New Blog

Wow, it's been a long time since I was in Nagoya.

I'm still studying Japanese but rather than clutter up this page, I've made a new, keep-me-accountable-in-my-studies-blog here. I've been thinking about moving the translations I've made here over there, too, so this page can stay study-abroad/Nagoya-centric, but we'll see.

御神酒天神, or Gods Enjoying Alcohol

Saw this commercial the other day, featuring Demon Kakka and Karina. Does Demon Kakka and what happens to his face remind you of anyone I've introduced you to before?

Yes, the からくり人形 mechanical puppet representing a god/spirit whose face gets red when he drinks! Well, you probably got the joke even without that extra bit of knowledge, so I can't take credit for teaching you anything...

...unless I teach you something more right now, that is. I learned a bit more about this sacred-sake loving spirit - he's called 御神酒天神・おみきてんじん by the way, but we'll just call him Mickey. This karakuri 'mechanism' started off as a hanging scroll constructed like so. When you put out sacred sake for the gods, you pulled a string on the back of the scroll. This released the red paper, causing the god's face appear to have reddened with drink, as if he'd enjoyed your offering. 

Mickey also has a pretty sweet song about him getting a little tipsy (at least, that's what it sounds like to me). 

A New Blog for All Your Japanese Literature News

My friend Will of Wednesday Afternoon Picnic has started a new blog about high Japanese literature, called Junbungaku:

This is a place for news on what is going on in the contemporary Japanese literary world. Because to my knowledge, there isn’t a site like this out there for English speakers. A consolidated source for news, reviews, commentary, analysis, and more.

Sounds like a good time, am I right? His latest post (just made today) is about one of the Kikuchi Kan Prize's latest winners, Tsumura Setsuko.

I look forward to his first book reviews on the new site!

"Suki sa" - Anzen Chitai

I dare you not to think S-s-s! A-a-a! F-f-f! E-e-e! T-t-t! Y-y-y! in your head when you think of Anzen Chitai and how their name means "safety zone".

Recently Anzen Chitai started their national tour after reuniting last year after a hiatus of nearly a decade. I don't know much about them, outside of a couple of songs that I've heard over the years. They formed in the 70's (as a bunch of high schoolers in Hokkaido) and played nearly a decade before debuting (and becoming super popular) in the eighties. They went the separate ways in the nineties, doing their own projects, then popped up in the 2000's for a while, and then popped off once again, until last year.

『好きさ』 is the first song of theirs that I heard. I don't think it's the most popular, but I like it (and the lead singer Tamaki is sporting a pretty sweet hair/beard style on the video) so I present it to you here. It happens to be the theme song of Maison Ikkoku, by Rumiko Takahashi of Ranma 1/2 fame.

Youtube is a go-to if you're interested in any of their many other songs/albums. The video here also has a translation attached, different from my own. (Regarding the translation - specifically the line とまらない熱いときめきに / 涙をみせないで: I was a little hung up on that に. When I read it I took it as a sign that とまらない熱いときめき is the cause for the 涙, in the way that you "cry for/with shame". It sounds strange though and I'm not sure if the lines are supposed to be connected at all. Maybe it's just "Unstoppable hot palpitation/Don't show your tears" [or a more poetic version of that]. What do you, O Possibly Nonexistent But Appreciated If Existent Reader, think?)

好きさ しびれるほど 好きさ くやしいほど おそれるものは なにもない 好きさ 忘れられない きりがない甘い接吻を 風がむりにほどく とまらない熱いときめきに 涙をみせないで 好きさ しびれるほど 好きさ くやしいほど 思いつめれば 狂いそう 好きさ はなしたくない 帰れない あなたの肌にも 夜がしのびこんで しかたない  別れ間際には 無傷じゃいられない 憎めない つめたいしぐさは 逢えないとつらくて  やるせない あなたのその声 心がこわれそう 好きさ 好きさ…

I love you so much that it numbs me  I love you so much it disturbs me  There is nothing that can hurt us I love you -- I can't forget you A million sweet kisses  as we're torn apart by the wind  Don't cry for this endless feverish heartbeat I love you so much that it numbs me I love you so much it disturbs me  When I think about you, I fear that I'll go mad I love you -- I never want to leave you  We can't go back Evening has drawn over your skin  It's no use we can't walk away unscathed  I can't hate your coldness I long for it when we can't meet When I hear that woeful voice of yours I fear my heart will break  I love you  I love you...

