Gozan-no-okuribi: Bonfire viewing in Kyoto

The Japanese hold ceremonies at the end of Obon, the period in late summer during which the spirits of their ancestors are believed to visit this world, to ensure the safe return of these spirits to the spirit world. Gozan-no-okuribi, annually held on August 16th in Kyoto, is one such ceremony that--as the name indicates--sends off the spirits with large bonfires in traditional shapes on five mountains: those shapes are dai (the kanji for 'large'), myo and ho (kanji meaning 'wondrous dharma'), a boat, a torii shrine gate, and hidari-dai (left 'large'). The origins of this event--commonly known as Daimonji after the dai bonfire--are obscure, but it is widely thought to have begun between the 14th and 16th centuries.

Worshippers writing their gomagi slats

Wooden gomagi slats, which are burned in the bonfires, are sold from the 15th until 2 p.m. on the day of the event at the entrances of Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji and other temples. Once people write their ancestors' names, prayers or wishes on them, the gomagi are carried up the mountains to be laid on the bonfires. I wanted to actively participate in the festival, so I visited Ginkakuji and bought two gomagi slats that were destined for the daimonji bonfire on Mt Nyoigatake behind the temple.

Ginkakuji, which is charming and captivating, is one of my favourite temples. After a stroll through the gardens, I turned to the mission at hand--searching for a prime viewing spot. Many hotels and other establishments guarantee you a view of the bonfires for a price. However, I like enjoying festivals among the crowds, and finding a location from where to view the bonfires is, apparently, a challenge.

A torii on Imadegawa-dori marks the entrance to Yoshidayama, one of the recommended locations to view the bonfires. At the lookout, I found people had already staked their viewing spots with tripods. To my disappointment, daimonji, which appears at an angle, was the only bonfire visible from here, but the view was spectacular. I saw movement around the pyres on which wheat straw, pine needles and the gomogi slats--mine included--would be laid. A gentleman here mentioned that Kamogawa river was the best location to view daimonji face on. The search continues. (If you decide to view daimonji from Yoshidayama, take a torch.)

Camera ready on Yoshidayama facing daimonji in the distance

Kamo-ohashi bridge over the junction of Takanogawa and Kamogawa rivers offers the perfect view of daimonji. I crossed the stepping stones on the river, in which people off all ages were playing, to the spit. Considering the view, I was not surprised to see the choice picnic spots already staked out with blue plastic sheets. The gentleman at Yoshidayama was right.

I continued along the west bank of Kamogawa with my map open hoping to find the spot that the locals would want to keep a secret. Even though daimonji was clearly visible, trees and buildings obstructed the other bonfires, especially, at river level. I was still hopeful, though, that I would find a good location to view as many of the bonfires, as possible.

I noticed less people between Aoibashi and Izumojibashi bridges and felt nervous. I asked an elderly couple preparing for the arrival of their friends and neighbours for advice on the best vantage point. Myo-ho would not be visible due to the buildings obstructing the view from here, and only the stern of the ship would be visible from Izumojibashi. The wife explained how, centuries ago, each household lit their own bonfire, but the authorities decided to burn the bonfires collectively in mountain clearings due to the fire hazard. As I took my leave, I asked about the absence of the ubiquitous food stalls found at all festivals in Japan and was disappointed to hear that a city ordinance enacted in recent years banned the stalls during Gozan-no-okuribi.

I continued along the river further north to Kitaojibashi, but still no luck. As the couple suggested, the bonfires are best viewed from a higher location.

Here, I took a bus to Funaokayama, which is directly west of Kitaojibashi along Kitaoji-dori, resolute that I would stay there no matter what the view. The climb was steeper than Yoshidayama--promising. At the lookout, I was greeted by the sight of many unattended plastic sheets staking claims. With map in hand, I wandered among the plastic sheets, lining up the mountains, and found a small spot from which I had a clear view of daimonji, myo and hidari-daimonji, and a partial view of ho and the boat. Mission accomplished with two hours to spare. I spread a newspaper, anchored it with rocks and visited the local convenience shop.

