Sinnesspiel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sinnesspiel) wrote2021-02-17 11:42 pm
sinnesspiel) wrote2021-02-17 11:42 pm
Entry tags:
Shiki Novel Translations 3.16.0
Links to Chapters
16 - 1
16 - 2
16 - 3
16 - 4
16 - 5
16 - 6
Cultural/Translation Notes
16 - 2
During his senior year ... he was told to lower his expectations for what rank of school he could get into. ... He took the test in vain, but he really did pass it.
Rather than college applications, involving a grade history, extra curriculars, personal statements, etc., Japan's college admissions center around standardized tests. While students may be taken in to a school based on teacher recommendations, excelling in sports, distinguished accomplishments, etc., these are exceedingly special cases. Standardized test scores are frequently the single deciding factor for university admissions (along with a high school diploma, though grades are not generally relevant).
Universities tend to take students from score ranges based on being first tier, second tier, or third tier. Private universities may be at any tier level and may only require the student take their own university or major specific test. Those applying to public universities must take the national standardized achievement test. Those that score within or above the university's range may then sit for another, usually harder test for the specific university. If a school is renowned for certain programs, rather than being able to test in to the school and choose and change their major freely, they may be required to take a test in order to declare that major.
For example, if a student scores well enough on the national exam which covers all common topics, and is applying for an esteemed medical program, they might take the university's medical program's entrance exam which would be more geared towards the sciences. If they were to apply to the same university as a computer science major, they may be required to take a more math oriented exam. If they were seeking to major in legal studies and the university was not particularly renowned for that program, they might instead take the university's general examination.
In Japan, high school grades are determined almost entirely by end of term tests which take place all day for most of the week. Home work or general tests are mostly for honing and measuring one's abilities and to practice for end of term tests. A student may be in trouble for poor performance but this is not generally reflected in their term grade. Looking over their grade history is therefore a reflection of the student's test taking ability. Furthermore, many students take after-school classes teaching the test, and practice exams that allow them to see where their score would place them competitively on the aforementioned uniform achievement test.
National exam and private exams are only once a year in spring, and cost tens of thousands of yen (hundred of dollars) to take even before factoring in study time and materials. Taking too many of them in a scatter shot approach is inadvisable. Students submit their formal post-high school aims in mid to late fall of their senior year to discuss with their teacher. Japanese high school teachers, between a student's test-based grade history and any supplementary exams, give students frank estimations of what level of university or job (see below) they believe is appropriate.
It's not unheard of for students to similarly test into high schools the same way at the end of middle school, seeking a high school that may be more geared towards those seeking entrance to first tier colleges, technical or medical or agricultural or art based colleges, or high schools that have an elevator system allowing students who graduate to enter directly into an affiliated university.
Many companies will openly favor graduates of particular universities, or outright accept employees only from certain level universities. Performance in university is generally less vital than the university attended, though many highly competitive companies or jobs have employment tests similar to the university exam crunch, only choosing to further interview those who pass the written company test.
It may be notable to readers more immersed in this culture that Ozaki choose to pursue the more difficult university in spite of having a guarantee of inheriting the family clinic, whether he wanted to or not. He only worked at a (more prestigious) city hospital until his late twenties before being called back to Sotoba.
16 - 3
Japanese closets often have a specific layout perhaps less common in the west. There is usually a full length shelf about hip high, and decently deep. One main use for this layout is to store futons when not in use, to make the room more open for other uses.
The novel doesn't go into as much detail describing the layout of the closet as it does the rooms because this is the default layout for many closets in Japan, but in the West if most imagine finding what is found in the closet, they would imagine it on the floor, and the character having to kneel for much of what happens. Sample from info-a.ne.jp.
16 - 4
Mugwort - Traditionally used in Japan since ancient times, hanging it from the eaves or near the entrance of the house to keep evil spirits away, particularly those associated with plagues or disease. This is most traditionally done in during the May 5th festivals, though it is also, to a lesser extent, associated with the Fall equinox. During these festival periods, kusamochi is a popular dessert or as an offering at gravesites.
Some ancient Japanese tribes also had rituals to purify patients of psychosis or other mental illnesses alleged to be caused by spiritual afflictions, including being slapped with mugwort, or walking through fires of the burning herb.
Also believed to have a medicinal effect on blood flow and digestion.
Mochi - A gummy paste made of rice, sugar, and sometimes cornstarch, with a consistency similar to softer, vaguely sticky clay. It is often flavored with powders or extracts or other flavoring agents, or had plain, stuffed with fruit, fruit preserves, jams, ice cream, etc.
