Kokuhaku: Part 1 of A Tanabata Story

A Few Notes on Language

This story takes place in Japan. If you are unfamiliar with Japanese honorifics like -san, -sama, -kun and -chan, or terms like senpai and kouhai, then keep reading. If you're a regular consumer of Japanese media feel free to skip to the first chapter.

In Japan it is very important to know your place and where you stand in relation to those around you. One's social position is embedded in and reinforced by the language itself. When speaking to someone you should know whether you are talking to someone with a higher or lower social position so that you know how to address them correctly.

Usually, one addresses another by their last name and attaches the honorific -san to the end. If they are very important, or you wish to be very respectful, then -sama may be used. If they are a subordinate or a peer, especially if they are male, then -kun may be used. If they are very young or female -chan may be used. -Sama, -san, -kun, -chan, each of these indicate an increased level of familiarity.

(It is worth paying attention to these in the story as indicators of how a character perceives their relationship with others and how those change--becoming more familiar or more respectful-over time or according to the situation).

One generally only uses a first name with family and close friends. One also speaks in very different language depending on the level of closeness one shares so it is important not to offend someone by being either too formal or too familiar with someone. Knowing how to read the situation and respond correctly is an important skill in Japanese and is often referred to as "Reading the Air" or "Reading the Atmosphere". (You may see several references to "atmosphere" in the story as it is something that someone living in Japan would pay attention to.) An inability to read the air may get you labeled as kuuki yomenai or KY.

There are other, though generally less used, honorifics and one may sometimes substitute a title in place of an honorific. For example, adding sensei to a name to refer to a teacher or senpai to refer to an older student or more experienced co-worker. Strangely enough, it does not seem that a senior would address his junior directly as kohai. In the same way one might refer to their older brother as Onii-san/Nii-san/Nii-chan or older sister as Onee-san/Nee-san/Nee-chan but older siblings generally just address younger siblings by their name.

Since this story takes place in Japan, it may be assumed that, unless the narrative specifies otherwise, all the dialog is in Japanese. I have however included a number of Japanese words for flavor. In most cases, their meanings should be clear from context though I've also slipped in an explanation in the narrative or dialog at times. Some of the more common are:

Gaijin - outsider

Gomen/Gomenasai - Sorry/I'm sorry

Ohayou/ohayou gozaimasu - morning/good morning

Tadaima - I'm back (home)

Itadakimasu - I humbly receive (this food)