To pass the time, I talked with the people around me, and I found that most--like myself--were not locals. Some were from cities as far as Tokyo, and others from Taiwan and Sweden. Apparently, the locals choose to stay home to watch the event on TV.

The practice run at hidari-daimonji caused a minor stir. People took photos and adjusted their camera settings ready for the main event. Everyone stood in anticipation minutes before the lighting of daimonji, the first bonfire. The lookout was becoming so crowded that it felt like being on a peak-hour train.

Daimonji

When daimonji was lit at eight o'clock, the lookout roared with excitement, drowning out the cicadas. I turned to find a sea of arms stretching to the stars with cameras in hand taking the shots of the bonfire. Ten minutes later, myo and ho were lit. Everyone shuffled to face them, raising their mobiles and cameras into the air, again. Despite the shapes of the bonfires being distorted from here, they were spectacular, nonetheless. My disappointment at only the top of the boat sail being visible was soon forgotten at the sight of hidari-daimonji burning directly behind us. Taking good shots was difficult considering the distance, but I was still impressed with my photos.

Myo-ho

Caught up in the excitement, I had forgotten that my gomagi were blazing in the distance. I paused from my photo-taking frenzy and turned to watch daimonji burn. I wondered where exactly they were placed. I closed my eyes and hoped that my prayers would be heard as the smoke carried them up into the heavens.

Hidari-daimonji

The article originally appeared on the Official Kyoto Travel Guide web site in August 2011. (The photos on this page were taken by George Bourdaniotis and differ to the official photos that accompanied the original article.)

[September 15, 2014] I have just finished working on an episode of Core Kyoto on this ceremony to air September 18 and 19 on NHK World.

花火 / Fireworks

毎年、予想もしない色んな事があるし、楽しみにしている事もありますよ。一年が終わって振り向く時、最低限、初詣、えべっさん、だんじり、祭り、花火、ルミナリエ、クリスマスを楽しむ余裕がなかったら何か不満を感じます。特に花火が好きです。甚平を着て片手でビール。花火を見ている間、心が軽くなります。関東からの方と各地の花火について話しました。その方は初めて神戸の花火を見ました。隅田川は一つ一つの花火はアートだそうですが、神戸の花火は品があるそうです。何だか聞いて嬉しかったです。

There are many things throughout the year that are unexpected, but there is lots to look forward to, too. When I get to December and I look back on the year, I feel that something is not right if I haven’t at least gone to hatsumode (first trip to the Shinto shrine for the year), Ebissan (a Kansai festival for prosperity in business), a danjiri festival with their lively floats, a fireworks display, and Kobe Luminarie (held in early December in memory of those who died during the 1995 earthquake). Of course, you have to celebrate Christmas, too. Of these, I particularly enjoy the fireworks. I sit with a beer in hand and watch them wearing my jimbei (traditional summer wear). Fireworks are uplifting. This year, we had a guest from Tokyo watching with us, and we talked about the regional differences in the fireworks displays. It was his first time to watch the Kobe fireworks (usually held the first Saturday in August). He said that each of the fireworks let off during the Sumida River display in Tokyo is a work of art in itself, but the Kobe display have class. As a local, hearing that put a smile on my face.

[Note: The Kobe Minato Fireworks Display is usually held the first Saturday in August from around 7.30 p.m. The fireworks are let off from barges anchored in the port, so the best views are at Harborland, Meriken Park, Port Island or any of the piers.]

