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Morgan Kershaw |
London |
Date: 19.05.2008
Time: 04:20:54
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PAGE 233
Why do you use the expression "fiendishly labyrinthine"?
Clearly the narrator loves words, the more obscure or difficult the better, as part of his lifelong quest for novelty and stimulation. He also may have an upper-class tendency to exaggeration, as seen again in the "tremendous downpour" you mention on Page 309 later. You could also argue that long words and a certain preciosity of language are a kind of rampart that he has constructed to keep others at a distance from him and the citadel of his immense self-regard.
PAGE 249 & 327
Mr. S.K. uses the non-native English expressions to show how sophisticated he is and add a non-quotidian flavor to whatever he is talking about. To achieve the same exotic effect in English I suppose one has to translate the expressions into an another language.
Page 281
Sally forth...
I can think of a few reasons why you might have chosen this word: (i) it has military connotations and (ii) it is associated with displays of wit as in a "brilliant sally."
I also wondered if your choice of the word might have something to do with the British expression "Aunt Sally," derived from <Aunt Sally, name given to an effigy of a woman smoking a pipe set up as an amusement attraction at English fairs for patrons to throw missiles at> and meaning "an object of criticism or contention; especially : one that is set up to invite criticism or be easily refuted," but that didn't seem to make much sense. Maybe you use the verb "sally forth" because "Sally" is a woman's name and he's dressed as a woman...or is that just too tenuous?
PAGE 293
Her nose is "sharp" because she is seen by Mr. S.K. as a sexual predator like himself. I think a similar reason lies behind your choice of the verb "ferret out" on Page 327: Mr S.K. is feral, all claws and sharp teeth after his prey, like a pitiless hunting animal.
Reply: Morgan,
Thanks for the post & sorry for the delay in replying.
You're right on all accounts.
A case could be also made that he uses the adverb "fiendishly" to send us a subconscious warning that he is a devil who delights in wickedness and mischief.
I didn't know the expression "Aunt Sally," but the idea of using a woman's name as a verb meaning "to go outside dressed as a woman" was one of those irresistible pieces of serendipity which occasionally come the translator's way.
As you say, the woman's "nose" is the beak of the weaker of two birds of prey. The idea of the hunt and primitive savagery is all over the story--the narrator's nostalgic recollection of hide-and-seek and blindman's bluff; his yearning for the tropics; his eyes dull and glassy like those of a savage and so on. Perhaps most tellingly, the woman is described as a "sweet-tasting bait to entrap men's hearts."
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Bernhard |
Vienna  |
Date: 22.04.2008
Time: 15:54:26
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I found it interesting that he dressed as a woman.
My Japanese prof told us that some Japanese male teenagers wear skirts and that they become popular with the girls by doing that.
I have failed to find proof for this, however. Does anyone know about this?
I also liked the end of the story. When he discovered her secret he lost all interest.
I think, that is why dating gurus like Neil Straus (The Game) recommend the push pull principle and to build up tension:
"A Tension Loop is when you do something to create unresolved emotional tension inside a woman, increase it, release it by bringing closure to it, and then spark it all over again. This will keep her feeling the emotion of wanting and reaching and chasing for more of you."
http://www.seductiontuition.com/swinggcat/push-pull.html
So never buy a woman a drink. Make her earn it first : )
By the way, a great source for how to flirt with Japanese women is: www.japanlair.
It is not sleazy, it is about better communication and about how to make others feel better : ) And in addition, you can learn Japanese...
Reply: Bernhard,
Certainly if you go to ordinary shops here like TOKYU HANDS or DON QUIJOTE you can buy a variety of women's costumes (school girl, nurse, China dress etc.) in man's sizes in the party section along with balloons and crackers.
Perhaps I should point out that these tend to be 100% cheap artificial fibres so are unlikely to have the textures, let alone the colors, that gave so much pleasure to Mr. S.K. in the Tanizaki story!
It's fair to say that dressing up, including cross-dressing, is a kind of institutionalized silly behavior in Japan (this is something that a few hours of TV watching would quickly corroborate). There isn't really any pressure to conform to some working-class macho ideal and people are pretty good at ignoring one another too, so you can dress up as an unconvincing woman (not like Mr. S.K.) and wander around without fear of being beaten up.
There was a funny case a few weeks ago of a middle-aged man dressing up as a school girl and hanging around near a high school. When the janitor tried to chase him away, the man decided to rush into the school precincts where he thought his disguise would enable him to blend in and disappear. Of course, all the girls started screaming and he got arrested!
As for the Japanlair, I see I have to register to get in & I think I'm a bit old for that. On a related point, I believe (maybe my editor will correct me) that one of the best-selling Japanese language books of all time is "Making Out in Japanese." Last time I looked it was in its 27th printing! Clearly appealing to the baser (or just simpler) instincts can be a more profitable business than trying to interest people in literature!
