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    Consolodated PDF

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    Political Campaigns in Japan : The Art of Connection x JAPANESE = il POP CULTURE & LANGUAGE Is LEARNING 5.50 MANGAUJIN roe ss NG IN JAPAN ERs ee Aaa BOP ao G Ohikae Nasutte Yo! Please, Baby, No Fat Finally, dairy product that satisfies the di ting tastes of housewives and members of organized crime syndicates alike. Morinaga’s milk drink Ohikae Nasute (23 0492. %F 2, provides more protein and calcium than whole milk, but with half the calories and almost no fat. Insufficient calcium is one of the few weaknesses ofa traditional Japanese diet, Choices Of dairy produets are limited, so whole milk is one of the only options available forthe caleium-impaired. Morinaga has aimed this product mainly > watch the calories at young women who need calcium, but who also want ‘So what does all ofthis have to do with organized crime? It's in the name, Ohikae nasuite (28 O23. 2e°¥ > °T ) isa slang expression with a double meaning. Simply put, hikae comes from the verb hikaeru (482 2 ), ‘meaning “prepare and wait (stand by),” or “cut back/moderate.” Nasutte ration of nayate, thee form of the verb nasaru (honorific Jo”). With the addition of the honorific prefix o- ns “please prepare to listen (to what Lam about to say’ equivalent of suru, hike nasute {will now introduce myself.” and is followed by a stylized, “pre-formatted” si certain segment of Japanese society which traditionally includes yakuza, about the speaker's background, The phrase is used by members of street vendors, racketeers, quacks, and the like. Ohikae nasuate is used ‘when introducing oneself er paying one's respect to another member of this special soviety. Of course, when saying 1 strike the appropriate pose—the the carton has assumed. Unless you those who honor the code (a bunch of hikae nasutte, one same pose the cow 0 happen to be lating Japanese guys with full-body tattoos), doing ‘ohikae nasute bit is usually good for a laugh. On this poster, Japan's most lovable loser, Tore-san of the ‘movie serios Otoko wa Teural yo, stikes an ohikae nasutte ose as he introduces himself with the stylized speech, , Fow-cal lactic treat, the cow Since this isa superlow addressing us with “ohikae nasute" is making a pun with alternate meaning of the verb hikaere: “cut back.” In ‘other words, please cut back on the calories (like the cow says) and drink Ohikae Nasurte instead, Send us your examples of ceaive product names or slogans (wth some Kind of documentation) H wo ublish your example, weil send youn Mangajfn T-shirt to wear-on your noxt shopping wip.n case of coupiveate oftriee, earliest postmare gots the shit, GRAND NEWS, P.O Box 77180. Atlanta, GA 30357-1188 PVA Tt Tho LELEG RHEE T. HMEMEBE CL FS. Rs Gh amare oe MMLC MEA Me OM ME Nat ei seiainienos Sai eT #7 EBD LAF, RG BRAND NEWS, PO, Bon T7188 Alana, GA. 30357-1188, USA Margajo 9 Politics in Japan: Connection \ 3 Traveling with the re-election campaign of Diet member Ono Kiyoko, political scientist Robin LeBlanc learned that the noisy traditions of a Japanese political campaign all boil down to one thing: making a connection, Four momihs into my study of Ono Kivoko's ff | %h\ 1992 re-election campaign for her seat in \ the House of Councillors, 1 found myself on «@ sort of platform in the middle of a plaza at Tokyo's Shibuya Station, We familiarly at each other's arms, ourselves, reassuring each other ‘our presence. We swayed inthe late July heat and a humidity that seemed to ‘compress the lungs, Loudspeakers worked the pla and advertisemems creating the usual ground hum. But on this nigh, the from several sides, with music ordinary din was surmounted by noise blaring from soundtracks of several competing politicians My memories can hardly sort one sound from another: They are all noise— noise pushing us backward and forward in the thick. thick air. But in the midst of the confusion, my group looked to one sound truck und one set of suited cians with white-gloved hands. We crying and thanking her supporters again second term in the House of Councillors oked up at Ono Kivoko, our woman and again, but as I screamed. she caught by the skin of her teeth, Despite ull my ‘andidate surrounded by men in the my exe, and over her microphone, over pretensions as a foreign obseret I had enter of the truck platform, and out to all the other clash and bang of that wanted her to win those around us, We asked each other: unbearable July evening, 1 heard my ed fomorrow? name. “Arigat Robin! Arigat6 Robin!" Most foreigners in Japan have seen and When Ono's sound truck began to pull Those two words crumbled the last bit of heard sound trucks (la Would we be disappoint .¢ vans with loud: ‘away, I clambered as high on my rock ax my impartial scholarly facade, Tears speakers mounted on top) like Ono's in Fanbatte, streamed down my face as Ono left the the streets of the towns where they live. Leould. waved and screamed anbatte, ganbatte Ono-senseit” She was placa. The next evening she won her Many Westerners shake their heads atthe 5 ed at each ethers arms = WHE MLA #72 we o uma di oun inpatial scholany face = 12 Mengajn politicians’ white gloves and the artificial prot ‘candidate's name from PA systems. These loudspeaker shows hardly seem to provide a chance for intelligent policy debate. Why do the Japanese put lp with this, foreign observers wonder What kind of politics is this? In truth, these public sound truck performances known variously as gaitd encersu (i street oratory") or yitzei (i 8 “election canvassing/stump speaking”), are seldom a way for a politician to distinguish himself or herself from oth terms of