I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since my friend and I first started thinking about making a MoB trip around Japan. And now at last, despite a bit economically harder times, we got through with it and I am really happy for that.

The main mirage places we visited mostly deserve an entry of their own, but here is a brief summary of our trip first:
( Read more... )

I survived Mira tour 09!! XDD
And it was pretty much all I had wished for. :)
I returned home just few hours ago and I must admit that after fourteen days of travelling from place to place, I am a bit tired, but the trip was totally worth it. For those interested, I will be posting about our adventures, of course including photos of all mirage sights we visited.

Author: Kuwabara Mizuna

Japanese to Czech: Katsumi (Extrara)

Czech to English: Skinintheway

Note: This is a little part from the Memorial, apparently the author 'asked' various Mirage characters to reveal some hidden facts about our dear protagonists. XD 

HIS SECRETS (that only I know)

Miya about Takaya:

Well, in eating and drinking, my brother is just like a child. He would always play it cool in front of other people and drink strong black coffee. But when nobody is there to see, he puts a lot of sugar and milk in. And he also eats sushi without wasabi. That is what he is like…

Utarou about Takaya:

Hmm…something interesting about Ohgi-san, you say? Perhaps his eating habits…I think he dislikes ginger, because I noticed he secretly picks it out of his fried noodles. And then there is the way he sleeps. Obviously he likes to hug something in his sleep. The other night I saw him fall asleep with a teapot in his arms. He looked quite cute.

Ranmaru about Nobunaga:

Heh? Lord’s secret? If he finds out, I told you something like that, I‘m a dead man. But I could tell you about the first time he tasted coca-cola. He was truly adorable, he couldn’t get enough and drank five bottles at once…and spent the whole next day on the toilet.  And you know how he’s into all that modern stuff…The worst thing was when Tamagochi was in the fashion. While we were in a battle, I was the one who had to feed that thing. Can you imagine what would happen of me, if I let it die?! Better not to know…

Teruhiro  about Naoe:

My name is Teruhiro and I am  Yoshiaki’s older brother. I’m not sure if this could be called a secret, but ever since his childhood, Yoshiaki has been kind of…well, let’s say his behaviour wasn’t adequate to his age. Perhaps due to this fact, he‘s been very popular with women even as a child. The funniest story was, when his pre-school teacher told him in perfectly serious tone that she would wait for him utill he is legal age. Talking of ceremonies, he was very popular since high school. I can only hope he didn’t really date any of those widows…Still, considering how worried we were for him because of his suicide attempts, he has grown to be a capable and responsible man. It’s just that he uses the credit card a bit too much…

Kousaka about Naoe:

What? You want to learn some of Naoe’s secrets? It would be my pleasure! Just keep in mind, that after those 400 years, this will be a long list…In my personal database I keep an account of everything beginning with the way he used to wash his loin cloth and ending with the nonsenses he babbles in his sleep. This little article can hardly suffice, because what I know is worth more than just one novel. After all, I am the person who wrote Kouyou Gunkan. If you want to know, Naoe constantly keeps up his act, trying to look cool, but deep down, he is the same old country bumpkin. He loves to listen to himself, hence his monologues often take up to five pages of text. He keeps barking, despite being a total chickenshit. Also, he…(author‘s cut for excessive length)

I believe I must be like hundred thousand years too late to make this discovery, but Gackt‘s Dooms Day makes one perfect Naoe  >> Takaya song. Not only does the addressing in the song fit Naoe’s way of speaking (as far as I can tell), but the imagery, the themes and metaphors, are so similar to the story that it’s scary. This impression is even intensified by the music themes, which keep shifting abruptly from peaceful and gentle to raw and violent, just perfectly reflecting the dichotomy of Naoe’s behaviour towards Takaya. Or maybe it’s just me over-analyzing things.

Anyway, most surprising is that there seems to be no Mirage AMV made to Doomsday, not even by Japanese fans…

 

Author: Gackt Camui

Translation: Mina-P

The pretty moon is smiling
In the quiet night, it's laughing
Once more, I murmured
Your name...

Above the scattered glass
A cold wind is dancing
I await your return
Before falling into sleep...

My shouting voice resounds
And I embrace your unforgivable sins

I saw your dream
The dream you can't awaken from
While leaning against the windowsill
And being softly embraced by the moon

Your shouting voice stops
And my unforgivable crime continues
Your heart, your arms, your voice... everything
Until we love each other, until it drives us mad, I hold you who I love too much
I destroyed over and over again...

Does it reach you now?
His kind voice
Can you see it?
Your arm, dyed red...

While shaking, the last sound is erased
While weeping for our unforgivable sins
Ephemeral dreams, sorrowful dreams, painful dreams announce the end
Into gentle dreams, into beloved dreams, like that day, like that time...

kirei na tsuki ga warau
shizuka na yoru ni warau
mou ichido, tsubuyaita wa
anata no namae o...

chirabaru garasu no ue de
tsumetai kaze ga odoru
anata no kaeri o matsu wa
nemuri ni ochiru mae ni...

sakendeiru watashi no koe ga hibiku
yurusarenai anata no tsumi o daite

anata no yume o mita wa
mezameru koto no nai yume o
madobe ni motarenagara
sotto tsuki ni dakareta

sakendeiru anata no koe ga togireru
yurusarenai watashi no tsumi wa tsuzuku
anata no mune o, anata no ude o, anata no koe o... subete o
itoshii hodo ni kuruoshii hodo ni aishisugita anata o daite
nandomo kowashitsuzuketa...

ima nara todokimasu ka?
yasashii kare no koe ga
anata ni wa miemasu ka?
akaku somatta kono ude ga...

furuenagara saigo no koe o keshite
yurusarenai futari no tsumi o nakinagara
hakanai yume wa, kanashii yume wa, setsunai yume wa owari o tsuge
yasashii yume ni, itoshii yume ni, ano hi no mama ni, ano koro no you ni... 

This is originally a comment on labingi’s essay:

http://labingi.livejournal.com/128431.html

“The sex doesn't fix everything. Indeed, by the second or third time, Naoe is already uncomfortably aware of not being content with this; it's not giving him Takaya in the way he'd (perhaps) hoped it might.”
 

Now this is revealing the crux of what’s been bothering me in Naotakatora ship for ages.

The fact that despite all those years of desiring Takatora, after that (rather mindless) catharsis of  20/6, the sex feels utterly unsatisfactory for  Naoe. As if he’s reached yet another standing point, where he has no earthly means to get enough of Takatora once again.

But if you are a kanshousha, is it really any wonder, that this sort of satisfaction, reached mainly by the bodily perception, kind of loses its magic?

In fact, I think it would be more realistic, if sensei made their views even more alienated from our common understanding of these problems. The traditional (Buddhist or Christian) dualism of body and soul would in their case deepened to the point, where it’s not even a dualism anymore and the identification lies merely in the spiritual level of the self. While it is indisputably essential to their everyday existence (they need body to do their exorcising job and without it they are vulnerable), the physical sphere is inevitably less significant to what constitutes an individual.

