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foxinthestarsWell, it's been a few days since I finished my 'fic. (The Allison & Lillia stuff is still, like, dancing on my head and I don't know what to do except ride it out for awhile...) Now for something different.
I've been trying to brush up my Japanese lately, and one way I'm studying is by trying to translate things that I would like to read. At "muddling through with a stack of dictionaries* and occasionally getting lost and just taking a desperate stab" level, I don't feel up to signing on with a scanlation group or anything like that, but my translations won't do anyone any good hoarded privately on my hard drive, so I thought I should at least share them with you all.
What I've got today is After 0 by Okazaki Jiro, a collection of sort of Twilight-Zone-esque sci-fi one-shots. Way back when I was a youngling, there was a Japanese-learners' magazine called Mangajin that I enjoyed very much and still mourn sometimes, and among the various things they reprinted were a couple of After 0 stories, and they're what's stayed with me the most. I bought the whole thing awhile back, and have slowly and sporadically been working on translating it as described above, so here for your perusing pleasure is the first story: "The Buddha Descends," in the form of rough scans with a translated script (rtf format).
http://www.uploadstation.com/file/YpsBca9/after0_1-01.zip
(If you try this at some later date and the link is dead, leave a comment and I'll try to refresh it.)
Sorry about the annoying uploader site link; a disadvantage of giving up my own web-hosting... I apologize also that the scans are crap, but I'll tell you why they are: these books are printed so tight into the spine that the only way to get really good scans would be to carefully cut the pages out (when there's a little sidebar at the end you will completely have to take my word for it), and I wasn't willing to dismember my keeper copies or put down the money for sacrificial duplicates, so I decided to just not worry about it. Translating straight prose would be easier in a way, since I could just put it up as blog posts; well, maybe later (since I did find raws of most of the Allison & Lillia stuff...).
And since I can at least post this much, here's the translated script:
After 0
by Okazaki Jirou
Shogakukan Bunko Edition
Volume 1
ISBN # 978-4-09-196181-5
Chapter 1
[3, story title]
Panel 1:
Text: “Episode 1”
The Buddha Descends
[4]
Panel 1:
Sage: Hm...
Box: Sri Lanka [the foot of Adam’s Peak]
Panel 2:
Sage: A seated Buddha image over 3500 shaku* tall...
*approximately 1000 meters
Panel 3:
Pale Man: Yes, Master.
Panel 4:
Sage: Learned Jouchuu,
is it truly possible to make something so enormous?
Panel 5:
Pale Man (Jouchuu): I have a plan.
Nothing is impossible.
Sage: Well, well... If you build this giant Buddha, will that truly
bring the people good fortune?
[5]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: It will be a symbol.
I think it will be one signpost to open the door of salvation to the people.
Panel 2:
Monk: The Buddhist aspiration...
Easier said than done...
Panel 3:
Sage: However...
We won’t settle anything only sitting here worrying about this and that.
Panel 4:
Sage: This is also Mahayana...
Isn’t it good even to try?
Panel 5:
First Monk: ...Then...
Second Monk: Honestly, where do you think you will build it?
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: There is only one place appropriate for the Great Buddha. ...That is...
Panel 7:
Jouchuu: The Sky (space).
[6]
Panel 1:
Text: “2026. Oct.”
International Space Station “Sarnath”
Panel 2:
Mustache: But what a monster!
Panel 3:
Glasses: Overall length, 1085 meters.
About triple the diameter of this station, huh?
[7]
Panel 1:
Text: Having towed a stone from the asteroid belt to carve the Buddha,
they fix it in geosynchronous orbit 35,000 km in the sky above India.
Panel 2:
Mustache: Seriously, what are they thinking?
I guess World Buddhism has the money, but still...
Panel 3:
Glasses: Don’t tell it to me!
Religion and I don’t mix. That’s just the guy in charge.
Panel 4:
Mustache: Don’t talk like that. Taking on a big job like this is your kind of thing, isn’t it?
[8]
Panel 1:
Mustache: You’re a genius architect, and an amazing sculptor too!! At the tender age of 22,
you won the international A Class Architecture prize.
Glasses: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Panel 2:
Glasses: I’ll quit!
