Cracking the SAT Subject Test in Japanese with Listening

Reposted from {Lighty Lively}, November 2006.
To all you November 2010 test-takers, I don’t know if the rules and equipment have changed in the last 6 years (I took the test in 2004), so it’s possible that the following rambling doesn’t apply anymore.

It’s September… The days are getting colder in the northern hemisphere…and November is the only time of the year when CollegeBoard offers the SAT Subject Test: Japanese with Listening. I took the test two years ago with limited success (740 out of 800).

So onto cracking the test (is this expression copyrighted by The Princeton Review?).

Approaching 5,000,000 Kiriban

This site is now quickly approaching the 5,000,000th hit mark, but I’m currently busy with trying to finish Umineko in time before school starts next week. So I don’t think I’ll make a kiriban gift this time.

Attempting to Solve Umineko Witch’s Epitaph

The following is my attempt at solving the Witch’s Epitaph from Umineko no Naku Koro ni. I have not completely solved it yet, so this post will be updated irregularly when something new comes across my mind.

懐かしき、故郷を貫く鮎の川。
黄金郷を目指す者よ、これを下りて鍵を探せ。

川を下れば、やがて里あり。
その里にて二人が口にし岸を探れ。
そこに黄金郷への鍵が眠る。

鍵を手にせし者は、以下に従いて黄金郷へ旅立つべし。

第一の晩に、鍵の選びし六人を生贄に捧げよ。
第二の晩に、残されし者は寄り添う二人を引き裂け。
第三の晩に、残されし者は誉れ高き我が名を讃えよ。
第四の晩に、頭を抉りて殺せ。
第五の晩に、胸を抉りて殺せ。
第六の晩に、腹を抉りて殺せ。
第七の晩に、膝を抉りて殺せ。
第八の晩に、足を抉りて殺せ。
第九の晩に、魔女は蘇り、誰も生き残れはしない。
第十の晩に、旅は終わり、黄金の郷に至るだろう。

魔女は賢者を讃え、四つの宝を授けるだろう。
一つは、黄金郷の全ての黄金。
一つは、全ての死者の魂を蘇らせ。
一つは、失った愛すらも蘇らせる。
一つは、魔女を永遠に眠りにつかせよう。

安らかに眠れ、我が最愛の魔女ベアトリーチェ。

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Ending Theme – la divina tragedia ~Makyoku~

Rating: 8/10. ★★★★★★★★☆☆

la divina tragedia ~Divine Tragedy~
Vocals: JIMANG
Lyrics: JIMANG
Composition: JIMANG

This night ends, and what do I seek?
Recollections cruelly laugh at me with scorn…

Oh beloved one, don’t reject the Desire to slash apart the darkness
My desire has no place to die, in the final mad banquet
Oh beloved demon, fulfill the Desire to tear apart my heart
A forbidden Desire, tonight, I shall present fools to you

Kuroshitsuji Insert Song – Call thy name, “Stella Mystica”

Finally a song fully in English.

Call thy name, “Stella Mystica”
Lyrics: Kano Kaori
Composition: Iwasaki Taku
Arrangement: Iwasaki Taku

Night above the forest
Through dusty moonlight
He, a crystal sheep
Come falling with grace

Kuroshitsuji Insert Song – Wie schön!

Yet another song in German. I don’t get it, either.

Wie schön!
Lyrics: Kano Kaori
Composition: Iwasaki Taku
Arrangement: Iwasaki Taku

Aus zum Nachthimmel, streck’ich mich, der mich blendet.
Ich fleh’Dich an, Du Wundergöttin mein!
Du gibst mir die Kraft des Lebens.
Aus der Quelle schwallt Prophetensang.
Schwör mir dein Liebesband mit Lorberkrone.
Oh, mein Romio!

Kuroshitsuji Insert Song – The Dark Crow Smiles

The song is in English except for the chorus, which appears to be Latin. There are parts that I don’t understand in the Latin. Scroll down if you’d like to try translating them.

The Dark Crow Smiles
Lyrics: LotusJuice
Composition: Iwasaki Taku
Arrangement: Iwaskai Taku

sir, excuse me for interrupting
allow me to introduce myself
butler yes I am yes I am
lord’s order is what I am
taking care of business
in these bases step into all those places
what I face is my lord’s thesis
writing it based on those pieces
ha elegant suit black and white is by the book
no limit I did shook the ground
so under it went underground
wanna know more? pay the price you will
then likely to cry in grief guilty like a thief?
no not so cheap I’m so past deep
collection of enemies keep to play
placing target on steep tray
sadistic that I may at the same time
masochistic that I fake matter of courtesy to say
uncertified story I’ll give then uncertified life you might live
and I’m not so sure if you want that
so take your time
to think for a minute please
earl and contessa

Kuroshitsuji Insert Song – Die Hasen!

As far as I can tell it’s an insert song that never made it into the anime.
It’s also in German. If someone fluent in German would like to take a crack at it, be my guest. I’ll credit you if you can share the translation with me.
A quick glance at the Japanese text provided in the booklet indicates that the song is about bunny rabbits and running around.

Die Hasen!
Lyrics: Kano Kaori
Composition: Iwasaki Taku
Arrangment: Iwasaki Taku

Weiter, weiter, immer weiter! Lauf bis wohin?
Straßen und Gassen nach rechts oder links.
Mögen der Himmel, die Sonne uns dummen
zeigen “Wo ist der Schwur?”

Kuroshitsuji Insert Song – Si deus me relinquit

This is the chilling soprano song heard in a few episode of Kuroshitsuji. The lyrics were originally in Latin, but a Japanese translation was provided in the lyrics booklet.
There are five people listed on the page of credits in the booklet, but no specific singer was credited for this song.

Rating: 7/10. ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

If God has forsaken me
Lyrics: Konishi Kayo
Composition: Iwasaki Taku
Arrangement: Iwasaki Taku

If God has forsaken me,
Then I shall forsake God, too.

Only the oppressed may possess a black key,
I close all doors
Thus I seal away all prayers.

Attempting to Solve Umineko Episode (Arc) 1

The following is my best theory currently for how the events in Episode 1 (the first anime arc) of Umineko no Naku Koro ni were committed. However, I offer no motives or exact logistics.

Kanon is the murderer, and he is in cahoots with Nanjo.

Going to Kumoricon 2009

A very late notice, but I’ll be attending Kumoricon 2009 in Portland, Oregon, from September 5th through 7th.
If you make it there and see something like the above picture, that might be my group.
I’m throwing together a costume in three days.