I talked about Senryu /川柳 in my previous entries. Senryu started catching public attention during the Edo era in the 1800s. Since it enables you to express yourself and to make satirical commentary on society with a sense of humor, Japanese people have been enjoying composing Senryu.
Today, I'll introduce two senryu that appeared in the top 20 in a popular Senryu contest. These two really reflect our society. If you are interested in finding more information about Senryu and the contest, please click here and here.
★Ninth place
70歳
オラの村では
青年部
【Background and Interpretations 】
-オラ is equal to 俺 and means "I". Today, オラ is used by men and makes people think of old men in the countryside.
-There are local or neighborhood communities throughout Japan. Each community has some groups, such as a women's group/婦人部 and a young men's group/青年部.
-This senryu represents that although I'm 70 years old, I still belong to a young men's group of my local community in my village. It implies how many old people there are in the village and how many young people have left there. Since Japan has been encountering the aging society, 70-year-old people tend not to be considered as old people. In fact, it's common for around 70-year-old people to take care of their parents who are in their 90s, especially in the countryside.
★Twelfth place
地デジ買い
財布の中も
薄型に
Each phrase in the senryu would be translated into the following ordinary Japanese sentences.
地デジ買い→地上デジタル放送対応のテレビを買ったので
財布の中も→財布の中身も
薄型に→買った薄型テレビ同様、薄くなってしまった
【Background and Interpretations 】
In Japan, analog broadcasting services are due to be terminated in July, 2011. Instead, only terrestrial digital media broadcasting services will be provided. Because of this, all people in Japan are required to get ready for the switch. People usually buy flat-screen televisions that can receive the digital broadcasting, which represents that these televisions are replacing thick, CRT-based televisions. Since a flat-screen television isn't cheap, purchasing it makes a thick wallet filled with notes flat. The senryu is describing this situation. So, this senryu indicates that when I purchased a flat-screen television, my wallet filled with notes has inevitably become flat, too.
http://event.dai-ichi-life.co.jp/company/senryu/23th/best_10.html
I 'd like to wrap this topic up for today.Anyway, iPads are going to hit the Japanese market about 8 hours later. According to the news, there is currently a long queue in front of the Apple Store at Ginza. iPads have been catching considerable public attention here, too.