Mustache: Try it.
Panel 3:
No text
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: The planned Buddha image...
Will become the single heart of World Buddhism.
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: Although Buddhism has spread throughout the world...
it has no place to call a Holy Land.
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: Because it has thoroughly declined in its birthplace of India.
[9]
Panel 1:
Suit: Isn’t the heart of World Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Chairman Jouchuu?
Jouchuu: No. The headquarters is there, but not the heart.
Panel 2:
Jouchuu: Although Buddhism has taken various forms in the nations of the world,
it was impossible to choose a particular nation for that heart.
Panel 3:
Mustache: So, in space...
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: That’s right.
Panel 5:
Box: “2027. May”
[10]
Panel 1:
Box: Carving work began on the stone brought in from the asteroid belt.
Panel 2-3:
SFX: Click Click
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Hm... Calm... Dignity... To me, this design seems the best.
Glasses: Well, thanks ...Chairman.
Panel 5:
Glasses: Anyway, it’s the one planned to be done in half a year, right?
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: No one would ever guess that you’re an atheist, would they?
[11]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: I wonder if you were a priest in your last incarnation...
Glasses: (off bubble) You think so? Wouldn’t that be something?
(thinking) G’ah, again!! The church talk is more than I can take...
Panel 2:
Text: “2028. Jun”
Panel 3-4:
No text
Panel 5:
Intercom: Director Ogasaka, Director Ogasaka.
Please come to Gate No. 6.
Panel 6:
No text
Panel 7:
Glasses (Ogasaka): I forgot!! The Chairman was coming today.
[12]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Oho...
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: Ah, Mr. Ogasaka.
It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Let me introduce you. This is my niece, Onodera Miyuki.
Miyuki: Nice to meet you... I insisted that my uncle bring me along.
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: (off bubble) Nice to meet you... Oh, my...
(thinking) She’s cute!! She’s half something... ...maybe Scandinavian?
Panel 6:
Miyuki: I know your name already... since it’s the big name of a genius sculptor, huh?
Ogasaka: (thinking off bubble) Just what you’d expect from a religious official’s family... The picture of innocence!
[13]
Panel 1-2:
???: By the way, Chairman, I heard that there was growing opposition to the construction of the Buddha.
Jouchuu: That is so, isn’t it? What to do about the concerns among those of other religions---it’s a problem.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: It doesn’t seem so great yet, does it?
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: That’s just because we’re not there yet, but with no atmosphere, we’ll soon be close enough to see.
Panel 5:
No Text
Panel 6: We’ve gotten a lot done on the front.
[14]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Miyuki: Uwaaah! Incredible!
Ogasaka: This isn’t all, either.
Panel 3:
No text
Panel 4:
Jouchuu (?): Magnificent...
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: Truly worthy to be the heart of World Buddhism...
SFX: knock knock
Panel 6:
Note: Let’s have drinks later.
SFX: smack (sound of something being pasted)
Ogasaka: Wha-huh...?
[15]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: You sure drink like a fish.
That’s number 16.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: It’s fine... I’m not a Buddhist,
so I don’t have to worry about it like Uncle.
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: So you’re a rebel where he’s concerned?
Panel 5:
Miyuki: I am, huh?
I do respect him, but I guess I’m a rebel.
Panel 6:
Ogasaka: (Sighs) Why is it? You’re uncle’s popular, and I get what you’re saying, but... You’re not such a nice girl.
Miyuki: Sounds like I offended you.
Panel 7:
Miyuki: Hey, looking down from that high horse, are you in a bad mood?
[16]
Panel 1:
Miyuki: By the way, what about you?
Doing work like this, aren’t you the religious type?
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Give me a break!
I’m a materialist. I only believe in myself.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: Ah, so the two of us agree.
SFX: Cheers!
Ogasaka: I guess.
Panel 4:
SFX: SHOOM!
Miyuki: Aaaaaaah!!
Panel 5:
SFX: Clatter Crash
Rumble
Panel 6:
Ogasaka: Wha... What the---!?
Panel 7:
SFX: !!
[17]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka (?): The station’s rotation stopped!
Panel 2:
Miyuki: Wah, wah, wah--- Aaaaah!!
