Antonio Inoki, Japanese pro-wrestler politician with N.Korea ties, dies
Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestling star turned politician, widely known for his match with Muhammad Ali and ties to North Korea, has died aged 79, after years of battling a rare disease, the company he founded said on Saturday.
"New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened at the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki," the company he started in 1972 posted on Twitter. "His achievements, both in professional wrestling and the global community are without parallel and will never be forgotten."
Inoki became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling's circuit in the 1960s. His fame went global in 1976 when he had a mixed martial arts match with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, billed as "the bout of the century".
The lantern-jawed, 1.9-metre (6-foot-three-inch) performer entered politics, winning a seat in the upper house of Japan's parliament in 1989. He made headlines the next year going to Iraq during the Gulf War and intervening on behalf of Japanese hostages, who were subsequently released.
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The original Japanese manga of Rurouni Kenshin reveals a significant distinction in Kenshin and Tomoe's relationship, a detail overlooked in the English translation
As mentioned in several of my previous posts, I believe that translating from Japanese to English often results in the loss of nuances specific to Japanese. The timeline of Kenshin falling in love with Tomoe is not as evident when reading the Manga in English, but it becomes quite apparent in Japanese. Therefore, in this post, I will explore some aspects lost in translation.
It's important to note that the challenge in understanding Kenshin and Tomoe's feelings arises from their reserved characters, contrasting with more expressive characters like Kaoru, Megumi, Sano, Yahiko, Misao, etc. Kenshin and Tomoe, being extremely reserved, disclose very little about themselves. Tomoe, in particular, is even more reserved than Kenshin, who, despite his reserved nature, is more expressive about his feelings, at least to Tomoe.
The scene I aim to decipher today is the one where Kenshin states that Tomoe is the only person he would never kill, even if she had a katana against him.
Towards the end of the scene, both characters blush. While it does seem special when Kenshin makes that statement, essentially expressing that she is special to him by being the only one he would never kill, the weight of this sentiment is significantly different when read in Japanese.
In the preceding scene, we catch one of the exceptionally rare glimpses into Tomoe's emotions. In her internal monologue, she reflects on Katsura's words regarding the beliefs of Ishin Shishi. Her monologue goes like this,
…新時代のためあえて狂うことも厭わない正義…
Translation: Justice where one dares to go mad for the sake of a new era
その狂の正義の先鋒
Translation: The vanguard of that justice of madness
でも…こうして寝顔だけ見てると…
Translation: But.. when I look at his sleeping face like this...
まだまだ…元服前の少年なのに…
Translation: He is still... just a young boy who has not had his Genpuku yet...
Tomoe's internal monologue reveals that, up to this moment, she perceives Kenshin not as a man but as a child.
In the aforementioned scene, he experiences a complete breakdown - unable to stand up, breathing heavily, and sweating profusely, yet he tells Tomoe to leave. He says,
市井の人は斬らないと大口叩いたところで今の俺はこの有り様…
Translation: Even though I talked big saying I don't kill ordinary citizens... look at me now...
もう出て行ってくれでないと俺はいずれ本当に君を…
Translation: Please leave already
If you don't, someday I'll really... you...
However, his panic is not stemming from the fact that he mistakenly drew his sword on someone. Instead, it arises from the deep feelings he harbors for her, a point made evident in the manga. The manga subtly conveys his emotions through the use of Yobisute (呼び捨て), a significant gesture. For those familiar with Japanese anime, it's known that addressing someone often involves adding suffixes such as -san, -kun, -chan, and so on.
Kenshin consistently employs honorifics when conversing with women. Even in his childhood, he referred to the girls he traveled with using -san. When initially speaking to Tomoe, he addressed her as "Tomoe-san" and utilized "Anata" as a pronoun, a clear indicator of respect. This choice becomes even more apparent as Tomoe is older than him. However, in this particular scene, he opts for "君" (kimi), a pronoun not paired with the -san suffix. He completely drops honorifics.
This is a significant development because many Japanese readers recognize Kaoru's importance to Kenshin when he omits the honorific and calls her "Kaoru" once. In romance mangas, the moment when characters drop honorifics is considered very special.
In the live-action adaptation, Kenshin continues to use "Anata" at this point, switching to "Kimi" only after they are married. In the manga, Kenshin's way of addressing her suggests a sense of possessiveness, even when she remains emotionally distant.
In the scene described above, Tomoe places her shawl on Kenshin, and his heavy breathing ceases. She tells him,
もうしばらくここに居させて頂きます
Translation: I'll be here for a while longer
今のあなたには狂気を押さえる鞘が必要ですから…
Translation: You need a sheath to suppress your madness right now...
If you observe, she isn't seeking his permission. She's simply stating that she will be with him for an indefinite period. She isn't explicitly expressing a desire; she's making a declaration. She can only do this with someone who, after telling her to go out, she knows didn't mean it and will allow her to be with him. So, I suppose she has a strong awareness of his feelings (which is quite evident, given the Yobisute).
In the above scene, he confesses that she holds a special place in his heart, expressing it verbally. Kenshin avoids direct eye contact, showing a slight blush. Tomoe also blushes slightly, marking the moment when she ceases to see him merely as a boy and begins to perceive him as a man. He says,
ずっと前の問いの答えー…
Translation: The answer to the question from a long time...
君が刀を手にしたら斬るか否か…
Translation: Whether I'd kill you or not if you picked up a Katana...
答えは「斬らない」
Translation: The answer is "Won't kill"
おれは斬らない
Translation: I won't kill
どんなコトがあろうと君だけは絶対に斬ったりしない…
Translation: No matter what happens, you are the only one, I'll never kill...
君だけは…
Translation: Only you...
絶対に…
Translation: Never...
When reading the English translations, the entire Yobisute is not discussed because both "Anata" and "Kimi" are translated as "You." However, in Japanese culture, this is a significant matter, indicating the distance between two individuals. The impact would not have been as profound if Tomoe were much younger than Kenshin. However, precisely because Tomoe is older than Kenshin, when he drops the honorifics, his feelings become completely evident.
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