The Japanese version first appeared in the August 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年81月号に掲載されました。

A Touch of Aromatic Spices

Istanbul Konak was easy to find once I walked down the stairs from ground level. The blue and white İznik-tiled wall at the end of the passage hinted at the exotic experience awaiting. On turning the corner from the entrance, I felt I was back in Cappadocia, in one of the underground catacombs. Once inside, I enjoyed spotting the different parts of Turkey represented in the decor: traditional Turkey (kilim, cushions and a low table), rural Turkey (stone wall), modern Turkey accented with various (non-Turkish) paintings, and mosques (arches and cupola dome). Istanbul Konak was established in 1999 as a small restaurant at a time when Kansai had few Turkish restaurants and was expanded in 2003.

As an aperitif before a Turkish meal, I always enjoy rakı, which Japanese often say tastes like medicine or toothpaste. This anis-flavoured spirit fascinates people by clouding when mixed with water. The opaqueness shows how pure the rakı is; the less opaque, more water used in the distilling process. Wanting more Japanese to enjoy rakı, owner/chef Riza Alkoc concocted a cocktail he named after the Mediterranean, Akdeniz, because its colour reminded him of the colours of the sea, especially when held up to the light. Akdeniz has a light, and slightly sweet and sour taste that prepares your taste buds for the awaiting feast.

A visit to a Turkish restaurant starts with the standard fare: cacık (yoghurt, cucumber and garlic dip), humus, baba ghanouj (eggplant dip), kebab and kofte meatballs. But trying the interesting dishes Alkoc offers give you a new perspective on Turkish cuisine. One surprise was the ravioli-like manti, which are stuffed with seasoned ground meat and topped with a garlic-yogurt sauce. Another was İstim Kebabı—eggplant wrapped around savory spiced meat and vegetables. Alkoc also recommends the Haydari yoghurt dip with garlic, and stuffed blue mussels. Not listed on the menu, which has English explanations, are the Specials of the Day: dolma (various stuffed vegetables), stews or casseroles that are guaranteed to warm you on a chilly day.

Turkish cuisine essentially uses salt as the main seasoning, and spices enhance the aroma. Despite certain ingredients being difficulty to obtain in Japan, Alkoc—who also runs the family restaurant business in Istanbul—and his Turkish cooks make every effort to serve authentic dishes by importing these ingredients direct from Turkey. He also grows spring onions, mint, parsley and other herbs for use in his dishes, because he finds the flavour is lacking when using commercially grown produce.

For dessert, I ordered mildly-sweet Kazandibi milk pudding, made with shredded chicken, and a Turkish coffee; the perfect end to a delicious meal that took me back to Turkey. Before you leave home, don’t forget to print the coupons available on the Japanese and English web pages. If you dine at Istanbul Konak on Friday and Saturday night, your experience will be enhanced by the oriental dance show featuring Tania Luiz.

And, for those who cannot come to Osaka to enjoy an evening in Turkey, Istanbul Konak delivers their dishes anywhere in Japan via their online delicatessen, Konak Deli 1. (All major credit cards accepted. Orders over 5,000 yen are delivered free.) Currently, the deli offers a taster special (e.g., chicken kebab, the chickpea stew, prawn and vegetable casserole, the chicken and vegetable casserole, and manti) with soup and rice or Turkish bread for 1,600-1,850 yen (free delivery). Also on special is a party set of nine dishes (3-4 people) for 3,980 yen with free delivery.

Istanbul Konak
Address: B1F, Sankyo Yotsubashi Bldg. 1-11-1 Minami Horie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0015
Access: Subway Yotsubashi Stn Exit #5
Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11:30-15:00; Sat., Sun., Pub. Hol. 12:00-15:00
Dinner: 17:30-22:30
Phone: 06-6534-7277
E-mail: merhaba@istanbulkonak.com
URL: http://www.istanbulkonak.com (Japanese & English)

Konak Deli I (Japanese only)
URL: http://www.istanbulkonak-deli1.com/
E-mail: shopmaster@istanbulkonak-deli1.com

Text: George Bourdaniotis. Originally published in Kansai Scene #128, January 2011.

