EDIT: It seems there is a recent reading club already that will start in a month XD The pace might be a bit too steep for the time I have every day, so I think I’ll still continue with this log for myself. Everything is in spoilers, so I hope I won’t interfere too much with y’all’s club
I’m finally found a book that fits my level, and for at least the first few pages, I wanted to be very thorough and systematic in my translations to become more confident in my translation skills. So I have decided to just keep a little log here, to save my progress, and maybe help some other people with reading through at least the first part of this book. If you see any errors, I would love to know.
I’m reading the novel that Kiki’s Delivery Service is based on. You can find the specific book I’m using in the link here (x).
When defining pages, I include sentences that start on that page, then run off to the next page.
Page 7
Somewhere, between a deep forest and a gently sloped, grassy hill, there is a small village.
有る所 「に」
There is a place (Somewhere…)
深い森 「と」
Deep forest
傾らかな草山 「に」
Gently sloping hills
挟まれて
To interpose, to hold between, to be on either side
小さな町 「が」
Small (subjective) village
ありました
There is
To the south of this village, on the town’s gradually descending slope, small roofs the color of burned bread line up one after another.
この町 [は] 南 「へ」
To the south of this village
ゆっくりさがる坂の町 「で」
On the town’s slowly descending slope
焦げたパンのような色 「の」
The color of burned bread
小さな屋根 「が」
Small roofs
並んでいます
Are lined up
Furthermore, huddled around the train station, roughly in the center of the village, there are several familiar places, like a government office, a police station, a fire station, and a school.
そして
And then, Also, Furthermore
の略真ん中には駅
Roughly in the center (smack dab in the middle) of the village, a train station
ちょっとは慣れた所 「には」
A few slightly familiar places
固まって、
To harden, but likely to be huddled together
役所、警察署、消防署、学校あります
There is a government office, police station, fire station and school
This village seems commonplace, like a normal village.
この町 「は」
This village
どこにでもある
Commonplace
普通の町のようです
Like a normal village
However, if you look very carefully, there are things that you wouldn’t see very often in a normal village.
ところが
However,
し気を付けてみる「と」
If you look a little bit carefully
普通の町では
Normal village
あまり見られない
Can’t see many/Can’t see very well
ものがあるのです
There are things （Explanatory）
Firstly, from the top of the tree that is said to be the highest tree of the village, a silver bell is hanging.
その一つ「は」
As for the first thing,
町の高い木という木の天辺「に」
At the top of the tree that is said to be the highest tree of the village
ぶら下げている
Is hanging from
銀色の鈴です
Is a silver bell
There are times when this bell rings occasionally, despite there being no wind.
この鈴「は」
This bell,
風でもない「のに」
Unlike the wind「in order to」(Despite there being no wind)
時々な音をだす
Occasionally exhibiting a sound
ことがあるのです
There are times when （explanatory）
When this happens, the villagers look at each other and laugh together; “Little Kiki caught her foot again, didn’t she?”
すると
If it is done, （when that happens）
町の人たち「は」
Villagers
顔を見合わせて、
Look at each other, and
「おや、おや、
“My, my,
またちっちゃなキキ「が」
Again, wee little Kiki
足を引っかけたね」
Caught her foot again, didn’t she?“
と笑いあうのでした
They laughed together.(explanatory)
How do you read most of the time? That seems to be my only setting XD
Do you just vibe through it and guess things from context?
Currently I’m committing to this so that I can get the confidence to do that, so far like 80-90% of my guesses were correct.
Page 8
Because of this, there have been rumours that this Kiki is not ordinary.
そう、皆「に」
Thus, everyone
噂されている
Has been rumouring (Passive continuous of うわさする)
このキキ「も」、
This Kiki
普通ではありません。
Not ordinary
This is because of the little one’s tendency to ring the bell in the highest tree.
ち、っ、ち、ゃ、な、くせ「に」
Wee little tendency/quirk
高い木の鈴「を」鳴らす
To ring the high tree’s bell
のですから。
My explanation is
In that case, shall we try to have a little peek at the house of this bell striker, Kiki’s residence, in the eastern outer bounds of the town?
それでは、
In that case
目「を」
Used for last sentence
町の東の外れ「に」
In the eastern outer bounds of the town
打つ仕手、
The striker (The strike doer)
キキが住んでいる家「を」
Kiki’s residence (the house where they are residing)
ちょっとのぞいてみましょうか。
Shall we try to have a little peek
A wooden sign, hanging on one of the pillars of a gate looking out over the road, says: “We’ll share sneezing medicine with you!”. A gate door, painted green, is opened widely.
