2014年07月19日
納涼：英語でサラリーマン川柳
こんにちは。世間一般では今日から３連休らしいですね。でも学生は３連休どころか夏休み・・・いいなぁ。でも、休みどころか普段よりもっともっと勉強しなければいけない人もいますね。ガンバってください！！
数年前、頼まれもしないのに川柳なるもの外国人向けに解説を試みました。（暇だったんですねえ。）日本人はユーモアがわからないってたまに聞きますが、とんでもない！落語、漫画、漫才 そして川柳・・・日本の笑いのレベルは相当なものだと思うんですが・・・いかがなもんでしょう？
Japanese have a unique verse form called “senryu”. It is very short and rhythmical like “haiku” having a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. But senryu is very different from haiku in terms of its content in that it is funny, cynical, and sarcastic. And “salaryman” is a Japanese-English word referring to ordinary Japanese workers, who are generally struggling with many concerns ? the downsizing of their companies, raising their children, generation gaps, catching up with advanced information technologies, paying mortgages, etc. So, as you see, in “salaryman senryu”, Japanese workers express their true feelings and thoughts about their lives and their situations with humor and wit. When they make fun of themselves and share their dismal experiences by writing “senryu ”, they are able to let off steam or empathize with each other at least. So, let me try to translate several senryu into English. Even though the task of reproducing the original meanings and rhythms in English is quite difficult, it seems very challenging and interesting to me. Senryu often makes reference to various aspects of Japanese culture and history. It also contains many puns and buzzwords. Please forgive me if I’m not able to do well. (I avoided choosing the verses that convey things/concepts that are uniquely Japanese; it seems impossible to covey the true meaning of these verses to you without lengthy explanations.)
第一生命日本のサラリーマン川柳の一部を勝手に英訳してみました。また、それぞれに突っ込みを入れておきました。日常生活のクスっと笑えるところ、うまく言い得てます。
１.Every time, when stepping on a bath scale, I constantly shift the position of my feet.
『体重計どこにのっても同じなのに・・・』
2. Awesome! I’ve finally gotten a whole week off!
『やっともらった休暇・・でも長すぎる休暇・・・つらいですね。』
3. I have land and a house, but no room in my home.
『【悲しきお父さん】という歌ができそうです。』
4. One day, I met an E-pal, and then, I found that she was my WIFE!
『修羅場というか、いやむしろ荒涼とした・・・』
5. I have no dreams even in my own dreams.
『最近のワタクシも同じような・・
いかんいかん、まだまだ人生は続くのだ！！』
6. The boss, who used to tell us to cut down on waste, was cut.
『これは別の意味で笑えません・・・。』
7. Actually, we have another meeting, in order to reduce the number of meetings.
『私も昔サラリーマンでしたがほんと会議のための会議ばかりでしたね・・・。
自営業ブラボ～！！（ツライコトモアルケドネ）』
9. My boss is the only person that I can call my E-pal.
最近の若い人は違うかな？
10.Why can’t you do your job as fast as you type e-mail on your cell phone?
『若い部下に言ってませんか？ワタクシも塾生に言ったことあるような・・・・』
I quoted these Senryu from Daiichi Seimei 's site.
Translated by Hiroto ikeda
さて、いっきゅうのＣＭです。
夏期講習２１日からはじめます。コマもだいぶ埋まってきました。もし、お試し無料体験などご関心ございましたらお早めにご連絡いただければ幸いです。
いっきゅう 0955-29-8355 ikeda-office@mx7.tiki.ne.jp 塾長池田まで。
数年前、頼まれもしないのに川柳なるもの外国人向けに解説を試みました。（暇だったんですねえ。）日本人はユーモアがわからないってたまに聞きますが、とんでもない！落語、漫画、漫才 そして川柳・・・日本の笑いのレベルは相当なものだと思うんですが・・・いかがなもんでしょう？
Japanese have a unique verse form called “senryu”. It is very short and rhythmical like “haiku” having a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. But senryu is very different from haiku in terms of its content in that it is funny, cynical, and sarcastic. And “salaryman” is a Japanese-English word referring to ordinary Japanese workers, who are generally struggling with many concerns ? the downsizing of their companies, raising their children, generation gaps, catching up with advanced information technologies, paying mortgages, etc. So, as you see, in “salaryman senryu”, Japanese workers express their true feelings and thoughts about their lives and their situations with humor and wit. When they make fun of themselves and share their dismal experiences by writing “senryu ”, they are able to let off steam or empathize with each other at least. So, let me try to translate several senryu into English. Even though the task of reproducing the original meanings and rhythms in English is quite difficult, it seems very challenging and interesting to me. Senryu often makes reference to various aspects of Japanese culture and history. It also contains many puns and buzzwords. Please forgive me if I’m not able to do well. (I avoided choosing the verses that convey things/concepts that are uniquely Japanese; it seems impossible to covey the true meaning of these verses to you without lengthy explanations.)
第一生命日本のサラリーマン川柳の一部を勝手に英訳してみました。また、それぞれに突っ込みを入れておきました。日常生活のクスっと笑えるところ、うまく言い得てます。
１.Every time, when stepping on a bath scale, I constantly shift the position of my feet.
