Translating Japanese letters to English

ethan9219 · 15 Apr 2009

Hi everyone,

I know this is probably not the place i should be asking this question. But, i couldn't find anywhere that seemed entirely appropriate and, i'll admit, i'm a little desperate. I have a question/problem/situation that I am hoping somebody may be able to help with.

My elderly grandfather is pretty sick, and we don't know how long he may be with us. He has given me some old Japanese letters that he says were taken or sent by a Japanese POW prisoner, or something along those lines. He gave them to me because I spent a little time last year as an exchange student in Japan. And I agreed to help him as I didn't have the heart to tell him I don't really *know* Japanese.

So, the documents may be a little old, but hopefully still readable. I mean, I've seen them and I can make out the Kanji quite clearly, but I haven't a clue as to what any of it means. Really, I guess, even if he could be given the basic gist of the letters or something, I think it would give him some peace or comfort finally knowing what the letters mean.

So, if I upload them, is there anybody here who may be able to lend a hand by having a stab at translating them?

ありがとう、
イーサン

mobile1 · 15 Apr 2009

ethan9219 said:
Hi everyone,
I know this is probably not the place i should be asking this question. But, i couldn't find anywhere that seemed entirely appropriate and, i'll admit, i'm a little desperate. I have a question/problem/situation that I am hoping somebody may be able to help with.
My elderly grandfather is pretty sick, and we don't know how long he may be with us. He has given me some old Japanese letters that he says were taken or sent by a Japanese POW prisoner, or something along those lines. He gave them to me because I spent a little time last year as an exchange student in Japan. And I agreed to help him as I didn't have the heart to tell him I don't really *know* Japanese.
So, the documents may be a little old, but hopefully still readable. I mean, I've seen them and I can make out the Kanji quite clearly, but I haven't a clue as to what any of it means. Really, I guess, even if he could be given the basic gist of the letters or something, I think it would give him some peace or comfort finally knowing what the letters mean.
So, if I upload them, is there anybody here who may be able to lend a hand by having a stab at translating them?
ありがとう、
イーサン

I know it is a chore getting people to do translations on this forum. I know the feeling. why not upload it and I will give it a shot. But I am not Japanese either, so you will have to take my work to an actual Japanese person who can polish it. They know perfect Japanese, but more often than not, they don't know enough English to effectively do translation work either.
So perhaps a three step translation process where I will do a rough job of it, then another gaijin who is better than me in Japanese (which most of the people on this forum are) and then a native Japanese person to do the final polishing work. How about it. I am not the best guy on this forum but I will give it a try.
I see your face on the avatar. If you don't mind me asking, are you partly Japanese?

nice gaijin · 15 Apr 2009

mobile1 said:
I know it is a chore getting people to do translations on this forum. I know the feeling.

It's a chore getting people to do your work for you. Have some sense.

why not upload it and I will give it a shot. But I am not Japanese either, so you will have to take my work to an actual Japanese person who can polish it. They know perfect Japanese, but more often than not, they don't know enough English to effectively do translation work either.
So perhaps a three step translation process where I will do a rough job of it, then another gaijin who is better than me in Japanese (which most of the people on this forum are) and then a native Japanese person to do the final polishing work. How about it. I am not the best guy on this forum but I will give it a try.
I see your face on the avatar. If you don't mind me asking, are you partly Japanese?

Did you read his post? Ethan is asking for help translating Japanese letters into English. And he actually asked in such a way that would make people WANT to help him.

Ethan: post what you have and we'll give it a look. How is your Japanese? It would certainly be good practice to give it a stab yourself, but considering the content, it might be different from modern Japanese.

epigene · 15 Apr 2009

nice gaijin said:
Ethan: post what you have and we'll give it a look. How is your Japanese? It would certainly be good practice to give it a stab yourself, but considering the content, it might be different from modern Japanese.

Yes, here is something people will be interested to help.

However, I think that what he has are scanned data of handwritten letters. The problems are:
(1) They're image files and reading handwriting, especially if not written clearly, is difficult for many.
(2) The letters can very likely have private information in it that should not be divulged in a forum like this where anyone can access freely.

I recommend Ethan to upload it somewhere on the Web and lock it with password and give the link and password to me in a PM. I will serve has intermediary to people willing to help.
Of course, I'll try to help, too.

Mike Cash · 16 Apr 2009

As Epigene said, it would be inappropriate to publish someone's private letters online, all the more so when you have not the slightest idea what the contents are.

Why not just contact the Japanese Embassy in your country, explain the situation, and ask for their help/advice in having the letters returned to the appropriate person?

ethan9219 · 17 Apr 2009

mobile1 said:
So perhaps a three step translation process where I will do a rough job of it, then another gaijin who is better than me in Japanese (which most of the people on this forum are) and then a native Japanese person to do the final polishing work. How about it. I am not the best guy on this forum but I will give it a try.
I see your face on the avatar. If you don't mind me asking, are you partly Japanese?

Thank you for the offer, i really appreciate it.
Yes, i am half-japanese. People do usually pick up on that. But, as far as i know the letter has absolutely nothing to do with my family or anything.

nice gaijin said:
Ethan: post what you have and we'll give it a look. How is your Japanese? It would certainly be good practice to give it a stab yourself, but considering the content, it might be different from modern Japanese.

