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ENTRY

Review: Botchan
February 28, 2010

After reading (and writing) so much postmodern fiction lately, it was a nice break to read a new translation of the humorous and straightforward plot of Botchan by Natsume Soseki. The popular original was published in Japan 1904 and has never been out of print. I first read an English translation by Umeji Sasaki more than twenty years ago, a translation that was first published in 1922. As one might expect, the prose in that translation sounds stilted today.

For example, the first line in the Sasaki translation is: “A great loser have I been ever since a child, having a rash daring spirit I inherited from my ancestors.” In the new J. Cohn translation, the line reads: “From the time I was a boy the reckless streak that runs in my family has brought me nothing but trouble.” The recent translation makes the enjoyable story of a young teacher from Tokyo hired to teach math in a backwater, rural middle school even more readable.

Botchan is the nickname for the main character, the narrator of the story. The name can be translated roughly as “young man,” which can be used in both a positive and negative context. (“You’re such a mature young man.” vs. “Come here, young man, you’ve got some explaining to do.”) The botchan in the story is used primarily in the latter sense, as he is at times a rascal, a snob, a shirker, and a coward. Recently an orphan, with an estranged and distant older brother, he is most affectionately attached to his old nanny and family housekeeper. She refers to him as Botchan in the positive sense.

Admittedly not a great student, he takes the first job that comes his way – the teaching position. When he finds the town and the people beneath his urbane upbringing, although at the same times he finds them intimidating. His students, most of whom are taller and heavier, and sometimes smarter, get under his skin from the first day. He finds nothing good to say about his colleagues, whom he provides disparaging nicknames like “Badger” and “Squash” and “Hanger On.”

His only enjoyment in his life is eating noodles at a small tempura restaurant. Unfortunately, he is spotted by his students and given the satirical name “Mr. Tempura,” which leads to a breakdown of discipline. He is chastised by the principal of the school and ordered to stay away from such establishments. The order irks him and he begins a plot to bring down his perceived enemies. Along the way, he finds an unlikely ally who helps him.

The narrative rides on Botchan’s irreverent attitude toward those in positions of authority, sycophants, and bullies. Even in today’s Japan, this is still a popular theme, played out usually only in fiction. And for readers who know nothing about Japan, the newly translated story will be as enjoyable as it is for lovers of Japanese literature.

© 2010

COMMENTS

Number of comments: 2
click here to add a comment

Lee Witte
Thanks for the review. I also read the Sasaki translation many years ago, and now am excited to read the new translation.

Gail Jolley
Yes, thanks for this review. This will be my next interlibrary loan. Right now I'm reading a biography of Sakamoto Ryoma as a supplement to watching NHK's taiga drama on cable.

ARCHIVE

date (comments)

Review: Kissing the Mask
August 22, 2010 (1)

Jonathan Lethem: Writing at the margins
July 12, 2010 (2)

Review: Love in Translation
June 22, 2010 (3)

Jose Saramago
June 18, 2010 (0)

Marketplace of Ideas interview
June 11, 2010 (2)

Imagining Memory
May 6, 2010 (1)

Upcoming Los Angeles events
April 7, 2010 (2)

Time and energy
March 30, 2010 (2)

Review: Botchan
February 28, 2010 (2)

J.D. Salinger
January 28, 2010 (1)

2009 Reviewed
December 31, 2009 (5)

Review: The Word Book
December 12, 2009 (1)

Chaat and Chat event with OH!
November 6, 2009 (2)

Home at last
November 2, 2009 (2)

Los Angeles events
October 17, 2009 (1)

Poets and poetry
October 7, 2009 (1)

Time + place
September 24, 2009 (1)

The future of books
September 23, 2009 (1)

October book tour
September 6, 2009 (1)

Blogging at Powell's Books
August 28, 2009 (2)

The evolution of an idea
August 3, 2009 (1)

The Poetics of Motoori Norinaga: A Hermeneutical Journey
July 9, 2009 (2)

Tour debrief
July 2, 2009 (3)

Book tour events
May 18, 2009 (3)

Simply in the mood
April 24, 2009 (2)

Book tour
April 8, 2009 (6)

The Necessary Book
March 2, 2009 (2)

"Murder Makes the Magazine"
February 7, 2009 (3)

John Updike
January 27, 2009 (2)

2008 misc. (good news, bad news)
January 1, 2009 (3)

Publishing woes and query letters
December 13, 2008 (4)

Punctuation compunction
November 16, 2008 (3)

The Fountain of Youth (and other Ideas)
October 10, 2008 (2)

David Foster Wallace
September 14, 2008 (2)

Ending it all
September 12, 2008 (2)

The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries
August 29, 2008 (3)

Blocking out the block
August 20, 2008 (3)

"What kind of books do you write?"
August 8, 2008 (2)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 4
July 21, 2008 (3)

Show and tell
July 14, 2008 (3)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3
July 7, 2008 (7)

Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me)
June 30, 2008 (6)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 2
June 18, 2008 (3)

To be or not to be
June 10, 2008 (6)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 1
June 3, 2008 (6)