『体重計どこにのっても同じなのに・・・』
2. Awesome! I’ve finally gotten a whole week off!
『やっともらった休暇・・でも長すぎる休暇・・・つらいですね。』
3. I have land and a house, but no room in my home.
『【悲しきお父さん】という歌ができそうです。』
4. One day, I met an E-pal, and then, I found that she was my WIFE!
『修羅場というか、いやむしろ荒涼とした・・・』
5. I have no dreams even in my own dreams.
『最近のワタクシも同じような・・
いかんいかん、まだまだ人生は続くのだ！！』
6. The boss, who used to tell us to cut down on waste, was cut.
『これは別の意味で笑えません・・・。』
7. Actually, we have another meeting, in order to reduce the number of meetings.
『私も昔サラリーマンでしたがほんと会議のための会議ばかりでしたね・・・。
自営業ブラボ～！！（ツライコトモアルケドネ）』
9. My boss is the only person that I can call my E-pal.
最近の若い人は違うかな？
10.Why can’t you do your job as fast as you type e-mail on your cell phone?
『若い部下に言ってませんか？ワタクシも塾生に言ったことあるような・・・・』
I quoted these Senryu from Daiichi Seimei 's site.
Translated by Hiroto ikeda
さて、いっきゅうのＣＭです。
夏期講習２１日からはじめます。コマもだいぶ埋まってきました。もし、お試し無料体験などご関心ございましたらお早めにご連絡いただければ幸いです。
いっきゅう 0955-29-8355 ikeda-office@mx7.tiki.ne.jp 塾長池田まで。
2014年07月14日
英語でパワースポット：白蛇山岩陰遺跡
白蛇山岩陰遺跡は伊万里市の国見山系のふもと、脇野の田園地帯のひっそりした森の中にあります。地元の人しか分からないような、まるでトトロの森にような場所です。ひんやりした空気が漂う森に足を踏み入れますと、木陰でほの暗くなった空地の向う、岩肌に掘り込まれた仏様が浮き上がってきます。かつてここは縄文時代の住居であり、さらに時代を越えて、鎌倉時代の真言密教の寺があったそうです。
The Ruins of Shirohebi
Jomon men” lived in this cave. The Jomon era is Japan’s pre-historical era around BC 10,000~500. Stonewares made in the Jomon-era were excavated in this cave. The ruins of the Temple of “Shigon-Syou, a sect of Buddhism in Japan, date back to the 12th century around the Kamakura period.
Location: the western part of Imari city called “Wakino.”It might to be quite difficult to reach this place without directions from a local. Narrow rice field passes lead you to these ruins. (Actually, I have gotten lost many times trying to get there. Its tranquility creates a mysterious and secret atmosphere.)
この場所は時間が止まったままのようです。当時の修行僧が唱えるお経がどこかしら聴こえて来る様な気がします・・・
【いっきゅうＣＭ：パワーアップ 夏期講習受講生募集：中学 主要５教科＋ 高校英語数学 個別９０分授業で突破力持続力をつけよう！！】
The Ruins of Shirohebi
Jomon men” lived in this cave. The Jomon era is Japan’s pre-historical era around BC 10,000~500. Stonewares made in the Jomon-era were excavated in this cave. The ruins of the Temple of “Shigon-Syou, a sect of Buddhism in Japan, date back to the 12th century around the Kamakura period.
Location: the western part of Imari city called “Wakino.”It might to be quite difficult to reach this place without directions from a local. Narrow rice field passes lead you to these ruins. (Actually, I have gotten lost many times trying to get there. Its tranquility creates a mysterious and secret atmosphere.)
この場所は時間が止まったままのようです。当時の修行僧が唱えるお経がどこかしら聴こえて来る様な気がします・・・
【いっきゅうＣＭ：パワーアップ 夏期講習受講生募集：中学 主要５教科＋ 高校英語数学 個別９０分授業で突破力持続力をつけよう！！】
2014年07月09日
英語で川古の大楠：パワースポットだよ
This 3000-year-old Japanese cinnamon tree is worshiped as a deity in Wakagi-cho.Ｔhe bottom of the tree has a hole containing a shrine dedicated to the dead in a civil war. There are religious monuments in some places to console inspirits of war dead.In civel war era, around Hizen and Kyushu area , there were many conflicts beteen war loads as well as the central Japan. This old tree has been witnessing such the histroy for long long time.The image of Kannon was chseled out of this tree by Goyoki a significant monk about 1200 years ago,Nara preiod . During the time, Yamato regimes adopted Buddhism as national religion to rule Japan.But he emphasized the fundamental teaching of Buddha which was to relieve people whose souls facing hardships.The debris of Kanon fell out of the trunk of the tree, so it is worshiped in a small shrine separately. by Hiroto Ikeda
樹齢3０００年といわれる若木の大楠。 川古の大樹とも呼ばれてますね。見あげると堂々とした枝ぶりに圧倒されます。この大樹自体がひとつの世界いや、宇宙を感じます・・・。
3０００年といえば、縄文末期頃ですかね？その頃からですので日本の歴史をまるごとすっぽりと、十分あまりある程生きてきた大樹といえますね。
あたりに何かしらパワーが降り注いでいる・・・ 歴史の重みというものか・・。樹の根元近くの幹に空洞があり祠（ほこら）が祀られています。
最初は小さな苗木だったはずが、こんな風になれるんですね～。その大樹の呼吸から生命力をあやかりたくひそかに手を合わせました。
さて、いっきゅうＣＭです。【突破力・持続力アップの90分一本勝負！！いっきゅうでは夏期講習受講生（受講料通常の32～50％OFF）を募集中です<！！】
