If Ohno-san had not been a part of Arashi...
... what would he had become ? AU gives us their own idea of Ohno's alter ego.
Anyway, big title, big deal... and probably poor translation >_<
So, this was my first try at translating something, so please be lenient . I was not even JLPT 4 and my native language is not English... ^_^;
m(_ _)m
If you find some horrible english spelling/grammar/vocabulary mistakes, please tell me.
Same thing if you can read japanese and think my translation sucks, just tell me and I'll gladly try to correct it. I'd really really appreciate it, since it'll help me improve a bit ^_^
Before you follow the LJ-cut :
- the original text was here : www.au.kddi.com/pr/au-niwa/arashi/ ; but I can't find it anymore. Anyway, I copied it here.
- I tried to put up some translation notes, I hope it will help you understand the choices I did when things became a bit unclear to me (and I added Maki's explanations ^_^).
Finally, I want to add that this translation is some kind of gift for mjlights , who is certainly the nicest Ohno-drooling partner ;o)
=> So mjlights, once you've read this post, please tell me if you think it deserves to be public and I'll unlock it.
Edit 1 : done.
!! Edit 2 as of 2009.03.05 : I've finally edited this entry thanks to Maki's advices and help (hontowa ). A million thanks to her who spent quite some time on reading my translation and explaining me English (!) and Japanese grammar <3
So here it is, AU ad translation :
***************
White hand :
Right now, I am unusually in a hurry.
To go where ? It doesn't matter, I'm just in a hurry. Because I'm making a special someone wait on a bench in the small park near the Valley of the Buildings [1].
When I look at my wristwatch, I see that it's already gone far past the time we promised to meet. But I just wasn't able to sneak away [2]. This is no excuse, well no, maybe it's an excuse. Whatever, whichever it is, in my job, there is no such thing as time for a break. Anyhow, it's unusual and you might say it's not like me, anyway I'm hurrying.
But, of course always at a time like this, I see an elderly woman at the stairway landing who looks like she's not feeling well. I can't help it, I'm not the type of person that can pretend I didn't see something I did [3]. "What's wrong?" I asked, and as I was helping her to sit on a bench, even more time passed.
Everybody usually thinks I'm part of a super-elite. I’m an MBA holder, and this is totally unrelated but I’m good at dance, I’m really impressive - look, even though I’m wearing a suit, I can easily dodge pedestrians with no problem. But, as you know, I’m not good at socializing, when I’m drinking I’m cheerful, but I’m usually really normal and do things at my own pace, the type that likes to live isolated from society [4]. That might be why I'm able to do this job as a (bank) dealer [5]. Even if I don't really understand it yet, in any case, it may be because I have this kind of character that I'm able to handle money in the hundred millions. Everyday, I'm looking always at my LCD screen. All day long, from morning on, all I do is stare at this screen. That's my job. On my screen, things known as "fluctuations of the world" are painted hour by hour, and when I started working here, I kinda felt the illusion that I was manipulating the world. Even if it's just the yen going up or down by 1 unit, everything around starts rustling.
Wait for me, please, wait for me. What is a person like me running for ? [6] Don't make me say it over and over, it's because I'm making an important person wait. I waved at her, and she waved excitedly back at me. With a white hand, gracefully and beautifully. Totally unsuited for this savage world, I definitely think that only this person can be the whole world to me [7]. Hey, if you dan't have called me, I would have been able to get there faster [8]. That guy has bad timing. Aaaahh, it's raining. Raining at such a time is really the worst.
This person, you know, was kind enough to take a little of her time to come here [9].
Even though she's said "I'm not coming" so many times, she suddenly agreed to come and visit. After all, she's the person that cares about me more than anyone else, and that's exactly why I didn't bring her near my workplace. Aaaaah, but it's still raining. From the roof of the high rise buildings, drops of sadness keep on falling. Anyway, I've got to hurry. I wonder if I have time to open my umbrella. Cross the street, turn at the bookstore, and then to the park just ahead. Aaahhh, what should I do ? If I hadn't brought my umbrella, I would have been completely soaked. I cross the street and turn at the next corner. Where ? Where is she ? Ah...
As the passing shower gets stronger, the world turns white.
I walk towards the place where my mother stands, near the tine of a tree [10].
But, before I get there, I have to wave [11]. It's always been like this since my childhood. On parents day, I loved finding Mom. When Mom waved at me, whatever anyone said to me, I could escape to her world - a world where anything was allowed [12]. A world where I could be myself [13]. When I went to the USA to study, she worked her hardest to be able to pay my tuition [14].