policymaking preferences or skill. Anyone cipating the sort of platform-defining comments CR taxes") conveyed in medi events in major American elections would be sorely disappointed by the content of the short speeches, oF aisatst greetings"), offered by the politicians atop their trucks, Little or noth id my lips. no new ing is said that is even catchy, let alone controversial. Moreover, Japanese voters know as much, Even when th see the spectacle, they do not expect it 10 reveal much about their policy options at the ballot box. Nevertheless, with a trained eye, the non-Japanese observer can come t0 learn a Japanese polities. We may miss important parts of the Japanese political display if we view it through Western preconceptions. In English, w often used 10 hearing politics referred to as the “art of compromise,” but we usually do not consider the cultural biases contained in In ideal compromise politics is a world of tough-minded individuals with stron, distinct opinions who alter each other's the expression, sms, art-of convictions by hanging heads in a good: natured but adversarial relationship, Japanese polities, on the other hand, would be much better characterized as the and it is the ait ‘compromise’ rence between and eee Pate ee en tee POOR u res ait ten Pere acd fier ism Cet Pree ccna quite the contrary . . eee ee Peer rere ee eed Peers ieee eran on oer eens eee ee ur peer errr) eee ronon ng Papeete as the primary goal of polities that cun trip up the foreign ob- server of Japanese elections. For reasons both structural and cultural, the Japanese politician is not rewarded for the capacity to stand against all comers uite the contrary. In fact, a Japanese politician who cannot blend in well with others in his or her party cannot expect to achieve world where personal aequai informal networks of obligation are the keys to power, The sound truck show fails skill at rational debate because itis designed to fulfil an to show off a politician cetirely different mission: demonstrating the depth of « politician's connection to those around him of her. By the time Ono appeared before the Shibuya erowd, nearly everythin; could do on her own behalf another term had already been done Actually, most of it had been done months fen before the I8-Jay camp period allowed by law officially began— ‘and much of that work consisted of build- ing networks of favor and obligation with ‘other politicians and their supporters. ‘Ono spent months building the “thank that her supporters and embodied for her at the Shibuya plaza because such networks are the cultural cement of a Japane politician's ‘organizational structure, ‘Once Ono has done some: ‘thing important for me and | hhave done something impor tant for her we are linked by a sense of reciprocity: we have a sort of loyalty. At cevents like the one outside Shibuya station, Ono appears publicly asthe sort of person who can incur and fulfill tions with other inte attractive people, demonstatin worth a voters loyalty sting and that she is Japan's extremely restrictive camps Jaws reinforce the emphasis on campaign ing through networking. A candidate has few ish him- or herself from the crowd of office-seckers. The official campaign peti is just over 060 weeks long, and door-to-door visits and most uses of the media are off-limits. Candidates may display posters of themselve: ‘ean only be hung in desig hated poster sites, right along with th of any other candidates for the same position, all of the exact same size Candidates may not use paid They are given free time for id presentations on public but everyone who runs for post and shape advertising talking-h television, how unlikely his or has exactly the same ‘opportunity. (Tn fact, scores of people with no chance to win an election often declare their candidacy simply to have the ‘opportunity to air their views on TV.) Mangain 19 Candidates may pass out Miers, but thes are strictly limited in format and: number Finally, althoug make telephone calls and send postcards to h candidates ma voters, the eards must be addressed 10 specific people, and calls cannot be randomly dialed. Aside from name in cother arenas (Ono, for example, won 3 Olympic medal for gymnastics in the 1960s), candidates must rely heavily on word-of-mouth sup port, a strat ‘everything. Even the lists of addresses and phone numbers candidates can use during the official campaign period come from influential people connected to their campaigns. Some political parties have natural tes to ‘organizations that can provide these name lists, The Japan Communist Party and the former Japan Socialist Party have long relied on their ties to labor unions who supply workers as possible supporters The Komeitd (or Clean Government Party, now part of the New Frontier Panty), has successfully used its ties to a religious organization (the Soka Gakkai) Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) polit such as Ono have to build their connections by networking among ‘organizations such as those of small busi rnessimen, farmers, and other politicians Who hold offices at lower levels of gov temnment or inthe other house of the Diet. This crucial connection-building actually occurs long before th e campaig period, As much as six or seven months before the opening of the campaign period, Ono and other LDP members who ‘wanted to run for the House of Council- lors visited the offices of potentially friendly politicians of the same party gently making thei aspirations known, BY April of 1992, Ono's staf had moved out of its tiny office to a three-story building that became the headquarters of Ono's nkai (et 2, “political support association”), In July, because € regulations prohibit