I believe accepting this condition might even help us understand, if not pardon, the violence in their intercourses, as it could indicate their frustration at (though perhaps still uncounsious) realizing the impossibility of more permanent, or thorough connection, even through the most intimate mean currently at their disposal.

For here, of all cases, the skin is indeed in the way. But…of what?

On the note of said violence, I think that it is not only Naoe constantly pressing on Takaya. The latter is not at all as passive as it looks. They are both equally intensive, or aggressive, though in different roles. It is just that Takaya mostly keeps silent about his desires, unlike Naoe, who can pull out his elegies at any time.

And I maintain my view of Takaya not being a masochist, as he’s been called. The same way I don’t consider my position masochistic, when I accept and counter my opponent’s attack. Semeru-ukeru, that’s just the way the game is played. Taka is not a victim here, he more or less understands Naoe’s purpose and willingly puts up with his moves, going along ‘Von nichts kommt nichts’ (no pun intended, lol). And they both come to the conclusion, though at different places in the story, that the physical connection is nowhere close to enough.

So what is it, that they trully desire? What does Naoe want from Takaya, and Takaya from Naoe?

During sleepless nights of ongoing debates with friends, I was given various answers:

A comunication with higher principle
The ultimate connection
A spiritual caress
Ideal way of existence

Of course, they are all true. But it becomes icreasingly difficult for me to assign these concepts some sort of personal experience. I think I might be reaching my limits in understanding here. Firstly, too little of the story after 20 is fully translated to make some solid picture out of it. Secondly, I base my notion of the philosophical and religious background of MoBverse on my own knowledge and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, which can be of course misleading. Yet I am still convinced, that there is a common denominator for my favourite kanshoushas’ and my own aspirations and that it is very worth searching for  ^_^

 

 Takaya’s Tour of Working Hell, track 3

 

Author: Kuwabara Mizuna

Length: 7min. 33s

Cast: Seki Toshihiko as Ohgi Takaya/ Uesugi Kagetora

         Show Hayami as Naoe Nobutsuna

         Tamagawa Sakiko as Kadowaki Ayako

         (plus unknown artists in side roles of Ayako’s friends 1, 2, 3, and of the host club  manager M)

 

Japanese to Czech translation by Katsumi

Czech to English translation by skinintheway

 

Disclaimer

I do not own Mirage of Blaze, all belongs to Kuwabara Mizuna.

This translation was done by fans for fans and we have no profit from it.

Many thanks to Katsumi, who made Czech translation of this track on my particular demand, because I just love it <3. Also, many thanks to Quaint_Twilight-san for betaing this one.

 

Translators note

Another track of Baito Jigoku Meguri Hen drama CD, which comes in set with the 13-episode DVD box. All four of it’s tracks are pure crack and their plots revolve around Takaya’s increasingly desperate attempts to make money for his bike loan and reparation, while the rest of the Yashashuu keep ruining his chances for a stable part-time job.

 

TRACK 3

 

T: Haaaah…fired again… At this rate, not only will I never pay off my  loan, I’ll be saddled with an unpaid, overdue debt . This is not good – I’ve to think of something fast. Isn’t  there any quick way to make a large sum of money? I’ll be willing to take on any job, even the sort which might get me expelled from school if they find out ...

 And so… it has been nearly a week, since I started working at the host club.

 Damn it, the suit and necktie is definitely not my style, but it’s not like I can complain considering my situation. Patience, patience…

 

M: Welcome.

1,2,3: Good evening!

T: Ghee…!!!

A: Heh…? So this is the famous host club?

T: T-That’s Ayako nee-san…!!

1: All of sudden, my heart‘s pounding so fast…

2: Mine too! With so many good-looking men around…

3: Indeed! Indeed!

M: Now, this way please.

T: O-Oh crap! They’re coming this way!

1: By the way, one of the new boys is really hot! He looks cold and aloof, kinda scary at first glance, but unexpectedly shy and totally sweet when he blushes…

A: Really?? Which one, which one?

T: Eh-yah…Need to escape! But where to??! Ah, that’s it! The toilet, toilet!!

1: Ah, that’s him, over there! The one about to enter the toilet…

A: Heh?!

T: Ghkh...they’ve seen me….!!

2: Good evening!

T: (in serious tone) Welcome.

A: K-Kagetora…?!!

1,2,3: Heeeh?!

A: Kagetora! What on earth are you doing here?!

T: Eh…well…that’s…

1: Wait a minute! What’s going on here?

2: What, Ayako, you know each other? So you‘re Kagetora-kun? How cute…

T: (nervous) Ha ha ha

3: He‘s blushing…Though it doesn’t really match your cool appearance, you look even cuter!!

M: Haha, surely you’re not going to stand here like this…please take a seat and have a nice  chat together.

(whispering to Takaya) I shall leave this to you, Kagetora.

1: That‘s a great idea, right? Ka-ge-to-ra…?

T: Uh…huh...

A: Ehh?!

1: He’s really just too cute! Kyaaa..

2: Hey, Ayako, what is the relationship between you two?? That’s not like you at all…

A: Ah, we’re just old friends…

T: Yeah…something like that…

2: Reaaally??

3: How dubious! Come on, fess up…

T: H-hey! Don’t pull at my tie!!

1: ‘Don’t pull at my tie‘ he says…

2, 3: Totally sweet! Adorable!!

N: (to himself) What a noisy gaggle! But not to worry Takaya-san! Rescue is immediately on the way!

Welcome.

T: NAOE?!!

A: What’s going on?

T: What the hell are YOU doing here?!

1: What do you mean what’s he doing here? Don’t you know he is the number one host in this club?

T: What?!!

N: Have you not noticed? I have been here ever since the first day you started work in this place.

T:  I..I had no clue…

N: May I join you?

1,2,3: Sure, please do!

N: Thank you. Oh…!!!

1: Huh?!

N: Please don’t look at me in that way! Your eyes, clear and bright as the Mashoko lake , draws me in…Drowning me within its depths...

1: Aaaah...

N: Excuse me, may I know your name?

1: A-Arisa.

N: What a beautiful ring it has. Everything about you is just as beautiful...especially the area that cannot be seen…

 1: Aaaah…

N: And your name would be…?

2: Ah...Hanako.

N: How lovely! You are like a raw diamond, waiting to be polished to its full beauty. Will you let me be the one to do so?

2: Oh…but of course!! Aah…

3: Tell us, Naoe-san…you have such a wonderful scent. What perfume do you use?

N: Ah…I wear Égoïste[i]. Why is that so? Because love makes egoists of all people indeed. And the one to be blamed for making me an egoist - is you!

3: Naoe-san!

1,2,3: Aaaah!

1: Please sit by my side!

2: No, mine please!

A: Haaah...that Naoe, how can he so shamelessly utter that string of clichéd sentences..

T: That’s definitely beyond me. Definitely.

A: True enough, it’s impossible for you. Even if you were to perform Kanshou a hundred times, it’d still be impossible for you…

T: You didn’t have to go that far …

A: But he has totally stolen all the girls, I am the only one left with you.

T: I think I felt a gust of cold wind when you said that..

A: Don’t be discouraged, Kagetora. Being a horrible host doesn’t mean that you are a failure in life! As they say: When one god deserts you, another will pick you up…

T: What on earth does that saying mean...

