A Tale for the Time Being (64 page)

120
. nondualistic—
funi
(
), lit. “not” +
“two.”

121
. 
s
ō
ji
(
)—cleaning.

122
. 
Maa, s
ō
kashira
—Well, I wonder . . .

123
. 
engawa
(
)—a narrow wooden veranda that wraps
around a traditional Japanese building.

124
. 
segaki
(
)—hungry ghosts; also a derogatory name
for homeless people.

125
. 
Baka ne, Chibi-chan!
—Idiots, aren’t we, dear Chibi!

126
. 
tengu
(
)—supernatural red-faced demons with long,
phallic noses, often dressed like Buddhist monks. Tengu can be evil or benevolent and are protectors of mountains and forests.

127
. 
Yasutani Haruki-sama de gozaimasu ka?
—Are you the honorable Mr. Haruki Yasutani?

128
. 
Jinsei no Itami
—The Pain of Life.

129
. It’s brave to live . . . ?

130
. 
ihai
(
)—spirit tablet, a memorial tablet.

131
. 
senpai
(
)—one’s senior at work or school,
one’s superior.

132
. 
Haruki Ojisama wa irasshaimasu ka?
—Uncle Haruki, are you there?

133
. 
Haruki Ichibansama?
—Mr. Haruki Number One?

134
. Meriken (
)—Americans.

135
. 
ikotsu
(
)—cremated remains; lit.
“left-behind” + “bones.”

136
. karaoke (
)—lit. “empty” +
“orchestra” (
oke
—abbr. for
okesutora
).

137
. 
gyokusai
(
)—suicide attack, human wave attack.
Literally “shattering like a jewel,” from a seventh-century Chinese saying, “A great man should die as a shattered jewel rather than live as an intact tile.”

138
. 
ikotsu
—remains.

139
. 
Yamato danshi
(
)—lit. “man of Yamato.”
The masculine archetype of a true Japanese man.

140
. 
S
ō
dar
ō
na
—Mm, you’re probably
right.

141
. 
burusera
(
)—schoolgirl uniform fetish; lit.
buru
(abbr. for
bloomer
) +
sera
(abbr. for
sailor
).