Translation Notes for Chapter Two
*1-buchouSection or department head. In this case, the head of the kendo club at Amane & Akito's high school, of which Amane is a member.
*2-kendoJapanese fencing with bamboo swords. Amane is a member of her high school's kendo club. Although she's never fought with a real sword, it would not be difficult for her to properly handle one.
*3-shinaiBamboo sword. Used for battle in kendo. In the days when true sword fighting occured in Japan, shinai were used by students and their instructors during lessons and practice.
*4-kimonoTraditional robe-like clothing worn in Japan. While presently only worn during traditional festivals, in the past it was the normal clothing this Japanese wore daily.
*5-hakamaPants-like garment sometimes worn over a kimono. Usually worn by shinto priests in blue, and priestesses in red.
*6-nakajuubanA robe-like garment worn under a kimono. Usually white, but may be other colors to match or accent the kimono it is worn with.
*7-Japan's schoolsThe schools in Japan work differently than those in America. Grades 1-6 are elementary school (often referred to as primary school), 7-9 are middle school (referred to only as junior high), and 10-12 are high school (referred to there as senior high). Since junior and senior high are three years intead of the four here, the system of freshman-sophomore-junior-senior does not apply. Instead, students are addressed as either first years (grade 7 in junior high, grade 10 in senior high), second years (grade 8 in junior high, grade 11 in senior high), or third years (grade 9 in junior high, grade 12 in senior high).
*8-NamesJapan, like most Asian countries, does not state a person's name the same way s we do. While we introduce ourselves by our given name, then our family name, the Japanese do it in reverse. Hence, while Kagome and Amane would introduce themselves as Kagome Higurashi and Amane Kururugi if they were American, in their native tongue they are introduced as Higurashi Kagome and Kururugi Amane. Also, it is often the case that an individual will be referred to by last name by people they are not very close to. For example, Amane's friends and family call her Amane, but her teachers and classmates call her Kururugi.
*9-JyuubanRoughly translated means "District Ten". Many schools in Japan are named after the district they reside in rather than an actual name. This way of naming is similar to the American way of naming some schools "Public School" or "PS", and then assigning a number. As a point relative only to this story... I'm not sure if the name of Kagome's school has ever been mentioned, so I just took of the name of Usagi's school in Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon and used that. If there is a point where Kagome's school name is mentioned and this is not it, feel free to message me and let me know, and I'll go back in the chapter and fix it.
*10-Hoken Jidai"Feudal Era" or "Warring States Era". This is a time approximately 500 years ago when feudal warlords in Japane fought eachother both for land and in support of their own beliefs. What many people don't realize is that this wasn't a sterotypical "Good guys VS Bad guys" kind of war. The deuding lords simply had different beliefs than one another.
*11-Oda NobunagaReferred to by Americans as Nobunaga Oda due tot he different naming system. Nobunaga is the most well known of the feudal warlors, and even many in America are familiar with him. However, many people (including me, unfortunately...) are unfamiliar with exactly WHY he is so well known.
*12-kitsuneThe direct translation of the word is "Fox". But using this word by itself cal also fully express the term "fox demon". In Feudal Japan, kitsune were well known for being able to take on the form of a beautiful woman to trick people and steal from them. However, Shippou is only 50 years old (the demon equivalent of about 6 or 7) and has not fully honed his transformation skills yet.
*13-haiA simple word, translating to mean simply 'yes'.