kaenkai trom functioning during an official campa 14 Mangaio| Pee ccd Pe eee a een ood eer ees re ae Psa a ion became the and the focus period, the organiz. ‘election headquarters,” changed from buildi publicly demonstrating them, By law. the kdenka could not e in “campai ies. It could not publish newsletters asking for a vote for Ono. for example, However, the kdenkai could and did devote itself to making ‘Ono better known on several levels. In mid-April, thi jushobirak Koenkai held a ‘opening”) party with well over a thousand ests. Most who came had been con: tacted by kaenkai workers from lists of previous Ono supporters, the rolls of other inkai workers represented, and the membe the kfenkai of friendly politicians. Many fof those who came to enjoy the good cheer and hospitality also brought hip lists of envelopes filled with try cash, and after eating and drinking at Ono's establishment, they carried away the tion to drum up a few more connections who would have a few ‘more connections of their own, The cash ‘and connections were used over the next few months to sponsor “Get Behind On various neighborhoods throughout the far-flung ‘Tokyo prefecture Altho not openly ask for votes, politicians are in many ways less legally hamstrung at this time than during the official campaign period. The law allows politicians to liberally adver: kai events on posters as long. as the posters are not hung too far in advance ‘of the event oF left up Following its end, From April until July, therefore, a chief concern of the kéenkui headquarters and branch leaders of the organi uhering cash to print, bi Posters as scheduled events came and went aun remove Like official campaign events such as the Shibuya eaitd enzersu, kdenkai events place much more importany tion than policy pronouncements, but prior n period, lush set varied entertainment are used to foster esprit de corps among Ono followers who will be called on to show up for her luring the official campaign period. For example, Ono had strong support from a member of the House of Representatives tly knit group of female supporters. He sponsored special evening events where entertainers or famous speakers were paired with appearances by Ono and other politicians. In retum for dinner, entertainment, and ‘chance to see how well connected their elected officials were, altendees at these ‘events supplied their names and addresses, as well as the names and addresses of ‘acquaintances who lived in the district, to the staffers of the Ono campaign, These lists of addresses were Ono's meibo (4% ®), oF list of contacts for phoning. sending posteards, and getting out the vole, As one of Ono's powerful kaenka leaders told me, « politician's metho is his fF her most important resource: After the be oF the campa period, the more elaborate touches of ally Koenkai events were no longer possible. ‘campaign just moved from entertainment halls to the street. Much like an Amer: ‘ean politician, Ono would stall the streets MManked by supporter, shaking hands with any willing onlookers. But in Japan, where bows are customary and hand- liar, her move hi different meaning. A hiandshake from an American politician implies equality —the banter of two strong individuals who cheerfully agree that politics is the “art of compromise.” A politican’s handshake in a world of bows, however, isa display with a certain extremity. Sometimes embarrassed men and women even shakes are unfa blushed and waved Ono away without taking the proffered hand. However, by making the awkward move of touching people she would not have touched if she knew them in ordinary circumstances, Ono could port sire wo be linked—conn an extraordinary dk ved —with those around her. Even the most reluctant of handshakers had to acknowledge her e ample of braving the tendency of social RASHOMON ‘An Academy Award-winning film directed by the masterful Akira Kurosawa, Four different narrators describe the same brutal act—a | woman’s rape and her husband's ‘consequent death—yet the facts elude us because each interprets the story to make ‘himself appear in the best light. Often copied (most recently in the Denzel Wash- ington film Courage under Fire), never matched, 1950, B&W, 87, minutes, In Japanese with English subtitles. $29.95 forces to separate human beings from each other By the time the campaign had reached the plaza at Shibuya Station on the last Saturday before the vote, Ono was able to attract a crowd of campaign workers Who had come to her office as represen tatives of other politicians, companies, of organizations, and supporters who had ‘wound up in the Ono camp through trail fof connected kenkai. On the soundtruck with her were politicians ranking from foreign minister to ward assemblyperson, who said little but, by their pre demonstrated their connection t@ Ono, Many speeches were made: none were remarkable. Nevertheless, careful observers could have walked away with important information, since the art that enables a candidate to pull off a promi nent plaza display is the same one that will later help her navigate the compli cated system of connections at the heart ‘of Japanese policymaking, In my months asa campaign observer Thad been tempted, as many Americans JAPANESE CINEMA CLASSICS KWAIDAN Based on the ghost stories by Japan's ‘most famous American ex-pat, Lafcadio Hearn. Four spine-tingling supernatural tales are told with visually stunning effects and an arresting musical score. Director Kobayashi has created ‘masterpiece in which terror thrives and ‘demons lurk. 1964, Color, 164 minutes (on 2 tapes). In Japanese with English subtitles. $39.95 ould likely be, co think more “substan tial” police Japanese electoral politics. By