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December 17th, 2009 | in Words, book, pretty things

森ガール fashion & style BOOK

This is the fashion book for the Mori Girl type of style. The type of a girl who loves nature and being close to the nature, who wears comfortable clothes made of natural textures and who choose to be away from the civilization's beat in order to enjoy quite peace of little towns and forests.

What does this fashion book include:

  • 森ガールのこと - what does "Mori Girl" stand for?

森 -- もり-- forest

  • 季節のワードローブ - Wardrobe by season

ワードローブ--(n) wardrobe
季節 【きせつ】 (n,adj-no) season

  • ときどき, ちくちくお裁縫 - Sometimes hand-made

ちくちく (n,vs) (on-mim) type of prickling pain; prick; prickle
裁縫 --さいほう-- (n,vs) sewing;
Google seems to provide the meaning for  ちくちくお裁縫 as "hand-made".

October 27th, 2009 | in Japan: people, Words, book, manga, 立野真琴

羊 --ひつじ-- (n) sheep;

The word "sheep" is not that useful in the daily vocabulary, I could only remember it, because of the 2 titles.

--あおいひつじのゆめ--
夢 --ゆめ-- (n) dream

Official English translation - Blue Sheep Reverie.

--ひつじをめぐるぼうけん--

めぐる-- (1) to go around; (2) to return; (3) to surround;
冒険 --ぼうけん-- (n,vs) risk; venture; adventure

The official English translation A Wild Sheep Chase.

October 20th, 2009 | in Japan: people, book, manga, movie, 寿たらこ

There is one Japanese book I REALLY want to read. It has been translated in only in French. Though my French is sufficient enough for small-talk and reading fashion magazines, I doubt I could handle a book influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis... So, either my Japanese has to improve tremendously, or I'll need to deal with French...

ドグラ・マグラ (上) + ドグラ・マグラ (下)

Novel by 夢野 久作 (Yumeno Kyūsaku), written in 1935.
All the critic loves to point that this novel is a perfect example of the modern Japanese avant-garde gothic literature. Whatever it means. And all the psychological, Freudian aspect of the plot-line. I guess, I really need to read it at least French (Dogra Magra) to have my own opinion.

There is a movie , 1988.

And there is a manga DOGLA+MAGLA by 寿たらこ (Kotobuki Tarako) supposedly loosely linked with the novel. I read the manga - it's pure kafka, and if one wishes to see it Freudian - one has enough of the innuendos.

October 19th, 2009 | in Japan: people, book, movie

桐野夏生 (Kirino Natsuo) wrote her crime novel Out in 1997, later on it was published in English.  I read it in English and that's really a breathtaking suspense story.  As well it's been recommended as a poignant study of modern Japanese society.
OUT 上 + OUT 下

OUT is a very convenient for Western translations, just keep it - and everyone understands.  Except not.  German translation was titled Die Umarmung des Todes (The Embrace of the Death). I honestly had not a single clue that it's supposed to be OUT, until a salesperson has shown me in their database that it's so. A really strange German book-market...

Additionally there is a movie directed by 平山秀幸, Hirayama Hideyuki (2002) and it seems there will be a Hollywood remake.

Searching amazon, I've noticed that there is a brand new book (2009) IN. I cannot help, but wonder if this new book connect to the best-seller OUT.

October 18th, 2009 | in Japan: people, book

河合隼雄 - Kawai Hayao (1928 – 2007) was a Japanese psychologist.

I only read his one book and it has impressed me greatly  - 昔話と日本人の心 (1982)

昔話 --むかしばなし-- (n) folklore; legend; reminiscence; (P); EP
心 --こころ; しん -- (n) mind; heart; spirit; (しん) (n) core; heart; wick; marrow;

Of course, I did not read it in Japanese, but in English -The Japanese psyche: major motifs in the fairy tales of Japan .  And that's the book I'd really recommend anyone interested in Japan.