My name is not "Bunny-chan". It's BARNABY.
Long story short, Tiger & Bunny is an unlikely “bromance” anime viewed through the “Amerikomi” (American Comic Book) superhero genre. Superheroes capture crooks and save civilians live on HeroTV, all sponsored by major corporations. Yet a strong current of real heroism animates the show itself.
Dokodemo (anywhere) is a kindred spirit of itsudemo, a companion that frequently appears in similar contexts. The “doko” represents “What place?” and the “demo” represents “regardless,” so it means regardless of location. That is, anywhere.
Just like I mentioned with nanika, the “ka” in “itsuka” demonstrates uncertainty. That’s because it’s part of a word, not a particle at the end of a sentence. In a way, “ka” always projects uncertainty; we just usually interpret it as asking a question.
According to the Japan Times, only 5% of the debris in the Tohoku region from last year’s tsunami has actually been disposed of (generally meaning incineration). Apparently even debris outside the Fukushima area has a radiation stigma attached to it. The junk’s in the way of reconstruction – literally. Details here.
This follows up my post on itsudemo, where I explained why this should be read as “anytime” (as in, “at any time”) from a few points of view. You’ll see why below. It was inspired by a little slice of anime.
The Japanese word “itsu demo” (いつでも) has two very distinct parts. Itsu (何時、いつ) is represented by kanji that literally read, “what time”. Dictionaries say “demo” means but or however, but that is not how it is applied here. Its true secrets lie deeper.
The nagaimo (長芋、ながいも), or Dioscorea opposita, is also known as the Chinese yam or Korean yam. The first kanji is “long”; the second is best read as “yam”. Yams long predated potatoes in Japanese cuisine.
This is too high profile to not post about, so I wanted to pass on that the Emperor of Japan had successful heart bypass surgery in response to a diagnosis of angina. Long story short, it’s a lot better for him that he had this done now than court greater difficulties later. Details can be read at the Japan Times. Original report from the Kyodo news agency. – J
Hilda, Tales of Rebirth
This is an exchange between different characters of the Japan-produced video game, Tales of Rebirth, which sadly never made it to America. These are loose translations I am providing to illustrate the situations, both involving a newly joined party member, Hilda.
First, she is approached by Annie, a teenage healer whose father was a nationally famous doctor.
Annie, Tales of Rebirth, wielding staff
Annie, conversation
Annie: Pardon me, Hilda… how old are you?
Hilda: …Why do you ask?
Annie: I’m sorry if I was impolite…! I was just… curious.
Hilda: I’m 21.
Annie: My, such an adult…
Hilda: And how old are you?
Annie: I am 15.
Hilda: My, still a child.
[Annie makes understated, disagreeable expression]
-
Next, she is approached by Mao (which is, I am told, Chinese for ‘cat’, but Japanese is my third language, not Chinese!). Mao looks and sounds quite a bit younger and is what you might call an androgynous boy full of life.
Mao, Tales of Rebirth
Mao: Um… Hilda, how old are you?
[Hilda makes an unpleasant expression and sound.]
Mao: Did I… say something bad?
Hilda: It is thoroughly bad manners to ask a woman’s age, boy.
Mao: H… hey! Don’t talk to me like I’m a child!
Hilda: That you’re upset only proves that you are one.
-
We have just seen a variety of Japanese (and non-Japanese) social values in action.
Of course, we should not simply ignore the fact Hilda is being mean to both teenagers. She joined the party with no intention of getting touchy-feely with anyone and made no secret of the fact. She has a very troubled background, which I won’t go into great depth here except to say that she is mixed-race in a world with two main races, humans being one. This is an unusual, mature, and deep subject for an RPG to address, and Tales of Rebirth does a marvelous job of it.
So, in spite of these circumstances, Annie’s instinct is to look up to Hilde as a more mature female and someone poised and confident. It is expected that children want to grow up, and that is why they look up to elders.
Mao, on the other hand, hasn’t given two thoughts about “growing up” and is asking what he thinks is an innocent question, but which is contrary to gentlemanly manners – at minimum, in both Japan and in countries of European culture.
We have just seen two examples of how Japanese social interactions happen, both in the setting of social expectations and measuring actual interactions by how they depart from expectations.
In other words, since Annie behaved in line with social expectations for someone of her type, Hilda was being gratuitously mean to her. On the other hand, Mao was engaging in what society regards as bad manners, so Hilda had every social right to give him the verbal smackdown she did; he was in the wrong.
In two short skits, we have learned a great deal about all three characters and where their relationships, such as they are, begin from. – J
Two schoolgirls talking about Sean Penn.Schoolgirl #1: “Sean Penn is so cool!”
Schoolgirl #2: “He sure is!”
Schoolgirl #1: “Sean Penn wa kakkou ii yo ne!”
Schoolgirl #2: “Deshou!”
Therefore, “deshou” is an expression of agreement with another person.
English
Schoolgirl #1: “You really aced that test, didn’t you?”
Schoolgirl #2: “I did, didn’t I?”
Japanese
Schoolgirl #1: “Ano tesuto, daiseikou da yo ne?”
Schoolgirl #2: “Deshou?”
In this case, “deshou?” is used to answer a question with a statement/ question: I agree with that statement, don’t you?
Because English favors the active voice, a translation would probably read like this instead:
Schoolgirl #1: ”You really aced that test, huh?”
Schoolgirl #2: “Totally.”
Remember, the “deshou” expresses that Schoolgirl #2 has no doubt, in her own mind, that she did indeed ace that test. Her subjective opinion is strong. This is what should be remembered when converting “deshou” into English. – J