A: Forget about it! Since it’s just the two of us, let’s have a drinking party together!!! One bottle of champagne over here!

T: Wait a minute, nee-san, you’re drinking too much…

A: By the way, Kagetora, why are you working at this host club?

T: Heh? AAAH!!!!! That’s right, I completely forgot!!  At the end of the day, this is all your fault, nee-san!!!

A: What? Mine? Why?

T: Because it was completely wrecked, all of the cams and other parts too!

A: Oh, you mean that…

T: „That“?!

A: Don’t blame me for ruining your bike, blame it on your lousy driving skills!

T:  That’s true, but the way you word it is too-

A: Come on Kagetora, forget about that rubbish already and have a drink. Let‘s party!!! More champagne, please!

T: Hey, hey, isn’t this is a bit too much! Do you even have any money with you?

A: Of course NOT! You are paying!

T: HEEEEEH?!!!

A: And don’t think you can wriggle your way out of this one. You don’t want me to tell Miya-chan exactly where you work, do you?

T: Are you trying to blackmail your own lord?

A: *drops dead*

T: Don’t …don’t sleep!!!

A: Kagetora,… don’t you abandon us[ii]!

T: This isn‘t going to work on me! Wake uuup!!!

N: (to himself) Takaya-san, I successfully thwarted the danger to your chastity…

3: Naoe-san…why do you keep turning around, and what are you mumbling about?

N: Eh?

2: What are you thinking about, Naoe-san?

N: Ahaha…of course, I’m only thinking of you, you and you!

2 1 3: Kyaaa! Only me…

N: (to himself) However…even if this is my sacrifice to save Takaya-san…but this circumstance of having left my master alone... what about my social standing as a retainer...

 

So much for Takaya’s host job. And what other part-time will he pick next? How about becoming a nude model?….XD

 I find Naoe’s part in this one particularly hilarious. His standard ambiguous talking makes every flattery border on insult in a way that would make me splash my drink into his face, if I was in those girls position XD I’m sure Égoïste and Piña colada make fairly nice blend of scent…

 Btw, we found out there are in fact at least four host clubs in Matsumoto, and we took a serious thought of visiting one on our tour. That is, before we saw photos of those host guys on internet, and discovered some of them could be our fathers! XDDD Reality is so cruel…

Mirage of blaze is special for me in many aspects. It was the first time I watched Japanese animated series and also it was my first encounter with more or less explicit BL genre.

 

The absolutely first time I came across something Mirage was this AMV by Loveableneko, which one day ended up at our hard disk, accidentally copied from a friend along with other movies and music. My version had no credits at the end, so frankly I had no idea what I’m watching. I could only guess it was of Japanese origin and I knew almost nothing about Japan that time…

  

Honestly, a random sequence of animated scenes would hardly ever catch my interest, especially since I was clueless as to what’s going on. But the sheer intensity of situations depicted had me breathless at the end: never before had I witnessed this kind of emotional tension in… well… ANYTHING …much less in anything animated (the anime preserved the Naotaka dynamics well, if it failed in portraying other aspects). Now you can imagine I was thoroughly confused, the overwhelming feeling of WTF?!! rivaled only by increasing awe and fascination.

 

And urgent questions began to arise in my mind: ‘What are they? What are they to each other? Does the story really work with the concept of reincarnation? Who is that girl? And OMG!! did he really try to kiss him?! That’s …well…not gross at all, but…um… in fact, it’s quite charming, isn’t it? That this Naoe should love that Takaya guy so much, that he doesn’t even care if he’s a man or a woman…‘(I was SO right about this one). ‘And they look kind of adorable together…‘(and thus a new yaoi fangirl was born XD)

 

Because I was a complete novice to Japanese animation, I had a really hard time with its specific graphical style. It took me several times re-watching the thing, before I was even able to tell Naoe from Takaya – their appearance just didn’t show significant differences for my untrained eyes. I was also fairly confused by their names, I mean, who gives their character a name consisting of three vowels in a row? And Takaya? Who gives a male character (he was a male, was he not?) a name that not only sounds girlish, but RUSSIAN-girlish?

 

Whether I wanted it or not, my brain collected all available pieces of the story and following the path of least resistance (the final in Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy I had taken was still fresh in my memory), offered me the most acceptable overview of the story: this Naoe was Minako/Takaya’s lover in previous life but he hurt her in some way. So in this life he returned to stay by her side and make up for his faults, despite the fact she‘s incarnated as a man…

(Clearly I was not yet ready for the idea of two men in love -_-;;) …uhh, thinking about it, I was not so totally off with my guess, was I? …XD Even now I wish sometimes, things would really be this simple and uncomplicated between them…

 

But I can never resist a riddle. I had to know!!! Unfortunately, with what little lead I had, my attempts to find more information (mind you, there was no Youtube and such at that time and I didn’t even know the title) were completely unsuccessful. It was only sometime later, that I accidentally discovered the name of the anime (mirage of blaze??? What on earth does that mean???) and was able to watch the whole series and OVA. With its open ending, of course I was curious to learn more! (and man, did I learn…)

 

A bookworm as I am, I was absolutely thrilled to find out there are actually NOVELS!!! The excitement at this discovery was only slightly cooled by realization, that they are mostly in Japanese language only. My occupation was technically a linguist at that time (well, more linguist than technical, in contrary to my current state XDD) and it would take more than „agglutinative, heavily contextual language using combination of four scripts“ to scare me off. Alas, I realized soon I suck at reading kanji (and after such a long time, I suck at it no less T_T). So what followed was a standard fast-read through all available English resources. I was not exactly ready for the enormous measure of angst, that waits for a Mirage reader to get through, but the more I learned to appreciate the rare moments of extraordinary romance sensei pulls out of her sleeve time to time.

 

 

I have fallen for Mirage of Blaze from the very first minute, right on the spot, head over feet. And even after all these years, my love for it not only haven’t faded, but keeps growing deep and wide with each bit I learn about it.

This is the first draft of the tour schedule, some of its parts still need work, but please tell me what you think. If you haven't done so already, please pm me your email address, so that I can send you a complete table of costs/locations/time.

Estimated Time Period: 14 days

 

Date: between 1^th and 23^rd April

 

Estimated Cost: 200 000 Y, plus 20 % reserve

 

Rough Itinerary:

Narita - Utsunomiya - Kinugawa - Nikkou - Matsumoto - Asama - Kyoto - Nara - Fuji - Hakone  - Ashinoko -Odawara - Kamakura - Tokyo - Narita

 

Tour description:

Our first day in Japan is reserved for a synchronization of all participants and recovering from the jet lag. Since we will be arriving from all around the world, I imagine there would be quite some time lapses between our arrival hours. To spare those people who come first the pain of long waiting at the busy Narita terminal, we designed this plan: the first half of people will be escorted to Utsunomiya (concrete hotel will be decided later) by Katsumi (who will be studying at Utsunomiya University by that time) while another friend of ours will wait at the airport for the second half. If we are lucky and all planes arrive early that day, we can use the rest of it for visiting the Futaarasan shrine (different from the Nikkou shrine) or going out to have a dinner (to try some of local gyouza dumplings and coctails) or welcome party of sorts, or whatever. If we are too beat from planes and waiting, we can as well just hit the bed. Personally I don’t believe we should expect much more excitement from the first day. Teilhard de Chardin said “every synthesis costs something”, so I guess we’ll have to sacrifice this day to our union.

