MaruMA:Vol01:Translator's Notes

Chapter 1

1. Shibuya and Harajuku are places in Japan that are relatively close to each other. You can look up information about both of these places easily. (Return to Text)
2. Yuuri can be spelled with many different kanji that have different meanings. The way it is spelled means "advantageous" or "profitable", which is connected to banking. "Furi" means "Disadvantegous" or the opposite. The other spellings mean various things or may not have a direct meaning. (Return to Text)
3. See Note #1. (Return to Text)
4. Mukokuseki, means to be 'stateless'. In other words, to have a mixed or blended look that doesn't adhere to any nationality. (Return to Text)
5. Called a 'day pack', it's pretty much the same thing. But I've never heard anyone call it a 'day pack' in English. (Return to Text)
6. Souseki-sensei - He was a prominent writer in the Meiji Era. His face is on the 1,000 yen bill, so he pulled out a pair of 1,000 yen bills (about $20 total). It would be like us saying "He pulled out a pair of Hamilton's". (Return to Text)
7. Kashishiburi - "Unwillingness to lend", referring to banks. (Return to Text)
8. Approximately $5. (Return to Text)
9. "Blue bills". The 1,000 yen bills are blue. So he's referring to those again. (Return to Text)
10. In Japan, you have to take an entrance exam to be accepted into a public high school. (Return to Text)
11. Yuuri talks about it being like accidentally stapling yourself with a stapler. (Return to Text)
12. By tourists, Yuuri means Japanese tourists. He believes that they're still in Japan, and that they're foreigner who have set up a tourist attraction. (Return to Text)
13. After this, Yuuri starts to speak as if he is talking slowly or simply so that they can understand. (Return to Text)
14. Black magic. (Return to Text)
15. A type of watch. (Return to Text)
16. A chestnut horse. In the original, Yuuri uses a word that is more specific to horse-racing that the average Japanese person wouldn't understand. (Return to Text)
17. Japan Racing Association. (Return to Text)
18. Yuuri says implies something to the effect of "brawns over brains". (Return to Text)

Chapter 2

1. Tonarigumi - Neighborhood associations were established in Japan in 1944 to protect from fires and air-raids. These neighborhood groups were made of about ten to fifteen households.
2. 4LDK - 4 room apartment with Living, Dining and Kitchen area.
3. In the original, Yuuri says "Bikei", which is 'beauty', and then "Keibi", which is "guard". The meaning of the second word doesn't matter, he's just tripping over his words. He continues to play with the sound of words in the next sentence, but it doesn't translate well.

Kitchen area.

1. Yuuri is saying that G���nter, as he was aging, has a more mature, elegant look than someone who is younger.
2. By 'after', Yuuri means after he left the baseball team.
3. Yuuri originally says that he is saying "o" too much, which is used in front of honorific words in Japanese.
4. Yuuri originally says, "Narunia, janakatta, naruhodo". Similar to when he said "keibi" instead of "bikei", he's mispronounced what he meant to say again to make a pun.
5. Yuuri would be worried that G���nter would use the ruler to discipline him.
6. Japanese word for dragon.
7. List of endangered species.
8. Demon race
9. Demon king
10. Yuuri says "Honyara" in place of "Maoh". "Honyara" is like saying "Blankityblank", it doesn't really mean anything. This is from a typical 'poem' studied in grade school in Japan called "Maoh". The poem is originally in German and you can read more about it here.
11. "Hakushon Dai Maoh" was a television show about a genie and his daughter genie. The main genie had to give wishes when someone sneezed (hakushon = achoo) and the other when someone yawned.
12. Yuuri seems to have made up a word, and not even he knows what it means. He then plays with the words for a little bit. In the end it seems he equates a "honyara" with being the same thing as a "maoh".
13. �� is the kanji for river, which has three straight lines. Sleeping "like the character of the river" is like sleeping in straight lines next to each other.
14. Sound of a horse.
15. Majutsu is 'Black Magic'.
16. Doraemon has an "anywhere door" that can take him, well, anywhere. The "bamboo copter", usually called "take copter", is also from Doraemon and is another way the characters transport themselves.
17. Like a Ouija Board. 50 symbols are written on a piece of paper and then touch a 10 yen coin to the paper. You call on something and get answers depending on how the coin moves.