Part 5 (last) of "Happiness Has the Form of a Kitten" (Otsuichi)

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four



Murai hadn't been to school for one week. 


That morning I was having trouble getting up, and the curtains weren't open. When I realized this, I had a sad premonition. 


I got out of my futon and walked around the house. The floorboards were cold against my feet. I heard nothing but the low hum of the refrigerator in the deathly quiet. Suddenly the kitten meowed. It sounded like a child that had lost its parents as it wandered around the house, its voice full of anxiety and confusion.  I knew that she was no longer here. The kitten must have been searching for Yukimura, unable to find her. This was the first time it had ever been truly separated from its owner. 


I sat in a chair. This was the table where Yukimura listened to the radio at night. I sat there and thought of her for a long time, silent. 


I knew this day would come. And I predicted that I would be plagued with the sense of her loss. I understood all of it. I would just be going back to what it was like before. I could close the windows and lock myself away in my box-like room, just as I had intended in the first place. 


If I had done that, I wouldn't have been feeling this kind of sadness. 


It's painful to be connected with something. If I hadn't met anyone, I would never have felt envy, jealousy, or rage. If I had never grown close to anyone, I would never have experienced the pain of parting from them. 

She was murdered. What had she really been thinking as she lived here after that? When I thought that she might have cried in despair at what had been done to her, my chest grew tight. 


I'd always wished I could give her part of my own lifespan. If it meant she could live again, I wouldn't mind dying. As long as I could see her and the kitten happy, I'd ask for nothing else.


What was my life worth, in the first place? Why did she have to die, instead of me?


It took me a long time to notice the strange envelope on top of the table. I sprang forward and took it in my hands. It was a simple yellow envelope. It was addressed to me in her handwriting. From: Saki Yukimura.

I opened the envelope with trembling fingers. Inside, there was a single photograph and a slip of paper.


It was a photograph of myself and the kitten. I was laid out alongside the kitten, sleeping, an expression of perfect happiness on my face. It was maybe the most peaceful face I'd ever seen myself make in my life; a face I'd never seen in the mirror; a face that she saw through her unique filter. 


I read the letter. 


Sorry for taking a picture of you sleeping without asking. You just looked so cute, I took it before I realized what I was doing.

It's the first time I've been able to write this well. It's kind of weird. I felt like we'd developed some kind of communication between us, so I didn't think a letter was necessary. The next thing I knew us two and the kitten were living together, nestled close.

But I have to go soon. I wanted to be with you, and with the kitten, forever, but I can't do it. I'm sorry.

You probably don't know how grateful I am to you. I'm already dead but every day was really fun. I'm glad I met you. God is wonderful to have given me such a great gift. Thanks. We didn't always know what one another was thinking, or understand each other. We just had each other at our side. That was enough. I am dead and I had no one to rely on, but that made me happy. And plus, you didn't peek into my room or change it around.

The kitten died, didn't it. It's so sad. It might not realize that it's dead yet. That's how I was - I went about my daily life, without realizing I'd been killed. But the kitten will find out sooner or later that its dead, too. And I think it will leave you as well. But I don't want you to be sad when that time comes.

I don't think I'm unhappy; I don't think the kitten is either. There are a million things in this world that make you want to give up hope. There are times that you'll wish you had no eyes, and no ears.