 On the second day we will take train from Utsunomiya to an onsen resort area Kinugawa. After checking in our first ryokan (again, the choice is left to Katsumi, who will visit Kinugawa before us, and find some cosy ryokan ‘in situ’), we will make a whole day trip around Nikkou shrine complex, namely visiting Tosho-gu, Futarasan,  Rinno-ji, Ieyasu’s tomb and those great cedars, also taking bus to Kegon waterfall and Chusenji lake. Because the sights close at around 4 pm, there should be enough time for soaking in the pool a bit before the dinner.

 The third day in the morning we will take train to Matsumoto, via Tokyo. This journey will take some 6 hours, but there’s no helping it, even if we wanted to take a shinkansen, which means to double the price as well as the number of train changes. We should arrive early enough to go for a basashi dinner after checking in our Asama ryokan (or another variant is some ryokan closer to center). If we arrive very early, we could make a trip to Lake Suwa.

The fourth day is planned as Matsumoto sight-seeing. Of course that means mainly the Takeda castle with a folklore museum nearby, museum of art or ukiyo-e (this one is a bit out of town), plus any mirage sights that would feel worth the visit. Again, because we will be staying at ryokan, it is wise to save some time for onsen bathing and we should not miss the dinner.

 The next day in the morning we will transport to Kyoto, our train should arrive there in a bit less than 5 hours. After checking in Righa Royal we can visit the nearest shrines and than take our rest in the hotel. Hope there’ll be no scenes XD.

Note that there are more than 2000 shrines and temples in Kyoto, and it is said to take months to years to visit them all. Therefore we will only choose those of most interest or those featured in Mirage. I also think that while in Kyoto, we should not miss at least one of its traditional tearooms, and do some tea shopping, too :3

We have two days to do this.

Seventh day in the evening we will take train to Nara, another very old and traditional town. After a busy day of running around Kyoto’s sights, an onsen bath in a family ryokan certainly cannot harm :).

Nara has some of the most beatiful historical places in Japan and compared to Kyoto, they are more concentrated, which is ideal for a walking trip. Five kilometers long walk will last about 6 hours and bring us through the main sights, after that we can head for some of the old town Naramachi’s restaurants to restore our strength and get ready for the night ahead.

This is possibly the hardest part of the tour. Our eigth night in Japan will be spent on the bus from Nara to Fuji/Hakone. Even though this solution is utterly uncomfortable, I believe it is still better than sleeping in Nara ryokan and the next day wasting nearly ten hours of daylight, doing nothing but sitting on our bus.

We will be probably anything but fresh when we get out at Mishima station to change buses for Fuji. But the view from up there should make up for a bit of inconvience :)

From Fuji we will descend to Hakone district. There are several onsens with really nice ryokans there, even though the prices are fairly high, as you can expect from a tourist place. At Ichinoyu, ryokan of our choice, we can have probably the best value for our money.

On the tenth day we will make full use of our Hakone freepass, taking tour around Ashinoko lake (by boat) to Owakudani sulphur spring (by cable car) and Gora park. From there we can walk to Hakone open air museum and museum of arts, which has a really remarkable collection. We can have some of local specialty at Gyouza Center and than take a switchback train back to our Yumoto onsen ryokan and stay the night there.

In the morning we will take train via Hakone town to Odawara, visit the Houjou castle and head for Kamakura. The town of Kamakura is another place of great historical importance and we should be able to see at least few of its sights before finally arriving to our hotel in Tokyo.

First day in Tokyo will be all consumed by shopping and visiting more commercial quarters like Akihabara, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Harajuku, Roppongi…take your pick.

The next day, when we already have all our new precious manga, doujins, novels and souvenirs safe in our suitcase, we can just relax in Ueno park or visit some of its many museums, or make a trip to Tokyo Tower.

On our last day in Japan we will take train to Narita Airport and leave for our respective homes.

Here are several tips on various aspects of our trip, that I thought might not be so obvious, but important for you to decide, whether you want to come with us.

 

1. Reservations

Because most of our destinations are located in popular tourist spots, we have to book our ryokans and hotels in advance, to make sure all of us can stay together at one place. I think the best way to deal with this is that I collect your names and room preferation and Katsumi makes the reservation for the whole group, but under each one’s name, so that there would be no problem canceling individual reservation, in case something happened and someone couldn’t come. Deadline for final decision and ryokan booking is the first week in October, please be ready to give us necessary information before then and also remember, that once the reservation is made, you have to cancel it at least one month before the booked date, or else cancellation charge might be required.

 

2. Shoes issue

Odd as this advice may seem at this moment, I want to stress the importance of proper footwear. I have no idea how experienced travelers you are and what sort of extreme conditions you’ve been through, but believe me that wrong shoes are the easiest way to ruin any trip. Please do not underestimate this part, only because we’re not going to do any mountain crossing, and wear something solid, because walking pavements many hours a day and several days in a row is actually worse than mountains. In case you don’t own suitable boots, buy them now and be sure to wear them until they feel absolutely comfortable. That is the reason I talk about it this early.

 

3. Fitness

As hinted above, expect that we will be on the move pretty much all the time, either on bus, train or on our own feet, taking a rest only in ryokan onsens and various hostels and hotels, so you should also consider your general physical fitness.

 

4. Fits

Please be ready to give me or other participant of your choice a fair information about any kind of physical or psychical illness, which makes you susceptible to attacks when strained or stressed out (like epilepsy, asthma, weak heart, diabetes, fear of heights, fear of closed spaces, etc.) Don’t take it personally, it is just so that I know we should avoid visiting underground tombs, taking cable car, or running for the bus in the morning :). Also, someone has to know what actions should be taken or what medication given in case you get disoriented or pass out.

 

5. Omnia mea mecum porto

Every single thing you take with should be thoroughly tested in advance. Because what good are sakura blossoms if your hyper-modern technical boots attempt to eat your heels alive, the plasters recommended by the helpful chemist must be a special ‘non-adhesive’ version, you seem to develop some sort of skin allergy on the nicely ‘travel-packed’ shampoo and the damn wheels of your new elegant suitcase just won’t stop squeaking…I guess you get the drift XD

 

6. Getting what you want

Think of all kinds of goods you will want to buy in Japan and let us know, so that we can search for the shops and fit it into the schedule. Trying to find some rare books (like Mirage, alas!) by blindly roaming Tokyo streets is a waste of time and unlikely to have a positive result.

 

7. Disclaimer XD

Skinintheway and Katsumi are not a travel agency. We do not make any sort of profit from organizing this trip and we do not accept any legal responsibility.