the time 1 arrived at Shibuya Station, however. | had tcome to see the speeches as only the smallest, pethaps least important part of the campaign ritual After sharing tea and Wl jokes with friends of Ono"s friends, Iwas linked to a human chain that made standing back from the hopeful, swaying erawd at Shibuya impossible. debate would improve Many foreigners and. indeed, many Japanese rightly rue the shallow level on which most public political discourse occurs, Nevertheless, when we look at them with more open minds, positive Tessons also come from the sound-truck spectacles, Even when we see it as the ‘art of compromise,” polities is finally & ‘cooperative venture, and building human connections between the elected and the clectors is. after all, a chief aim of democrat politics. Robin LeBlane is wssistant professor of polities ew Oglethorpe University Atlanta lokers = (ORLY akan TAMPOPO, Directed by Juzo Itami. A satire about food and sex, Tampopo parodies American westerns and Japanese samurai films. It is the story of a young widow who runs a small ramen restaurant in Tokyo and the handsome truck driver ‘who teaches her how to make the perfect bowl of noodles. Colorful characters and. witty humor are just two of the Ingredients in this zany film. 1987, Color, 117 minutes, In Japanese with English subtitles. $19.95 To order. shipping and handling cost depends on the total amount ofthe order—contact Mangajin forthe correct amount We acept MasterCard, Visa, cheeks, and money orders (made out 0 Mangan and drawn on US funds). Pease allow 2-4 weeks fr deer. 1-800-552-3206 + Fax 404-724-0897 + PO Box 77188, Atlanta, GA 30257 » Orders@Mangalin.com Mangan MERICAN CARS ARE FINALLY MAKING INROADS ON THE JAPANESE MARKET, WITH SAVVY AD CAMPAIGNS PAVING THE WAY. JOURNALIST SASAKI YOSHINOBU EXPLAINS HOW. In the highly competitive Japanese car market, sa products from America’s Big Three, are in high ge seem to be stalled According to Ministry of Transportation statistics for the first half of 1996 anvary-June), the registration of American cars in Japan rose 18.3 percent from the same period a year earlier. German car manufacturers also boosted their sales by 22.4 percent. In contrast, sales of domestic ears grew by only 0.7 percent Car dealers in Japan point out three major reasons for this shift: the expansion 3s of imported cars, including while those of Japanese ears ets’ sales networks in collaboration with domestic makers low prices and low-interest loans offered by foreign car makers: and the ines in imported cars available with right-hand dive, In addition to these plus faetors, foreign automakers are making efforts with ferences are different BLOT AVA their advertisements to a from those of Americans, Let's explore the Big Three's ad world in Japan. The frst stop is G GM's ad slogan for the Chevrolet Camaro is “Shiboré o tanoskima” (“Let's enjoy Chevrolet ot Japanese consumers, whose Pi neral Motors ). As ma y professional copywriters say, simple is best, But isn’t this a litle roo simple? ‘One reason for keeping it simple is that this slogan is used in a series of ads says a Japanese ad copywriter who has been in the business for 20 years. Indeed, the Chevrolet Blazer ad uses the same slogan with the following headline: “Kono 4WD wa honmono no Amerika o shiteira, Shibor@ Burei D that knows the real America: Chevrolet Blazer’) In this context, “Chevrolet” is a synonym for American culture, the copywit analyzes. A Japanese journalist specializing inthe auto industry points out that usit American culture in advertising might be a good idea. If GM is competing with European carmakers, he explains, the “American-ness” of GM's cars would prevail because Japanese lifestyles have been Americanized since the end of World W: I love what you do for me... General Motors? 50 Mange Contrastingdebutads fromChrysler:the cheerful"How doyou do? I'm the Chrysler right);andthe more ‘commanding “The ChyslerStratushas arrived inJapan" Ku Nihon tdchaku,” above). This TV commercialfor Jeep shows the same English catchphraseasin P the US, but the voice-over x, 'S, “Jiipu to yoberu 14; oO Oi al (There's only one called Jeept”). Beto eet ae CHRYSLER hae" C_annexstr7 _)(_snouisv _) Cramaric? mes) (ac eaceaam SE WAaena Woeens LEWS2eanas LXTIDWM anon Sess con ca Ooms, 120-712-812 SA Stace EMAL Mangain 51 II. Chewing gum, Coke, T-shirts. ‘MeHlamburgers—why not Chevrolet? Meanwhile, the copy writer hus a different viewpoint, With images of the American ‘2004 life, he says, this ad implies American leadership in the automobile industry. He feels, however, that it seems to be an anachronism. “AS a Japanese driver, [ don't think American cars are No. | in the world.” “The second stop is the “World’s Leading Company” (as it says in the ads), Ford. Spot ads for its Mondeo, Explorer, and Taurus proclaim: “Sekai no besuto burando o Nifion @, Kokusai kakaku wa Fodo no rydshiki desu” ("Bringing the world’s best brands to Japan, International pricing is a sign of Ford's good sense”) ‘This ad, points out the auto journalist, obviously tries to take advantage of something most Japanese consumers believe to be true: Almost everything is more expensive in Japan than in foreign countries. The ad implies that the same {goes for car prices “The copywriter says that “good sense” is tan imperious choice of words. To him, the slogan implies “This isa product of the great America, so you should buy it.” ‘The last stop is Chrysler. The ad for its Neon reads: “Hajimemashite, Kuraisur Neon desu” (“How do you do? 1 am the Chrysler Neon”). Unlike the GM and Ford ads, this one doesn't emphasize American culture, As a result, it looks more friendly to Japanese consumers despite the