Virtual unreality
May 31, 2008 (4)

The purpose of this blog
May 21, 2008 (5)

Todd Shimoda's Writer's Blog home \| current \| forthcoming \| past \| contact
ENTRY Review: Botchan February 28, 2010 After reading (and writing) so much postmodern fiction lately, it was a nice break to read a new translation of the humorous and straightforward plot of Botchan by Natsume Soseki. The popular original was published in Japan 1904 and has never been out of print. I first read an English translation by Umeji Sasaki more than twenty years ago, a translation that was first published in 1922. As one might expect, the prose in that translation sounds stilted today. For example, the first line in the Sasaki translation is: “A great loser have I been ever since a child, having a rash daring spirit I inherited from my ancestors.” In the new J. Cohn translation, the line reads: “From the time I was a boy the reckless streak that runs in my family has brought me nothing but trouble.” The recent translation makes the enjoyable story of a young teacher from Tokyo hired to teach math in a backwater, rural middle school even more readable. Botchan is the nickname for the main character, the narrator of the story. The name can be translated roughly as “young man,” which can be used in both a positive and negative context. (“You’re such a mature young man.” vs. “Come here, young man, you’ve got some explaining to do.”) The botchan in the story is used primarily in the latter sense, as he is at times a rascal, a snob, a shirker, and a coward. Recently an orphan, with an estranged and distant older brother, he is most affectionately attached to his old nanny and family housekeeper. She refers to him as Botchan in the positive sense. Admittedly not a great student, he takes the first job that comes his way – the teaching position. When he finds the town and the people beneath his urbane upbringing, although at the same times he finds them intimidating. His students, most of whom are taller and heavier, and sometimes smarter, get under his skin from the first day. He finds nothing good to say about his colleagues, whom he provides disparaging nicknames like “Badger” and “Squash” and “Hanger On.” His only enjoyment in his life is eating noodles at a small tempura restaurant. Unfortunately, he is spotted by his students and given the satirical name “Mr. Tempura,” which leads to a breakdown of discipline. He is chastised by the principal of the school and ordered to stay away from such establishments. The order irks him and he begins a plot to bring down his perceived enemies. Along the way, he finds an unlikely ally who helps him. The narrative rides on Botchan’s irreverent attitude toward those in positions of authority, sycophants, and bullies. Even in today’s Japan, this is still a popular theme, played out usually only in fiction. And for readers who know nothing about Japan, the newly translated story will be as enjoyable as it is for lovers of Japanese literature. © 2010	COMMENTS Number of comments: 2 click here to add a comment Lee Witte Thanks for the review. I also read the Sasaki translation many years ago, and now am excited to read the new translation. Gail Jolley Yes, thanks for this review. This will be my next interlibrary loan. Right now I'm reading a biography of Sakamoto Ryoma as a supplement to watching NHK's taiga drama on cable.	ARCHIVE date (comments) Review: Kissing the Mask August 22, 2010 (1) Jonathan Lethem: Writing at the margins July 12, 2010 (2) Review: Love in Translation June 22, 2010 (3) Jose Saramago June 18, 2010 (0) Marketplace of Ideas interview June 11, 2010 (2) Imagining Memory May 6, 2010 (1) Upcoming Los Angeles events April 7, 2010 (2) Time and energy March 30, 2010 (2) Review: Botchan February 28, 2010 (2) J.D. Salinger January 28, 2010 (1) 2009 Reviewed December 31, 2009 (5) Review: The Word Book December 12, 2009 (1) Chaat and Chat event with OH! November 6, 2009 (2) Home at last November 2, 2009 (2) Los Angeles events October 17, 2009 (1) Poets and poetry October 7, 2009 (1) Time + place September 24, 2009 (1) The future of books September 23, 2009 (1) October book tour September 6, 2009 (1) Blogging at Powell's Books August 28, 2009 (2) The evolution of an idea August 3, 2009 (1) The Poetics of Motoori Norinaga: A Hermeneutical Journey July 9, 2009 (2) Tour debrief July 2, 2009 (3) Book tour events May 18, 2009 (3) Simply in the mood April 24, 2009 (2) Book tour April 8, 2009 (6) The Necessary Book March 2, 2009 (2) "Murder Makes the Magazine" February 7, 2009 (3) John Updike January 27, 2009 (2) 2008 misc. (good news, bad news) January 1, 2009 (3) Publishing woes and query letters December 13, 2008 (4) Punctuation compunction November 16, 2008 (3) The Fountain of Youth (and other Ideas) October 10, 2008 (2) David Foster Wallace September 14, 2008 (2) Ending it all September 12, 2008 (2) The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries August 29, 2008 (3) Blocking out the block August 20, 2008 (3) "What kind of books do you write?" August 8, 2008 (2) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 4 July 21, 2008 (3) Show and tell July 14, 2008 (3) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3 July 7, 2008 (7) Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me) June 30, 2008 (6) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 2 June 18, 2008 (3) To be or not to be June 10, 2008 (6) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 1 June 3, 2008 (6) Virtual unreality May 31, 2008 (4) The purpose of this blog May 21, 2008 (5)