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: H... hey.
SFX: thump (of jumping)
Panel 4:
SFX: (sound of magnetic shoes)
Panel 5:
Miyuki: Y-y-you’re... used to this, huh?
Ogasaka: Of course.
Panel 6:
Intercom: Code 7 Alert. All crew members, please use magnetic footwear.
[18]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka: What happened?
Mustache: Someone tampered with a propulsion valve from outside.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: (off panel, thinking) Hm... Chairman.
He’s experienced in zero-G?
SFX: (sound of magnetic shoes)
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: No wounded?
First Crewman: No, not at present.
Panel 4:
Second Crewman: Hey!! Look at that!!
Panel 5:
SFX: fssh
Panel 6:
??: That’s it!
??: They’re on that shuttle!!
Panel 7:
??: Dammit!! Who the hell are they!?
[19]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Pandorist radicals. (“Pandore”-ism, “Biisu” faction.) A far-right faction called Neo Ashram?
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: That’s right. They’ve been protesting the building of the Buddha.
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: But why?
What do they have against building a Buddha in the void of space?
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: The planned location.
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: They say they’re enraged by our fixing the Buddha in the skies over India, that we have trespassed on the territory of their gods.
[20]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: This is their ultimatum.
Stop work immediately and take the stone out of Earth’s gravitational field. If we don’t accept this demand, they will take decisive action and destroy the station.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Who do those jerks think they’re kidding??
Jouchuu: At any rate, I’ll try speaking with their leaders.
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: I don’t want even one person to be injured.
Panel 4:
No text
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: They say it’ll take a day to move the propulsion equipment.
Panel 6:
Miyuki: Ahhh... I’m wobbling...
Ogasaka: Because you’re drunk in zero-G.
Panel 7:
Miyuki: Mm~!!
[21]
Panel 1:
Miyuki: It’s beautiful... like this...
Ogasaka: Something your uncle hates, huh?
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: You’re half Japanese, aren’t you? And half... where?
Miyuki: Sorry. It’s a quarter. My grandfather was German.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: My uncle is half Japanese. And half... know where?
Ogasaka: Now hey.
Panel 4:
Miyuki: It’s been awhile for you, hasn’t it?
Ogasaka: Yeah...
Panel 5:
??: We’ve spoken with the Pandorist leaders.
Per their demands, the Buddha is being removed to the skies over the Pacific.
[22]
Panel 1:
First Crewman: A.T.L. comma 005.
Second Crewman: Maintaining present heading; attitude control, check.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Bad break, but we’re shutting down.
Jouchuu: There’s nothing for it.
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: Hahh... As far as location, anywhere is fine, isn’t it?
Panel 4:
SFX: POW!
Panel 5:
Sign: “EMERGENCY”
SFX: BEEEEP!
Panel 6:
Miyuki: Huh?
[23]
Panel 1:
SFX: Koooom...
Panel 2:
Hats: “Project of Creating Space Buddha Image”
First Crewman: What happened!? Explorer II!!
Second Crewman: Get control of propulsion!!
Panel 3:
??: At this rate it’ll start re-entry!!
Panel 4:
No text
Panel 5:
Neo Ashram Leader: Can you hear me!? We are Neo Ashram!!
We have taken over this ship and the Buddha image!!
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: What!?
[24]
Panel 1:
N.A. Leader: We will destroy the Buddha image!!
This is our faction’s unanimous judgment.
Panel 2:
Jouchuu: Impossible!! You’re ignoring your elders’ words...
Panel 3:
??: On this course, it’ll re-enter and hit Western Europe!!
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: That much mass impacting...
It would have the destructive power of a nuclear weapon!
Panel 5:
N.A. Leader: We’re set to enter the atmosphere in six hours.
You had better evacuate quickly.
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: H... Hey!! Wait a minute!
SFX: sputter
[25]
Panel 1:
SFX: Kooom!
Panel 2:
Anchor: Citizens have begun evacuating the expected point of impact.
Panel 3:
Evacuees: (various screams)
SFX: (cries, sirens, car horns)
Panel 4:
Reporter: Those who cannot take shelter are crowding toward Central Station.