Neon’s ferocious reputation as lle.” sda have already reported sensationally that the litle Neon is America's last trump card in the competition against Japanese cars, the ear journalist says. “That's ‘why Chrysler no longer needs to stress its American flavo “The nickname of “Japanese car-killer” is a bit strong for Chevrolet uses: 52 Mangajn stereotypical American images for its car adsinJapan. Chrysler's taste, however, Chrysler Japan Sales has asked the media not to use the nickname since it might create a backlash by Japanese consumers. When looking at the Big Three’s progress in Japan in the first half of 1996, the gold medal goes to GM, which sold 10,633 cars, up 147-4 percent from the same term a year befor. Ford gots the silver, selling 8,125 cars (up 12.6 pereent). Last is the bronze, going to Chrysler, which sold 6,991 cars (up 8.2 percent, Wide distribution networks and affordable prices are important factors in accomplishing the goals of American ‘automakers, Another key is whether they can grab Japanese consumers" hearts—and their ads reflect their stance toward Japanese consumers. Sasaki Yoshinobu isa freelance journalist tiving in Yokohama, imperices = RE ash = BL haps se 2% diapers tba RMT Ht sit HRS ai feces me a3 en AM aKa From Kaji Ryiisuke no Gi, p.17 zehi settoku suru ikinart Fuiuchi renkya rikkoho sure i suew jiban hnokai sur seiji shokugyo gimon rnaikaku jyokvo kaisan Juni ane na nega jihye teishutsu suru shuts hhajimete hhossokw ship sura tsuishin Jinan chonan kahit shiva ings eiseki Fushigi na Konno danzen gortteki sude-ni Kersudan ishi sugu rokudan suru robashin shagiin kaikan angai antan ni hharsugen gororsuki by all means persuade ddenlylabr surprise attack election Stand as a candidate (v.) constitueney collapse (1) polities Suite suited [tor] pation Fiisui (0 bt.) cabinet/government Uissolution stare/fix one's eyes [on] preparations seltish request (n.) resignation submivpresent (1) eandidaey readiness arrangelestablish For the First time inaguration| postscript econ son fies son ‘much more ‘add brighvtalonted person fm the other hand srades ‘marvelous/amazing bureaucrat by fardecidedly rational/pragiatic tlementshrats already decision dying wish catty onfollow immediately decide excessive soicitude House of Representatives hallilding unexpectedly smoothlyfeasly hand overfgive over easily racketeerfextortionist, ily ar HERS Bt aR masukomi abate mass media leak (v.) take contro/possession of control (.) Faction From Selected Works of Ishii Hisaichi, p. 38 fo Shit toon ERB AMAL aii wos we ia Bi Bi vED ears voit a he ath % * GEA oH Bote fits BeRELE olen Lana mi He SL cuba medatsu shinobi shinri tek oka Ken considerably Stand out lundercover action paychology Setleave in a place wound (> From Obatarian, p. 42 shor okort fifa gomibako danchi daidokora kaizd suru From Kekkon Shiyo shigekicteki Kral suka kao hen da hotondo shashin roku na ‘chamto shiva vappari shikarubeki basho aku beisu ai onchinkan na kindaype remainder husband & w absud/incongruous, faruge bin ‘iscatd (2) vegetables stirtry n) ‘housing complex Kitchen smalléeramped remodel Yo, p.65 stimu dislike watermelon face is strange almost all Photogeaph (n.) itactory request (v.) properfsuccessful aftr allin the end Suitable/proper place take [a picture retire from expeditionstours tembracefmake love [not] particularly inglarousing From Take'emon-ke no Hitobito, p. 84 ay FES Luo BRACE ce 27 eaky subarashi rikai dekira indo sere hol pinpon Firat of all wonderful can understand exereise (r) hockey Ping Pong The Vocabulary Sunmary ts taken from material appearing in this issue of Mangan, 11s not always possible t give the complete range of meanings fora word inthis limited space, 0 our "definiuons” are based on the usage ofthe won in u particular st Mangajin 23 *, : MEADE OR i Kaji RyUsuke no Gi Kaji RyGsuke’s Agenda oy Bh $B FE SB otane kona Scandals, deception, infighting, gridlock —business as usual for polities in The artist Hirokane Kenshi (the well-known creator of Kaci Shima Kavaki and artist in) approaches this ‘Kaiji Rytsuke no Gi of the series Ningen Kasaren, both featured in earlier issues of Many inexhaustible subject from the inside with his latest solo projes Kaji Rydsuke, the 39-year-old second son of a powerful politician, is trom Kagoshima ‘on the island of Kyushu, A graduate of the prestigious University of Tokyo, he has built a successful career as an elite salaryman at one of Japan's foremost corporations. Becon 4 politician like his father. Kaji Motoharu, is the farthest thing from his mind, Tal fe compares him to a "wild thoroughbred”), ented, confident, and hotheaded (one colle - he evokes both respect and censure from those around hit Iehinoseki Ayumt is an employee under Rydsuke. She is also his lover Kaji Yukiko, RyUsuke’s wife, lives at the Kaji family home in Kagoshima in order 10 be with their son who attends the elite prep school La Salle Yamamoto Makio is sceretary-yeneral of the Nishikie club. Kaji Motaharu’s political suppor Kagoshima Shortly after the story begins, Rysuke and Ayumi are awakened {post-lusty encounter) in their Tokyo hotel room by Rytsuke's beeper his office had received an urgent call from his wife in Kagos ‘The news is grim: driving home after a long day of campaist Kyushu, Rysuhe’s brother had fallen asleep at the wheel and his father ‘was killed instantly in the erash, RyUsuke rushes back to Kyushu. His brother dies in the hospital, but not before imploring Rytisuke to carry on the family's political tradition for the sake of their father’s memory—and for the country {At the funeral, the prime minister himself (a longtime friend of Kaji Motoharu) asks Ryisuke t0 run for office, With seandals