Since you have obviously read The Secret to the end, would you like me to send you the audio CD? Mail your postal address to me at:
hypnotextATMARKhotmail.com
(I don't use @ here because I'm afraid of getting automatic junk sent to me if I do.)
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9 »
Giles Murray |
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Date: 14.04.2008
Time: 13:18:32
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 GREAT COMPETITION!!
Poor Tanizaki seems to be generating less traffic than either of the other writers in "Exploring," presumably because he's that much more difficult.
As an incentive, I'd like to offer a Shinchosha audio CD of "The Secret" and "The Tattooer" to the first person who posts a comment of decent length and intelligence.
The comment does not have to be micro-analysis of the nitty-gritty of translation. Feel free to comment on any aspect of the story that grabs you. Opinions on decadence in general, or revelations of your personal adventures as a cross-dresser or blindfolded romantic commuter—anything and everything welcome!
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Giles Murray |
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Date: 07.04.2008
Time: 00:11:13
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People interested in a more contemporary version of Tanizaki's favourite bedside book, Krafft-Ebbing's "Psychopathia Sexualis," might find something to enjoy in "Who's Been Sleeping in Your Head?: The Secret World of Sexual Fantasies" by Brett Kahr, which "The Economist" describes as "gripping ... also somewhat alarming." It is based on a survey of 18,000 people, so very solid and academic.
There's a review here:
http://edwardlucas.blogspot.com/2008/02/something-for-weekend-sir.html
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Giles Murray |
Tokyo |
Date: 02.03.2008
Time: 15:21:31
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I have just listened to the Shinchosha audio CD of "The Secret" for the first time. Kei Satou, the actor who reads it, has a good, rich voice, although I would have preferred him to read a tad more slowly, especially for the first, more descriptive part of the story, which is so dense and difficult.
I found that I really enjoyed listening from around the page 326 area (the 40-minute mark), where "Mr. S.K." starts wanting to find out where he is being taken to in the rickshaw every night. The volume of dialogue increases and the pace picks up as the story heads toward its conclusion.
I shall listen again and see how my impressions change.
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6 »
Giles Murray |
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Date: 21.02.2008
Time: 06:35:49
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For people who want to enjoy audio, Michael Staley, editor of "Exploring...," has cleverly discovered a CD of Tanizaki stories that includes "The Secret." A Japanese bookshop in your country should be able to order it for you if you take along a printout of the page.
http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/book/830180/
I have ordered the CD from Amazon Japan and will let you know if it's any good.
Here is the link for the Audio CD on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/刺青-秘密-新潮CD-谷崎-潤一郎/dp/4108301803/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203852772&sr=8-2
TITLE: 刺青,秘密 (新潮CD) (単行本)
PUBLISHER: 出版社: 新潮社 (2006/04)
ISBN-10: 4108301803
ISBN-13: 978-4108301801
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5 »
Brandon Floyd |
South Carolina |
Date: 10.12.2007
Time: 04:06:28
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Your "vulnerable" corresponds to the Japanese 憂鬱な (ゆううつな), which in most cases would probably be translated as "gloomy," "melancholy," or perhaps even "depressed" these days. (I believe that the term "utsu" is now actually used for clinical depression.) However, "vulnerable" is justifiable, since depressed people, at least those who allow their gloom to be sensed by others, do reveal a certain emotional vulnerability.
By the way, the kanji for "utsu" is a beast; I think I counted 29 strokes!!
Reply: Brandon
This is absolutely spot on!
Giles
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4 »
Giles Murray |
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Date: 04.10.2007
Time: 03:21:03
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While writing "Exploring into Japanese Literature," I got myself a copy of Krafft-Ebbing's book, "Pyschopathia Sexualis," which is reported to have influenced Tanizaki so much. It includes a long section on "fetichism" (sic) including "dress-fetichism." Since the case studies are quite interesting, partly because of their unusual content, partly because of their archaic style, I shall put up a couple here so you can see the sort of raw materials from which Tanizaki got his inspiration.
There doesn't seem to be a case study of someone who likes to dress as a women and walk in busy places at night or go to the cinema, so no exact parallel to "The Secret."
CASE 105. K., aged forty-five, shoemaker, was reported to be without hereditary taint. He was peculiar, and had small mental endowment. He was of masculine habits, and without signs of degeneration. Previously blameless in conduct, on the evening of 5th July, 1876, he was detected removing stolen female under-garments from a place of concealment. There were found with him about 300 articles of the female toilet, among them, besides chemises and drawers, night-caps, garters, and a female doll. When arrested he was wearing a chemise. Since his thirteenth year he had been a slave to an impulse to steal women's linen; but, after his first punishment for it, he became very careful, and stole with refinement and success. When this longing came over him he would grow anxious, and his head would become heavy. Then he could not resists the impulse, cost what it might. It was a matter of indifference to him from whom he took the articles. At night, on going to bed, he would put on the stolen clothing and create beautiful women in imagination, thus inducing pleasurable feeling and ejaculation. This was apparently the motive of his thefts; at least, he had never disposed of any of the articles, but had hidden them here and there.
