Listening to the Lost Generation with Tsumura Kikuko
Last Saturday I sat and watched Kikuko Tsumura talking at the Cheltenham Literary Festival about her book, この世にたやすい仕事はない KONO YO NI TAYASUI SHIGOTO WA NAI (There’s no such thing as an easy job / Translated by Polly Barton).
After enjoying the book earlier this year, I was curious to hear the author speaking. It was well worth the listen.
The book itself explores 5 unusual jobs undertaken by an unnamed female. In the video, Kikuko Tsumura explains these 5 jobs were: ずっとやってみたかった仕事 (ZUTTO YATTE MITAKATTA SHIGOTO (jobs she herself had always wanted to try).
The MITAKATTA in this expression is an auxiliary verb, added to other verbs to give the meaning ‘try something out’ as in TABETE-MIRU (try some food). It’s use here shows that Tsumura has a genuine interest in experiencing these jobs
Tsumura explained she writes from the perspective of the ロストジェネレーション. ROSUTO JENERESSHON (Lost generation). I am the same age as Tsumura. So, am I also from the ロスジェネ / ROSU-JENE?
This discovery felt like a potentially life-changing moment for me.
In the UK, the Lost Generation refers to people who were young adults during World War One. The Japanese use of ロスジェネ refers to people who were young adults after Japan’s economic バブル BABURU (bubble) burst in 1991 – so people born between 1970 and 1982.
Both terms were formed in retrospect. People didn’t know they were part of the Lost Generation until afterwards.
Age-wise I qualify. But, I wasn’t looking for employment in Japan straight after the bubble burst so I will have to settle for just calling myself Lost.
Sharing the same age was one reason I felt an affinity with the author. I also liked her curiosity about different lifestyles, and her attitude that the pandemic might bring about some positive changes in Japan.
In contrast to the story, in Tsumura’s own life, before becoming an author she worked in an office. She uses 3 English-origin words to describe her job. Her main task wasファイリング (FAIRINGU / Filing). Her job was simply コピーをする KOPII O SURU (make photocopies) and ホッチキスでとじる HOCCHIKISU DE TOJIRU (bind together with a stapler).
[The word ホッチキスHOCCHIKISU / stapler comes from the brand name, Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss were the first staplers imported into Japan]
Tsumura talks about this dull-sounding job fondly. She says その仕事に戻りたい SONO SHIGOTO NI MODORITAI (I want to return to that job). I can relate to that feeling. I sometimes wish I could return to duty filling the fruit and veg in Co-op.
Tsumura is an engaging speaker. There may be a reason for this. She’s from the Osaka area. Tsumura says of people in Osaka, みんな話が上手 MINNA HANASHI GA JOUZU (Everybody is good at talking). The word JOUZU is praising their skill.
The Osaka area is full of よくしゃべる人 YOKU SHABERU HITO (people who talk a lot).
SHABERU means to chat/talk about something not important. This informal verb doesn’t usually appear in textbooks, but it’s common in everyday conversation and useful for learners to be aware of. While living in Japan, I remember repeatedly wondering what it could mean.
The author’s Osaka background undoubtedly contributes to her unique perspective. She’s an exciting writer with much to say to anyone, lost or otherwise.