Salaryman Senryu "Sarasen" Winners

Dai-ichi Life Insurance has announced their latest Sarariiman Senryuu (Salaried Worker Senryuu, サラリーマン川柳) competition winners. It's the 22nd year for the competition, and people vote on the best humorous senryu that come from the daily life of salaried workers and the news. Senryu are like Haiku but are less about nature than about human life, and you may recall that haiku are the poems with a cadence of 5, 7 then 5 syllables. Let's check some of the sara-sen winners out with my translations:

僕の嫁

boku no yome

国産なのに

kokusan nano ni

毒がある

doku ga aru

My Wife

Made in Japan

Yet Poisonous [1]

子供らに

Kodomora ni

また教えてる

Mata oshieteru

総理の名

Souri no na

Once again

I teach the kids

The PM's name [2]

コスト下げ

kosuto sage　

やる気も一緒に

yaruki mo issho ni　

下げられる

sagerareru

Cost-cutting measures

My motivation too

is cut

職安で　

Shokuan de

知った顔見た

Shitta kao mita　

あ、上司

a, joushi

At the job-center

I know that face

Oops, my boss!

久しぶり　

Hisashiburi!

ハローワークで

Haroo Waaku de　

同窓会

Dousoukai

Hey! Good to see you!

It's a reunion

At Hello Work [3]

やせたのは

Yasetano wa

一緒に歩いた

Issho ni aruita

犬の方

Inu no hou

All that walking

The one who lost weight

Was the dog

Who says the Japanese don't have a sense of humor!?

[1] The poison quip of course refers to the series of tainted food scandals, and plays on the idea that domestic Japanese food is supposed to be "safer".

[2] This refers to Japan's Prime Minister revolving door.

[3] Hello Work is a job center located in every town in Japan, where the unemployed can go to submit their resume and apply for work.

Saboten no Hana Lyrics - Kazuo Zaitsu

Kazuo Zaitsu (kanji: 財津和夫) of the Japanese band Tulip, is the singer of a favorite song of mine, "Saboten no Hana" or The Cactus Flower, which is a song about hope despite love lost. It was the theme song of an enormously popular 1993 drama called "Hitotsu Yane no Shita" or Under One Roof. Zaitsu san has a unique and pleasant voice that I like, and this song always brings a tear to my eye. The song features a simple piano solo in the bass register, which to me is the man's sad voice mixed with hope.

I thought I'd translate the lyrics so others could understand it too. You can see Zaitsu san sing it and see some stills from the drama on YouTube.

Saboten no Hana サボテンの花

ほんの小さな出来事に　愛は傷ついて

Hon no, chiisana, dekigoto ni, ai wa, kizu tsuite

君は部屋をとびだした　真冬の空の下に

Kimi wa, heya wo, tobi dashita, mafuyu no sora no shita ni

編みかけていた手袋と　洗いかけの洗濯物

Ami kaketeita tebukuro to, arai kake no sentaku mono

シャボンの泡が揺れていた

Shabon no awa ga yureteita

君の香りが揺れてた

Kimi no, kaori ga, yureteta

The smallest things, can damage love

You ran out of our room, mid-winter

There's the gloves you were knitting, and some undone wash

The bubbles were drifting

Your scent was drifting

たえまなく降りそそぐ　この雪のように

Taemanaku, furisosogu, kono yuki no you ni

君を愛せば良かった

Kimi wo aiseba yokatta

窓に降りそそぐ　この雪のように

Mado ni furisosogu, kono yuki no you ni

二人の愛は流れた

Futari no ai wa nagareta

Like this everlasting, driven snow

I should have loved you

Like this snow runs down the window

Our love ran away

思い出詰まったこの部屋を　僕も出て行こう

Omoide tsumatta kono heya wo, boku mo dete yukou

ドアに鍵をおろした時　なぜか涙がこぼれた

Doa ni kagi wo oroshita toki, nazeka namida ga koboreta

君が育てたサボテンは　小さな花をつくった

Kimi ga sodateta saboten wa, chiisana hana wo tsukutta

春はもうすぐそこまで　恋は今終わった

Haru wa mou sugu soko made, koi wa ima owatta

I think I'll leave this room, full of memories.

When I latch the door, for some reason I cried

The cactus you had been nurturing, grew a small flower

Spring's just around the corner, but our love is over now

この長い冬が終わるまでに

Kono nagai fuyu ga owaru made ni

何かを見つけて生きよう

Nanika o mitsukete ikiyou

何かを信じて生きてゆこう

Nanika wo shinjite ikite yukou

この冬が終わるまで

Kono fuyu ga owaru made

Until this long winter ends

I think I'll find a reason to live

I think I'll find something to believe

Until the end of this winter

この長い冬が終わるまでに

Kono nagai fuyu ga owaru made ni

何かを見つけて生きよう

Nanika o mitsukete ikiyou

何かを信じて生きてゆこう

Nanika wo shinjite ikite yukou

この冬が終わるまで

Kono fuyu ga owaru made

ララー...