CASE 107. Z., thirty-six years of age, scholar; had never before felt interested in woman, only in her attire, and never had sexual intercourse. Besides the elegance and smartness of the female toilet in general, certain underwear, chemises made of cambric and trimmed with lace, silk corsets, embroidered silk shirts and silk stockings formed his particular fetich. It caused him voluptuous feelings to inspect and finger such female garments at the draper's. His ideal was the female form in bathing costume, with silk stockings and corset, and clad in a mourning-dress with a long train.
He studies the costumes of the coureuses des rues [streetwalkers], but found them tasteless. He found more pleasure in gazing at the shop windows, but felt annoyed because the exhibits therein were not changed often enough. He found partial satisfaction in holding and studying fashion magazines, and in buying now and then single garments of exceptional beauty.... There were no traces of masochism or homosexual inclination to be found on this particular fetichist. He was of thoroughly manly presence.
Reply: The following case study from Krafft-Ebbing is not relevant to "The Secret," but it's so comical I had to put it up.
CASE 99. X., aged twenty, inverted sexually. Only loved men with a large bushy mustache. One day he met a man who answered his ideal. He invited him to his home, but was unspeakably disappointed when this man removed an artificial mustache. Only when the visitor put the ornament on his upper lip again, he exercised his charm over X. once more and restored him to the full possession of virility.
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Giles Murray |
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Date: 17.09.2007
Time: 02:45:32
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PAGE 261: "Katte ni" is one of those discreet but pregnant terms that are, as you say, notoriously difficult to translate. I was quite proud of myself for not just leaving it out, and I thought the English gave a sense of the narrator's rather abundant self-love.
PAGE 279: I like your "where I fell" for the Japanese "(nekuzureta) mama." I prefer "wantonly" to "indecently," because I think "iyarashiku" is more about lack of self-control and self-indulgence than exposing anything which would be better concealed. Of course, "indecently" could be used in the sense of: "his enjoyment was almost indecent." 
PAGE 291: I think "streamlined" postdates the story by some twenty or so years, but I wanted to use it for the objectifying and dehumanizing properties you mention. I like your run of sibilants in "sublimely slender and sleek." One seems to hear a fizzing like that of a champange bottle about to pop its cork!
PAGE 279: So, if "love" is too sentimental a word, surely "lust" is too harsh. A very literal translation would be "love-yearning." "Desire," perhaps? 
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2 »
James Seddon |
UK |
Date: 17.09.2007
Time: 01:00:55
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Re: PAGE 261"... I'd get myself drunk by swigging from a square bottle of whiskey before making bold to slide open the veranda shutters ..."
I think "making bold" is perfect here; it captures both the sense of impudence and willfulness implied by "katte ni" (a term that is notoriously difficult to render in English), while also gesturing at the causal relationship between the whiskey and the narrator's 'boldness'. 
PAGE 279
"... no sooner had I got back to my room than I would light the kerosene lamp, and without loosening the clothes on my tired body, sprawl wantonly on the rug, gazing wistfully ..."
I wonder if it might be more accurate, if a little unwieldly, to translate "iya-rashiku nekuzureta mama" like this:
"... without loosening the clothes on my tired body, I would collapse on the rug in an indecent sprawl"
or
" I would collapse on the rug, lying indecently/wantonly where I fell"
I am trying to convey the nuance contained in the Japanese 'mama'. What do you think?
Re: PAGE 291 "streamlined"
Giles, I think you told me that "streamlined" was coined at around the time this story was written - its novelty, then, makes it a fitting choice of words for our pretentious narrator, whose taste for antique clothing is complemented by a penchant for peppering his speech with the latest katakana and English terms, presumably to show how "a la mode" he is.
I know it can be used to describe animals (cheetahs, whales etc.), but for some reason I naturally associate the word "streamlined" with inanimate objects - torpedoes, ships, planes etc. In this sense, perhaps the word is even more appropriate as it suggests the objectification and dehumanising quality of the narrator's "male gaze". But the description of the woman elsewhere makes her appear so vital and warm-blooded that "streamlined" seems somehow too cold and utilitarian a term. What do you think
Personally, I would have gone for something like "sublimely slender and sleek"; I think the sibilance, as well as the feline associations in English, add to the vaguely menacing undertones present in this first encounter with the mystery woman.
PAGE 299
"I sensed the jealous emotion I had for her beauty gradually changing into feelings of love within me"
Surely this is not love? Our first person narrator is a arch poseur, so you could argue that is deluding himself, momentarily amused by the idea of being "in love". But the Japanese is 'renbo' which means something like longing or yearning, perhaps closer to lust than love. And in the very next sentence the narrator is describing how he wants to "subjugate [the woman] and exult in [his] victory once again". Hardly indicative of a man in love.
Personally, I don't believe this guy thinks for a minute that he is love. Cynical and materialistic, he knows a new desire has awoken within him, little different from his coveting a new kimono or silk crepe, and he is eager to fulfill it.
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