通りに面した門の柱「には」、
On a pillar of the gate looking out over the road
「くしゃみのお薬
Sneezing medicine
お分けいたします」
Expression: We’ll share with you (so basically: free sneeze medicine!)
という木のふだ「が」
A wooden sign that says
かかっていて、
Is hanging, and
緑色のペンキ「で」
By means of green paint (pek)
ぬった戸「が」
Painted gate door
大きく開いています
Opening wide
If you go through the gate, there is a spacious garden. And in the back of the garden, on the left, a one-story house is visible.
そこを入ると、
If you enter there、
広い庭があって、
There is a wide garden,
左奥に平屋の家「が」
On the left and in the back, a one-story house,
見えます。
You can see
In the garden, various strange herbs with big and pointy leaves has grown in a perfect line. Both a pungent and fragrant smell wafts through the area surrounding it.
庭には、
In the garden,
大きな葉やとがった葉のいろいろ変わった草「が」
Various strange herbs with all kinds of leaves such as big ones or pointy ones
綺麗にならべて
Beautifully lined up
植えてあり、
Has been growing
あたり一面に、
On the whole surface nearby
なにか-ぷんと-こうばしい-ようなにおい「が」
Something “reeking and fragrant”-like smell
ただよっています
Is wafting
This smell continues up to the inside of the house, where the strongest smell seems to be coming from a big copper pot in the kitchen.
この匂いは家の中まで
This smell until the inside of the house
つづいていて、
Is continuing,
台所-において-ある
As for the kitchen
おおきな銅のおなべのところ「で」
The place of a big copper pot
いちばん強くにおうようです。
It seems the strongest smell
From the kitchen, just visible on the main wall in the living room, you would expect to see things like paintings and pictures, like you would see at any house. Instead, two brooms with bundles of wooden branches, a big one and a small one, are perfectly lined up in a decorative manner. You could possibly say that that is a bit unusual.
台所からは、
From the kitchen
ちょうど居間の正面の壁が見えますが、
Just visible on the wall of the main living room.
どこの家でも見られるような
Just like what can be seen in any house,
絵や写真のかわりに、
Instead of things like paintings, and pictures,
木の枝をーたばねたーほうきーが、
A broom with a bunch of wooden branches tied up around it
大きいのと小さいのと、
Big and small
二本ならべてかざってあるのが、
Two are lined up and decorating
ちょっと変わっている
A little unusual
といえましょうか。
Let’s possibly say that
Page 9
My, from the living room, a talking family becomes audible. Apparently it’s tea time.
おや、居間から
My, from the living room
家族の話し声「が」
Family speaking voice
聞こえてきました。
Came to be able to hear
どうやらお茶の時間のようです。
Apparently it’s tea time.
“Kiki, when are you planning on leaving?”
「キキ、出発はいつに
Kiki, departure when
するつもりなの。
The plan to do something.
“It’s about time you told me.”
もうそろそろ
Anymore (negative sentence) slowly
聞かせてくれてもいい
To make someone hear for me is ok
んじゃないの。
Not.
“You can’t stay here forever you know. Pull yourself together.”
いつまでも
Forever
ぐずぐず伸ばす
Linger and hold out
わけにはいかないわ。
Cannot afford/impossible to do, you know.
しっかりしてよ」
Pull yourself together.
A seemingly unhappy woman’s voice.
不満そうな
Seems like unhappiness
女の人の声です。
A woman’s voice
“Ugh, that story again… Alright mum.”
「また、その話なの……
Once more, that story…(That discussion again…
だいじょうぶよ、
OK, you know.
かあさん。
Mum
“Even though I am my mother's daughter, I am an unimportant witch.”
あたしだって
Even though I
母さんの娘です。
Is mother’s daughter.
魔女の端くれです。
A witch without importance.
“I think this earnestly.”
ちゃんとまじめに「ちゃんと真面目に」
Seriously earnest
考えてるわ」
Am thinking about （Emotionally, feminine）
A slightly persistent-sounding female voice.
ちょっと
Just a little
うるさそうな
Loud-sounding/Persistent-sounding
女の子の声です。
Female voice.
“Mum, why don’t you just leave it up to Kiki.”
「母さん、もうキキ
Mum, Kiki already
にまかせ（る）
Leave it up to
たらどうだい。(the い is kind of like “Well?” in a familiar way)
Why don’t you
“Kiki must be interested in that, I think it’s useless no matter how often you say it.”
キキが
Kiki
その気にならなくちゃ、
Must be interested in that
いくらいっても
No matter how much you say it（いくら～でも）
むだだ（無断だ）
Is useless
と思うよ」
I think, you know
This time, a calm male voice
こんどは、（今度は）
This time,
落ち着いた男の人の声です。
A calm male voice.