 

8. Homework

Please make some time to study as much about Japan’s geography and history, about Mirage and related sights, and about Japanese culture in general as you can. This way, you will be able to get maximum from the trip and also share interesting information with the rest of us. Below I add some links that felt useful for me. If you wanted more details, remember that google is your friend and the best thing about planning a Japan trip is, that all information imaginable is available online. The worst thing is, it’s in Japanese XD. But hey, you are a Mirage fan, be strong! XDDD

 

9. If shit happens, it isn’t really shit

No matter how much effort we put into making all things work out, something is always bound to go other way than planned. Please be ready for that and don’t get too upset. Even one of a less Buddhist creed would admit that it is not always apparent, if the change is for the better or the worse …

 

To put it shortly, with Viggo Mortensen, we should “make best possible preparations for accidents to happen”.

 

 

Useful links:

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/

http://www.bus.or.jp/bus/index_e.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/index.htm

http://www.everything2.com/node/1244261 and other from user gn0sis

http://www.packinglistonline.com/

http://upl.codeq.info/index.jsp

http://maps.google.com/

One of my most beloved poems, by a Russian classic author. I think it makes a nice tribute to Kagetora’s tiger eye, I can imagine Naoe telling this to him. Somehow I coudn’t resist making the Czech translation sound like one man speaking to another (sorry Fyodor Ivanovich -_-). Plus I am affraid my love for the iamb metrum got the better of me once again…

 

Author: Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev

Russian to English translation by ???

Russian to Czech translation by skinintheway

 

Люблю глаза твои, мой друг

С игрой их пламенно-чудесной

Когда их приподымешь вдруг

И, словно молнией небесной

Окинешь бегло целый круг

Но есть сильней очарованья:

Глаза, потупленные ниц

В минуты страстного лобзанья

И сквозь опущенных ресниц

Угрюмый, тусклый огнь желанья

 

I love your eyes, my dear friend,

With their game of flaming wonder

When suddenly you look up, and

Like lightening from the heaven yonder

You glance, your stare so intent.

But there's a charm I value higher,

When you look down as we kiss,

The instant we are both afire,

And through the lashes see the bliss

Of gloomy flame of faint desire.

Miluji oči tvé, příteli

Jež skvostným ohněm hrají

Když náhle vzhůru je pozvedneš

Jako se blýskává na nebi

Tvůj pohled přelétne v kraji

Mocnější kouzlo však ještě je:

K zemi se díváš

Polibek dlouhý

A skrze řasy níž spuštěné

prosvitne tlumený plamen touhy

It was 22:30 last night, I was sitting on the train, watching the silhouettes of dark hills against even darker sky of my homeland pass swiftly behind the glass. I opened my laptop and started writing emails, that should have been sent days ago. Well, better late than never.
The local train kept stopping annoyingly often, each stop unrecognizable from another in fading lamp light.

Roku Banme no Eki…

Gradually I lost all notion of my surroundings, concentrating on ideas and wording, on language that is not easily tamed.
Suddenly he stood there, dirty and reeking. He sat down, too drunk to take in the coldness of my voice as I answered that the seat is free, of course.

 „You know what’s monarchy?“

 From behind the edge of the laptop screen I fixed my peripheral sight on his movements.

 „You know the meaning of dictatorship?!“ He wobbled over my laptop, waiting for an aswer.

 My body reacted instantly, restoring my zanshin sharp and clear even through the exhaustion. Benefits of training. I began to move, slowly packing my things, getting them out of harm‘s way.
Save changes. Close editor. Shut down vista. Snap the laptop.

 „Don’t care to know, huh? But I’ll tell you anyway, cause your a rat!!“
„See, nothing but rat, that deserves to be drown!!“

 I collected my ki-seme, sent it to meet his. No responce. There was no intellect behind those verbal assaults, just pure aggression, brute and blind.

 This is troublesome.

 „A whore like you must be sent to death camp, into the gas..!“

 He kept moving closer, pointing his finger just inches from my face. I closed the bag and put my leather jacked on.

 At least, it would protect from the worst bruise.

 If he attacks, he will be fast, he’ll go on me with full strength, but with no control over it. With this poor balance it would only take a little tai-atari to rid him of all stability. Even though his threshold of pain is affected by alcohol, one hard strike into sensitive area can do wonders…

 „Bitches like you only deserve to be shoot down on the spot.“

 Base of his nose? What of the disgusting blood? Not cool at all.
Then balls? How cliché…

 For a moment there I paused, wondering why I haven’t taken my bokken with me this time.

 And if you have? Would you really use your sword against a civilian? As if you could…

 I stood up and left my seat. I walked away, a thing unheard of, because retreat has never been my favourite strategy. Have I become wiser or more indifferent?

 

Today I made a major discovery in my kendo training: High heels and sword practise don't go together!!!

This incident happened several years ago, when I started learning Tibetan language at the department of far-east studies at my first university. As always, I didn’t fail to make a strong first impression…

 

The department was one of those places, where regardless of outside world, life seems to flow in its own way, brushing past people, books and tea sets, just like stokes of a kaligraphy.

I was completely new to this world, unaware of its unwritten laws, its half-closed, half-opened doors and quite speaking, when I came there on my the first day.

I wanted to study certain book on Tibetan Buddhism, that was quite hard to find elsewhere, so I asked for the library.
 

The library was in fact only one big room, stuffed with books and magazines from floor to ceiling. There were books in shelves, piles of books rising from floor and tables, books stored in boxes in every corner… Books written in scriptures I couldn’t even define, not to say read…

As I watched how the overall entropy of the place had evolved, gradually growing over all traces of order and organization, I was struck by the idea, that there possibly never was any system, that the librarian simply remembered the location of each book.

If I had known Terry Pratchett’s works back then, I would have believed to had found his inspiration source…

 

I took my book and settled down by the one of few tables, that looked insignificantly less cluttered and started reading.

After I struggled my way through several lines of unfamiliar scripture, some Asian guy looked into the room, came to me and took some book from the table. I said ‘hello’, he replied with a polite smile and left.

Several minutes later he came back, picked through a disordered pile of papers on the table, choose one and left, with a second polite smile.

Some time later he was standing by my side again, gesturing towards a particular book, that was out of his reach, as my chair blocked the narrow corridor. When I helpfully passed it to him, he smiled somewhat wider and I could not quite concentrate on reading anymore, wondering whether this guy is maybe hitting on me or something…

The next time he came, he just scared the shit out of me, when he bent down and opened a drawer in the table to get some brochure. As he stood up, giving me another smile, I couldn’t help but panic.

The words of my worldly-minded classmate, who said that all Chinese and Japanese and just generally all Asian men are inherent pervs resonated in my mind, as I realized a dull silence of the library, with no other people around than me and him.

I could not stand it any longer! Leaving my book where it was I sped out of the room like it was on fire.

In the corridor doorway I ran into my friend, who was a student of  Mongolian language. He noticed my bewilderment and asked what the hell happened so I told him the whole story of how this weird Asian pervert wouldn’t leave me alone. His shock changed into pure amusement, and then he put his arm around my shoulders and said:

 

“Honey, that guy is our Mongolian professor. You were sitting by his table…”

 

And yes, this was exactly the best time for a big loud headdesk, if only I could find one unoccupied…

 

Author: Kuwabara Mizuna

Length: 3 min 9 s + 2 min 26 s

Cast: Show Hayami as Naoe Nobutsuna/Tachibana Yoshiaki

         Seki Toshihiko as Ohgi Takaya/Houjou Saburou

         Tanaka Hideyuki as Houjou Ujiteru and Tachibana Teruhiro

Japanese to Czech translation by Katsumi

Czech to English translation by skinintheway

 

Disclaimer

 

I do not own Mirage of Blaze, all belongs to Kuwabara Mizuna.

