slow life

[insaneneko]

I'm really tired, still trying to make sense of a certain anime I saw earlier, and I finally scanned some pics in, so...



the front cover


the back cover

I really really like the design of the covers, as well as the art itself. Too bad the artist is actually into Hyotei.

But what makes it so great is the writing. *_* Love the feel of the writing, the characterizations, everything. Typed the prologue up to convey a taste of it:

その日のうちに一枚だけ、特別に良く切り取れた風景を僕は彼に送ることにしてる。
無地の封筒。一言の手紙。
それは、ことばを多く増やしても全く意味がないものなので、僕は一枚と一言の中に、風景の全てを込める。
彼は自分が切り取られることを嫌った。
いくらレンズを向けても彼は上手くそれをすりねけて、その姿を切り取ってしまおうとした僕に、否定的な意思表示を見せた。
彼は、彼の眼前に広がる高い世界を見据え、誰が読んでも振り向くこともなくひた走る。その早さ。一筋さ。身軽さ。
僕は一生にいちどだけ、彼に僕と同じ世界を見せたいと願う。
それをひとが、愚かな恋だと笑っても。
一瞬でも同じ世界を共有できたならば、それはとても幸福なことのような。
または、とりかえしのつかないことのような。
どちらともつかないまま、僕はシャッターを下ろす。

And because I'm stupid I attempted to translate it. ^_^; Constructive criticism is appreciated. Mocking is not.

I send him a single scene that was particularly well shot sometime during that day.
A plain envelope. A letter with a single sentence.
Because it is completely meaningless to add more words, I put into that one picture and that one sentence all that is that scene.
He didn't like being taken.
No matter how much I pointed my lens at him, he would smoothly slip away, and reject me, who tried to take his picture.
He gazed at the lofty world spread before his eyes and single-mindedly ran without turning around, no matter who called to him. That speed. That earnestness. That nimbleness.
I wish that I could show him my world just once in my life.
Even if people deride that it's a foolish love.
It might be a great blessing if I could share the same world with him, even for an instant.
Then again, it might be something irreparable.
While not having concluded which one it is, I press the shutter.

I think my favorite single line is 「彼は、彼の眼前に広がる高い世界を見据え、誰が読んでも振り向くこともなくひた走る。その早さ。一筋さ。身軽さ。」("He gazed at the lofty world spread before his eyes and single-mindedly ran without turning around, no matter who called to him. That speed. That earnestness. That nimbleness." It sounds cooler in Japanese ;_;), though the last three lines put together run a close second.

Comments

[mirichan.livejournal.com]

And you understand the language :P

Although I had some ideas by the end and Pax's comments about it solidified my impressions... but I can't wait to get the fansub AND the official DVD... it sure was a roller-coaster of a last episode. For once, Gonzo did not disappoint me.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

It took a careful second (third fourth whatever) viewing to get the understanding. :P I look forward to seeing it in nice quality, instead of washed out.

[mirichan.livejournal.com]

Ah... good. I was not the only one having problem with the visual quality, eh?

I hope a better rip will be out shortly (since the official release is only the 26th)... I hope it was someone eager to have it out so all the fans could get at it first but I'm ready to redownload a better version (that I could use for AMVs even) while waiting for the official release probably sometime in 2006.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

It was so washed out, especially in the scenes in the air. I look forward to seeing a much better quality version (preferably on my own DVD!).

[mirichan.livejournal.com]

Oh... me too ^__^

[mayoihumbert.livejournal.com]

Um, hi. I hope this isn't horribly rude of me, and if so I beg your forgiveness, but uh, you read Japanese fanfic? Hikago Akihika fanfic? If you wouldn't mind terribly, could you point me to some that you liked? My Japanese is still too pathetic to navigate the Japanese web freely, and I'd like to *ahem* improve my reading skills on some fanfic. It's educational, I swear! *shifty eyes* If you don't have the time or it's too much of a hassle, I understand.

失礼しました！ *bows*

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do read Japanese Akihika fanfic. I'd love to share my favorite sites but right now I'm having technical difficulties and can't access my bookmarks. I'll get back to you when I can with it.

Fanfics are such a great motivator to reading and getting better at Japanese. XD

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I finally posted some links here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/insaneneko/131661.html). I'll probably be adding to the list. Eventually...

[mitethe.livejournal.com]

Nice cover design and she does have a lovely writing style. Very clean and elegant. *_* I'm not very fond of first person POV in English but it never bothers me in Japanese for some reason.

*mocks you* :P Nah, I think you did great considering how damn hard it is to translate writing style between languages. My wording varies for some bits, like, "what joy it would be if I could share that same world with him, if only for a moment" and "gazing at the vast world spread before his eyes he ran, heedless of any who called to him." But the interesting thing about translating is reading how other people interpret the text and seeing the translator's own personal style come out. (I realise I have a pathological need to "prettify" everything which I try to curb; it doesn't always work. ^_^;)

So...does this mean we might eventually see bits of that 250 page TezuRyo novel? It's not fair to tease and not deliver. :P

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I do love her writing. The whole thing is great, you know. You know you want to go to Japan and buy it...or come here and read it. ^_~

I like your takes on the sentences. Much more elegant than me...

What is this 250 page TezuRyo novel you keep mentioning? I know not what you speak of!

[mitethe.livejournal.com]

HI-HIDOOOOOOOOII ;______; (BTW, final verdict for the con: it's a no go. >_< Details next time I catch you online.)

I'm eternally indebted to the thesaurus. It'd be lots of fun to hash out these types of translations together online, if only work left you with more time and energy!

My memory may suck but I never forget the possibility of good TezuRyo stories. Especially when I don't have access to them. :P

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

Ah well. I figured you wouldn't be able to go...I won't be online anytime soon because I actually don't remember my AIM password as it was saved by my computer...

Yes, the thesaurus is wonderful. I've never used it as much as when I translate.

I wish I had more time. ;_; Time to babble about random TezuRyo fics...

[mitethe.livejournal.com]

That's really annoying. :/ Perhaps you can make a new account?

I reallyreallyREALLY wanted to go but a crapload of RL stuff just hit me and things won't settle down until October. Will email you soon to beg you to do my shopping for me.

We all need time but time does not need us. *sigh*

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

OMG I just remembered my password!!! YAY!! god that was lame...

Yeah, RL is like that, interfering with the important things in life...

[mitethe.livejournal.com]

Yay for remembered passwords! At least you probably don't have to try 4 other passwords before getting the right one. ^_^;

Tell me about it, now I'm behind on email too. *sigh*

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

Haha...and you think I didn't think try all the passwords I've ever used?

[mitethe.livejournal.com]

....we're hopeless. XD;

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

^_^;