(Ms.) Tomo Kimura’s Translation/Tokyo Notes

The Lost Gold of Tokugawa

There are rumors that the Tokugawa Shogunate hid a vast amount of gold before they opened up Edo Castle to the new Meiji government. The new government was hoping to obtain funds that were raised among the merchants by the Tokugawa shogunate, but because the castle safe had no gold in it, the government started looking for the “hidden gold.” There are various places that have been rumored to be hiding places. A couple years ago on TV, I remember seeing people still digging, hoping to find this gold in the mountains.

Odango

Sweet dumplings. They could come in individual servings, or two or three on a stick.

Kuzukiri

Made from the powdered root of the kudzu plant, they look like half-transparent noodles. You dip them in syrup made of raw sugar and eat them. This is a good summer dessert.

Daifuku

Soft mochi with red bean paste in it. With good daifuku, the mochi really stretches.

I’ve taken over the translation for NANA from this issue. And the June issue will contain a preview of Skip Beat!

There seems to be an announcement in the May issue of Shojo Beat (haven’t received my copy yet). The “new series ” I’ve been working on is Hino Matsuri’s “Vampire Knight” which is currently running in monthly LALA.