Bob Schroeck wrote:

...that I originally posted to the TempFFML during the short blackout some
time back.  It apparently didn't go anywhere...

Just *what* is it that Kuno spouts in the original Japanese dialogue of
Ranma 1/2?  Does he quote translated Shakespeare, or is he quoting some
analogous Nihonjin writer?

The few times Kuno is actually quoting something, it is generally a
well-known bit of classical Japanese literature.  The only quotes I know
of are in the first season episodes:

--at his first appearance, he quotes that bit about the bells at Gion
Temple echoing the impermanence of all things, etc.  This is the opening
of the Tales of the Heike, a war epic dealing with the Genpei War at the
end of the twelfth century.  The Viz translation in the sub is accurate
enough

--in his letter to Nabiki setting up a meeting, he opens "Haru wa
akebono ya."  This is a quote from another famous classical piece, the
Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, which opens "haru wa akebono" (sans the
"ya," which is a classical emphatic Kuno tacked on).  In context, it has
generally been interpreted to mean "In Spring, it is the dawn (that is
most beautiful/interesting/etc.)."  The Viz translation of this in the
subtitle is "Lo, it is spring!" which interprets dawn (akebono) more
symbolically.  By the words themselves it is not necessarily inaccurate,
and since I always learned to open letters with a reference to the
weather, it makes a lot of sense, but it doesn't bear with the usual
interpretation of the Pillow Book.

--at the start of the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics storyline, he
quotes another bit about a temple bell that I have not had any
experience with; I *think* it is the closing of the abovementioned Tales
of the Heike, but I haven't got a copy of the ending to check up on.

These are all pieces of literature that Japanese students would have to
memorize, so the references were pretty obvious.

Most of the rest of the time, the Shakespearean references have more to
do with Kuno's generally formal (and slightly archaic) speech patterns,
and his "idiom."  IMHO, they fit his character quite well, and give much
the same feel of the original character to an English-speaking audience.

If there's quotes I've missed, feel free to let me know; if I ever get
around to setting up my webpage, I plan on having a "Kuno's Quotes"
section, with complete references, so I'd appreciate the info.

Ah, it's good to be back.

bengman

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