This translation was done by a fan for fans and I have no profit from it.

My thanks to Katsumi, who patiently works on translations, while my MoB wish list keeps growing XD…

 

Tracks 5 + 6

(The middle part, separated by ***  is common for both tracks.)

 

N: Welcome, how are you doing? Thank you very much for all those presents I got from you on Valentine’s Day this year. I am Naoe Nobutsuna.

T: This year we all worked really hard. This is Ohgi Takaya.

N: Takaya-san, you are wearing your school uniform even today…

T: Since the beginning of Karin no Oukoku1, the teachers wouldn’t give me a break.

Ah, by the way, I don’t see sensei around. Is she coming?

N: Unfortunately not. She wouldn’t be able to finish the next book by April, if she joined us here today.

T: Ah, I see…

N: Therefore I decided to bring some other special guest in her stead.

TT: Good afternoon. Thank you for always taking care of my younger brother. I am Tachibana Teruhiro.

T: (quietly to Naoe) Naoe, what’s the meaning of this??

N: Well, everyone else is in Kumamoto2 right now, and my brother comes to Tokio on business trips time to time...

T: (in a soft voice) You were quite desperate, weren’t you...

TT: How comes you are slacking here like this, Yoshiaki? Father complains you don’t even show up at ceremonies lately. If you have this much of a spare time, at least help out with the paper work in the office! I don’t know what to do first.

N: Nii-san, let’s leave our private matters aside.

Ah, Takaya-san, this is your first time meeting my brother, isn’t it?

T: Aah, it’s nice to meet you.

TT: So you are Ohgi-kun? My brother says he has a lot to thank you for…

T: Not at all...

(whispering to Naoe) How can your brother know about me?

N: I mentioned your name few times when we were having a phone call...

T: I hope you didn’t tell him any weird stuff…

N: Of course I didn’t!

Now that I think about it, I told you once that my brother’s way of speaking resembles that of Ujiteru-dono. What do you think? They really are similar, aren’t they?

T: They sound practically the same, even their voice.

TT: What? Who is similar?

(someone knocks on the door)

T: What’s going on?

N: What’s this fuss! I’ll go look who is it.

 (someone bursts in)

***

U: Saburou!

T: (shocked) Uwaa! W-w-w-who is it?

U-Ujiteru-ani?!

N: Ujiteru-dono!

U: Oh! Saburou, Saburou, Saburou !

I missed you so much! How are you doing, Saburou?

T: Ujiteru-ani! But aren’t you supposed to have been exorcised?!

U: I returned back so I can appear in Gunjou3!

T: Returned?!

U: Although I didn‘t mean to read it all in a row, I was completely drown into it and by the time I got to the last volume4, …I just suddenly found myself in this world.

Saburou, how I missed you!

(hugs struggling Takaya)

T: (chokes in his embrace) Aaa…Ujiteru-ani,... I can’t ...breathe...!

U: As a present I brought you Odawara5 speciality – the kamaboko6! I also bought uirou7, and chouchin bentou8.

N: Takaya-san, and I brought you gyouza9, a speciality from Utsunomiya10.

T: What, you are still around, Naoe?! How dare you remain by Saburou’s side like this, with no scruples whatsoever?

N: (taken aback) O..onii-san11…

U: You have absolutely no right to call me your brother! A bastard like you, who only causes my little brother pain! I’ve had enough of you! Let’s settle this with our swords once and for all!!

(draws his katana)

What?! The time is up?!

T: Chan, chan...

***

TT: Ohgi-kun, who is this noisy person?

T: That would be my brother. From 400 years ago.

N: Ujiteru-dono! This is dangerous, please sheathe your katana again!

U: Bastard, what is it that you’re plotting lately?! Calling yourself a warrior and yet pulling your strings from behind all this time! When do you plan to come out already?! I have no idea what’s up with this Kaizaki or Makosan, but don’t you dare making Saburou cry ever again! I’d never let you get away with that!

N: Cry...that would be...

U: Saburou, when you feel depressed, return home any time! Your big brother will take you to Hakone onsens. I would even cruise on that pirate boat on Ashino12 lake with you…

T: (embarrassed) A..aniue...

U: Or maybe you’d like to go to jungle buro13, or have some boiled eggs from Owakudani14…

N: Takaya-san, if you wished to go to onsen, then Kinugawa15 is also...

U: Damn, you’re still here?! Using Kinugawa as a camouflage for your dirty side interests… That’s no good, Kinugawa is totally out of debate. Only Hakone onsens are truly suited  for a Houjou!

T: Well, any outdoor pool is fine with me...

N: Alright, Ujiteru-dono. But now, please return where you came from...

U: What?!

N: Ah...I… didn’t mean it that way ...Listen, onii-san...

U: I am no brother to you!!!

N: I just meant...

T: Hey, hey! Calm down!

U: This is it!!

(Ujiteru and Naoe start fighting, Takaya attempts to separate them.)

TT: Ohgi-kun?

T: Yes?

TT: I leave Yoshiaki in your care for the rest of eternity!

T: Ah...Huh??!

 

 

Author: Kuwabara Mizuna

Length:10min. 39s

Cast: Kuwabara Mizuna as herself

         Show Hayami as Naoe Nobutsuna/Tachibana Yoshiaki

         Seki Toshihiko as Ohgi Takaya

 

Japanese to Czech translation by Katsumi

Czech to English translation by skinintheway

 

Disclaimer

I do not own Mirage of Blaze. If I did, I would never make Naotaka suffer the way she does.

This translation was done by a fan for fans and I have no profit from it.

Many thanks to Katsumi for her hard work on providing us the Czech translation and her thoughtful corrections. Do note please, that while there is virtually nothing I could call ‘my Japanese’, my English is nothing great to speak of either, and I possibly even suck at my native Czech. XD So bear with me.

 

Translators note

Not entirely sure of it, but this Drama CD was probably meant as a collection of records, that the readers of Cobalt Magazine could listen to when dialing a certain number.

 

TRACK 1

Naoe: (telephone ringing) Hello, this is Tachibana. I recorded this Telephone service for you as promised. It seems you couldn’t wait for it, right? So here it comes. Haha, I have honestly never expected Kuwabara-sensei to perk up this way. So then…tomorrow at 9 o’clock, I will be waiting for you. Don’t miss it! This was Tachibana Yoshiaki.

Kuwabara: Hello everybody, I am Kuwabara Mizuna. It is my pleasure today to welcome here Tachibana Yoshiaki-san.

Good morning.

N: Good morning and thank you for always taking care of me.

K: I heard you’re coming straight from Hiroshima...and I see you’re wearing your black suit as usual. May I ask why?

N: The reason is that my job concerns dead people, in a way. Thus, without any other intentions, I just feel that this sort of clothes is the most suitable.

