風を呼び嵐が来た くり返す悲しみは島渡る波のよう ウージの森であなたと出会い ウージの下で千代にさよなら 島唄よ風に乗り鳥とともに海を渡れ 島唄よ風に乗り届けておくれ私の涙 でいごの花も散りさざ波がゆれるだけ ささやかな幸せはうたかたの波の花 ウージの森で歌った友よ ウージの下で八千代の別れ 島唄よ風に乗り鳥とともに海を渡れ 島唄よ風に乗り届けておくれ私の愛を 海よ、宇宙よ、神よ、いのちよ、このまま永遠に夕凪を 島唄よ風に乗り鳥とともに海を渡れ 島唄よ風に乗り届けておくれ私の涙 島唄よ風に乗り鳥とともに海を渡れ 島唄よ風に乗り届けておくれ私の愛

The deigo flower bloomed and called the wind, and the storm has come The deigo flowers blossomed and called the wind, and the storm has come This recurring sadness is like the waves that cross the island I met you in a field of sugar cane Under the sugar cane, we say goodbye forever Oh island song, ride upon the wind, and with the birds cross over the sea Oh island song, ride upon the wind and carry off my tears The deigo flowers fall, the ripples only tremble This small happiness is fleeting, like flowers on the waves You sang in the fields of sugar cane, my friend Under the sugar cane, we part for eternity Oh island song, ride upon the wind and with the birds cross the sea Oh island song, ride upon the wind and carry off my love Oh Ocean, oh Cosmos, oh God, oh Life, grant us the evening calm of this moment forever Oh island song, ride upon the wind, and with the birds cross over the sea Oh island song, ride upon the wind and carry off my tears Oh island song, ride upon the wind and with the birds cross the sea Oh island song, ride upon the wind and carry off my love