雨の日 / Rainy Days

例えば、天気予報を朝見て雨が降ると分かりました。降る確率は何パーセントでしたら、傘を持って出掛けますか。営業マンなら、常に折り畳み傘を持ち歩いているでしょう。万が一退社した時雨が降った場合のために、職場には予備の傘も置いている方もいるでしょう。私だと降る確率が50か60パーセントでしたら、少なくとも折り畳み傘を持って行きますが、もちろん外も確かめてから出掛けます。私にとって傘が魔除けか時々思います。こんなことを考えているのがまた梅雨がやって来ましたね。

The morning weather report forecasts rain. What probability of rain would encourage you to take an umbrella with you as you go out? If you spend most of your time visiting clients and customers, like a salesman, you may always carry a fold-up umbrella in your bag. Some people may even have a spare umbrella at work, just in case they get caught in rain on the way home. I would at least take a fold-up umbrella with me if the weather forecast predicted a 50 to 60 percent chance of rain. Of course, I would also look outside, because the forecast is unreliable most of the time. Sometimes I think that carrying an umbrella is like a good-luck charm against rain for me. The fact that I’m even thinking of rain and umbrellas must mean that rainy season is here.

The Japanese version first appeared in the June 2014 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2014年6月号に掲載されました。

IJET-25 Translation Conference / IJET-25日英翻訳会議

This year, I'll be attending the International Japanese English Translation (IJET) Conference, hosted by the Japan Association of Translators (JAT), for the seventh time. As far I ask know it is the best J-E-J translation conference for the professional development of translators and interpreters, themselves. One other major conference held in Tokyo annually is mostly aimed at agents and their employees. This year is the 25th anniversary of IJET, and it will be held in Tokyo for the first time.

Most translators work in a bubble (be they freelance, or the sole translator in a company) with little real input or feedback. IJET is an opportunity to learn from our colleagues and more experienced sempai, and improve our skills. I always walk away from IJETs motivated – and glad that I'm a translator and interpreter.

What is the best part about IJETs? The networking! With mailing lists and SNS, colleagues in translation and interpreting are more familiar, but nothing beats meeting them face-to-face and getting to know everyone better. Sometimes our on-screen personas are not who we really are.

What should you know if you are participating for the first time? IJETs are great opportunities to connect with fellow translators and interpreters, and even find clients (amongst the agencies in attendance). Networking doesn't mean you have to talk shop all the time. Don't feel intimidated; get out there and just make small talk. Getting to know each other personally can, in itself, lead to introductions to lucrative jobs. Who better to recommend for a job than someone you like and trust? So have plenty of meishi on hand.

I have worked on the organising committees for two IJETs (17: Kobe, 24: Hawaii) as registrar. This year, I make my debut as an IJET presenter, with Marian Kinoshita from MDK Translations. Our session first thing Sunday morning (yes, starting at 9! ouch!) is titled Getting into the Nitty Gritty.

Here is the blurb:

東西、東西！Marian from Kanto and George from Kansai will present rather tricky Japanese sentences that have stumped even the most seasoned translator. Examples will feature ubiquitous gems that are so easy to understand when reading the Japanese yet require so much consideration and deliberation when rendering them into decent English. Together, they will tackle taxing samples from business, technical, art, entertainment, and other fields, peppered with unique client requirements.

The success of this workshop depends greatly on audience participation, as there is no single correct answer to any translation task. Join Marian and George for lively discussions, a bit of fun, and lots of head-scratching and naruhodo-ing.

We will be using examples from our own work, hoping that we inspire and get inspired about those tricky words, expressions and sentences.

If you have not yet signed up for IJET-25, there are only about 50 places left. This means there are around 500 participants this year, making this the largest IJET ever.

Hope to see you there.