Thank you. My Japanese is *OK*, but only spoken Japanese. My mum and dad were separated so i lived here in Australia, and visited my Japanese family on occassions, where i learnt spoken Japanese. But reading, and especially Kanji i cannot do. I'm sorry.

epigene said:
However, I think that what he has are scanned data of handwritten letters.

Yes

epigene said:
(1) They're image files and reading handwriting, especially if not written clearly, is difficult for many.

Yes, they are scanned image files of old Japanese letters. I apologise as i think they may be a little hard to read.

epigene said:
(2) The letters can very likely have private information in it that should not be divulged in a forum like this where anyone can access freely.
I recommend Ethan to upload it somewhere on the Web and lock it with password and give the link and password to me in a PM. I will serve has intermediary to people willing to help.
Of course, I'll try to help, too.

Thank you, again. But i don't think a password enabled site or upload will be of benefit. Well, what i mean is i don't think it is necessary. So, i will upload the letters and post the links in a subsequent post.

Mike Cash said:
Why not just contact the Japanese Embassy and ask for their help/advice in having the letters returned to the appropriate person?

Well, the letters were given to my Grandfather by the person who wrote them. The reasons for the letters being given to him are unknown to me. But, at this point, he is the appropriate person.
Thank you again to everyone for the replies. I know doing something like this would be very difficult? (well, i dont know as i dont have any experience translating, but i can imagine). So thankyou.

ethan9219 · 17 Apr 2009

Image Links

Okay, everyone, I was about to post the links, but i don't have permission to do so due to a lack of posts. So, epigene, can i PM you the links and you post them up, please?

epigene · 17 Apr 2009

I still think you should not post links openly here. I'll forward the links to members, specifically those who are currently active in the Nihongo Forum and I personally think can be trusted with private information.

Whether they post their responses here in this thread or PM you privately will be their personal decisions. The only thing I ask of the members who are willing to help is to exercise discretion with the privacy of Ethan's relatives when posting openly here in JREF.

To all respondents, please note that posts with information I consider private in nature will be deleted.

Ashikaga · 17 Apr 2009

These are letters to a man serving in a war from his wife and his son telling him how the life was at home.

The other letter is a notice for a meeting of a labour organization in the city of Balikpapan on the island of Boeneo, Indonesia addressed to Toyota (as in the automobile company).

There is a possibility that the man was serving in Indonesia.

As epigene has said, two of the letters are personal, so I will PM the OP with the translation.

undrentide · 17 Apr 2009

As epigene san and ASHIKAGA san explained the letters are personal.
If your grandfather wishes these letters returned to the person or his family, this website would help you.

Let War Memorabilia Come Home
http://www.rose.sannet.ne.jp/nishiha/iryuhin/english.htm

mobile1 · 17 Apr 2009

ethan9219 said:
Thank you for the offer, i really appreciate it.
Yes, i am half-japanese. People do usually pick up on that. But, as far as i know the letter has absolutely nothing to do with my family or anything.
Thank you. My Japanese is *OK*, but only spoken Japanese. My mum and dad were separated so i lived here in Australia, and visited my Japanese family on occassions, where i learnt spoken Japanese. But reading, and especially Kanji i cannot do. I'm sorry.

Yeah, I know many haafus who don't speak, read nor write Japanese. They grew up speaking only English since their other parent did not know any Japanese. That is okay, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You can still try sending it to me via PM if you like, although I can't promise you that I can successfully translate it.

Toritoribe · 17 Apr 2009

mobile1 said:
Yeah, I know many haafus who don't speak, read nor write Japanese. They grew up speaking only English since their other parent did not know any Japanese. That is okay, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You can still try sending it to me via PM if you like, although I can't promise you that I can successfully translate it.

Uh, I'm not going to offend you but I have some doubts if your reading comprehension is enough to understand the archaic Japanese sentences like this.

御参集相成度此段及御通知候也

Plus, they are hand-written ones using 旧字体 like as 總會.

Probably @Ashikaga already did the work.

Elizabeth · 18 Apr 2009

Toritoribe said:
Uh, I'm not going to offend you but I have some doubts if your reading comprehension is enough to understand the archaic Japanese sentences like this.

御参集相成度此段及御通知候也

Plus, they are hand-written ones using 旧字体 like as 總會.

Probably

@Ashikaga already did the work.

Is this Chinese-like palace language used by the Old Imperial Court ? For calling his subjects into session ? Because I doubt it's only foreigners, but a dialect most modern Japanese could get it very well, either...

Toritoribe · 18 Apr 2009

Elizabeth said:
Is this Chinese-like palace language used by the Old Imperial Court ? For calling his subjects into session ? Because I doubt it's only foreigners, but a dialect most modern Japanese could get it very well, either...

I believe it will be possible to get the rough meaning of that sentence after learning the basis of 漢文法 mostly in high school.

ethan9219 · 18 Apr 2009

Thank you everyone.

Ashikaga has PM'd me the translations. I am very grateful to you. I honestly didn't know if anybody would be willing to do what i asked, because i assume it is not an easy thing to do.

I found the contents quite interesting. I'm sure when i show my grandfather he will be interested in what they say, too. Maybe i can even get some more information from him.

So, thank you again to everybody here for offers of help, and especially to Ashikaga, and Epigene.

Translating Japanese letters to English

ethan9219

後輩

mobile1

Dream Zanarkand

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

ethan9219

後輩

ethan9219

後輩

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

Ashikaga

もちもちした食感

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

mobile1

Dream Zanarkand

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Elizabeth

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

ethan9219

後輩

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