A Tale for the Time Being (63 page)

99
. 
natsu no oto
(
)—the sound of summer.

100
. 
Tatari!
—Spirit attack!

101
. 
ofuro
(
)—bathtub.

102
. 
yukata
(
)—cotton kimono.

103
. 
geta
(
)—wooden sandals.

104
. 
Nattchan, issho ni ofuro ni hairou ka?
—Nattchan, shall we take a bath together? (
Nattchan
—an
intimate and affectionate contraction of Nao-chan.)

105
. 
yamamba
(
)—mountain witch, mountain hag.

106
. 
sai
(
)—years (of age).

107
. 
Dai Hi Shin Dharani
—Great Compassionate Mind Dharani. An esoteric mantra or invocation said to have magical
powers to protect against evil spirits.

108
. 
hondo
(
)—shrine room.

109
. Manjushri (Sanskrit)—bodhisattva associated with wisdom and meditation.

110
. 
raihai
(
)—a full prostration. Raising the palms
symbolizes lifting the entire world above one’s own head.

111
. 
zafu
(
)—round black cushion for zazen.

112
. 
heiwaboke
(
)—stupefied with peace; lit.
“peace” + “addled.”

113
. 
hokkai j
ō
-in
(
)—cosmic mudra.

114
. 
yanki
—a delinquent, from the English
Yankee
. The popular image of yanki is a tough juvenile delinquent
with shaved eyebrows, wearing a long, brightly colored, garishly embroidered workcoat called a tokk
ō
-fuku. The word
tokk
ō
-fuku
means “Special Attack uniform”; these uniforms were issued to the Tokk
ō
tai, the Special Attack Force of kamikaze
pilots during World War II.

115
. 
manko
—cunt, pussy.

116
. 
chinchin
—penis.

117
. 
Damé da yo, Obaachama! Ik
ō
yo!
—No, that’s no good, Grandma.
Let’s go!

118
. 
Nameten no ka! Chutohampa nan da yo! Chanto ojigi mo dekinei no ka?!
—Are you messing with me? That’s
half-assed. Can’t you even bow properly?!

119
. 
omatsuri
(
)—festival.