wearing down the party’s popularity, only someone with the powerful Kaji name ean win the Kagoshima race. The party can’ in the leadership of the Dict. Even so, RyDsuke refuses the prime minister afford to lose that erucial district if it hopes to ret to his face—a shocking thing. indeed vrs, for the frst time he begins to respect his father as a Rydsuke returns to Tokyo, Having read some of his father's me atin order to politician, Although accused of bein it looks as though he was simply made the seap proteet the prime minister The plot thickens—a politician from the prime minister's cabinet makes a racist comment while visiting the US. and althox he claims he was misinterpreted, it has weakened the party's position, If Rydsuke doesn’t run for office, the party is doomed, Rylisuke’s lover, meanwhile, tells him that she is pregnant and wants to keep the baby. We pick up the story a few days later as Ryfsuke meets Yamamoto in a Tokyo coffee shop. Mangan 17 1 pnp AtMEES aPoHS Skomoy TH Walter veo Levee. Trulia es “Come right in!” (PL4) irasshimane ia pin command form ofthe PLA vet irasshau (“come”). 1's the standard expression fr welcoming 1 viskor oon’ Romeo tsomers 0 e's pace of business TE] Yamamoto: #. RIK Ko == Tt! RY Rutnetin Koko dew “Oh, Rytaoke. Por over here” (PL3) + Yamamoto, as lngime family fend nda geeain oh than Kaji ales Kj here ys ft mae pls te pote bt late) fain Below a Sep tying to ere Kato ec tench ene Fete a faa a Kal 1 =D© £30. WWREAS Yat Kara dime, Yanan stots mph) iagehony ‘EXht Helio, Mr. Yamamoto” (P13) + ya.0F ya can be used as an informal “hifhllo” by male speakers. + domo is actually only an intensifier but its use with expressions of apology, thanks, and greeting has made it an allpur- pose shorthand for those same expressions. It canbe either formal or quite inforial as sais the occasion. Konya der (or the uncontracted kove wa dimo) ae comnon variations. [H] Yamamoto: $A S24, Je BM ob BURGE Siminasn orale Man hd “orebldsh bashes “Pmsorry twhave asked you to come down here dri Wao OO WHR eS INTC OA ACTH Je.” sw Kagoshima dara dete Korareta des hat fi when (pace name) from caret explan=”) “Not at all. When did you come up from Kagoshima?” (PL) suminasen canbe a polite apology oe thanks depending on the context, the suffix sch means “during the midst of" so shigoro jana =“dring work hours." ‘e-yobidasht iashinasdite is hee form of o-yobidoshi uashimas, a polite PLA humble Yorm of yobidasi fom yobw ‘Ceallsommon”) and =, which implies the action takes place in a outward diecton -» “call OoUaway [fom some: thing" The te form is often used to state the cause/reason foe what come’ next in the semenee, but in this cas the 5 tax is inverted andi stating the eauseleason for his apology fe isa shortened ie ("no") often used Tike “nota al” ‘Kagoshima is the name ofa major city and prefecture in southern Kyushu, dete horareta isthe past form of dete korareru. PLA honorific form of dete kuru come out”) Prom the perspective ‘ofthe city, dete hur i used fo speak of someone traveling from the country tothe city in the case of Tokyo, “county” includes any regional city [E] Yamamoto: HE CF. FH Ut Ro OREA e ORBLED Eo MEL, Kno See Kao re in acon luna io,“ owinae i ky alter climes Camon) (i) dalle (qt) hte Yesterday. And today Fntend to persuade you no mater what i takes!” (PL3) + seta shy isthe volonal (e's shal) form of sera sur persuade”) toms sh Rysoue sono stots sNyo ae spec concat of hi ous + tanta the te form cf orcs PLS form of mow Cn); The efor again wed fader Sons son forking Kio se him Kaji Bok, wae) RMTS & (ObSRELE AL Myr wo, itinari——fuuchi 0 Karawasaremashita ne Hahahaha (teiy saddealyraropy saris tack (ob) was eauen ele.) aah “AVhoa, you ‘a surprise punch right off the bat, Ha ha ha ha.” (PL3) + ono isan imerjection sed when a person is caught off guard and suddenly ealizes he needs tobe careful lest he make & ‘mistke/pat himself in dangerige in trouble + funch teers wo a “surprise atacK/ambush,” and five o kurau orkut, literally “eal,” very informal isa expression for "be ambushed” or "be alache! when one's guard i down.” Kurawasuremashita othe PL3 pas frm of urawasarera, te caustive-passive orm of Kur, Mangaiin 19 [7] Sound ex: [2] Yamamoto aa Za 2u (sound of sipping coffee) BM LEP Eko MR Ce aLoRS Onegai shimasu so! Tough no senkyo ni wa cehi viata shite kus! (tom requey” make emph.) “newt cen ino for by all meats sands canddve egies “Please, I'm begging you, you really must run in the next election!” (PL3). RSA fe IAL 30M HEELS A: MEM Mattie Et, Redvute-san ga tatanakereha san nentan ij site kita Kaji Motolarn no jiban wa hak sia {Gamesbon ‘eth. if don't standun “8094p! meiatanedndscme inne) "y cnattuency ae calle “Ifyou don’t run, the constituency cultivated by Kaji Motoharu over the last 30 years wil di (PLS) ‘onegai means “request” andl adding surdshimase tues it int a verb, “make a requestask a favor” Unless another sub- {ect is specified it is understood tobe the speaker whois making the reyuest. so the expression essentaly serves sa polite and formal “please. ‘akkthoshie is the te foam of ikki suru, iterally “stand as candidate” »“Ypecome a eandidate/eun for office.” Kudasat alter thee Yoem of a verb makes relatively polite reqes. + sis often done in Japanese. he uses his listener's mime in station when an English speaker would use “you tatanakereba isa conditional" oem of tatana negative of tats (stand it you don't run 1 shite i the efor of ii suru (*mainainsusiintkeep up), and Kita ste plain/abrupt pas form of kurt (come ‘which after thee form of a verb often implies the ation continued Irom sometime in he past antl the present, Sn enka i shite kt sa complete thoughisentence (“we] have sustained [i for a 30-year period”) madiying Ke Movoharu no jan Kaji Moxohari's constitvensy ‘oar shimasi i the PL form of hakat suru *collapos/dsitegrate”) Bk ao a mis ET’ Ek MR ELAS Warashi wa jidun sa sei ni multe iru to wa_—_omuemasen ine | asfor self ub) pis foram sed (quteyenph cannot tibet. “Tcan’t believe that Iam suited to politics." “I just don’t think of myself us suited to polities” (PL3) Jibun = “ones.” and it becomes “Vinenysel. “he/hinvhimsel fering 1 standing” a a candidate) jou yoursel depending onthe context, ie iris rom mad (sib suited (tlFor) Yamamoto 1 Yanamote ‘amoemasen isthe negative form of omoer ("can think”), the potential form of omow think”) as H&A KA bOHSEYGA TT L Muli funuki nate honnin ni mo wakaranai mon desu ably wistablty meting ks the porn melt een cant it hi ici) suitability is the kind of thing that a person can’t judge by himself.” (PI.3) FO iD MR AML foc OED HD Watashi jshin ima no jun no shokugsd ga hont'ni atm noha doko PON inset now oF own eceupution th) “tly isha whee oF ot fe fot FCG MEM AZ aitnen "tatta ima demo simon. nav da rs have passed even st reent dl (csp) have my own doubts whether or not my occupation truly suits me—even now after $0 years.” (PL2) ‘mui sa noun form of mud, so it means “suitability.” and fuk’ its opposite. “unsuitability ‘ante i colloquial equivalent of mad, itetally “things ikefsomething Ihe Waarana isthe negative form of waka, which ean mean ether “undersandécome to understand,” or “ean under Stancil” Jishin setfoneset") is commonly used in combination with personal pronouns “Pmyself” kare shin ‘Ms. Yama here faite rs fromm au "sutmateh)- and (no) ka da ke aor a compte thoughtsentence means “whether or not fhe Ueserbed situation existvaction takes place Breit oe MH A kD HR AT ERE feels Ryisuke-san! Imaya, Hatomura Naitaku wa naigaino jako _kara mite ddmo aura 9 extcalcicumstances fem locking (ep) prosaiousansteady ‘both inside and outside the government, the Hatomura Cabl- c PL2) cost TUNE Kk kt Mh | BE CLE Kono mama de ikea ali ni wu baton trek deh, Bis (means) igo atuna in a fr disluton gear clon is probaly “At this rate, in the fall we will probably have dissolution [of the Diet] and a general election” “At this rate, the prime minister will probably dissolve the Diet and calla general election this fal” (PL3) ~ kara mite (lit, “looking from") isan expression for “judging fromfbased on ~." ‘kono mama = “unchanged from this" and ikeba isa conditional "ithwhen") form of ie (“golpeogress”), 0 Rono mama de eb is literally “if things goon lke this” ~* “tthe” J nouns: watashibokutorejshin = ‘Mangan 21 fr D8 + Koji Ryosuke fm BUSS RR Bayo BAK a 22 Mangain (2) Yamamet: Yamamoto: ‘Yamamoto: (partly iden) ‘Stamp: £0 & ee ec a Sono tokio nirunde ima kara junbi 0 shinahereba_—_osoi nm desu hatte (ob. sein iets on sow fom preparations (0) if don't daa iwi be fo ate (esplan.) “If we don't look ahead to that time and begin making preparations now, itll be too late.” (PL3) BRt Mo cy a WH Tk RR & MLC MER EC RoC T URE ER Karena negoi desu ga as ni demo jh 0 teshutsu shite Kagoshima ni modone kite uadaiai! feitah™ rageet ts but tomomow on even resignation (0b) submitand (place ame) 10 wan yu to rurand-omne [tis a selfish request but, even as early as tomorrow, I want you to submit your resignation and return 10 Kagoshima.” “Perhaps itis presumptuous of me, but Kagoshima immediately.” (PL2) irande ste -te form of niramu (stare [atVix one's eyes fon). Shinakereba is & conditional ilwhen") form of einai, negative of suru Cdevmake”); jn o suru = “make preparations! prepare.” ‘aru nidemo isan expression for “immediatels/as soon as possible” (where the frame of reference is daysWweeks/months ‘ather than hours or minutes) {eishatsw shite sth te form of teishutsu suru submit": the -te form here implies “(do the setion} and ~" ‘modote kite is the te form of modotte kuru "rturn/come back"), and itadakital after the -te form ofa ver implies the speaker want the listener or someone ese todo the action. k you to submit your resignation and return to Bes 0 i HIE ON I VOTH Reasule-san no shuisuha —aisatsn mo pa’ — a_i demo (rameshon)"s candy andouncement for pty as Tor anytime Bye £5 Mit ACH ET ho Wirakera “sit taisei_ wa tion arimasu ara hod that caine for ha een established. eae ‘e already laid the groundwork so we ean hold a party to announce your candidacy at any time.” shutsuba suru means “en for eletion. hhnakera is te potential ("canoe able wo") form of irak ("open Iniaker yan) = "0 tat (ve ch NOK.” faiset refers to "readines,” and tise 2 fotonoers means “arangeestablish a state of readiness [to carry ut the described Action). Tolonoete isthe te form of totonvert, and arimasu (PLS form of aru) after thee orm ofa verb implies the action was dane and the sul mains in plac, so i this case it means a state of readiness has heen established and remains in placelon standby 1nd shussubaalsais refers o “announcement of one's candidacy." ‘or when speaking of an event, “holicommence”) ve... ‘+ iya can mean “no,” but it's also used as a kind of warm-up/hesitation word ya (Cyvellertunhit mean") with litle or no feeling of negation, and that is how i's fits being used here. Though Yamamoto doesnt allow him to g0 on, Kaji is prob- “Well...” (PL2) ably about to express hesitation rather than disagreement HES BRELEY bo H HET Disa a anata mi “o-mise sitai momo ga avimas faci anc “yout chon want sow thing (ab) have ‘Actually, Ihave something I'd like to show you." (PLA) o-mise shit is the “wane to” form of aomise sur, a PLA humble equivalent of misert show"). Anata ni o-mive shia {sf complete thoughvsentence I] want wo show [i] you") moalfying mono ("hing") ‘armas s the PL3 form of art (“exists fr inanimate