カタカナLiterary Work

ハッピーは　なんですか。

のりこちゃんは　バスで　しょうがっこうから　うちまで　かえりました。しゅくだいが　ありましたから、いそがしかったです。　のりこちゃんの　せんせいは　いいました。「みなさん、きょうのしゅくだいです。かぞくに　きいてください。“ハッピーは　なんですか”。」

それから、のりこちゃんは　おとうさんにききました。「おとうさん、ハッピーは　なんですか。」おとうさんは　いいました。「あのう、おかあさんの　りょうりを　たべます。ハッピー　です。」

のりこちゃんは　おねえさんの　へやへ　いきました。のりこちゃんは　おねえさんにききました。「おねえさん、ハッピーは　なんですか。」おねえさんは　いいました。「かれから　プレセントを　もらいます。ハッピーです。」

のりこちゃんは　だいどころへ　いきました。のりこちゃんは　おかあさんに　ききました。　「おかあさん、ハッピーは　なんですか。」おかあさんは　いいました。　「えと．．．かぞくと　いっしょにいます。ハッピー　です。」

のりこちゃんは　おばあさんの　へやへ　いきました。のりこちゃんは　おばあさんに　ききました。「おばあちゃん、わかりません。イライラします。ハッピーが　わかりません。」おばあさんは　のりこちゃんを　だきしめました。そして　いいました。「いま、ハッピー　です。」

のりこちゃんは　かきました。「ハッピーは　あい　です。」

There are various instances of カタカナusage in this piece. I will explain the less significant instances before moving into the central example. A couple words, バス and プレセント, are written in カタカナbecause they are loanwords. Another instance is the word イライラ (frustrated) which is onomatopoeic and therefore written in カタカナ.

The most important usage of カタカナin this story, and actually the most important word in this story, is the word ハッピー. On the most basic level, ハッピー is written in カタカナin order to drive the plot; のりこちゃん’s homework is to ask her family the meaning of this foreign word. Thus, ハッピーis written in カタカナbecause it is being used as a loanword. However, I specifically used カタカナin order to heighten のりこちゃん’s confusion and emphasize the quest. I thought using しあわせ（な）would make のりこちゃん’s questions merely homework, standard vocabulary learning of Japanese words for elementary students. Using カタカナand the American word, however, elevated her mundane homework to the level of personal journey and added an element of the unknown, the foreign. That was my intention in using カタカナ.

さくぶん ２

やまださんへ、
はじめまして。　つかやま　エリサ　です。　ハワイから　きましたが、いま　ニューヨークに　います。コロンビアだいがくの　よねんせい　です。えいがと　えいぶんがくを　べんきょうします。そして　にほんごの　いちねんせい　です。だいがくの　せいかつは　いそがしい　ですが、おもしろい　です。コロンビアの　キャンパスは　きれい　です。そして　しずか　です。でも　ニューヨークは　きれい　じゃありません。　そして　しずか　じゃありません。にぎやか　です。そして　ニューヨークの　せいかつは　たいへんですが、とても　たのしい　です。７月３１日に　にほんへ　いきます。　よろしく　おねがいします。
つかやま　エリサ

Katakana Analysis Draft

One interesting usage of カタカナ can be found in the branding of the Japanese clothing store chain Uniqlo. At first read, the reason for the use of カタカナ in Uniqlo's logo and name, ユニクロ, may appear to simply be the use of a loanword. ユニクロ seems to be a kind of combination of "unique" and "clothes". However, this reading does not adequately explain the entire depth of meaning behind the brand's choice to write in カタカナ. Uniqlo is a Japan- based, Western-style clothing store with a selection of mainly basic graphic tees and jeans. Thus, the use of カタカナ may be a reflection of the brand's desire to associate itself with more of a Western appeal. The trend in Japan toward the Western as the cool also cannot be overlooked. The use of カタカナ in the branding undoubtedly ups Uniqlo's cool factor, and thus its desirability and sales.


Another interesting use of カタカナ with complicated reasoning behind it is the title of one of サカナクション's songs. サカナクション is a band from Sapporo, Hokkaido whose music ranges from alternative rock to electronic to dance pop. Of course, the very title of the band is an interesting case of カタカナ usage. The band name is a combination of a Japanese word and an English word, sakana (fish) and action, and could have been written as a combination of kanji and romaji. However, the combination seems to merit the use of カタカナ. As the band name is neither wholly Japanese nor wholly English, but rather something in between, カタカナ is a perfect fit as a kind of in between cultures writing system.

But this is a digression. My main interest is in a song title off their most recent album: "モノクロトウキョー". Translated into English, this song is "Monochrome Tokyo". Here again, as seen in the very name of the band, is a combination of an English word and a Japanese word. However, whereas the Japanese word in the name of the band was　さかな written in カタカナ, the Japanese word in the title of this song is とうきょう. The writing of the name of the nation's capital in カタカナ can be read in many different ways. One of the more negative readings could be a kind of corruption of the symbol of Japan, taking it and making it foreign. However, I see this not as an insult to Japan, but rather as a reflection of the singer's personal state. The song is about wandering the streets of Tokyo and feeling as though walking in a strange land. The lyrics are laden with a sense of isolation and loneliness, as though the singer is disconnected from Tokyo. With this reading in mind, the writing of the Japanese capital in カタカナ effectively conveys the feeling that this city, so familiar and central to the nation, is somehow a foreign land to the singer.