Raraa...

Until this long winter ends

I think I'll find a reason to live

I think I'll find something to believe

Until the end of this winter

La la etc...

I hope you enjoy it, and find hope in your life like Zaitsu san's cactus flower.

Best Tokyo Subway Map: Vollmer Design

Vollmer Design's superior map of the Tokyo rail and subway system is a must for any visitor to or resident of Tokyo. The map is printed on A3 paper, but is folded small to the size of "3 x 1 2/3 matches" according to the nicely-designed Informa website where the map is available. Very affordable, even inexpensive, at JPY 270 yen online, it's less than the cost of a Starbucks latte, or maybe a typical iPhone app. The map is thankfully bilingual, so a visitor can show it to a Japanese speaker and get help, while reading the romanized versions of the names. It also has clear icon markers of major tourist sites like the Tsukiji Fish Market near Ginza, and the Tokyo Tower.

Vollmer Design was founded by Ansgar Vollmer and Yoshiko Tajima. The Informa site looks to be Vollmer Design's site specifically for this map. Here's what the Informa site tells us about the map's concept:

The R&S Map provides quick access to this complex city, and is of particular use to short-term visitors. Conventional route maps function only as route-finders and have been made obsolete by today’s digital information systems. The R&S Map, on the other hand, serves as an orientation guide and gives a good conceptual view of the city.

Tokyo’s train stations, rather than it is streets, are the important feature of the city. For this reason, because the R&S Map shows all lines and stations as well as geographic information, such as parks, islands, etc. in relative position to each other, it is possible to get the idea of a schematized city map.

I always like to have a map of the complex Tokyo subway system on my wall for easy reference, even though I have lived in Tokyo and Greater Tokyo since 1987. This one's a keeper, and I think even Professor Edward Tufte would be proud [1]. I am looking forward to a map of Yokohama, too, Vollmer Design!

You can buy one here.

Updates

21 May 2009 - Just got mine in the mail from Vollmer Design. It's a small and attractive map!

[1]Tufte is well-known as a, if not the, authority on information design. Check out his incredible books.

How to Gargle (Ugai Garagara)

Now, this is serious. Today on "Mezamashi Terebi," a popular morning TV show, they had a fairly long, scientific-sounding introduction to "ugai" or gargling. They stated that it's only really popular here in Japan, where all kids are taught "ugai-tearai," or gargling and hand-washing, from when they are toddlers. They had mini-interviews with a bunch of foreigners asking if they had the culture of gargling. Mostly, they didn't, or they did heathen things like drinking the gargle medicine! The horror!

I know where I grew up in the US, it was only recommended when we had sore throats and not really for every day, but here in Japan, it's been incessant, and it is truly part of the culture. Ugai-tearai shita? comes the regular inquiry. Did you gargle-and-wash-your-hands (you filthy mutt, implied)?

But, what don't you know about ugai-tearai? Mezamashi TV (and my mother the nurse) to the rescue:

• Use accepted brands like Isojin if you can, but saltwater or even green tea works too.
• Do a swish-swish through your teeth with the gargle first, and spit it out.
• Sing while gargling, to open up the throat and change its shape, thereby getting the gargle medicine on as much of your throat as possible. You can try a rendition of "sukiyaki". Ue wo muiiite, aaaaruko-o-ooh...
• Tilt your head from side to side, to let the gargle hit the sides of your throat.
• Don't drink the gargle. Spit, for Pete's sake!

Of course with all the Swine Flu going around, maybe it's time to learn to "ugai garagara". For your reference, "garagara" is the onomatopoeia in Japanese for the sound of gargling. Good gargling.

Salaryman Neo's "Salaryman Calisthenics"

This clip is from the TV comedy Salaryman Neo. It's a skit called "Salaryman Taiso" (Taiso = Calisthenics). It's based on the famous, known-by-every-Japanese NHK "rajio taiso", which started off as a calisthenics show on the radio, to piano music, which all Japanese learn. NHK is the epitome of conservative, so it's quite funny to see Japanese "taking the piss" in this irreverant way.

RIP Kiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano, the hugely-popular lead singer of RC Succession died of lymphatic disease at the age of 59. He'll be dearly missed. One of their hits, "Ameagari no Yozora ni" is representative of his music, and you can hear it on YouTube. I thought I'd translate the lyrics to it. The original Japanese is followed by romanized Japanese, followed by my English approximation. It's full of double-meanings, of course.