Novelty / 新鮮

Be it overseas or in your own country, when travelling to a new town for the first time, everything looks fresh. I have my camera in easy reach so I can take photos of the cityscape or anything that catches my eye. But when I have friends or relatives visit me, I am always have difficulty deciding where to take them, especially when they have limited time. Everyone has an image of what to expect from their travel destination. Visitors from abroad take delight in everything they see in Japan, because everything is new to them. That exhilarating feeling of discovery infects me, too, as I show them around. When there are kids in the group, their curiosity is particularly infectious. I start to see things or customs that I take for granted with different eyes, and I feel like a tourist in my own town.

海外でも国内でも初めて旅行する街では、何でもかんでも新鮮です。カメラを抱えて色々な物や風景をパチパチ撮ってしまいます。でも自分の街へ友人が来る時、どこを案内したらいいか結構悩みます。特に見せたい場所が多過ぎる時。もちろん個人個人は既に街のイメージができているでしょう。海外からのお客さんなら、全て新しくて何でも喜びます。案内しているうちに自分も新たに新鮮さを感じます。普通でもある物や風習は、お客さんの目を通じて全て新鮮に見え、自分の街で観光客になった気分でしょう。好奇心いっぱい持っている子供も案内していましたら。

The Japanese version first appeared in the July 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年7月号に掲載されました。

Machiya Dining Guide to Kyoto

Long time Kyoto resident, Judith Clancy, released her Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide in late 2012. This is an an excellent restaurant guide to Kyoto's more up-market restaurants housed within renovated traditional Kyoto machiya-style townhouses with photographs by Ben Simmons. Options for those on a budget are hidden in between, too. The history of machiya in Kyoto is well detailed, and many facts about each of the buildings are included in each restaurant's write-up.

Every resident of Kansai at least - and anyone visiting Kyoto, for that fact - should buy this and Clancy's Exploring Kyoto. Both are indispensable guides that work well together. Having done a lot of work dealing with Kyoto recently, I appreciate Clancy's work and grasp of Kyoto, its culture and its history even more. If you want to do your friends and family a favour, buy them Kyoto the City of Zen.

Definitely the restaurant guide and the on-foot guide to Kyoto are a must, whether you live in Japan or are just travelling through. Both highly recommended.

Judith will be talking at a machiya restaurant for the Society of Writers, Editors, and Translators (SWET) on May 11, 2014, in Kyoto. Check the web site for more details.

Read an article on the SWET web site about the evolution of the restaurant guide.

Buy the paperback or the Kindle versions here:
Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide: Amazon JP, Amazon US
Exploring Kyoto: Amazon JP, Amazon US
Kyoto the City of Zen: Amazon JP, Amazon US

商店街 / Shopping Arcades

買い物苦手な私はスーパーやショッピングセンターへ買い物に足を運びますが、商店街で買い物する魅力にはやっぱり負けます。近年商店街ではシャッターが下ろしている店が多いです。活気のある商店街を歩きましたら、好奇心が湧きます。色々な店を除いたり、美味しそうな香りに誘惑されたりします。先日京都で時間を潰すために駅までぶらぶらと遠回りしました。生チョコの香りに引かれて、チョコレート屋を覗きましたら、店長に「見るだけでも良いですよ」と。作っている純米ココア酒について色々と話してくれました。次は煎餅屋さんで美味しい煎餅を三袋買いました。以外と楽しく買い物しました。

I don’t really like shopping. I go to the supermarket or shopping centre to buy what I need. Window shopping bores me. A work meeting, the other day, finished earlier than expected, so I had time on my hands. I decided to take the long way to the station and walk through the shopping arcade. In recent years, many stores in shopping arcades across Japan have shut their roller doors for good. The deeper I walked through the lively arcade along Sanjo, central Kyoto, the more my curiosity was piqued. Tempting, delicious aromas wafted out of shop fronts as I passed. One aroma emitting from a chocolate shop drew me in. The shop owner struck up a conversation with me and gave me a taste of his cocoa sake. Next, I bought three bags of rice-crackers from the friendly old guy who runs the cracker shop. I actually enjoyed window shopping, that day. Shopping arcades are definitely more appealing than huge shopping centres. If only everyone else agreed, a lot of them would not be ghost towns.

