Boku, I can't wait that long

I only became aware last month of what Haruki Murakami's newest book is called: 1Q84 (ichi-kyuu-hachi-yon). It was in the interview for the placement test when I told the examiners that I wasn't so into manga/anime (which shocked them) and that I liked Murakami. They asked me if I'd read this yet, and told me that it comes in 3 volumes:

The latest piece of Murakami fiction that has been translated into English is, I think, 'Afuta Daaku' (After Dark) published in 2004; the English translation was completed in 2007.

Haruki Murakami (a quote of whom from 'Kafka on the Shore' is, incidentally, just under the header for this blog) is my favourite writer in the whole world. He has three main translators - Jay Rubin, Alfred Birnbaum and Philip Gabriel. Of them all, I prefer Rubin's translation style, and I'm pleased that he is translating the first two volumes of 1Q84. But I guess translating this marvellous stuff takes time because the English translations won't be published until 2011!

I enjoyed After Dark, but it didn't come close to how much I loved 'Nejimaki-dori Kuronikuru' (The Wind Up Bird Chronicles). Armas and Anya, you should know what I'm talking about! But - and this is the cause for my excitement - I have had it from a very reputable source that Ichi-kyuu-hachi-yon might be the best Murakami work so far. So of course I decided I couldn't wait till 2011 (damn you Jay Rubin, you brilliant man! I might be doing my honours thesis on Murakami in 2011, I need it now!) and bought it today for ￥１８００.

Since it would take me about a year to read a book in Japanese anyway ...

Might buy the next two before I leave for home.

Oh, what a baka I am. I just noticed the pun in the title - kyuu means 9 in Japanese. So 1984. Another "I'm an unemployed Japanese 30-something male who is disaffected with the dreams of the youthful past (1960s student movement) and disgusted with the materialism of the present (1980s' big chill)" Murakami book? Or some connection with Orwell's novel? Both I hope.

I also bought a cute nōto to aid the process:

I had great fun today explaining what 'Japlish' is to my new Japanese tutor, Sayaka. Sayaka is a first year student studying Italian, French and English. She's also 19, so technically my junior, but she still calls me Era-chan ^-^ For those of you who've had the fortune to never hang around with pretentious Japan-loving gaijin (like me) 'chan' is an affectionate diminutive. To add it to someone's name, you need to pitch your voice 10 octaves higher and scrunch up your face so that it looks something like this:

Sayaka is awesome and currently helping me read 'Kitsune' by Niimi Nankichi, the Hans Christian Andersen of Japan. On the forum of a site I use to learn kanji, I found a page giving links to free audiobooks in Japanese to aid listening. One of these is Kitsune. But, the English translation I found of the tale is quite different. Might try my own translation once I've read it.

RANDOM PHOTOS TIME

Ninna-ji - one of the temples I pass on my way to school.

Learning about radicals in Japanese Studies. The teacher is so adorably crazy.

My marigold. It now has a little stick insect living on it (he's still there).

In response to requests to see a part of me other than my legs:

And that's the front of my head.

"Seven days" .... "Sorry, can you spell that?" Ah, high school memories.

Incidentally, I found out two really interesting facts about the effects produced in the J-Horror classics in Ringu (The Ring) and Ju-on (The Grudge). The scariest thing about Ringu for me is Sadako's messed-up walk (you know, like every bone in her body has been broken and every joint wrench out of its socket because she's been in a well for 100 years, but she's so damn pissed about it she can still somehow walk)? So they employed the Kabuki actress Rie Ino'o. Kabuki theatre employs exaggerated, jerking movements to demonstrate emotion. They filmed Rie walking backwards into a well. And then rewound the tape. See here at 1.25.

Second fun fact - I'm sure you're all also familiar with Kayako Saeki, "the Grudge lady" who so scared me at the age of 17 I took to sleeping with something heavy against the door - not much use as she can come through the wall - and the sound she makes. That sound was created by dragging a fine-toothed comb against the microphone, and then slowing down the speed. Listen here.

Well, I'm off now to do some homework so that I can actually have a fun weekend!

On Sunday I'll be visiting Kinkakuji - The Golden Pavilion.

It's funny to think, I was already something of a workaholic.

But the classes at Ritsumeikan have taught me the real meaning of hard work.