This is a netsuke titled "Carps" by Armin Muller. It's made of porcelain, a little unique as usually netsuke are made of ivory, boxwood, ebony, coral, or amber, etc.
"Carps" reminded me of another "Carp" or officially "The Hiroshima Toyo Carp," a professional baseball team based in Hiroshima Japan. My maternal grandma was a great fan of the team, and I remember her watching games on TV while working at the Japanese tea shop she owned in Hiroshima. So, I uttered and heard others (mostly relatives) utter the word "Ca-p (i.e., Japanese pronunciation of 'Carp'") many times, but it was always singular Carp (Ca-p), not Carps (i.e., Ca-ps).
"Carps" by Armin Muller, porcelain 「鯉」アーミン・ミュラー作 磁器 |
"Carps" reminded me of another "Carp" or officially "The Hiroshima Toyo Carp," a professional baseball team based in Hiroshima Japan. My maternal grandma was a great fan of the team, and I remember her watching games on TV while working at the Japanese tea shop she owned in Hiroshima. So, I uttered and heard others (mostly relatives) utter the word "Ca-p (i.e., Japanese pronunciation of 'Carp'") many times, but it was always singular Carp (Ca-p), not Carps (i.e., Ca-ps).
1. Mr. Johnson sold his book.
2. Mr. Johnson sold his books.
3. Ms. Johnson sold her book.
4. Ms. Johnson sold her books.
All the above four sentences can be translated into the following same Japanese:
0. ジョンソンさんは本を売った。
Of course, these four can be translated more specifically with the gender of the subject (i.e., Johnson) and the number of books Johnson sold as follows:
1. ジョンソンさんは彼の本を一冊売った。
2. ジョンソンさんは彼の本を何冊か買った。
3. ジョンソンさんは彼女の本を一冊売った。
4. ジョンソンさんは彼女の本を何冊か売った。
But these four more specific and accurate Japanese translations are LESS natural than No.0 translation "ジョンソンさんは本を売った" because the Japanese language usually doesn't mention the gender of persons or the number of items. In other words, the writer has no need to (or shouldn't) specify the gender (i.e., Mr. or Ms. Johnson and his or her in this case) or the number of objects/persons (i.e., the number of books he/she sold).
As a result, however, in Japanese, the more vague, the more natural. Or more specifically, the Japanese language itself is not vague, but if it's written without any vagueness, it loses its naturalness or beauty, and I wonder this makes Japanese people think and make decisions without information which would be available if the communication were made in English.
If you want to see more netsuke, read the following blogs, too!
- Symbol of Peace? - Netsuke & Halloween
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- Netsuke - Japanese Lovelorn Ghost Puts a Curse Saying "Urameshiya..."
- Kawaii Two-Legged Yokai Goblin Netsuke Sculpture
- Kawaii Netsuke Jedi
- Watermelon Netsuke Carving With Makie Lacquer Painting
- Netsuke - Jurojin God
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- Netsuke - Muskmelon
- Netsuke and Jello - Goldfish
- Netsuke/Ojime - Wild Boar, Baby Boars
- Gourds in Various Forms - Netsuke, Pickle.....
- Netsuke - Sheep
- Netsuke - Boss
- Netsuke - Fukurokuju God
- Netsuke - Japanese Lovelorn Ghost Puts a Curse Saying "Urameshiya..."
- Kawaii Two-Legged Yokai Goblin Netsuke Sculpture
- Kawaii Netsuke Jedi
- Watermelon Netsuke Carving With Makie Lacquer Painting
- Netsuke - Jurojin God
- Netsuke - Dog Days
- Netsuke - Muskmelon
- Netsuke and Jello - Goldfish
- Netsuke/Ojime - Wild Boar, Baby Boars
- Gourds in Various Forms - Netsuke, Pickle.....
- Netsuke - Sheep
- Netsuke - Boss
- Netsuke - Fukurokuju God
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アーミン・ミュラー作の根付「鯉」です。磁器でできています。根付の多くは象牙、黒檀、珊瑚、黄楊などから彫るので磁器は珍しいと思いました。
鯉といえば広島カープ。母方の祖母が大ファンで、経営する茶店舗で働きながらよく試合を見てました。日本だとみんな「カープ」と言いますよね。で思ったんです。「あれ、アメリカのスポーツチームって複数じゃなかったかな。。。」 例えば野球だと、
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
- New York Mets
バスケットボールでも、
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
みんな複数形です。「carp」は魚だから複数形でも「carp」だよという意見もあるかもしれませんが、多分そうではないと思います。日本語って複数も性別も気にしませんものね。例えば、下の1から4は全て「ジョンソンさんは本を売った」と言えてしまうわけです。
1. Mr. Johnson sold his book.
2. Mr. Johnson sold his books.
3. Ms. Johnson sold her book.
4. Ms. Johnson sold her books.
いちいち下みたいに書いたらいかにも翻訳で気持ち悪い。。。。
1. ジョンソンさんは彼の本を一冊売った。
2. ジョンソンさんは彼の本を何冊か買った。
3. ジョンソンさんは彼女の本を一冊売った。
4. ジョンソンさんは彼女の本を何冊か売った。
日本語ってきっちり書くこともできるけど書かない、書かない方が自然。でもそのせいで、英語だったら当然あるはずの情報が欠けていることって多いのではないでしょうか(特に今みたいなとき)。「必要な情報がないと正しい判断は下せない」と思う今日この頃です。
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