Panel 5:
No text
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: “......”
[26]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: ...How can this be?... The Buddha I believed would save people...
Now it’s the opposite; it’s driving them into the depths of terror.
Panel 2:
SFX: (menacing roar)
Panel 3:
Crewman: Four hours, fifty-six minutes to re-entry.
Panel 4:
Mustache: Chairman, more trouble!!
It says the UN has authorized the use of a nuclear missile!!
Panel 5:
Miyuki: That’s...
Jouchuu: There are still people there!
Panel 6:
Mustache: The limit is two hours before re-entry.
If we can’t convince the hijackers before then, they fire the missile!!
It’ll destroy Explorer II and the Buddha!!
[27]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: Rrrgh...
Miyuki: ........
Panel 2:
Miyuki: ...Uncle...
Panel 3:
Miyuki: Uncle...
Jouchuu: ......
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: I’m sorry, but...
Prepare the shuttle.
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: I’m going alone.
Panel 6:
SFX: khoooom
[28]
Panel 1:
Crewman: What’s gonna happen, Chief?
Ogasaka: Dunno.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: (thinking off bubble) Amazing... I don’t feel terror...
Panel 3:
N.A.: Don’t worry. When we’re about to enter the atmosphere, we’ll put you on the escape shuttle.
Panel 4:
Intercom: Gentleman of Neo Ashram!!
Can you hear me? I am standing board chairman Jouchuu of World Buddhism.
Panel 5:
N.A.: What...?
Intercom: The United Nations has called a missile strike on the Buddha!!
Panel 6:
Crew: WHAT!?
Panel 7:
Intercom: Escape quickly!!
Don’t waste your lives!!
Panel 8:
N.A. Leader: Hmph!!
We thought it would come to this. We are all prepared to give our lives, but... If that happens, the hostages will go with us.
[29]
Panel 1:
Crewman: Uwagh!
Ogasaka: ......
Panel 2:
Intercom: ...All of you... I propose a deal. Let the hostages go and take me in exchange.
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: I’m already nearly there.
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: I always keep my word, so let the hostages go. ...I beg you...
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: (thinking) Idiot... He’ll be killed.
Panel 6-7:
No text
Panel 8:
N.A. Leader: All right.
Much as I hate to cordially invite a leader of World Buddhism...
[30]
Panel 1:
???: Ready to rendezvous.
Atmospheric re-entry in two hours, twenty-five minutes.
Panel 2:
N.A.: All of you, onto the shuttle!
Panel 3:
N.A.: We’ll fire you off after the rendezvous.
SFX: click; shoop
Panel 4:
No text
Panel 5:
No text
Panel 6:
???: Chairman Jouchuu’s shuttle approaching at 20m!!
12 minutes until the time limit!!
Panel 7:
Miyuki: Uncle... ...Mr. Ogasaka...
Panel 8:
SFX: click clack
[31]
Panel 1&2:
No text
Panel 3:
SFX: POW!
N.A.: Gaagh!!
Panel 4:
N.A.: Damn you!
Panel 5:
SFX: Crash! Tinkle.
Panel 6:
SFX: roaring
Panel 7:
N.A.: Uwaaaah!
SFX: rumble
Panel 8:
SFX: roaring
[32]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Crewman: Aagh! Chief!!
SFX: Shoop
Panel 3:
N.A. Leader: K... Kill him!!
Panel 4:
SFX: click clack click
Panel 5:
SFX: Pak pak plang!
Panel 6:
SFX: Pow pow pow pow
Panel 7:
SFX: Chunk!
Panel 8:
SFX: BOOM
[33]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Vacuum!!
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: Why did I do something like this?
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: To save the Chairman...?
Because I didn’t want the Buddha destroyed?
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: Well... I’m done for either way...
[34]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka: Hhah!
Panel 2:
No text
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: You... You saved me...?
Jouchuu: There was only half a minute to spare. You were nearly killed by the decompression.
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: Half a minute! What quick work...
Anyway, I was saved...
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: But Chairman, you’re no ordinary guy.
Jouchuu: Is that so...
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: Before I entered the priesthood, I was on a space station’s rescue team.
That’s when my religion and philosophy were formed.