Ameagari no Yozora ni 雨あがりの夜空に

この雨にやられてエンジンいかれちまった

Kono Ame ni Yararete, Engine ikarechimatta

おいらのポンコツとうとうつぶれちまった

Oira no ponkotsu toutou tuburechimatta

どうしたんだ　HEY HEY BABY, バッテリーはびんびんだぜ

Doushitanda Hey Hey Baby, Battery wa binbin daze

いつものようにきめてぶっとばそうぜ

Itumonoyouni kimete buttobasouze

My engine's dead from all this rain

My junker's finally died

What's the matter, hey hey baby, the battery's fine

Lookin' cool like always, let's drive it hard

そりゃあひどい乗り方したこともあった

Sorya hidoi norikata shitakoto mo atta

だけどそんなときにもお前はシッカリ

Dakedo, sonna tokinimo omaewa shikkari

どうしたんだ　HEY HEY BABY, 機嫌直してくれよ　

Doushitanda Hey Hey Baby, Kigen naoshitekureyo

いつものようにキメてブッ飛ばそうぜ

Itsumonoyouni kimete buttobasouze

I rode you hard sometimes

But even then you toughed it out

What's the matter, hey hey baby, why don't you cheer up?

Lookin' cool like always, let's drive it hard

OH！ どうぞ勝手に降ってくれ　ぽしゃるまで

Oh! Douzo katteni kudattekure, posharumade

WOO！ いつまで続くのか見せてもらうさ

Woo! Itsumade tsuzukunoka misetemorausa

こんな夜にお前に乗れないなんて

Konna yoruni omaeni norenai nante

こんな夜に発車できないなんて

Konna yoruni hassha dekinai nante

Oh! Go ahead, fall apart til' you're a wreck

Woo! I'll see how long I can ride you

I can't believe I can't ride you tonight

I can't believe I can't blast off tonight

こんなこといつまでも永くはつづかない

Konna koto itsumademo nagakuwa tsuzukanai

いいかげん明日のこと考えたほうがいい

Iikagen ashita no koto kangaetahouga ii

どうしたんだ　HEY HEY BABY お前までそんなこと言うの？

Doushitanda Hey Hey Baby, Omaemade sonna koto iu no?

いつものようにキメてぶっ飛ばそうぜ

Itumono youni kimete buttobasouze

This sort of thing won't continue too long

You gotta think about tomorrow

What's the matter, hey hey baby, are you gonna say that too?

Lookin' cool like always, let's drive it hard

OH！ 雨あがりの夜空に輝く

Oh! Ameagari no yozorani kagayaku

WOO! 雲の切れ間にちりばめたダイヤモンド

Woo! Kumo no kirema ni chiribameta diamond

こんな夜におまえにのれないなんて

Konna yoruni omaeni norenai nante

こんな夜に発車できないなんて

Konna yoruni hassha dekinai nante

Oh! They shine in the night sky after the rain

Woo! The diamonds in the breaks in the clouds

I can't believe I can't ride you tonight

I can't believe I can't blast off tonight

お前についてるラジオ 感度最高

Omae ni tsuiteru radio kando saikou

すぐにいい音させてどこまでも飛んでく

Suguni iioto sasete dokomademo tondeku

Your radio's so sensitive

You make great sounds soon and fly away

どうしたんだ　HEY HEY BABY, バッテリーはびんびんだぜ

Doushitanda Hey Hey Baby, Battery wa binbin daze

いつものようにきめてぶっとばそうぜ

Itumonoyouni kimete buttobasouze

What's the matter, hey hey baby, the battery's fine

Lookin' cool like always, let's drive it hard

OH！ 雨上がりの夜空に流れる

Oh! Ameagari no yozorani nagareru

WOO！ ジンライムのようなお月様

Woo! Gin Lime no youna otsuki sama

こんな夜におまえにのれないなんて

Konna yoruni omaeni norenai nante

こんな夜に発車できないなんて

Konna yoruni hassha dekinai nante

Oh! It drifts in the night sky after the rain

Woo! The moon like a gin lime

I can't believe I can't ride you tonight

I can't believe I can't blast off tonight

こんな夜におまえにのれないなんて

Konna yoruni omaeni norenai nante

こんな夜に発車できないなんて

Konna yoruni hassha dekinai nante

I can't believe I can't ride you tonight

I can't believe I can't blast off tonight

Buttobase in heaven, Kiyoshiro. RIP!

English Bookstores in Japan

Here are some English bookstores in Japan, but mostly in Tokyo or Yokohama where I live, for the visitor or resident:

Maruzen in the Oazo complex (pictured) in front of JR Tokyo station on the Marunouchi side.

1-6-4 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Tel - 03-5218-5100

Yaesu Book Center on the Yaesu side of JR Tokyo station.

2-5-1 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8456

Tel - 03-3281-1811

Kinokuniya Shinjuku South Store in Takashimaya Times Square, on "Southern Terrace" of JR Shinjuku station's New South Exit.

5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0051

Tel - 03-5361-3301

Kinokuniya Shinjuku Main Store on the East side of JR Shinjuku.

3-17-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8636

Tel - 03-3354-0131

Good Day Books near JR Ebisu, has a large collection of used books.

3F Asahi Building, 1-11-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013

Tel - 03-5421-0957

Email - goodday@gol.com

Yurindo Landmark Plaza near JR Sakuragicho in the Minato Mirai Landmark Tower.

5F Landmark Tower Mall, 2-2-1-2 Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 220-8172

Tel - 045-222-5500