“Yeah, you could say that. However, I feel uneasy, I feel responsible.”
「ええ、そうかもしれません。
Yeah, you could say that.
でもあたし気が気じゃないんです。
However, I feel uneasy.
責任、感じちゃって」(てしまって)
Responsibility, I feel (unfortunately).
A female voice calls mum, which was slightly higher.
母さんと呼ばれている
Mom is being called
女の人の声「が」
A female voice
少し高くなりました。
It became slightly high.
Do you understand yet? In this house lives a family of witches.
もう、おわかりでしょうか。
Already, do you understand?
この家には、
In this house,
魔女の一家「が」
A witch family
住んでいるのです
Is residing.
Although one might say Mum (Mrs. Kokiri) comes from a long lineage of genuine witches, Dad (Mr. Okino) is a normal human being.
といっても、
Although one might say,
かあさんのコキリさんは、
Mum is Mrs.Kokiri,
長い伝統をもつ
Holds a long tradition
正真正銘「の」
Genuine, authentic
魔女ですが、
Witches, but
とうさんのオキノさんは、
Dad is Mr.Okino
ふつうの人間です。
Normal human being.
Page 10
He is a student in folklore, and is a researcher who focusses on folk stories regarding fairies and witch traditions.
民俗学者「で」、
Folklore studies student
妖精や
Fairies (yosei)
魔女についての伝統や
Witches regarding tradition
民話「を」
Folk stories
研究している人です。
Research person is.
And thus, Kiki was born as this couple’s only daughter, and she will become 13 years old this year.
そして、キキは、
And thus, Kiki,
この二人の間に
In this two person relationship
生まれた、
Was born
今年十三歳「に」なる
And has become 13 years old this year.
一人娘なのです。
And is an only daughter
Now, the three of them are discussing when Kiki would have to become independent.
今、こうして三人「が」
Now, thus the three of us
話しあっているの「は」、
Talking together/Discussing
キキの一人立ちの目「を」
Opinions on Kiki’s independence
いつにするか
When doing?
ということなのでした。
Were -ing.
When humans and witches get marries, and a child is born, if that child is a daughter, it is generally normal that they have to live as a witch.
人間と魔女が結婚をして、
Humans and witches getting married
生まれた子ども「が」
And a child is born
女の子の場合「は」、
In the case of a daughter
たいてい魔女として生きていくの「が」
Generally, having to live as a witch
ふつうでした。
Was normal.
However, since there are occasionally children that don’t want to, when they turn ten, it had become a good thing to decide for themselves.
でもたまにはいやがる
Even though occasionally dislike
子もいるので、
Since there is also a child
十歳を過ぎたころ、
After about ten years have passed
自分で決めてよいこと「に」
A good thing to decide for yourself
なっていました。
It had been becoming.
If they were to become a witch, when they make the decision, mom immediately starts teaching magic to them. Then on the night of a full moon during the year they turn 13, they will choose whether to become independent.
もし魔女になると
If they were to become a witch
決心がつけば、
If there is determination attached (if you make up your mind)
ただちに（直ちに）おかあさん「から」
Immediately, from mom
魔法をおしえてもらって、
They will be taught magic
十三歳の年の満月の夜をえらんで、
Then choose on the night of the full moon of the year they turn 13,
一人立ちをすることになります。
Whether to become independent.
This witch’s independence means going away from home, and looking for towns and villages without witches to start a life just on your own.
この魔女のひとり立ちというのは、
This “witch’s independence”,
自分の家をはなれ、
Going away from your own home
魔女のいない町や村をさがして、
Witches search for villages and towns where there are no witches
たった一人で
Just alone
暮らしはじめることです。
To start their life.
Of course, for a small girl, this is a very difficult thing. However, nowadays, for the sake of the survival of a remarkably decreased number of witches whose magic powers have become weaker, these are important customs.
もちろん、小さな女の子にとって
Of course, for a small girl,
それはたいへんなことだったのですが、
This is a very difficult thing, but
今では魔法の力も弱くなり、
Nowadays, magic power is weak,
数もめっきり少なくなってしまった
The number has remarkably lessened
魔女たちが生きのこっていく（生き残っていく）ためには、
For the sake of the survival of witches,
大切な習慣なのでした。
Customs were really important.
It is also a good way to let people know that there are still proper witches, in as many towns and villages as possible, and thus as many people as possible.