The Japanese version first appeared in the March 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年3月号に掲載されました。

愛は勝つ / Love Always Wins

I received a rush job at the end of the last year to translate the lyrics to a song. When I heard it was Kan's Ai wa katsu I jumped at the chance. The song was released in the summer of 1990, just before I arrived in Japan, and was Kan's biggest hit. I was a big fan of his and I used to sing this song at karaoke often.
去年末に歌詞を翻訳する急ぎの依頼を受けました。その曲はKANの「愛は勝つ」と聞いて迷わず引き受けました。この曲は1990年夏、私が来日するちょうど前にリリースされて、KANにとって最大のヒットでした。私はKANの大ファンで 「愛は勝つ」をカラオケでよく歌っていました。

In the 90s, I sometimes attempted writing English lyrics to Japanese songs, but for some unknown reason it seems I had never attempted this one. I know the song backwards, so it was easier than working with a song I am unfamiliar with. As anyone who has ever tried writing English lyrics to Japanese songs knows,  Japanese melodies have many more notes than English ones, because the Japanese language doesn't really allow for contractions, such as "don't", "can't", "I'll" and so on. So I had to add to the imagery of the lyrics, which was difficult while maintaining the integrity of the original lyrics and melody. I only altered the melody in the second verse, which starts "Look up into the night...," giving the English lyrics the same melody as the first verse, "Don't you worry yourself..."
昔、大好きな邦楽の曲に英語歌詞を時々趣味としてつけたりしていましたが、この曲の英訳がメモ帳に残っていないということはきっと挑戦しませんでした。不思議です。馴染みのある曲なので、全然知らない曲より英語歌詞がよりつけやすかったです。しかし、英語歌詞を書く経験のある方がご存知の通り、邦楽は英語の曲よりメロディーが多いし、英語のように「don't」や「can't」、「I'll」の様な省略がないし、原曲の歌詞とメロディーにできるだけ忠実でありながら、英語に歌詞を増やす必要がありました。結局メロディーを変えたのが1カ所のみ。日本語歌詞に当たる「夜空に流星を...」の箇所を「心配ないからね...」と同じメロディーにしました。　

I finished the lyrics in three days and met my deadline, but they were never used in the planned TV show earlier this year. I thought it was a waste, so have posted them here.
三日に歌詞を仕上げて納期を間に合いましたが、予定通り今年1月に放送された番組に利用されませんでした。折角作ったのに勿体ないと思って、ここで掲載します。

Here is the version Kan recorded with other Japanese singers for Ganbaro Nippon to raise funds for the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
以下は「愛は勝つ」の「かんばろうニッポン」バージョンです。

Love Always Wins (愛は勝つ)
Music & Original Lyrics: KAN
English Lyrics: George Bourdaniotis

Don’t you worry yourself
Someone out there feels your love
A new day will dawn for you
And together you’ll start anew
Whatever comes your way
Don’t you let it get you down
Though you want to hide away
You just need belief in yourself

Carry on, carry out
Love will bring pain
You feel you are chained
Waiting forever
Will seem in vain
Tender arms to give you some warmth Oh…Oh…
Through all you see
Remember your dream
Hold it to you
Remember the scenes
Memories of happiness Oh…

Look up into the night
If you see a falling star
Close your eyes and make a wish
You will sense a moment of bliss
Whatever comes your way
Don’t you let it get you down
Faith is all you really need
Have no doubt that love always wins in the end

Carry on, carry out
You’ll try too hard
And feel your heart break
You’ll be betrayed
It’s all give and take
Love takes time to bloom and to grow Oh…Oh…
You feel that day
Seems so faraway
When it’s in reach
You will find a way
Happiness takes hold of your heart Oh…

Don’t you worry yourself
Someone out there needs your strength
A new day will dawn for you
And together you’ll start anew
Whatever comes your way
Don’t you let it get you down
Faith is all you really need
Have no doubt that love always wins in the end
Faith is all you really need
Have no doubt that love always wins in the end

(c) English lyrics: George Bourdaniotis & Media Egg Communications

完成されるか？ / Completed?