Talking of Hiroshima… its local oysters are really delicious, especially those from Kakibune1 Restaurant. But Takaya-san seemed to like the okonomiyaki2 better…

K: (laughing) Takaya-san ate okonomiyaki ?

N: Haha, he did. He even finished off my own portion. He kept happily putting piece by piece into his mouth, all the while saying what delicacy it was. He is still just a child.

K: (fangirlish squee) Ah, that’s so cute…

Um, may I ask where do you get money for such expenses?

N: My older brother owns a real estate, and he is fairly well-off. He provides me, well, rather than a salary I would call it a spending money.

K: I heard you have an American Express Gold card...

N: Haha, that’s our family card.

K: Alright then, I start reading the questions:

“What was written in that ‘cut out passage’3?” Ah, well, this is a bit…

N: Should I tell?

K: (laughing) You’d better not...

N: That would be rather indecent, wouldn’t it?

K: It certainly would.

N: Of course, if you asked Takaya-san, he would gladly tell you.

K: (to herself) He would sooner punch me…

Eh, talking of which...How are Asaoka-san4 and Hasama-san5 doing?

N: Asaoka-san sends me a nikkou-yuba6 as a present time to time…and shachou is doing well, and so is his company. I heard from Okumura-san7 that the negotiations with Kyoto were successful too…

K: Um, Naoe-san...are you going to die on us? The end of the last chapter in Volume 11 kind of looks that way…

N: Haha, there is no need to worry!

K: Sure...you have to live on and on until the very end!

N: If I died, Takaya-san would be very sad.

K: (fangirling) Kyaa, you’re such a gorgeous guy!

N: What do you mean ‘gorgeous’?

K: Ah, no, it’s nothing…

So…may I ask for the blurb now?

N: Yes.

The last volume of Wadatsumi no Youkihi arc, full of wild and shocking twists, which bring the first part of Mirage of Blaze series to an end, is now available in stores.

„You want to see me serious, right? I  will teach you  an adult’s  seriousness!”8

So how was it? Pretty amusing, wasn’t it? Then…tomorrow at 9 o’clock. Do not forget!

 

TRACK 2

Kuwabara: Hello, this is Kuwabara Mizuna. Today I asked Naoe-san to bring Ohgi Takaya-san here with him.

Naoe: Good morning, this is Tachibana Yoshiaki.

Takaya: Hi. I’m Ohgi Takaya!

K: Takaya-san, are you in a bad mood?

N: He said he is in the middle of the exam period.

T: You could have picked a better time to drag me all the way here to Tokio! If  I flunk, it will be your fault!

N: Do you have problems with tests?

T: Not your business!

Look, my express leaves at eight, so give me a lift to Shinjuku then, okay, I don’t want to miss that one.

N: Please don’t worry about it. I shall drive you to Matsumoto!

T: No need to.

N: I insist on driving you!

T: I said I don’t want!

N: I will drive you in my favourite car, the Windom9.

T: Whatever… But it is 300 kilometers, 300!

N: Ah…let me digress a bit now, but 23rd is your birthday, isn’t it?

T: Yeah...

N: I will get you a bunch of velvet roses!

T: You’re such a...

K: Pardon me, can I also say something?

N: Please.

K: Last year I spent my birthday in Matsumoto onsen Asama.

N: We have been there once, too.

K: Is that so?

N: We stayed in traditional ryokan hotel and celebrated there.

Wasn’t it so, Takaya-san?

T: Yeah, yeah, we celebrated.

N: We also had some sakē after dinner. I must admit that Matsumoto’s sakē is truly excellent.

So much that Takaya-san got completely drunk.

T: So what! It was just a bit tiring day…

N: It was a tiring day, as well as… night, …am I right?

T: Wha…?!

N: You were *very* exhausted, weren’t you?...After that night... 10

T: (incoherent sputter) …‘the hell are you saying?! Sensei, please cut this part out…

N: You are too cute!

T: Hey, Naoe!!

Don’t get it wrong! Mia was there with us too and we played ping-pong all night long!

N: Then why are you so upset?

T: ‘Cause whatever you say sounds totally perverted!

N: Does that arouse you?

T: (hysterical) Ahaha ...I quit here!!

N: Ah, now I remember...There was a message for you on Matsumoto station board! Birthday greetings! It seems that everybody really loves you there.

T: Eh? Really? Thanks a lot!

N: Now, let me sing you a song! Takaya-san, close your eyes.

T: Hey, hey…no breathing into my ear, okay?

N: Happy birthday… to you…

T: ‘Tsu yu’?! Ew, I said not into my ear!

N: (whispering into his ear) Happy birthday, dear ...Takaya-san.

T: (disgusted) Eww...!

N: (whispering) This year I shall make an adult man out of you!

T: Uwaa…you are the worst!!

 

FREE TALK

(This free talk is a bit confusing, mainly because Seki and Hayami keep falling out of their roles, partly talking as themselves and partly as Takaya and Naoe respectively. So don’t kill me, I’m just a  messenger. XD)

N: So that’s how is was…

T: Yes.

N: Takaya-san?

T: Yes?

N: What do you think about it?

K: (laughing)

T: Um…Am I …still supposed to be Takaya??

N: Of course you are! What are you saying?

T: Uh-ha, …sure I am!

K: (still laughing)

N: Ummmm...

T: What about you, sensei?

K: What do you mean?

T: Um, I don’t know...

Well...um...how to say it...But hearing sensei’s voice for the first time must have been a special experience for all her readers!

N: That is right. That time sensei really got wild11.

K: (laughs) Heh?

N: We couldn’t even recognize her!

K: How rude of you...

T: Almost like she suffered from schizophrenia...

K: What do you mean?!

T: Well, you were death-serious one moment…

K: I am always serious!

T: ...And the next moment you would just wave it all away...

N: (laughing)

K: Ehh...

N: Ah, Takaya-san, could you tell us now, what was written in that ‘cut out passage’?

T: Cut out passage?

N: Yes.

K: Tell us, please.

T: Now, what was it again...

K: Try to remember.

T: But it was Hayami-san’s line.

N: I am NAOE!

(laughing)

T: It was Naoe’s line, right?

N: Unfortunately, I can’t remember it anymore.               

(clearly lying XD)

T: It was something like: „I will make XXX your XXX”, wasn’t it?

N: (laughing)

K: It wasn’t quite...

T: It was that way, right?

K: Without that ‘I will make’…

N: Correct.

T: We racked our brains over it before recording quite a lot...

N: Yes, we argued about it too...

T: ...If we should really read it that way, or fill that passage with something else, or just leave it...12

N: That’s right. Personally I thought we could fill those places with names of countries...

T: Really?

N: For example: „I shall make France your England”...That would be one breathtaking confession!

(laughing)

T: Now that I think of it, there used to be a song like this:

I will make youuur chan chan chan chan...

(laughing)

N: Takaya-san!

T: Yes?

N: Lets get to the next „Telephone servis”.

T: Yes.

 

TRACK 3

K: Hello, I hope you are enjoying your holidays, this is Kuwabara Mizuna.

N: Good Afternoon, this is Tachibana Yoshiaki.

