Botchan

Botchan

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by Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri Copyright laws
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Title: Botchan (Master Darling)
Author: Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri
Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8868] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 17,
2003]
Edition: 10

Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTCHAN
(MASTER DARLING) ***

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BOTCHAN (MASTER DARLING)
By The Late Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume
TRANSLATED By Yasotaro Morri
Revised by J. R. KENNEDY
1919

A NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR
No translation can expect to equal, much less to excel, the original. The
excellence of a translation can only be judged by noting how far it has
succeeded in reproducing the original tone, colors, style, the delicacy of
sentiment, the force of inert strength, the peculiar expressions native to
the language with which the original is written, or whatever is its
marked characteristic. The ablest can do no more, and to want more
than this will be demanding something impossible. Strictly speaking,
the only way one can derive full benefit or enjoyment from a foreign
work is to read the original, for any intelligence at second-hand never
gives the kind of satisfaction which is possible only through the direct
touch with the original. Even in the best translated work is probably
wanted the subtle vitality natural to the original language, for it defies
an attempt, however elaborate, to transmit all there is in the original.
Correctness of diction may be there, but spontaneity is gone; it cannot
be helped.
The task of the translator becomes doubly hazardous in case of
translating a European language into Japanese, or vice versa. Between
any of the European languages and Japanese there is no visible kinship
in word-form, significance, grammatical system, rhetorical

arrangements. It may be said that the inspiration of the two languages is
totally different. A want of similarity of customs, habits, traditions,
national sentiments and traits makes the work of translation all the
more difficult. A novel written in Japanese which had attained national
popularity might, when rendered into English, lose its captivating
vividness, alluring interest and lasting appeal to the reader.
These remarks are made not in way of excuse for any faulty dictions
that may be found in the following pages. Neither are they made out of
personal modesty nor of a desire to add undue weight to the present
work. They are made in the hope that whoever is good enough to go
through the present translation will remember, before he may venture to
make criticisms, the kind and extent of difficulties besetting him in his
attempts so as not to judge the merit of the original by this translation.
Nothing would afford the translator a greater pain than any unfavorable
comment on the original based upon this translation. If there be any
deserving merits in the following pages the credit is due to the original.
Any fault found in its interpretation or in the English version, the whole
responsibility is on the translator.
For the benefit of those who may not know the original, it must be
stated that "Botchan" by the late Mr. K. Natsume was an epoch-making
piece of work. On its first appearance, Mr. Natsume's place and name
as the foremost in the new literary school were firmly established. He
had written many other novels of more serious intent, of heavier
thoughts and of more enduring merits, but it was this "Botchan" that
secured him the lasting fame. Its quaint style, dash and vigor in its
narration appealed to the public who had become somewhat tired of the
stereotyped sort of manner with which all stories had come to be
handled.
In its simplest understanding, "Botchan" may be taken as an episode in
the life of a son born in Tokyo, hot-blooded,