You’re a coward, Koyama-sensei. Write actual English. Katsuwo would have written actual English. Though, I was half expecting to discover, after Sumire spending the chapter studying English to excess, that he was actually speaking French.
Chapter 109
What’s the purpose of the あじろ? Googling seems to suggest that it’s a fairly common practice in Kyoto to lay it over one’s tatami mats in June, but near as I can tell, the chief purpose is… ambiance? And maybe it feels a bit cooler underfoot than tatami, I’m not sure.
Chapter 110
Oh, another day-in-the-life chapter.
Chapter 111
I’m here for that cat. Apparently the name means the crispy scorched rice at the bottom of the pot, but in colloqual usage it also refers to a woman who enjoys the company of gay men, so read into that how you will…
I pondered whether the sunscreen on the second page is a real product, but it’s juuust generic enough that it could be anything. Found these after just a little bit of Googling, for example:
As for Riko’s question on the last page, one idly wonders if Japanese people actually know what SPF stands for. To answer, it’s the “Sun Protection Factor”, which is a measure of the fraction of UV rays will pass through - SPF 50 means 1/50th will get through. Higher numbers are better, though experts here in Australia suggest that grades above 50 shouldn’t be sold because they give a false sense of security - SPF 100 sounds like it’s twice as good as SPF 50, so people stay out in the sun longer, reapply it less often, and so forth. In actual fact, it’s only a one percentage point improvement. It’s better, certainly, but it doesn’t make you invincible.
They’re not even allowed an unscheduled hair-down day when they have a cold? That’s a bit rough.
I’ve linked this before, but it’s been a while, so: the chapter’s penultimate panel is Takashimaya. I walked past this place on my trip last month, and I thought of taking the parents inside to check it out, but I didn’t.
What exactly did Kenta go knocking at Grandma’s door at ten to eight for? The offering of the rusks feels like a spur-of-the-moment idea that catches him by surprise, so what was the original purpose of his visit?
I don’t know if it’s because they are not allowed an unscheduled hair down day as much as it would be such a drag to go through redoing their hair. Up to now they have made it a point to say they (especially Tsurukoma) hate spending time going to get their hair set, so I think it’s more a choice they make rather than being forced to keep their hair through sickness.
Reckon the たわしや featured is Naito Shoten. (I walked right past this place on my trip. Even visited the Lawson across the road. Never noticed it was there. Not that I particularly had any reason to notice it…) Here is one of the thingies that Kiyo bought.
