Translation Notes
Translation Notes
The End is the Beginning is the End
Nagi’s name
凪 means “calm” in the sense of a lack of wind. It clearly contains the same metaphorical connotations in both languages; the kanji looks a little like 風—kaze or “wind.”
Style
Flock of Crows
Technically a “murder of crows,” but in this context that was confusing.
Public Enemy No. 1
Love & Revolution
“Man was born for love and revolution,” are the words of author Osamu Dazai. They come from his novel Shayo, The Setting Sun.
Green
Mijukumono, an inexperienced person. Literally means “Unripened.”
Child is the Father to the Man
In keeping with Kadono’s tradition of musical references, an album title by Blood, Sweat & Tears. A discovery made because that was how I was able to trace it back to the English expression…
A Three Year Old’s Soul Lasts a Hundred Years
The Japanese expression “Mitsugo no tamashii hyaku made—translated fairly literally, but with an eye on preserving the actual meaning. Another translation is, “What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave.”
The Piper at the Gates
of Dawn “Reprise”
I’m Just Taking My Turn
“Ano hito no kawari ni” is literally, “In place of that person.” It is unclear who Echoes is talking about.
Piper
Waikyokuou is translated literally as “The King of Distortion,” but it appears to be a quotation from the Japanese translation of the lyrics to Stairway to Heaven. Apparently that’s how some poetic translator chose to render “Piper.” The character of Piper plays a role in the fifth Boogiepop novel entitled Boogiepop Overdrive.
Zoragi
Zoragi is a rubber suit style monster that also appears in the fifth novel.
About the Author
Born in 1968, Kouhei Kadono grew up uncertain about his direction in life. He spent a considerable portion of his early years frittering away his youth before somehow ending up writing novels.
In 1997, Kadono-sensei’s first Boogiepop novel, Boogiepop and Others, took First Place in the Media Works’ Dengeki Game Novel Contest. Early the following year, the novel was released to widespread acclaim and ignited the Japanese “light novel” (young adult) trend. Since that time, Kadono-sensei has written thirteen Boogiepop novels and several related works such as the Beat’s Discipline short story collection and the two Boogiepop manga series entitled Boogiepop Doesn’t Laugh and Boogiepop Dual. In its entirety, the Boogiepop series has seen over two million copies in print and spawned a live action movie and a hit anime series.
In addition to the Boogiepop universe, Kadono-sensei’s body of literary work includes a wide array of fantasy and mystery novels such as the Jiken, Soul Drop, Limited World and Night Watch series.
About the Illustrator
Born in 1970, a native of Osaka, Kouji Ogata spent his early twenties struggling to get enough credits to graduate from Osaka Design School. In late 1996, Ogata-sensei was commissioned by Media Works to illustrate the first Boogiepop novel, Boogiepop and Others.
At the time, Ogata-sensei was simply a rising star with a distinctive, eye-catching art style, but he was gradually able to further hone his artistic skills with each subsequent work. His watercolor-style paneling seen in the two-volume Boogiepop Doesn’t Laugh manga series was a particularly high point of his early career.
In addition to providing illustrations for novels and manga, Ogata-sensei has been involved with supplying character designs for anime productions including Boogiepop Phantom, Spirit, and Gin-iro no kami no Agito.
In his free time, he enjoys motorcycles, tennis, and remote-controlled models.