Sazae-san

Among my classmates, I'm unusual for many reasons. I'm twice as old as they are. In fact, my son is older than most of them. I've already graduated from college. I'm studying just for the fun of it (or rather the self-discipline of it--which for me is the same thing). And I've already lived in Japan.

Perhaps what sets me apart the most is the types of things Japanese that interest me. I don't care for manga or anime dealing with superheros, robots, or vampires. I don't listen to J-Pop. I don't dream of living a fast-paced Tokyo lifestyle (except when I'm reading Jason's Japan Blog).

What fascinates me are the details of the ordinary, what (during the feminist 1970s) was termed her-story. And that's what you find in Machiko Hasegawa's The Wonderful World of Sazae-san. First published in 1946, Sazae-san illustrates an ordinary family in post-war Japan. The title character, Sazae, is a somewhat giddy teenage girl (later wife and Mom) rushing headlong toward post-war modernity while retaining her essential Japanese-ness. The strip, which ran in the Asahi Shimbun from 1949 to 1974, is as familiar as Peanuts or Blondie to Americans. It was adapted to radio, television (I videotapted episode 3379, which aired in 1990), and movies.

Kodansha International has published twelve volumes of Sazae-san translated into English, with the original Japanese printed in the gutters. I would have done it the other way around. I would have thought it easier (and, aesthetically, much more pleasing) to leave the original Japanese text in the strip and print the translation on the outside margins. This edition includes helpful footnotes that explain some of the practices and events unfamiliar to the foreign reader. And it's a gentle introduction to reading Japanese. The Japanese is uncomplicated. There isn't much kanji and all of it has furigana. Although I think most of my classmates would find Sazae-san boring, for me she provides a history, culture, and language lesson wrapped in a warmly, humorous package.

Posted by M Sinclair Stevens
February 11, 2003

Comments

I watch Sazae-san almost every Sunday evening now. I don't know, I never realize that I am so fond of it. The author in fact didn't want it on TV for some of his policy, somehow it's after his death (or is he still alive? Not sure) or a period, then his production house started to do a TV version to "pass on" his message. It's lovely. Every week I am amazed of how much Japanese-ness it has and for me to discover! Ken Loo.

Comment by: Ken Loo. Posted February 11, 2003 05:12 PM.

Is there a book in English where, they list the names of all the characters, marine animal (uh, human?) name? Like Sazae = turbo, katsuo = bonito, etc? (Another thought, I wonder how the Chinese will translate it. There are some Kanjis that are not in Chinese language because it's created by Japanese. Hmm, may be I will do a report about this!)

Comment by: Ken Loo. Posted February 11, 2003 05:22 PM.

Sazae-san's creator, Machiko Hasegawa, lived from 1920 to 1992. She began, at 16, as an apprentice to the cartoonist Suiho Tagawa and with Sazae-san became Japan's first successful woman comic strip author.

The introduction of this English translation explains that all the characters names are marine-related, but it doesn't provide the English translations. Fune is ship and wakame is seaweed (or as the package at our grocery puts it "edible sea vegetable").

Comment by: M. Posted February 11, 2003 06:56 PM.

Can the fune be funa, a crucian? Well, I don't think the translation made a mistake there. Just thinking loud, as always. :)

Comment by: Ken Loo. Posted February 11, 2003 07:23 PM.

They have the kanji, for Sazae's parents, too. I guess I'll look in my kanji dictionary tomorrow when I have more time. But it's　舟、and 波平、 I know it's not the same as 船 but it still translates it as "watercraft". Can anyone else help us out?

Comment by: M. Posted February 11, 2003 09:05 PM.

At the beginning of each show, Sazae says (in her chipper voice) "Sazae de gozaimasu!" I heard that this sends legions of people into depression as they realise it's Sunday night, the weekend is over, and they have to work tomorrow!

Comment by: jh. Posted February 11, 2003 09:49 PM.

I checked on the internet, found one site, Sazae-kenkyukai. Yes, M-san you were right. It's fune. I must read some reseach on the name, or may be ask around, why the mother that is the most natural being is named something of human-made.

Comment by: Ken Loo. Posted February 12, 2003 08:30 AM.

hajimemashite apoorva to moushimasu. sazae san no anime bangumi wo mita koto ga nai kedo manga wo tanoshimu watashi wa sazae san ni tsuite shirabe you to omotte kono website wo access shimashita. jitsu wa nihongo no benkyou shiteru kara..manga wo tanoshiminagara benkyou ni narimasu. douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Comment by: apoorva. Posted May 10, 2003 02:22 AM.

Apoorva, the bilingual comic books are available through amazon.com. If you click on the title of the book in the original post, it links to the Sazae-san listing on amazon. It is a fun way to study!

Comment by: M . Posted May 10, 2003 09:50 AM.

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