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

The February issue of LaLa came out yesterday, and the seiyuu for the main cast has been announced:

Yuuki - Horie Yui
Kaname - Kishio Daisuke
Zero - Miyano Mamoru

An upside down Christmas tree. I guess it’s growing from the ground, because this is a subway station?

The Princes’ Names

In the original, both princes have the same names but written differently, i.e. 殷郊 (Inko) the first prince, and 殷洪 (Inko) the second prince.

In the anime, the names were changed to Inchao and Inhon.

The names were changed in the English version because there’s no way to tell the two apart with the original names written in romaji.

Donmuraya

There is a company named 井村屋 (Imuraya) that make pork buns. Add a stroke to the middle of 井 and you get 丼村屋 (Donmuraya)

In Kansai, pork buns are often called 豚まん (pork buns), but I’ve noticed that in Kanto, the term 肉まん (meat buns) is more prevalent. I’ve heard theories that this is because when people hear meat, people in Kansai assume it’s beef, whereas in Kanto, people assume it’s pork.

My neighborhood conbini are full of various Christmas goodies, and this is one of the stranger things I found:

They’re Christmas chips because they used salt made in Christmas Island. There was a bag each of salt and salt caramel flavor in them.

Since the item is available on amazon now - I’m translating/adapting WANTED, Hino Matsuri’s manga about pirates.

I went to an exhibit commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Licca-chan doll. The Tokyo exhibit was held in Mikimoto’s Ginza head store.

There were five special dolls made by five designers, to be auctioned off for charity. The costumes all used Mikimoto’s pearls.

And this being Japan, there was a goth-loli Licca-chan of course:

This one designed by Hirooka Naoto (of h.naoto). Pearls for the studs, and real diamonds for the choker.

Kegon Waterfall

A huge waterfall in Nikko, called one of the three great waterfalls in all of Japan. A narrow branch of it freezes in January and February.

Is out.

The decision was made to drop the “sama” honorific from this volume. Hope this doesn’t throw off people too much.

Kyoko’s high school

Horikoshi High School is probably the most famous high school that has a separate class for students in showbiz and professional sports. (It seemed at one time, every idol on TV was attending Horikoshi.) Showbiz activities are prohibited depending on the high school, hence the need for special courses like this.