T: Good afternoon, this is someone who got dragged here all the way from Matsumoto, Ohgi Takaya.

K: Takaya-san, in a bad mood again...

N: This July was very busy for him, that’s why he is a bit tired.

Luckily the school results were not so bad, were they?

T: And what about you, shouldn’t you be working too?

August is the season of Obon13 festival, when buddhist monks are most busy, isn’t it?

N: You are absolutely right, even today I had to serve several ceremonies before coming here. We are so busy every August that we can barely handle it all.

Ah, Takaya-san, what about taking a part time job in my family shrine? You would be a great help!

T: I am no monk!!

 Not like it’s my business, but don’t people complain about you? With your hair unshaved and all...

N: No one ever complained. Quite to the contrary, I am very popular!

T: Reaaally?? Heheh...

I can totally see those genteel man and ladies forgetting to mourn their relatives and getting all ecstatic from your sutra performance.

N: Should I let you experience it too?

(recites sutra into his ear) KAN JI ZAI BO...

T: Eeh...n-not into my ear!

N: Did I make you ecstatic?

T: Just somewhat... hell no, you pervert monk!!

K: Um, pardon me, may I add something...     

(completely ignored XD)

N: It all came out in Volume 14, right?

T: There was no comming-out! Who the hell is this Kaizaki anyway? What is that guy?

N: Do you not know?

T: I don’t, that’s why I ask!

N: Can’t you really tell? So much like you!

T: You’re just getting on my nerves…

I read the special edition, and I guess you haven’t changed a bit since you were twenty-four.

N: But you used to have shorter bangs, when you were thirteen.

T: Don’t bring up my childhood!

N: But smoking is bad...

T: Screw you! It’s not like I smoke now! Just wanted to look cool!

N: At least you didn’t drink alcohol...

T: I had enough of that just seeing my old man...It doesn’t matter anyway!!

N: You already have a motorbike driving licence. Are you planning to get a car licence too?

T: I’d like to, but I have no time now. When I have some money, I’m gonna get a black RX-714.

N: And ride it like you’re racing…

T: But for an everyday driving, Benz would do.

N: You are so moderate in your demands… 

T: I just want my luxury.

K: Um, I would like to say some...

(ignored again XD)

T: So now! Lets get to the ending!

N:  Yes! Mirage of Blaze, Volume 14 – the last book of Yomi e no Fuuketsu arc, published by Shuueisha Cobalt series, is now available in stores. You can get it in set with CD and casette book.

This was Tachibana Yoshiaki.

K & T: Uwaa! Just like Masakazu Tamura15 !

I remembered a funny story of what happened to me when I started my first university. Almost forgot this one…

 

I was like 17, in love with Dostoevsky and much less compromising then now. So being questioned at the university entrance exam what was my opinion on this particular famous postmodern novel, I said right away that it’s shait. XDDD That its cheap story, pallid characters and lame point could never be justified by word-painting format, even should the author use crayons…

My examiner’s smile was getting wider and wider and by the time I was finished with my outraged declamation, he laughed like mad and called to the back office, telling someone that he had a perfect critic for him.

Of course, when the young author of the novel in question came, looking more confused than me, it turned out that my examiner was his doctoral thesis leader. Together they laughed and I was estimating my chances of digging through 70 centimeters of concrete and stone to get to the basement.

 

Out of approximately 350 adepts for the Language and literature and Linguistic and phonetics specialization, I was among the 8 people accepted. XDD

She replied with shining eyes: you have 99 percent.

What…

I was frozen on the spot.

The rigorous English exam was a piece of cake, was it not…

Something was terribly wrong.

I thought about it. Fifty percent is ok. It means you passed only so-so, because you’ve been on a party all night long instead of studying and there’s this horrible helicopter spinning in the place that used to be occupied by your brain. Seventy percent is fine, for you’ve never liked the subject, but forced yourself to study by sheer willpower and liters of coffee. Hundred percent makes it clear that you loved it, took the necessary time to study and you are freaking good at it. 

Now tell me, how the hell do you get  99 ?! 

There is no excuse…

I was trapped.

No f… way  am I accepting this…

With the university being almost exclusively inhabited by boys, whose technical thinking doesn’t leave much room for appreciation of languages, my result was probably the best the poor teacher had seen in ages.

To ask for the right to repeat the test would be just plain cocky.

I continued staring at her blankly.

„Well, you know, for a student so excellent, how could you make such a stupid mistake, as to write sended for the past participle of send?

Sended…sended…what‘s wrong with sended?

At that moment I remembered the answers, taking a breath to speak…

There was no way I could possibly explain this.

Eala Earendel, engla beorhtast, ofer Middan-geard monnum sended….

 

Even the best excuse in the world is no more than an excuse.

 

 

 

It was Saturday 12:30, the morning run of weekend kendo seminar was coming to its end. After countless suburi and kirikaeshi my brain gave up on all higher functions, as its reduced capacity focused on one thing only: FOOD!!!!SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME FOOD!! IN FACT GIVE ME ALL FOOD OF THE WORLD AND  I’M GONNA EAT IT LIKE NOW!!!

I can get terribly single-minded when hungry. One last rei and I sped to the benches to pick my stuff and be out for blood. I did’t notice I was following right behind my sensei. Neither did he. At that moment, on a playful whim, he decided to practice a strike, swinging his shinai backwards in a grand circle.

One can not but admire those highly skilled senseis:

A perfect timing.

A perfect distance.

A perfect MEN.

The dull clash of the bamboo staves absorbing the hit against my skull, accompanied with sharp click of my teeth was just enough to call my brain back to its duty. Only the database of appropriate reactions to situation in perception seemed to be kind of empty. By the time my sensei turned around I was on my way down, head in hands, tears in eyes, unable to move or speak coherently. As soon as he found out that I was actually laughing like total idiot, his look went even more worried for a moment.

He bent over me a little to estimate the damage. I looked up ready to assure him I was fine, but with that my field of vision changed and I simply could not.

For on the notice board right behind his left shoulder ran lines of the #1 seminar rule he had written down:

 

…E CAREFUL!!

…REVENT INJURIES!!!

He certainly *did* score an ippon!

So, finally I guess I should start inhabiting my journal. The primary purpose of this account is to store all little notes on my hobbies, that I find worthy of remembrance and don’t want to  forget.

Or so is my wishful thinking. Somewhere along the road I will probably lapse into ranting or fangirling unbearably. Such is the way with mirage fans. At least I doubt I‘ve ever come across one, who would not have that urge time to time.

The reason I write in English is because it is easier to find the word. Since this is a double-edged quality, it is equally easier to lose the meaning. My native language has incomparably more difficult structure. One of the hardest in the world to learn, with the number of cases that gives headache to professors of linguistics. To have a perfect command of it is a challenge even for a native speaker. It demands more accurate way of expressing, but it provides you generously with necessary tools. Rich and exact, resembling classical latin.

And the same bitch to take tests in.

Plus, this way I am forced to do something for my English. If there ever is someone reading my posts, who stumbles across an error that is just horrible to look at, poetic license aside, be kind enough to rub my nose in it thoroughly.