[35]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka: G’ah!!
Panel 2:
Jouchuu: The Buddha went a little off its trajectory...
Thanks to you blowing the emergency valve... The new crash point is in the middle of the Gobi desert. There was no way to get it out off a re-entry path, but this will keep the damage as small as possible.
Panel 3:
SFX: Pow
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Re-entry...
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: All... all my fault...
Panel 6:
No text
Panel 7: BOOOOOM
[36]
Panel 1:
SFX: Sheoooooo
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: The Buddha’s crater.
Panel 3:
SFX: roar
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Ah...!!
Ogasaka: ...That’s.... No way!!
Panel 5:
SFX: gong gong gong
[37]
Panel 1:
Monk: Master...
Sage: Yes, Gijou?
Panel 2:
Monk (Gijou): This is a photo of the crater from 20,000 feet.
Panel 3:
No text
Panel 4:
Sage: This is fate. Jouchuu, the people on the station, and even those young Pandorist acolytes, fate moved them all to bring about this miracle.
Surely it is a message from the Lord Buddha, perhaps not for we here on Earth...
Panel 5:
Sage: But to be seen by those who look down from above!!
[38]
Panel 1:
Miyuki: I see it... I see it!!
With a telescope, you can see it just fine from here!
Panel 2:
Miyuki: That Buddha... Uncle did say he was going to make history.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: They’ll put your name in the Buddhist Scriptures, too, no doubt about it!!
Ogasaka: Heh... heh heh...
Panel 4:
Text: We are people who know only the small world around us. We are people who see nothing but a need to struggle against others. Look up at us who have gone into space.
Look at the place we’ve carved out in the stars. Alone in the endless blackness, we must understand that we can only live in this oasis.
Sidebar: Originally published August 1986
*Translation by Laura Fox (foxinthestars@yahoo.co.uk; http://foxinthestars.dreamwidth.org), September 2011*
Any rights I hold in my translation, I release under a Creative Commons Attribution license (see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ---i.e. as far as I’m concerned, you can do anything you want with it as long as you preserve that line between the asterisks); the rest is between you and the original owners.
This translation was produced as a means of study and should be viewed as student work; I’m sure it’s clumsy and at times inaccurate, but if it will even let you follow the gist of the story, I thought it was better to share it than to hoard it in secret. I hope you get some enjoyment or use out of it.
I have a couple more of these almost ready and will post them soon, at least if anyone wants them.
*and by "stack of dictionaries" I mostly mean Rikaichan.
I've been trying to brush up my Japanese lately, and one way I'm studying is by trying to translate things that I would like to read. At "muddling through with a stack of dictionaries* and occasionally getting lost and just taking a desperate stab" level, I don't feel up to signing on with a scanlation group or anything like that, but my translations won't do anyone any good hoarded privately on my hard drive, so I thought I should at least share them with you all.
What I've got today is After 0 by Okazaki Jiro, a collection of sort of Twilight-Zone-esque sci-fi one-shots. Way back when I was a youngling, there was a Japanese-learners' magazine called Mangajin that I enjoyed very much and still mourn sometimes, and among the various things they reprinted were a couple of After 0 stories, and they're what's stayed with me the most. I bought the whole thing awhile back, and have slowly and sporadically been working on translating it as described above, so here for your perusing pleasure is the first story: "The Buddha Descends," in the form of rough scans with a translated script (rtf format).
http://www.uploadstation.com/file/YpsBca9/after0_1-01.zip
(If you try this at some later date and the link is dead, leave a comment and I'll try to refresh it.)
Sorry about the annoying uploader site link; a disadvantage of giving up my own web-hosting... I apologize also that the scans are crap, but I'll tell you why they are: these books are printed so tight into the spine that the only way to get really good scans would be to carefully cut the pages out (when there's a little sidebar at the end you will completely have to take my word for it), and I wasn't willing to dismember my keeper copies or put down the money for sacrificial duplicates, so I decided to just not worry about it. Translating straight prose would be easier in a way, since I could just put it up as blog posts; well, maybe later (since I did find raws of most of the Allison & Lillia stuff...).