But there are things so beautiful they make you want to cry, millions of them, in this world too. I've seen things so wonderful that I can't breathe. I'm thankful that this world exists, and that I got to be a part of it - even though it was only a small part. I always felt that way when I steady the camera and release the shutter. I was murdered, but I love this world. I can't help loving it. So I don't want you to hate it.

I want to tell you this: look at the photo I put with this letter. You've got a great expression on your face. You're a part of this limitless, beautiful world too. So doesn't that make you one of the things that I love with all my heart?

Saki Yukimura


The kitten wandered throughout the house, but never found her; it twined itself around my feet. After a pause I called out to it, happily, thinking I'd try to cheer it up.


Summer break had begun and there was no need to go to school. I thought I'd clean and do the laundry. But first, I would open up the curtains and the window, and let in some air. 


I stood on the porch and looked at the garden, where the plants were shimmering in the sunlight. The limitless sky, the tall clouds and the sun swept over my head. The tomatoes in the vegetable garden were red and sparkling with beads of water. 


Half a year ago, she lived in this world. 

She walks down a small, long road to nowhere in particular, a camera hanging from her neck.  On either side are wide pastures, the whole of it green. The wind is warm and sweet, and invigorates her. Her steps are as light as air, her mouth open in a natural smile. There is an boy-like innocence in her eyes, and she lifts her head high; she is waiting for the adventure that is set to begin. The road continues far ahead. The blue sky and the land stretch on until they touch. 

I thanked her from the bottom of my heart: we didn't have very long, but thank you for being by my side.

"PONPONPON" - Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

So this song came out the very middle of July and became a favorite of mine by the end of July. I meant to put the lyrics up earlier in the month but you know how it is. When I translated it earlier I had some questions about some of the lyrics; the general consensus is that they're pretty vague overall so you might have a different interpretation, but here is the feedback I got from the lang-8 community.

Also, I found an interesting blog post about Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and the video, which also has a different translation; check it out at the source: An Eternal Thought in the Mind of Godzilla.

The video is awesome (in any of the various senses of the word).

あの交差点で　みんながもしスキップをして もしあの街の真ん中で手をつないで空を見上げたら もしもあの街のどこかでチャンスがつかみたいのなら まだ泣くのには早いよね　ただ前に進むしかないわいやいや PONPON　出して　しまえばいいの ぜんぜん　しないの　つまらないでしょ ヘッドフォンかけて　リズムに乗せて WAYWAY空けて　あたしの道を PONPON　進む　色々なこと どんどん　キテる?　あなたのキモチ POIPOI　捨てる悪い子はだれ? そうそう　いいコ　ああ You Make Me Happy Every Day PON Every Time is PON メリーゴーランド　のりたいの Every Day PON Every Time is PON たぶん　そんなんじゃ　ダメでしょ PONPON　出して　しまえばいいの ぜんぜん　しないの　つまらないでしょ ヘッドフォンかけて　リズムに乗せて WAYWAY空けて　あたしの道を PONPONうぇいうぇいうぇい PONPONうぇいPONうぇいPONPON うぇいうぇいPONPONPON うぇいうぇいPONうぇいPONうぇいうぇ

What if everyone skipped in that intersection, Held hands in the middle of the city and looked up at the sky? If you want to take your chance somewhere in that city then it's still too early to cry. There's nothing to do but move forward, oh no, oh no. PON PON you should let it all out Doing nothing is boring Put on your headphones and get into the rhythm WAY WAY open up a path for me PON PON all these things, one after another Are your feelings driving you crazy? Who's the brat that POI POI throws them out? That's right, sweetie, ah ah You make me happy. Every day is PON Every time is PON I want to ride the merry-go-round! Every day is PON Every time is PON But you can't keep that up for long PON PON you should let it all out Doing nothing is boring Put on your headphones and get into the rhythm WAY WAY open up a path for me PON PON WAY WAY WAY PON PON WAY PON WAY PON PON WAY WAY PON PON PON WAY WAY PON WAY PON WAY WAY

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？