![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Oct. 10th, 2014
Shiki Novel Translations 3.4.0
Oct. 10th, 2014 08:55 pm Links to Chapters
4 - 1
4 - 2
4 - 3
4 - 4
4 - 5
4 - 6
Cultural Notes
4-3
Ofuda - A piece of paper, cloth or plank of wood or metal with the name or symbol of a god and/or temple or shrine written on it. Said to be imbibed with a portion of a god or spirit (which can be divided indefinitely), they can be made with specialized blessings in mind, such as for luck in studying, safety in traveling, fertility, healthy childbirth, etc. They're meant to be put in the family shrine or altar but can also be placed elsewhere; for example, it's common to have one in the kitchen to prevent house fires or also at doorways or on windows to keep evil from entering. It's customary to bring ofuda in to a temple to replace every year, to dispose of the old charm loaded with bad luck in a ritualistic and grateful manner rather than treating it like common trash. In a more cynical view, purchases of them are seen as a donation to the temple or shrine.
4 - 5
Chrysanthemums - Chrysanthemums are a popular flower in Japanese symbolism. In particular, white ones are commonly used to decorate grave sites. They symbolize rejuvenation and happiness in the Japanese language of flowers.
4 - 6
I translated Takatoshi as saying "No matter" in response to Tatsumi's saying "It's a shame, isn't it?" because the direct translation of his response (iie or "no") might carry some connotations it's not quite supposed to. Iie is used as no, but it's also used dismissively as if to say not to worry about it. To agree that it is a shame would be inviting further sympathy which wouldn't be inappropriate, but is not Takatoshi's intent for the scene.
While I think that reading into it to say he doesn't necessarily think it's a good thing to rise is a valid reading, if it were translated as just "no" that reading would become very heavy handed and unavoidable one in English, where it is not necessarily so in Japanese.
4 - 1
4 - 2
4 - 3
4 - 4
4 - 5
4 - 6
Cultural Notes
4-3
Ofuda - A piece of paper, cloth or plank of wood or metal with the name or symbol of a god and/or temple or shrine written on it. Said to be imbibed with a portion of a god or spirit (which can be divided indefinitely), they can be made with specialized blessings in mind, such as for luck in studying, safety in traveling, fertility, healthy childbirth, etc. They're meant to be put in the family shrine or altar but can also be placed elsewhere; for example, it's common to have one in the kitchen to prevent house fires or also at doorways or on windows to keep evil from entering. It's customary to bring ofuda in to a temple to replace every year, to dispose of the old charm loaded with bad luck in a ritualistic and grateful manner rather than treating it like common trash. In a more cynical view, purchases of them are seen as a donation to the temple or shrine.
4 - 5
Chrysanthemums - Chrysanthemums are a popular flower in Japanese symbolism. In particular, white ones are commonly used to decorate grave sites. They symbolize rejuvenation and happiness in the Japanese language of flowers.
4 - 6
I translated Takatoshi as saying "No matter" in response to Tatsumi's saying "It's a shame, isn't it?" because the direct translation of his response (iie or "no") might carry some connotations it's not quite supposed to. Iie is used as no, but it's also used dismissively as if to say not to worry about it. To agree that it is a shame would be inviting further sympathy which wouldn't be inappropriate, but is not Takatoshi's intent for the scene.
While I think that reading into it to say he doesn't necessarily think it's a good thing to rise is a valid reading, if it were translated as just "no" that reading would become very heavy handed and unavoidable one in English, where it is not necessarily so in Japanese.