一つでも多くの町や村に、
Whenever there is a large amount of villages and towns (in as many towns and villages as possible
そして一人でも多くの人に、
And thus, as many people as possible,
魔女がまだちゃんといること「を」
There are still proper witches
知ってもらうためには、
For the sake of letting people know
いい方法でもあったのです。
There is also a good manner.
I should have more time for the coming two weeks, so I’m planning on having Chapter 1 done before the end of the week (up to page 13). Then, I’m also going to publish my deck for this book on BunPro, if anyone is interested.
Page 11
For Kiki, when she was halfway her tenth year, she made the decision to become a witch, and immediately after that, Kokiri-san started teaching her the magic she knew.
キキの場合も、
In Kiki’s case,
十歳の中ごろ、
When about halfway ten years old
魔女になる決心をしたのですが、
Making the decision to become a witch, but
そのあとすぐ、
Immediately after that,
コキリさんの持っている魔法を習いはじめました。
Kokiri-san started teaching the magic she possessed.
First, growing medicinal herbs, and how to make a sneeze medication, then after that, flying by means of a broom.
一つは薬草を育てて
Firstly, growing medicinal herbs and
くしゃみのらくをつくること、
Making a sneeze relief
もう一つはほうきで空「を」
Another, broom in the air
飛ぶことの二つでした。
Flying was the second thing.
She became great at flying on a broom very quickly.
ほうきで空を飛ぶのは、
Flying on a broom,
すぐ上手になりました。
Became immediately skilled.
However, since she had just about to become an adult, she had unfortunately become interesting in various flying things. (This possibly just means distractions in general, not literally birds?)
ただ、ちょっぴりおとなになりかけでしたから、
However, because she was about to become an adult,
飛んでいるいろいろなこと「に」
Various flying things
気をひかれてしまうのでした。
Unfortunately, I was interested in it.
For example, about such things as big pimples on the side of her nose appearing, or the dress to wear to a friend’s birthday.
たとえば、鼻のわき「に」
For example, side of nose
よく出る大きなにきびのこととか、
About big pimples appearing,
友だちのたんじょう日「に」
Friend’s birthday
着るドレスのこととか。
About the dress to wear.
Because of this, disaster happens, and the broom quickly starts falling.
On one occasion, she was so preoccupied with the lace underwear she had been wearing for the first time, that the broom quickly starts falling without her noticing, resulting in an unexpected collision with a telephone pole.
あるときは、
On one occasion,
はじめて
For the first time,
着たレースの下着のことばかり気にして、
Think about nothing but the lace underpants I wore,
落ちだしたのも気づかず「に」
Suddenly began falling without noticing
電信柱「に」
Telephone pole
ぶつかってしまったのです。
Unexpectedly collide with
The broom chaotically broke, and Kiki’s doing unfortunately also created a total of three swellings, on the tip of her nose, and both her knees.
ほうきはめちゃめちゃにこわれ、
The broom messily broke
キキのほう「は」
Kiki’s method
鼻の頭と両足のひざっこぞう「に」
The tip of her nose and both her kneecaps,
合計三つもこぶ「を」
Three bumps in total
つくってしまいました。
Unfortunately created.
Because of that, this is why Mother Kokiri-san chose a tall tree and attached a bell to it.
それでかあさんのコキリさんが、
Because of that, Mother Kokiri-san,
高い木をえらんで
Chose a tall tree
鈴をとりつけた
Install a bell
というわけなのです。
This is why
Even if Kiki accidentally flies carelessly low, if her foot hits the bell, she will pay attention due to its sound.
キキがついうっかりして低く飛んでも、
Kiki, even if flying accidentally, carelessly low
足が鈴にあたれば
If foot hits the bell
音で気がつくように。
In order to pay attention by means of the sound
However, these days, the amount of times the bell rings has remarkably been reducing.
このごろでは、
These days,
鈴のなる回数は
The amount of times the bell rings
めっきり減っていますが。。。
Remarkably reducing, but
However, Sneeze medicine production doesn’t seem to quite match Kiki’s personality for some reason.
ところが、もう一つのくしゃみ「の」
Even so, doesn’t quite, sneeze
薬づくり「は」
Medicine production
どうもキキの性「に」
For some reason, Kiki’s personality
あわないようです。
Does not seem to match.
Perhaps it is due to her impatience, but no matter what, she is unable to be skilled at growing medicinal herbs, finely chopping leaves and roots, and being able to carefully boil down and concentrate.
気が短いというのでしょうか、
Don’t you think there is very little patience?
薬草をそだて、
Growing medicinal herbs
葉や根を細かくきざんで、
Finely chop leaves and roots,
じっくり煮詰めていくことが、
Be able to go and and carefully boil down/concentrate
どうしてもじょうずにできないのです。
Regardless of whether skilled, unable to do so.
