The Last Samurai (38 page)

I explained that according to
Japanese Street Slang shiyagatte
was the gerund of
shiyagaru
, the common contraction of
shite agaru
, which was the offensive form of the verb
suru
, to do. So if
nukasu
was to say
nukashiyagatte
would be the offensive gerund.

What a wonderful language, said Sib, they seem to have toned it down quite a bit for the subtitles. I knew
Japanese Street Slang
was a bargain at £6.88.

In other words Asking me ‘Are you a samurai?’ like that—how dare you!

All right, said Sib, & then what?

ore wa na
I topic particle emphatic particle
K
ō
, in this way
miete
, present participle of
mieru
, appearing
mo
even, i.e. even appearing like this.

Sib said she might not know much Japanese but she did not believe for one nanosecond that Mifune said Even appearing like this.

I said I did not think consciousness was capable of operating in units of nanoseconds.

Sib said she did not believe it for the smallest unit at which consciousness was capable of operating and then what?

chanto shita
, precise, proper, up-to-standard Up-to-standard! said Sib

samurai
da
, I am, i.e. Even though I look like this I’m a genuine samurai.

Which subtitle is that, said Sib, I don’t recognise any of this.

I said it came up roughly where he said I’m a samurai all right.

Hmm, said Sib.

yai
hey
ore wa na

I topic particle emphatic particle said Sib

arekara
since that time
omae no
of you
koto o
thing object particle, i.e. periphrasis for you
zutto
the whole (time), I said talking fast