Okay, I'm hanging up now, I'll call again later. During this small break from work, as the world exchange rates subtly fluctuate, I wave my hand for the person I love the most in the world. Someday, I'll become the number one bank dealer in the world. But before that, I'll always always remain the normal son of this one and only person.
The END.
***************
[1] I chose to translate it literally. This Valley of Buildings is a famous part of Tokyo, on the west of Shinjuku Station. From one of the skyscrapers located on one end of this street, by clear weather, it seems you can watch Mount Fuji. And there is a little park near this street.
[2] The verb used here suppose you want to go, but must stay.
[3] Meaning here that "it can't be helped that I'm gonna stop and help".
[4] I first chose to cut one super long phrase in 3, and I had a hard time trying to make sense out it. But thanks to Maki, I finally understood this sentence. So :
- she told me that it would be better to let this long sentence, because it conveys the feeling a person rattling off phrases about themselves gives
- the "sharpness" thingie (切れ味抜群 で) is related to the dance part meaning he has a very precise way of dancing (it means to be really awesome at doing something)
-"おちゃのこさいさいで" means "with ease" (just like "en 2 coups de cuillère à pot" in French ^_^)
- finally, she explained me the end of the sentence : "社会から遮断された場所で生きる方を好むタイプ", because I wasn't able to understand the role of the "を" particle. Here is her answer : "in this case, the Japanese itself isn’t that correct either. It should say 社会から遮断された場所での生き方を好むタイプ. This 方 isn’t “kata” as in “people,” it’s 方 hou as in method. So he’s saying “I’m the type to like ____” rather than “I like the type that___”.
[5] I added "bank" because it seemed weird to write only "dealer", but the japanese word is "ディーラー". By the way, I searched a bit to understand what a bank dealer is : basically they are currency traders, buying and selling foreign currency in order to make benefits. In French, we would say "cambiste" and in English, it would be more precise to say "foreign exchange dealer" or "exchange agent".
[6] Literally, "Or what's the reason why this me is running for ?".
[7] Thanks again to Maki, this sentence finally made sense ^_^ I wondered if the “ unsuited for this savage world” refers to the narrator or to his Mom. Maki thinks that it refers to his mom and that the narrator is trying to say that the only person who could mean so much to him is someone that’s completely unsuited for this savage world - meaning she’s pure. And I agree with this interpretation.
[8] "There" is not a literal translation. In the original text, it's written "the place where that person is", but it flows far better like this (thanks again Maki !).
[9] The Japanese sentence conveys a sense of gratitude of the narrator towards the person who is waiting, that the English (nor the French) can't convey properly (use of the "verbーて くれた" form). That's why I used "was kind enough to".
[10] This is the tricky part... In the Japanese text, we have "ぼくは木の袂に佇む母さんの方へと近づく". Usually when you use "Keigo" when talking with some outsider (that's the important part), you shouldn't say "okaasan" when you talk about your own mother, but use "haha" instead (because "okaasan" is honorific and you should be humble when you talk to some outsider). That's what I've read in my japanese book about cultural differences that can be found in language. But Ohno-san often says "kaachan" when talking about his mother... That's why I chose to think that he sees his mother under the tree (at least 2 persons - far more fluent than me - agree with me - whewwww ! I'm relieved ;o)). I should also add something about the specific vocabulary used here (Thanks Maki... again !):
- "Literally “木の袂に” means “edge of the tree”, but it’s just kind of a poetic expression. In this case, they’re literally referring to the part of the tree that starts to curve toward the ground". I chose to translate it by "tine", but I don't really know if this word is commonly used by native English-speakers ^_^;
- "佇む is just a poetic way of saying stand (立つ). Like standing there with your mind wandering, not thinking anything". I found a word appropriate in French but not in English. If you happen to have an idea about it, feel free to drop a comment :)
[11] My first translation was completely wrong. "振らなきゃ" is the shorter version of "振らなければ いけない or ならない", which expresses the obligation.
[12] "そこに許された世界があった" means literally “There was a world where anything was allowed”. I really like this metaphor, so I had to make the translated sentence a bit longer than the original one.
[13] Same metaphor again : means literally "where myself was alowed".
[14] Once again, he uses the "verbーて くれた" form to express his gratitude.
***************
Hmmm...
I'm not satisfied at all >_<
It was really difficult to make sense out of it, especially because I had a hard time deciding who "kimi" was... I finally thought it was somebody he could have been talking to, on the phone, and that the reader of the ad becomes this "somebody".
Arghhh...
I asked one of my penfriend in Japan to help me about it, but she's been really busy... So I decided to release this translation without her help, so once again, be lenient on me ! If she answers me, I'll be sure to edit this post.
Any comment, correction, would be greatly appreciated !
