This made my week

Found this courtesy of http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/15566/America+Bang.html.

Residents of Osaka appear to be great sports. But I wouldn’t try this at KIX.

See the American versioby Tim from Trophy Wife Improv at: http://www.trophywifeimprov.com/blog/timvscitywalk.

This makes me feel much better!

So the Japanese PM can’t read too well. My self-esteem just shot up a notch. Because I, too, struggle with the kanji thing. Read all about it: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090304/world/japan_reading_1

Manyoshu Banka 151-152

Continuing to mourn the passing of Emperor Tenji.

#151

[題詞]天皇大殯之時歌二首

Headnote:

Two poems from the time the Emperor was interred at the temporary mortuary.

如是有乃 <懐>知勢婆 大御船 泊之登萬里人 標結麻思乎            [額田王]

かからむと  かねてしりせば  おほみふね  はてしとまりに  しめゆはましを

If only I had known before

That it would be like this

I’d circumscribe the harbor

Where your royal barge had docked!

— Princess Nukata

#152

八隅知之 吾期大王乃 大御船 待可将戀 四賀乃辛埼        [舎人吉年]

やすみしし  わごおほきみの  おほみふね  まちかこふらむ  しがのからさき

Do you wait in yearning

Shiga’s Karasaki

For the royal barge

Of my well-rested lord?

— Toneri no Yoshitoshi (?)

Read on for details.