先月の続きを気になる方に報告します。右のグラフから分かると思いますが、単語数を達しました。万歳！最終日の合計は52,027単語です。これを読んでいる方も親しい友達が首を長くして結果を待っていると思ったら、期待を答えなあかんと。励ましになりました。が、皆さんに読んでもらう状態ではないのが残念です。言うまでもなく編集とリサーチが必要です。更にストーリーがまだ終わっていません。真ん中が未だに進行中。結局何単語になるか楽しみですが、NaNoWriMoが終了したからと言って完成させるプレッシャーを感じるでしょうか。

Some readers are probably curious as to the outcome, last month. You can probably see from the graph that I reached the word limit. Yahoo! My official count on the last day was 52,027 words. I actually felt the invisible pressure from readers and my friends in the know who were probably expecting to hear about the results. It was great encouragement. Unfortunately, what I did write is in no state to be read by anyone. As you can imagine, it needs research and heavy editing. Moreover, the story isn’t finished yet! I’ve written the beginning and the end, but not the middle. It will be interesting to see how long it ends up, but more importantly will I feel the pressure to finish it now that NaNoWriMo is over for another year?

The Japanese version first appeared in the December 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年12月号に掲載されました。

案ずるより生むが易し / Easier said than done?

小説を書こうと思ったことがありますか。数年前にできるか好奇心が 湧いてきましたが、自信がありませんでした。ある日小説にできそうな話が閃きましたが、途中に壁に打つかって勢いを失い、残念ながら未だに未完成です。しかし短編を読む興味がない癖に書くのが好きだと分かりました。11月は小説を書く月、NaNoWriMoです。一切編集もせず、質に拘らず、30日以内に5万ワードを書く挑戦です。4年前に初めて挑戦した時、1万5千ワードまで頑張りました。今年再び挑戦します。構想は練り中です。達成するかな？

Have you ever contemplated writing a novel? A few years back I began to wonder if I could, but the confidence to do it evaded me. Then one day I was hit with an inspiring story for a novel. But I hit a wall and lost momentum. It’s still not finished. One thing I did realise, though, is that I like writing short stories, despite the fact that I don’t like reading them. November is NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. Participants are to write 50,000 words in 30 days. That is, write without editing or caring about the quality. I tried it four years ago and got to around 15,000 words. This year, I’m trying again. I’m plotting now. Will I reach the goal?

The Japanese version first appeared in the November 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年11月号に掲載されまし

トレイン・クルーズ / Train Cruise

先日国際放送の新番組に台本監修として列車旅の番組に参画させていただきました。番組レポーター兼ね旅人は熊本市から鹿児島市まで機関車をはじめ電車を3台乗車しました。旅先はついで、列車旅その物を楽しむのは主旨でした。スローフードがありますが、これは私自身が最近求めているスロー・トラベルです。台本の翻訳中、仮編集された映像を何回も見ているだけで、正直に言って辛かったです。旅人は地元の料理味わえる駅弁や地ビール、米焼酎が堪能できたり、他の乗客や駅駅員、地元の方とコミュニケーションを取ったり、本当の旅の楽しみ、土地柄の魅力を肌で感じました。

Recently I had the opportunity to work on the pilot episode of a new NHK World train travel program as script adviser. The program’s traveller, Nick Szasz, rode a steam train and two other trains from Kumamoto to Kagoshima in Kyushu. The aim of the program was enjoying the journey, not just the destinations. You have slow food, and you have slow travel. The latter is something I have been enjoying myself, lately. When translating the script I watched the rough cut DVD numerous times. That sure is a tough job when you consider Szasz is enjoying all the local cuisine, micro-beers, sake and shochu (Japanese vodka). I longed to go on a long train trip myself after watching him talk with other travellers, railway employees and the locals.

