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to be in charge
Kanji 1288

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

From the head of the haiku society to Prime Minister Abe, 宰 enables you to talk about the person in charge. By reading about 宰 in this essay, you'll also learn about an ancient, powerful organization that shaped Japanese culture, a great man who ran Japan after the war, and a fascinating writer whose personal life was such a mess that it'll make you feel good about yours!

Revision history:

Feb. 11, 2022: 

  • p. 2, Etymology Box: Updated the Henshall etymology.
  • p. 13: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Aug. 13, 2018: Originally published.

Comments

eve's picture
The writer Osamu Dazai plays a large part in this essay. In autumn 2018, Stone Bridge Press will publish a new translation of his famous work "Ningen Shikkaku," which I discuss in the essay. (Stone Bridge has called it "A Shameful Life." I referred to it as "No Longer Human.") The Stone Bridge translation has already won the William F. Sibley Memorial Subvention Award for Japanese Translation! https://www.stonebridge.com/catalog/a-shameful-life-ningen-shikkaku
 

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Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 1288 on 宰 (to be in charge), titled "Running the Show"
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JOYO ON-YOMI
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JOYO KUN-YOMI
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STROKES10
RADICAL宀 (40: katakana u)
JLPTN1
HALPERN1460/1965
HENSHALL1288/1373
SPAHN3m7.2