things, often implying “exists in ones possession” -+ [I] have") WHEMIZ dehO BLE mie He HH A MA HE FR CH. [Niitmen-mae nianaia no o-chichiue Kaji Motoharu -tensei ga watashi-ae ni dasareta tegami desu. ye oar” hon ar ae genta) te) eedome se, ewer "405 a‘leer your father, the Honorable Kaji Motoharu, seat to me 20 years ago.” (PL!) MERCH). aR BE CA ee ee eee paren es femes oee ‘Kagoshima City... Mr. Yamamoto Makio_ ak Be else Japa in Postal Service chichive i a polite and formal word for “father”; using the honorific prefix makes it even more polite ‘ense, most familar as the word for “teacher,” is also used asa respectful tle fora variety of people considered worthy of respect, including doctors, writer, and politicians '& personal pronoun or name followed by ate means “addressed wo [the stated person} ‘asaretas the paivabrapt past form of dasareru, a PLA honorific form of the verb das ("put out,” or when speaking (of letters and other mail items, “send”. nifaner-nae ni anata no o-chichie Koji Motohare-sensei ga watashi-ate ni dasareia is a complete thoughvsentence (Your father, the honorable Kaji Motoharu, sen [it] 1 me 20 years ago") modifying regami (eter). ‘Mangan 23 Ryusuke no Gi TOR + Kali i PHOW-e eupaetio RPL ues wombe ees REL ARP POOG UE eal BKK 40st Dd 24 Mangajn ‘Yamamoto: [2] Yamamowo ‘Yamamoto: se, bt GEA FEC MIG RELCERHDETA Mochiron ima made dare ni mo miseta koto wa arimasen Sfeoure "mow antl [ntl toanvong showed hve never “re goes without saying that P've never shown it to anyone until now.” (PL3) WT BMUTS b0 CF Ima, anata ni hajimete ovmise suru mono desu ow! you 10 frst ime (won yao thing “itis something I'm showing you for the first time now.” Here and now, you're the first person I've shown it to.” (PL3) ‘mochirom is an adverb implying “of course/aturlly/without questionncedless to say.” ‘dare mo is followed by a negative to mean “nol anyonelao one”: inserting ni makes it "not to anyone.” Iniseta isthe plain/sbrupt past form of misera ("show"); o-mise sur isa PLA humble form of the same verb. Toto wt arimasen isthe PLS form of Koto war (or ga} nt, which afters ast verb means “have never [done the ation)” 0 WE MIL 297 BR dot Mt Sono naiys wo Nishiki Kurabu_hoxwot watasht ni ‘tite cons a for tous) clad inangraion atthe time of ne 6 VALAE He So CFR 40 CF # iroira to shijimosate kudasarta mono desu ga variously Fnsrcta me things is a HO i O LAE LC HAT Saigo no tsushin no tokore o sok yonde Kalas end in posserip that place ob) wolkaetlly pss ead “The contents are various things he instructed me atthe time of the please read carefully the postscript atthe end. “Tt contains various instructions he had for me when the Nishikie Club was launched, but let me ‘draw your attention particularly to the postscript at the end.” (PLA) ~ ni aarte means “atthe time offn conjunction with” an aetion or event Inoir to iam adver form of irra, 4 noun meaning “Sanous iems/hings kinds Shi nasrte ste -te form of shi nasara, a PLS honorific equivalent of shi surw instractdincet). Kudasata (the Plainfabrupe pas form of hudasar) after te te form ofa ver typically implies the action mas dane to ofr the Speaker by someone of higher socal salu + “instructed me ftulsin no tokoro is ieally “the place that isthe postscript” —* the postserpe™ yoke the adver form of foi (“goodiine/OK"), often means “carefully thoroughly.” Jude iy the te Ton of yom (18a), ad Audasa after thet orm ofa verb makes a relatively polite request. sauguration ofthe Nishikie Club, but om EHR RK, ale Tevishin Senjtsu —jinan mo Rytsuke ga Tidal ni gtkaku shit. cpt the other dyson son whos Yaa) sub.) Unio Tokyo. Humanities | tly passed was accepted The other day my second son, Rylisuke, passed the entrance exam for the University of Tokyo. Faculty of Letters I. (PL2) BA #e fi kD Rk ML AUR Chonan Haruhiko gokaku mo oki yori stbai—areshit_ kimochi do. ‘ies sonoune)passedfcepted (ow) time mre than several fold happyyful foling is ‘My joy is several times what I experienced when my first son Haruhiko passed the exam. (PL2) ents refers to a relatively recent date, ranging from afew days ago to as much as several week. ‘honan it, "head bos”) eles toa fitst-bor son.” and nan (it. "next bos") means “second son.” Subsequent boys fare simply numbered: sar ("third son”). yonnan (“fourth soa). ee. The same pater is used for girl: chojo head ir” frst daughter), jo (next git” > "second daughter"), sanjo ("third daughter”), cc. Te last child of either Sexi called suetko (li. “end child” —* “youngest child Toda san abbreviation of Tok3@ Daigat ("University of Tokyo"), and fun J's an abbreviation of Bunka Ichi CK FARIS, “Human Sciences T). The University of Tokyo i regarded as boing at the very top ofthe higher-education bierachy in Japan an isthe most dificult university to get mt. {tokak is 4 noun that refers to meeting a sandar or passing an eligibility srcen of some kind, and gdkaku shit isthe planvabrupt past form ofthe ver gaa suru. Inthe caxe of schools and colleges, it means to pas the entrance exam And be accepted for admission tor follows the leser item in a comparison: “more than [the time when ~ 1" Sis a prefix meaning "several," and -ba isa counter suffix for mulipes, so sabui = “several timesseveral fol.” Bat by itself always means niba!="'wotimesidouble"s saat =the timeshipl,” sonbai = “Tour mesquadrupe ‘obat = “ive times," te. Mangsiin 25 + Kali Ryusuke no Gi mom | PLOW SKE OURS OOO | BabloNS Pee IO MMIIN—2 6 ON UL | LPROINKUS Ut Lemar anit PANO BURMA KE-AETL OLSK RRONINKS Gate { WURRKUMS st | BOP PS eHO a w NES HERE PCOE LLL OPS Oy SN PIER de IP OH Wet RN worms Re HeO HEADY RSW KOREAN Ne HSUEH NOSIS RALHSS EE ROOEII

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