The Japanese version first appeared in the June 2013 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2013年6月号に掲載されました。

Footnote: [January 2014] I again had the opportunity to work as script adviser to the fourth episode of Train Cruise "A Fall Trip from Kyoto to the Japan Sea" to air on NHK World, February 1, 2014.

Murakami: City of Salmon and Sake / 恵みの川・伝統の鮭料理を味わう～新潟

Food is a national pastime in Japan and for good reason. No matter where you go, each village, city, or region will have local cuisine made with local produce, so traveling in Japan is fun. As a translator I often get jobs where I must describe food in subtle detail, so you can call me a desktop traveller. I often wonder if my clients would pay me to sample the fare. So I did not hesitate when I was asked by NHK World to go to Murakami for their program, Journeys in Japan, to taste the local salmon cuisine and sake. The variety of salmon cookery was amazing.

(back) Deep-fried gills, stewed brow, smoked soft roe
(centre) Deep-fried skin, stewed flesh, clear broth with roe skin
(front) Stewed backbone, roe marinated in soy sauce

旅をする時、日本人にとって食事が大事です。地元の味や珍味を堪能したいのです。自分でも日本のあっちこっちに旅する程、大事にしていることがよく分かります。どの地方へ行っても美味しい物が待っています。普段仕事している中、料理の説明等を英訳する仕事もあります。細かい味まで英語で表現をしないとだめですが、食べたことがないのにどう上手く表現するか毎回悩まされます。先方に頼みましたら、行かせていただくかなとよく思います。しかし実際は無理です。だからこそ、今回NHK国際放送のディレクターから新潟県の村上市に行かない？との誘いを聞いた時、思わず「行く」と即答しました。村上市と言えば、鮭。村上市は鮭の一人あたり消費量が日本トップクラスだそうです。「塩引き鮭」や「酒浸し」など実に100種類の鮭料理があることは自慢です。尾以外全部料理に使うのがびっくりしました。老舗料亭から地元民の通う総菜店まで、まさに鮭三昧で堪能できました。

The Murakami episode of Journeys in Japan will be broadcast on NHK World on January 28, 2014, UTC. 
本番組「恵みの川・伝統の鮭料理を味わう～新潟」は2014年1月30日午前3時にNHK BS1にて放送されます。

A Feeling for the New Year / 新年の気分を

Happy New Year! How did everyone end off 2013? I injured myself while in Niigata in early December on a shoot for NHK World’s Journeys in Japan (to be aired January 28th), so I decided to stay home on New Year’s Eve and have a quiet one. I received a translation job on the 28th to be submitted after the New Year break, so it was probably just as well that I had no major plans for the break. At the end of the year, I did an interesting rush translation project and had good news on the work front, so I was certainly in a good mood to greet 2014. I plan on having fun with my work in the coming year. Bring it on! 

明けましておめでとうございます！皆さんはどんなお気持ちで新年を迎えたでしょうか。私は12月初旬に出張先の新潟でちょっとした怪我しましたので、楽しい事を控えてじっと家で大人しく過ごすことにしました。年明け納期の翻訳原稿が28日に届いたし、ちょうど良かったかもしれませんが、年末にいいお知らせがあって、更に面白くてなかなか当たらない仕事があって、お陰で機嫌良く仕事をしながら、新年を迎えることができました。本年も楽しく仕事しようと思っています。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

Photo translation: If you can express gratitude/indebtedness to those around you, you will never be lonely in life.
(Taken outside a Buddhist temple in Murakami, Niigata, in early December 2013. 写真は13年12月上旬に新潟県村上市にあるお寺の前でロケ中に撮影。)

The Japanese version first appeared in the January 2014 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2014年1月号に掲載されました。