The Magic of Akutagawa

The story: 魔術 It's become one of my favorite Akutagawa stories, I've now read it numerous times, new discoveries with each rereading. The scene in question involves an act of,what, legerdemain, and Akutagawa's choice of the term 撒き散らす to describe spreading or scattering. Now, 撒き散らす is an unusual choice, in my opinion, as either kanji (撒くor 散らす) by itself would have done. 撒き散らす。So, where's the difference, what's the point?

The Constitution Does Not Apply To Foreigners

This appeared in the Tokyo Shinbun yesterday: 重病で生活保護適用を求めたガーナ人の敗訴確定　最高裁が上告棄却、裁判長は反対意見「著しく人道に反する」：東京新聞デジタル https://share.google/00IgzodKxgpi3lyWQ The report is about a man from Ghana who arrived in Japan in 2015 and thereafter was diagnosed with kidney failure. (The article suggests he was allowed into Japan on that basis- or for some health reason- and was not permitted to work- 療養を目的とする在留資格で就労はできない- Why not allow him to work?)) After years of receiving thrice-weekly dialysis treatments, he applied for welfare assistance and was rejected. The man's case eventually made its way to the supreme court, which ruled against him, arguing that the Constitution of Japan guarantees such benefits only to Japanese citizens (not the first such ruling). The author of the majority opinion also opined that he's (a he and former prosecutor) opposed to such an excessive (remarkable, noteworthy, 著しい;) sense of humanitarian (人道) responsibility on the part of the local authority being sued. It's not a simple case: the man was allowed to enter Japan for treatment, apparently, and under what terms is unclear. What is clear is that I could be denied such assistance. I'm not a citizen, true. And I'm not being told I have to pack my bags and leave, like Brits in Sweden. What's common is the shock to the system when you are told your contributions (socially, culturally, economically) to your adopted and adoptive home just don't matter enough.

畑の子, Kanazawa: One of the Best Meals I've Ever Had

畑の子 https://share.google/aschb5IPAjA8kv9aOt A small place, one lunch menu (went then), three seatings, 11:30 to 12:20 the first. We didn't have a reservation but were lucky. Reservations strongly recommended.

Shogi Champion Fujii Wins Again

Reigning shogi king Fujii Sota wins his seventh consecutive title. His annual earnings are estimated to be between 100 and 200 million yen, more than many professional athletes in Japan. 将棋の王位戦、藤井聡太王位が伊藤匠二冠破り7連覇　「最後まで粘り強く指せた」：中日新聞Web https://share.google/y1bYGuSs8GG7yt8p0

Surprising Sweatshirt Sighting

From 31 years ago, the Million Man March on DC, to downtown Niigata City. Unimaginable - I mean the march.

Uzuraya Soba Shop, 戸隠中社

If you're planning a visit to Togakushi, consider dining at Uzuraya. You don't just walk in, however; enter your name on the wait list, visit the shrine (or Lamp Coffee Shop), and return during the appointed window per staff instructions. Hot or cold, the soba is excellent 信州-style. I recommend 盛り合わせ天ぷら as well, there's きのこ and 野菜。 蕎麦処 うずら家 https://share.google/dpvUuZiu8jYTP3Hp5

Lamp Coffee Shop, 戸隠(中社)

ランプ https://share.google/tRDhp0uMsNN1gwjND

Mikawa Umbrella Shop, Nagano

Located near Zenkoji, Nagano City. The proprietor is in his 90s and still makes umbrellas by hand. 三河屋洋傘専門店 https://share.google/GJzQVSlXIjare5MlD

Next Generation

Nagano: Togakushi (奥社)

Quick Question

Japan Glimpsed is 20 this year. For most of its life, it hasn't drawn many readers. However, in August, 2026, over 58K (well over 10% of the grand total) visited the blog. I'm curious to know why. Also, I'm almost nostalgic for the Viagra ads.

芥川: Remarkable Beginnings

Some months ago I read my first Akutagawa story in Japanese, "Rashomon". I've always been an avid reader, but I had never come across anything as striking and economical as Akutagawa's opening lines (not Dickens, or Shakespeare, nor Hemingway) ある日の暮方の事である。一人の下人が、羅生門の下で雨やみを待っていた。広い門の下には、この男のほかに誰もいない。ただ、所々丹塗の剥た、大きな円柱に、蟋蟀が一匹とまっている。 The rainy evening, the vermilion paint cracked and flaking on this imposing gate (広い門) in Heian Kyoto, deserted except for the protagonist (下人、a traditional class of outcast) waiting for a lull in the weather. Except there is a single grasshopper on the large upright of the 門、or gate. (Fitting companion for a 下人。) If not atmospheric, what? The vivid suggestiveness, the economy, and the incongruousness of the キリギリス (螽斯、a different rendering) in these opening lines... Have you ever come across anything like them? Has the grasshopper ever had such a brief but significant role in fiction? (Without the grasshopper and the flaking lacquer, the opening just wouldn't work.) Anyway, I've been hooked on Akutagawa since. So, the キリギリス must have serenaded our hero: Check out this video, "キリギリス 鳴き声" https://share.google/yFC06pQ4aCDK6aGaV

Character Traits

芥川 龍之介。Let's consider the 芥 character of his family name (川 is kawa, river). First, the radical, in this case the top bit, the 冠: here from grass、weed, 草, kusa. The bottom is 介、kai, middle or between, as in 介護、or care (providing). What does 芥、akuta, mean? あくた【芥】. 〘 名詞 〙 腐ったりなどして打ち捨てられているもの。ごみ。くず。廃物。また、比喩(ひゆ)的に、役に立たないもの・無益なものをいう: rubbish, putrefaction. While 芥 can also mean 辛子、Japanese mustard, its meaning is primarily unpropitious. Interesting.

Vote Communist

I Am Japan

俺も。Me, too, ultra-nationalist 野郎。