And I hope you won't be too disappointed.
>////<
Ginger Ame
Anyway, big title, big deal... and probably poor translation >_<
So, this was my first try at translating something, so please be lenient . I was not even JLPT 4 and my native language is not English... ^_^;
m(_ _)m
If you find some horrible english spelling/grammar/vocabulary mistakes, please tell me.
Same thing if you can read japanese and think my translation sucks, just tell me and I'll gladly try to correct it. I'd really really appreciate it, since it'll help me improve a bit ^_^
Before you follow the LJ-cut :
- the original text was here : www.au.kddi.com/pr/au-niwa/arashi/ ; but I can't find it anymore. Anyway, I copied it here.
- I tried to put up some translation notes, I hope it will help you understand the choices I did when things became a bit unclear to me (and I added Maki's explanations ^_^).
Finally, I want to add that this translation is some kind of gift for mjlights , who is certainly the nicest Ohno-drooling partner ;o)
=> So mjlights, once you've read this post, please tell me if you think it deserves to be public and I'll unlock it.
Edit 1 : done.
!! Edit 2 as of 2009.03.05 : I've finally edited this entry thanks to Maki's advices and help (hontowa ). A million thanks to her who spent quite some time on reading my translation and explaining me English (!) and Japanese grammar <3
So here it is, AU ad translation :
***************
White hand :
Right now, I am unusually in a hurry.
To go where ? It doesn't matter, I'm just in a hurry. Because I'm making a special someone wait on a bench in the small park near the Valley of the Buildings [1].
When I look at my wristwatch, I see that it's already gone far past the time we promised to meet. But I just wasn't able to sneak away [2]. This is no excuse, well no, maybe it's an excuse. Whatever, whichever it is, in my job, there is no such thing as time for a break. Anyhow, it's unusual and you might say it's not like me, anyway I'm hurrying.
But, of course always at a time like this, I see an elderly woman at the stairway landing who looks like she's not feeling well. I can't help it, I'm not the type of person that can pretend I didn't see something I did [3]. "What's wrong?" I asked, and as I was helping her to sit on a bench, even more time passed.
Everybody usually thinks I'm part of a super-elite. I’m an MBA holder, and this is totally unrelated but I’m good at dance, I’m really impressive - look, even though I’m wearing a suit, I can easily dodge pedestrians with no problem. But, as you know, I’m not good at socializing, when I’m drinking I’m cheerful, but I’m usually really normal and do things at my own pace, the type that likes to live isolated from society [4]. That might be why I'm able to do this job as a (bank) dealer [5]. Even if I don't really understand it yet, in any case, it may be because I have this kind of character that I'm able to handle money in the hundred millions. Everyday, I'm looking always at my LCD screen. All day long, from morning on, all I do is stare at this screen. That's my job. On my screen, things known as "fluctuations of the world" are painted hour by hour, and when I started working here, I kinda felt the illusion that I was manipulating the world. Even if it's just the yen going up or down by 1 unit, everything around starts rustling.
Wait for me, please, wait for me. What is a person like me running for ? [6] Don't make me say it over and over, it's because I'm making an important person wait. I waved at her, and she waved excitedly back at me. With a white hand, gracefully and beautifully. Totally unsuited for this savage world, I definitely think that only this person can be the whole world to me [7]. Hey, if you dan't have called me, I would have been able to get there faster [8]. That guy has bad timing. Aaaahh, it's raining. Raining at such a time is really the worst.
This person, you know, was kind enough to take a little of her time to come here [9].
Even though she's said "I'm not coming" so many times, she suddenly agreed to come and visit. After all, she's the person that cares about me more than anyone else, and that's exactly why I didn't bring her near my workplace. Aaaaah, but it's still raining. From the roof of the high rise buildings, drops of sadness keep on falling. Anyway, I've got to hurry. I wonder if I have time to open my umbrella. Cross the street, turn at the bookstore, and then to the park just ahead. Aaahhh, what should I do ? If I hadn't brought my umbrella, I would have been completely soaked. I cross the street and turn at the next corner. Where ? Where is she ? Ah...
As the passing shower gets stronger, the world turns white.
I walk towards the place where my mother stands, near the tine of a tree [10].
But, before I get there, I have to wave [11]. It's always been like this since my childhood. On parents day, I loved finding Mom. When Mom waved at me, whatever anyone said to me, I could escape to her world - a world where anything was allowed [12]. A world where I could be myself [13]. When I went to the USA to study, she worked her hardest to be able to pay my tuition [14].
Okay, I'm hanging up now, I'll call again later. During this small break from work, as the world exchange rates subtly fluctuate, I wave my hand for the person I love the most in the world. Someday, I'll become the number one bank dealer in the world. But before that, I'll always always remain the normal son of this one and only person.
