This is the place where Fusanosuke writes about her love for Japanese language and anything that relates to it.
I finally had a chance to listen to the based on the - A Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice manga by 水城 せとな (Mizushiro Setona). Absolutely delighted drama. So much emotions!
And the good news that will released 23/12/2009.
I'm SO looking forward!!!
I love this situation in by 高尾滋 (Takao Shigeru), page 5. A boy from 21 century finds himself in Taishou Japan. Not knowing how to use a fundoshi, he finds himself on the receiving end of a friend's joke who assures him that this is actually a napkin. Hence, they wear fundoshi as napkins at the table. The butler is not amused, though ))))
前掛け --まえかけ -- (n) apron
下着--したぎ-- (n) underwear
下着 has a katakana reading of ふどし which I believe refers to
--ふんどし-- (n) (1) loincloth; breechcloth; breechclout; traditional Japanese male underwear; (2) sumo wrestler's ornamental apron
Dragons, dragons! That's an important character for so many Japanese storoes
I collect beautiful title of the Japanese mangas. There is so much feeling and meaning in the way they title their books - just so extravagant for my non-Japanese mind and so helpful for learning new words and structures. So two of my favourites with dragons:
優しい --やさしい -- (adj-i) tender; kind; gentle; graceful; affectionate; amiable; suave
竜 -- りゅう -- (n) dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon)
殺し -- ころし -- (n) a murder
方 -- かた -- direction; way
The Killing Methods of a Kind Dragon.
黒い --くろい -- (adj-i) (1) black; (2) dark
二度 -- にど -- (n) two times; twice;
誓う -- ちかう -- to swear; to vow; to take an oath; to pledge;
The Black Dragon Swears in Twice.
++
Western dragon is different from the Eastern dragon, hence - a different word:
ドラゴン - dragon (as depicted in Western myths)
And related expression:
ドラゴンボート - dragon boat
Manga vol.1 by 鳥人ヒロミ (Toribito Hiromi) is set in Taishou era 大正時代 - (1912 -1926). Overall very a lovely manga with fantastic historical setting and clothes, but what I found very amusing - a misplaced reference in ch.1 page 8.
The character Suo (すおう) makes a witty remark in relation to the name of another character Godou (ごどう) - ゴドーを待ちながら which is a Japanese translation of the French play En attendant Godot by Samuel Beckett (the première in 1953). If the manga is set in Taishou, Sou makes one hell of a future-teller by quoting the name of the play that will not be seen for the next 25 years ^__^
The makes the interraction even more exciting.
The manga by 水城 せとな - Mizushiro Setona consisting of 2 tankoubons with the most beautiful titles I've ever seen.
- The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese
Kyuuso wa chiizu no yume o miru
窮鼠 --きゅうそ-- cornered rat or mouse
- A Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice
Sojou no koi wa ni do haneru
俎上 --そじょう-- (n) on the chopping board
鯉 --こい -- (n) common carp; koi carp
is already out and it is a must-hear.
is upcoming in the 25.11.2009
I absolutely love the concept of comparing the emotional/physical condition to animals, and I want to start collecting the saying related to the animals/fishes/birds alike.
Jim Breen offers more about cornerned mouses and carps:
More to come when I find new expressions that feature animals.
Intermediate Lesson #2 - Meet Hideo and Mel!
まさか --- unbelievable
The first time I noticed this expression was in manga: story by 橘紅緒 (Tachibana Vineo) and art by 宝井理人 (Takarai Rihito)
page 45:
Drama CD: Seven Days Monday - Thursday
track 1 MONDAY --- 16'17''-16'20''
how awesomely 中村悠一 (Nakamura Yuuichi) says this まさか 、 .... ね .... [!!!!!!]
manga vol.2 .
according to manga by あき will have a Drama CD. Release date 16/7/2009.
オリンポス seems to be ongoing manga with only vol.1 released so far
あき 's another manga --- うたひめ ----already has a Drama CD. A very lovely thing!
and あき is a very unfortunate pen-name for a mangaka ... very difficult to track down... (((