And since I can at least post this much, here's the translated script:
After 0
by Okazaki Jirou
Shogakukan Bunko Edition
Volume 1
ISBN # 978-4-09-196181-5
Chapter 1
[3, story title]
Panel 1:
Text: “Episode 1”
The Buddha Descends
[4]
Panel 1:
Sage: Hm...
Box: Sri Lanka [the foot of Adam’s Peak]
Panel 2:
Sage: A seated Buddha image over 3500 shaku* tall...
*approximately 1000 meters
Panel 3:
Pale Man: Yes, Master.
Panel 4:
Sage: Learned Jouchuu,
is it truly possible to make something so enormous?
Panel 5:
Pale Man (Jouchuu): I have a plan.
Nothing is impossible.
Sage: Well, well... If you build this giant Buddha, will that truly
bring the people good fortune?
[5]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: It will be a symbol.
I think it will be one signpost to open the door of salvation to the people.
Panel 2:
Monk: The Buddhist aspiration...
Easier said than done...
Panel 3:
Sage: However...
We won’t settle anything only sitting here worrying about this and that.
Panel 4:
Sage: This is also Mahayana...
Isn’t it good even to try?
Panel 5:
First Monk: ...Then...
Second Monk: Honestly, where do you think you will build it?
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: There is only one place appropriate for the Great Buddha. ...That is...
Panel 7:
Jouchuu: The Sky (space).
[6]
Panel 1:
Text: “2026. Oct.”
International Space Station “Sarnath”
Panel 2:
Mustache: But what a monster!
Panel 3:
Glasses: Overall length, 1085 meters.
About triple the diameter of this station, huh?
[7]
Panel 1:
Text: Having towed a stone from the asteroid belt to carve the Buddha,
they fix it in geosynchronous orbit 35,000 km in the sky above India.
Panel 2:
Mustache: Seriously, what are they thinking?
I guess World Buddhism has the money, but still...
Panel 3:
Glasses: Don’t tell it to me!
Religion and I don’t mix. That’s just the guy in charge.
Panel 4:
Mustache: Don’t talk like that. Taking on a big job like this is your kind of thing, isn’t it?
[8]
Panel 1:
Mustache: You’re a genius architect, and an amazing sculptor too!! At the tender age of 22,
you won the international A Class Architecture prize.
Glasses: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Panel 2:
Glasses: I’ll quit!
Mustache: Try it.
Panel 3:
No text
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: The planned Buddha image...
Will become the single heart of World Buddhism.
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: Although Buddhism has spread throughout the world...
it has no place to call a Holy Land.
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: Because it has thoroughly declined in its birthplace of India.
[9]
Panel 1:
Suit: Isn’t the heart of World Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Chairman Jouchuu?
Jouchuu: No. The headquarters is there, but not the heart.
Panel 2:
Jouchuu: Although Buddhism has taken various forms in the nations of the world,
it was impossible to choose a particular nation for that heart.
Panel 3:
Mustache: So, in space...
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: That’s right.
Panel 5:
Box: “2027. May”
[10]
Panel 1:
Box: Carving work began on the stone brought in from the asteroid belt.
Panel 2-3:
SFX: Click Click
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Hm... Calm... Dignity... To me, this design seems the best.
Glasses: Well, thanks ...Chairman.
Panel 5:
Glasses: Anyway, it’s the one planned to be done in half a year, right?
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: No one would ever guess that you’re an atheist, would they?
[11]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: I wonder if you were a priest in your last incarnation...
Glasses: (off bubble) You think so? Wouldn’t that be something?
(thinking) G’ah, again!! The church talk is more than I can take...
Panel 2:
Text: “2028. Jun”
Panel 3-4:
No text
Panel 5:
Intercom: Director Ogasaka, Director Ogasaka.
Please come to Gate No. 6.
Panel 6:
No text
Panel 7:
Glasses (Ogasaka): I forgot!! The Chairman was coming today.
[12]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Oho...
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: Ah, Mr. Ogasaka.
It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Let me introduce you. This is my niece, Onodera Miyuki.
Miyuki: Nice to meet you... I insisted that my uncle bring me along.
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: (off bubble) Nice to meet you... Oh, my...
(thinking) She’s cute!! She’s half something... ...maybe Scandinavian?
