私の生きた証拠

Had this translated on a whim, so as usual, this isn’t finalized. Do comment if you know something more than me. ^^
So far, my eighth translation… or had I lost count? ^^

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A quick homework tally…

English book review (Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, would you believe???)

CHINESE
Comprehension 5
Practical Writing 5 (speech)
Creative Essay (>500 words)
File (probably not doing it)
WEBSITE PROJECT (oh great how the heck am I getting this done without something as cheapskate as frontpage to speed things up???)

I’ll probably end up doing half the chinese work and leave it at that… ^^ Anyway I just have to do well in O levels, right? (-_-;)

Here’s the first draft of the English translation I did. Will continue to refine it for a bit (assuming I don’t get too lazy over it ^^) and will be adding in original text later.

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I am 徹夜-ing. As usual.

Rushing homework! It feels good to be productive!

Guess why?

It’s because…

I HAVE 冒険でしょでしょ？ !!!!!

LISTENING TO IT MAKES ME FEEL SO 元気 MUAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!

^^

Back to work!

Got my formatting fixed! Now everything looks… normal.

Bah.

*poke poke*

^^

Thanks to a certain… Guy… WHO NEEDS TO BE SENT TO HELL ON A BOAT!!!

^_^

For no apparent reason, I picked up a book I had bought sometime last (or was it early this?) year, entitled in Chinese 无约束的日本. It’s actually a Chinese TRANSLATION of an ENGLISH book, originally titled ‘Japan Unbound: A Volatile Nation’s Quest for Pride and Purpose‘ by a John Nathan.

I haven’t quite finished the book yet, but its very enlightening. For some reason, for now it just fills me with rage.

Rage at what? Japan itself? It’s people? It’s culture? It’s war crimes?

Not really.

Perhaps, more than anything else, I am raging at the powerlessness of the individual.

The times of luminaries and visionaries are over. The individual no longer possesses the power to change the world, or the nation. For now, people are increasingly divided, and an endless chain of compromises defines the society of today.

But what I really feel is necessary for Japan is, and I quote, 「一身独立して一国独立」 (National Independence through Personal Independence), by prominent Meiji era philosopher 福澤諭吉 (Fukuzawa Yukichi). What is personal independence? What is national independence?

Ultimately, there is no clear answer, but my view is simple - when the individual has virtually unlimited access to information and education, only can he be truly independent, and for that matter, ‘free’. The Japanese people need to know the truth about the war, unpolished, but yet, and I stress, NOT presented in a way to humble them any further. The Japanese have spent over 50 years essentially shouldering the ‘blame’ of the war, deprived of the pride that defines their race and identity, and through the ‘influence’ (I’d prefer to call it military pressure) of the AMERICANS to draft a constitution that denies the nation the right to possess a military. I think it’s enough. Enough of the charades and demonstrations; a sincere apology, then move on. The Japanese have in the post-war years earned the right to hold their heads high again; its high time the rest of the world acknowledges that and drops the subject soon.

日本人！贖罪の終わりは目の前だ！ 過去の事実を忘れずに頭を上げて前に進め！

Yes, I have worked up the courage to…. BUY MORE STUFF.

First off…

Yep, it’s a Yakumo teacup (with her in a kimono and apron, no less!) and the box that contains…

The HARUHI POCKETWATCH!

Here’s another view…

In total, 18.60 SGD for the cup, and I paid my Japanese class classmate 100 SGD to cover the cost of the 5714 yen (plus some other costs including shipping). Not a bad day! ^^

I got my first shipment from CDJapan today. A momentous occasion, to be sure.

From top left, in clockwise order, Suzumiya no Tsumeawase, Asu no PRISM, and Saikou no Kataomoi.

Total: 5326 yen (/w Shipping)

Today’s the release date for Hirano Aya’s (平野綾) new single, Asu no PRISM (明日のプリズム), and guess what? I ordered it!

Will likely be translating it once I get the scans. Won’t be opening my CD. MUAHAHAHA.

Check it out here!

According to some comments and other miscellaneous sources, the ED of episode 24 of popular anime Fate/stay night is entitled ‘君との明日’ (Kimi to no Ashita, lit. A Tomorrow with You), by Tainaka Sachi, who is credited with the two OPs of the series, as well as the ED of Saiunkoku Monogatari (彩雲国物語), Saikou no Kataomoi (最高の片想い).

The song is currently not released anywhere, even the official soundtrack. So we all have to wait patiently for it.

Based on the distinctive style of the song, I shall assume that Tainaka Sachi herself composed the song. This is a conclusion arrived at after comparison with the two coupled withs of the OP singles, 忘れかけていたのかな and 少年の夢, and 最高の片想い.

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