Kusamochi - Mochi made with mugwort. Associated with spring festivals and Girl's Day in March due to its vibrant green color calling to mind flourishing plant life.
16 - 1
16 - 2
16 - 3
16 - 4
16 - 5
16 - 6
Cultural/Translation Notes
16 - 2
During his senior year ... he was told to lower his expectations for what rank of school he could get into. ... He took the test in vain, but he really did pass it.
Rather than college applications, involving a grade history, extra curriculars, personal statements, etc., Japan's college admissions center around standardized tests. While students may be taken in to a school based on teacher recommendations, excelling in sports, distinguished accomplishments, etc., these are exceedingly special cases. Standardized test scores are frequently the single deciding factor for university admissions (along with a high school diploma, though grades are not generally relevant).
Universities tend to take students from score ranges based on being first tier, second tier, or third tier. Private universities may be at any tier level and may only require the student take their own university or major specific test. Those applying to public universities must take the national standardized achievement test. Those that score within or above the university's range may then sit for another, usually harder test for the specific university. If a school is renowned for certain programs, rather than being able to test in to the school and choose and change their major freely, they may be required to take a test in order to declare that major.
For example, if a student scores well enough on the national exam which covers all common topics, and is applying for an esteemed medical program, they might take the university's medical program's entrance exam which would be more geared towards the sciences. If they were to apply to the same university as a computer science major, they may be required to take a more math oriented exam. If they were seeking to major in legal studies and the university was not particularly renowned for that program, they might instead take the university's general examination.
In Japan, high school grades are determined almost entirely by end of term tests which take place all day for most of the week. Home work or general tests are mostly for honing and measuring one's abilities and to practice for end of term tests. A student may be in trouble for poor performance but this is not generally reflected in their term grade. Looking over their grade history is therefore a reflection of the student's test taking ability. Furthermore, many students take after-school classes teaching the test, and practice exams that allow them to see where their score would place them competitively on the aforementioned uniform achievement test.
National exam and private exams are only once a year in spring, and cost tens of thousands of yen (hundred of dollars) to take even before factoring in study time and materials. Taking too many of them in a scatter shot approach is inadvisable. Students submit their formal post-high school aims in mid to late fall of their senior year to discuss with their teacher. Japanese high school teachers, between a student's test-based grade history and any supplementary exams, give students frank estimations of what level of university or job (see below) they believe is appropriate.
It's not unheard of for students to similarly test into high schools the same way at the end of middle school, seeking a high school that may be more geared towards those seeking entrance to first tier colleges, technical or medical or agricultural or art based colleges, or high schools that have an elevator system allowing students who graduate to enter directly into an affiliated university.
Many companies will openly favor graduates of particular universities, or outright accept employees only from certain level universities. Performance in university is generally less vital than the university attended, though many highly competitive companies or jobs have employment tests similar to the university exam crunch, only choosing to further interview those who pass the written company test.
It may be notable to readers more immersed in this culture that Ozaki choose to pursue the more difficult university in spite of having a guarantee of inheriting the family clinic, whether he wanted to or not. He only worked at a (more prestigious) city hospital until his late twenties before being called back to Sotoba.
16 - 3
Japanese closets often have a specific layout perhaps less common in the west. There is usually a full length shelf about hip high, and decently deep. One main use for this layout is to store futons when not in use, to make the room more open for other uses.
The novel doesn't go into as much detail describing the layout of the closet as it does the rooms because this is the default layout for many closets in Japan, but in the West if most imagine finding what is found in the closet, they would imagine it on the floor, and the character having to kneel for much of what happens. Sample from info-a.ne.jp.
16 - 4
Mugwort - Traditionally used in Japan since ancient times, hanging it from the eaves or near the entrance of the house to keep evil spirits away, particularly those associated with plagues or disease. This is most traditionally done in during the May 5th festivals, though it is also, to a lesser extent, associated with the Fall equinox. During these festival periods, kusamochi is a popular dessert or as an offering at gravesites.
Some ancient Japanese tribes also had rituals to purify patients of psychosis or other mental illnesses alleged to be caused by spiritual afflictions, including being slapped with mugwort, or walking through fires of the burning herb.
Also believed to have a medicinal effect on blood flow and digestion.
Mochi - A gummy paste made of rice, sugar, and sometimes cornstarch, with a consistency similar to softer, vaguely sticky clay. It is often flavored with powders or extracts or other flavoring agents, or had plain, stuffed with fruit, fruit preserves, jams, ice cream, etc.
Kusamochi - Mochi made with mugwort. Associated with spring festivals and Girl's Day in March due to its vibrant green color calling to mind flourishing plant life.
Here's a discord for releases, discussion, etc. Been two years since I mentioned it, so.