Page 12
“I wonder if this means another type of magic will disappear”, Kokiri-san sighs.
「また一つ、魔法が消えちゃうのかしら」と、
“I wonder if another magic will unfortunately disappear”
コキリさんはなげいています。
Kokiri-san is sighing.
Long ago, witches were able to use various types of magic.
むかし、魔女といえばいろいろな魔法「を」
Long ago, speaking of witches, various types of magic
使うことができました。
Were able to be used.
Unfortunately, before anyone knew it, they disappeared one by one. Nowadays, despite Kokiri-san being a genuine witch, she can only use two types. It is understandable that Kiki hates one of the two.
それが、いつのまにか
Unfortunately, without noticing
一つ一つときえてしまい、
One by one, they disappeared
今では正真正銘（しょうしんしょうめい）の魔女のコキリさんでも、
Nowadays、despite Kokiri-san being a genuine witch,
たったの二つしか使えず、
Who can only use two types
そのかたっぽう「を」
That one of a pair
キキがいやがるのですから、
Because Kiki hates
無理もありません。
Is understandable.
“You know, after all, it’s always much more fun to fly through the air, than to stir a pot.”
「だってさ、お鍋をかき回すより、
After all you know, rather than stirring a pot
空を飛ぶほう「が」
Flying is better
ずっといい気もなんですもの」
Because it’s also fun all the time.
Kiki decides entirely. Since that is the case, Okina-san intervenes against Kokiri-san.
キキはけろりとしています。
Kiki decides entirely.
そうなると、オキノさん「が」
Since that is the case, Okino-san
コキリさんをとりなします。
Intervenes against Kokiri-san.
“Now now, it can’t be helped, can it? Eventually, we might reach a point of being able to do disappeared magic again after all, you know? Also, there are black cat, aren’t there?”
「まあ、しょうがないじゃないか。
Now now, it can’t be helped, can it?
そのうち、きえた魔法「が」
Eventually, disappeared magic
またできるようになること
Reaching the point of being able again
だってあるかもしれないよ。
After all, there might be, you know.
それに黒猫だっているじゃないか」
Also, black cat after all needed, doesn’t she.
Since long ago, witches were accompanied by black cats. This might also be considered a type of magic.
むかしから、魔女には黒猫「が」
Since long ago, for witches, black cats
つきものでした。
Were an accompaniment.
これも一つの魔法といえるかもしれません。
This might also be a type of magic.
Kiki also has a little black cat with the name Jiji. Kokori-san also had a cat a long time ago, named Meme.
キキにも、
For Kiki as well,
ジジという名の小さな黒猫がいます。
There is a small black cat named Jiji.
コキリさんにも
As well as for Kokiri-san,
昔はメメという黒猫がいました。
Long ago there was a black cat named Meme.
When a witch mother gives birth to a girl, she searches for a black cat born in the same time period, and raises them together.
魔女のお母さんは、
A witch’s mother
女の子が生まれると、
If give birth to girl,
同じ時期に生まれた黒猫を探して、
They search for a black cat born in the same time period, and
一緒にそだてていきます。
And raise them together.
Meanwhile, the girl and the cat reach the point of being able to have conversations between only themselves.
そのあいだに、
During that time,
女の子と黒猫「は」
Girl and cat,
ふたりだけのおしゃべり「が」
Only have conversations between the two
できるようになるのでした。
Reached the point of being able to
Page 13
Before long, for the girl who will gain independence, this cat is a very important companion.
やがて独り立ちする女の子にとって、
Before long, for the girl who becomes independent
この猫はとてもたいせつな仲間です。
This cat is a very important companion.
Whether it is sadness or happiness, it is very reassuring to have someone who can share your feelings with.
悲しくっても、
Whether it is sad
うれしくても、
Whether it is happy
分かち合える者がいることは、
There is someone who you can share with
とても心強いことなのです。
Is very reassuring.
Before long, the girl will also grow to adulthood, and the cat could be replaced by an important person. If they end up getting married, the cat will look for its own partner, and end up living its own separate life.
やがて女の子も成長し、
Before long, the girl will also grow to adulthood
猫に代わるような大切な人ができ、
An important person that is able to replace the cat
結婚ということになると、
If they end up getting married
黒猫も自分の相手を見つけて、
The cat will look for their own partner
わかれて暮らすようになるのでした。
It will end up getting its own separate life.
I had a real big reading day today. With the way I’m dissecting these pages, and then creating BunPro decks from them, it takes about 2 hours per full page, so that’s like 5-6 hours today XD.