The END.
***************
[1] I chose to translate it literally. This Valley of Buildings is a famous part of Tokyo, on the west of Shinjuku Station. From one of the skyscrapers located on one end of this street, by clear weather, it seems you can watch Mount Fuji. And there is a little park near this street.
[2] The verb used here suppose you want to go, but must stay.
[3] Meaning here that "it can't be helped that I'm gonna stop and help".
[4] I first chose to cut one super long phrase in 3, and I had a hard time trying to make sense out it. But thanks to Maki, I finally understood this sentence. So :
- she told me that it would be better to let this long sentence, because it conveys the feeling a person rattling off phrases about themselves gives
- the "sharpness" thingie (切れ味抜群 で) is related to the dance part meaning he has a very precise way of dancing (it means to be really awesome at doing something)
-"おちゃのこさいさいで" means "with ease" (just like "en 2 coups de cuillère à pot" in French ^_^)
- finally, she explained me the end of the sentence : "社会から遮断された場所で生きる方を好むタイプ", because I wasn't able to understand the role of the "を" particle. Here is her answer : "in this case, the Japanese itself isn’t that correct either. It should say 社会から遮断された場所での生き方を好むタイプ. This 方 isn’t “kata” as in “people,” it’s 方 hou as in method. So he’s saying “I’m the type to like ____” rather than “I like the type that___”.
[5] I added "bank" because it seemed weird to write only "dealer", but the japanese word is "ディーラー". By the way, I searched a bit to understand what a bank dealer is : basically they are currency traders, buying and selling foreign currency in order to make benefits. In French, we would say "cambiste" and in English, it would be more precise to say "foreign exchange dealer" or "exchange agent".
[6] Literally, "Or what's the reason why this me is running for ?".
[7] Thanks again to Maki, this sentence finally made sense ^_^ I wondered if the “ unsuited for this savage world” refers to the narrator or to his Mom. Maki thinks that it refers to his mom and that the narrator is trying to say that the only person who could mean so much to him is someone that’s completely unsuited for this savage world - meaning she’s pure. And I agree with this interpretation.
[8] "There" is not a literal translation. In the original text, it's written "the place where that person is", but it flows far better like this (thanks again Maki !).
[9] The Japanese sentence conveys a sense of gratitude of the narrator towards the person who is waiting, that the English (nor the French) can't convey properly (use of the "verbーて くれた" form). That's why I used "was kind enough to".
[10] This is the tricky part... In the Japanese text, we have "ぼくは木の袂に佇む母さんの方へと近づく". Usually when you use "Keigo" when talking with some outsider (that's the important part), you shouldn't say "okaasan" when you talk about your own mother, but use "haha" instead (because "okaasan" is honorific and you should be humble when you talk to some outsider). That's what I've read in my japanese book about cultural differences that can be found in language. But Ohno-san often says "kaachan" when talking about his mother... That's why I chose to think that he sees his mother under the tree (at least 2 persons - far more fluent than me - agree with me - whewwww ! I'm relieved ;o)). I should also add something about the specific vocabulary used here (Thanks Maki... again !):
- "Literally “木の袂に” means “edge of the tree”, but it’s just kind of a poetic expression. In this case, they’re literally referring to the part of the tree that starts to curve toward the ground". I chose to translate it by "tine", but I don't really know if this word is commonly used by native English-speakers ^_^;
- "佇む is just a poetic way of saying stand (立つ). Like standing there with your mind wandering, not thinking anything". I found a word appropriate in French but not in English. If you happen to have an idea about it, feel free to drop a comment :)
[11] My first translation was completely wrong. "振らなきゃ" is the shorter version of "振らなければ いけない or ならない", which expresses the obligation.
[12] "そこに許された世界があった" means literally “There was a world where anything was allowed”. I really like this metaphor, so I had to make the translated sentence a bit longer than the original one.
[13] Same metaphor again : means literally "where myself was alowed".
[14] Once again, he uses the "verbーて くれた" form to express his gratitude.
***************
Hmmm...
I'm not satisfied at all >_<
It was really difficult to make sense out of it, especially because I had a hard time deciding who "kimi" was... I finally thought it was somebody he could have been talking to, on the phone, and that the reader of the ad becomes this "somebody".
Arghhh...
I asked one of my penfriend in Japan to help me about it, but she's been really busy... So I decided to release this translation without her help, so once again, be lenient on me ! If she answers me, I'll be sure to edit this post.
Any comment, correction, would be greatly appreciated !
And I hope you won't be too disappointed.
>////<
Ginger Ame