Liner Notes

Volume 11: Faces of Evil

• Shingan- It really is "Heart-Eye." I guess in this case, since Usui is blind, it's like a sixth sense in a way.
  
  
• Yatsuhashi- A sweet that is a specialty of the Kyoto area. It is basically an alternative from of mochi/ricecakes, though the ingredients slightly vary (with the main flavors being cinnamon and green tea). The "raw" nama yatsuhashi resembles cookie dough in texture (though not sticky), and the baked yatsuhashi (yatsuhasi-senbei) is much like, well a cookie.
  
  
• Kama- Most of you probably know by now (that is, if you've been watching anime for some time) that "okama" is a Japanese slang term for a gay guy. (Usually one that goes far enough to be a transvestite. (Jen's note: I've been watching anime for some time and I didn't know!) However, it is noteworthy just for the sake of the pun in this line that "kama" when written in its proper kanji, means "sickle/scythe."
  
  
• Kanei- The term for the period between 1848 (Kanei year 1) and 1853 (Kanei year 6). Since this line refers to Kanei 6, I have put that down as 1853 for the sub.
  
  
• Hiei-zan- A mountain on the North Eastern end of Kyoto. In modern day terms, it stands on the boundary between Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. It has been known over the years to be one of the places where ghosts are commonly seen.
  
  
• Torii- The red archway (that looks like the Greek letter Pi) that is seen in Shinto shrines but not Buddhist temples.
  
  
• Koku- In old Japanese notions of time, a "koku" is 1/4 of a "toki." Since 1 "toki" is 2 hours, one "koku" is 30 minutes.
  
  
• Myouou- Gods in Buddhism that basically serve the world by being incarnations of wrath and defeat evil. (Or that's what I've been led to believe for all this time in my life.) The more popular Myouou's include Fudou-Myouou and Aizan-Myouou.
  
  
• Osha- Oshas are typically Buddhist monks in charge of their temples.
  
  
• Fudou-Myouou- Commonly known in the Western world as Acala (Acalanatha), the God of Fire.
  
  
• Namuamidabutsu- Initially meaning to return (especially one's faith) to the Buddha of Amida (Amitabha). It is the stereotypical six letter Buddhist chant known commonly to the Japanese people (especially those with little or no faith). Because it is a phrase of prayer, it can mean that the one who chants the said phrase is either seeking help from Buddha, restating his faith in Buddha, or wishes that his deceased lie in peace. For most usages of the term in common Japanese society though, it's the last one that counts (and works for this case), therefore the line has been translated as thus.