Hi everyone,
New releases can be downloaded at their respective web pages. Please read the FAQ before posting info or sharing in other places:
Sakae Kusama, The Constellation Shine in the Sky, Chapter Four
Setona Mizushiro, The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, 2nd Edition, Extra
So, finally, we have a new chapter from Sakae Kusama’s The Constellation Shine in the Sky. It’s a oneshot called Summer Landmarks. I thought it was quite sweet. A good way to close off the summer. Like the first chapter in this collection, this story has a page of notes that will probably be helpful, especially if you don’t read kanji (or only know the easy ones, like me. ^__^) This story assumes you know kanji, or at least understand how it’s read, so you might be a little confused at the end. My notes are fairly brief, but there’s plenty of information online if you’re interested in how Japanese is written. I think it’s fascinating, personally, but I don’t want to overwhelm anyone with boring details.
Speaking of kanji, I want to talk a little bit about the title of the Mouse Extra and Carp, Chapter 3. As you know, Carp, Chapter 3 is called “Owl.” Why? Other than the fact that all the chapters are named after animals, I had no idea… until I saw the second edition of Mouse. The new extra is called “The Mouse, Thinking at a Dead End.” The interesting thing is, the word for “dead end” in Japanese is “fukuro.” The kanji for “owl” in Japanese can also be read “fukuro.” Coincidence? Maybe… but I’m guessing not.
I think she used the kanji for “owl” so that the chapter title would continue her animal theme. However, because that particular kanji sounds like “fukuro,” it implies the meaning of “dead end,” even though “dead end” is written with a different character. (Unfortunately, my website won’t allow me to use Japanese characters, so I can’t show you the difference.) Chapter 3 is called “Dead End” because, well… if you’ve read it, you know why. ^__^
So, basically, they’re homophones, two words that are written differently, but sound the same. If I just said the word “fukuro,” and you couldn’t see how it was written, you wouldn’t necessarily know whether I meant “owl” or “dead end.” In this case, she meant “dead end,” but wrote the word “owl.” Maybe, something similar would be, if I used a deer (the animal) as a mascot for my website since it’s called PresenceDear.
This might apply to the word “koi,” as well. “Koi” means “carp” and “love,” but the words are written differently.
Thanks, everyone, who contributed to this! GB, Txilar, Reppu, Y-san and all of you who have been sending moral support… ^__^
Tags: Kusama Sakae, Mizushiro Setona, new release, news

23 comments
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October 5, 2009 at 11:18 am
daemoneko
October 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm
elisegrey
October 5, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Poshul
October 5, 2009 at 12:48 pm
ctomes
Anyway, I don’t find the details about the kanji dull. Its fascinating to learn about and it helps me understand what I’m reading better.
Thanks again for the releases.
October 5, 2009 at 1:42 pm
mizuqueen
October 5, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Daniela
Thanks for the details about the kanji, I am always interested in know more about japanese language. And I can’t wait to read the next Carp chapter!
October 5, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Mangamadness
October 5, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Squizzz
Thanks again!
October 5, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Izuna
October 5, 2009 at 4:10 pm
ampersand
October 5, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Minelauva
October 5, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Martha
? owl
? carp
??? love
thank you for the explanation !!!
October 5, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Martha
October 6, 2009 at 4:58 am
Razberry
October 6, 2009 at 6:55 am
Reita
October 6, 2009 at 1:11 pm
arnoria
October 6, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Cinabre
October 7, 2009 at 2:32 am
army_kitten
October 7, 2009 at 8:24 am
jazz
also checking out the constellation one, it sounds good.
October 7, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Barbara
October 8, 2009 at 3:05 am
Rachel Lynn
October 9, 2009 at 1:32 am
grooveygirl
November 7, 2009 at 8:25 pm
shi_en_ta
i,ve already post on some thread, hope u wouldn’t mind if i post them almost every where in this site Teehee
well somehow i think this Owl maybe not connected w/ the extra chapter (mouse thinking at dead end)
as we know, in this manga
imagase represent in this manga as a black cat (especially since his clothes always black)
kyouchi as a mouse
tamaki butterfly
i also think that carp in this manga represent imagase n kyouichi love, jumps twice at the chopping board, maybe potray their struggle to make their relationship work out, even tough it’s almost dead (like carp still jumps even it will be chopping soon)
and the Owl, i think it represent imagase n kyouchi that didn’t sleep before their break-up, just like nocturnal creature : Owl
and the last, the serpent paradise i think it represent Mizuno
(the married woman who seduces Kyouichi) like serpent of paradise that seduce adam n eve ^^