Japanese Saying: "Wear a Cat" in Aye-Aye and British Guy Examples 「猫を被る」アイアイ

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Aye-aye "wearing a cat"

Today, I would like to explain the meaning of "猫を被る ("neko wo kaburu") using examples of an aye-aye and a British guy. For those who've never heard of this Japanese saying, it means literally "wear a cat," but figuratively "feign innocence."

So first, look at the above picture showing a typical aye-aye in Japan. According to Wikipedia, the aye-aye is "a long-fingered lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth that perpetually grow and a special thin middle finger ....... and considered evil." But here in Japan, aye-ayes are known as cute animals because of a cheerful song for kids composed by someone who'd never seen aye-ayes. (How could this happen?) The lyrics says, "Aye-aye♪ aye-aye♪ They are monkeys♪ Aye-aye, aye-aye♪　They are monkeys in a southern island　Aye-aye♪ aye-aye♪ They are monkeys with long tails♪"

Then, take a look at the picture below of an aye-aye after "taking off the cat."

Aye-aye not "wearing a cat"

Aye-ayes eat fruits, but they also eat insects using their long middle fingers. Their munching insects with eyes glaring in the dark is so gross and horrifying!! Of course this is a real aye-aye...

Here is another sad example... A former friend of mine was so quiet and gentle. He is British, teaching English and translating for a big Japanese firm for over ten years. But one day I saw him shouting, "I hate Japanese! They don't learn!!!" Sometime later, he was found to have cheated on his wife and divorced. He must have been sick of "wearing a cat" at home and work for such a long time.....

以前から不思議でしょうがないのがアイアイの歌。アイアイを見たことがない人が作ったらしいのですが、そんなことってあるのでしょうか｡｡。怖い、気持ち悪い｡｡。それであの歌｡｡。

「猫を被る」は、猫は「うわべは優しいけど本当は獰猛」だかららしいのですが、アイアイの方がよっぽど猫を被っている（ご本人にそのつもりはないでしょうが）と思います。口で虫を引きちぎっている映像を見て以来、アイアイ♪を歌う気にはどうしてもなれません｡｡｡

ちなみに昔お友達だった英国人男性。英語の先生と翻訳をしておられ、紳士だとばかり思っていたのですが、ある日「日本人なんてでえ嫌いだ。学習しねえ！」と叫んでおられました。その後浮気が発覚し、離婚されました。家と職場の両方で「猫を被る」のに疲れてしまったんでしょうね｡｡。