Panel 6:
Miyuki: I know your name already... since it’s the big name of a genius sculptor, huh?
Ogasaka: (thinking off bubble) Just what you’d expect from a religious official’s family... The picture of innocence!
[13]
Panel 1-2:
???: By the way, Chairman, I heard that there was growing opposition to the construction of the Buddha.
Jouchuu: That is so, isn’t it? What to do about the concerns among those of other religions---it’s a problem.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: It doesn’t seem so great yet, does it?
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: That’s just because we’re not there yet, but with no atmosphere, we’ll soon be close enough to see.
Panel 5:
No Text
Panel 6: We’ve gotten a lot done on the front.
[14]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Miyuki: Uwaaah! Incredible!
Ogasaka: This isn’t all, either.
Panel 3:
No text
Panel 4:
Jouchuu (?): Magnificent...
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: Truly worthy to be the heart of World Buddhism...
SFX: knock knock
Panel 6:
Note: Let’s have drinks later.
SFX: smack (sound of something being pasted)
Ogasaka: Wha-huh...?
[15]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: You sure drink like a fish.
That’s number 16.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: It’s fine... I’m not a Buddhist,
so I don’t have to worry about it like Uncle.
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: So you’re a rebel where he’s concerned?
Panel 5:
Miyuki: I am, huh?
I do respect him, but I guess I’m a rebel.
Panel 6:
Ogasaka: (Sighs) Why is it? You’re uncle’s popular, and I get what you’re saying, but... You’re not such a nice girl.
Miyuki: Sounds like I offended you.
Panel 7:
Miyuki: Hey, looking down from that high horse, are you in a bad mood?
[16]
Panel 1:
Miyuki: By the way, what about you?
Doing work like this, aren’t you the religious type?
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Give me a break!
I’m a materialist. I only believe in myself.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: Ah, so the two of us agree.
SFX: Cheers!
Ogasaka: I guess.
Panel 4:
SFX: SHOOM!
Miyuki: Aaaaaaah!!
Panel 5:
SFX: Clatter Crash
Rumble
Panel 6:
Ogasaka: Wha... What the---!?
Panel 7:
SFX: !!
[17]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka (?): The station’s rotation stopped!
Panel 2:
Miyuki: Wah, wah, wah--- Aaaaah!!
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: H... hey.
SFX: thump (of jumping)
Panel 4:
SFX: (sound of magnetic shoes)
Panel 5:
Miyuki: Y-y-you’re... used to this, huh?
Ogasaka: Of course.
Panel 6:
Intercom: Code 7 Alert. All crew members, please use magnetic footwear.
[18]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka: What happened?
Mustache: Someone tampered with a propulsion valve from outside.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: (off panel, thinking) Hm... Chairman.
He’s experienced in zero-G?
SFX: (sound of magnetic shoes)
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: No wounded?
First Crewman: No, not at present.
Panel 4:
Second Crewman: Hey!! Look at that!!
Panel 5:
SFX: fssh
Panel 6:
??: That’s it!
??: They’re on that shuttle!!
Panel 7:
??: Dammit!! Who the hell are they!?
[19]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Pandorist radicals. (“Pandore”-ism, “Biisu” faction.) A far-right faction called Neo Ashram?
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: That’s right. They’ve been protesting the building of the Buddha.
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: But why?
What do they have against building a Buddha in the void of space?
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: The planned location.
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: They say they’re enraged by our fixing the Buddha in the skies over India, that we have trespassed on the territory of their gods.
[20]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: This is their ultimatum.
Stop work immediately and take the stone out of Earth’s gravitational field. If we don’t accept this demand, they will take decisive action and destroy the station.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Who do those jerks think they’re kidding??
Jouchuu: At any rate, I’ll try speaking with their leaders.
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: I don’t want even one person to be injured.
Panel 4:
No text
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: They say it’ll take a day to move the propulsion equipment.
Panel 6:
Miyuki: Ahhh... I’m wobbling...
Ogasaka: Because you’re drunk in zero-G.
Panel 7:
Miyuki: Mm~!!
[21]
Panel 1:
Miyuki: It’s beautiful... like this...
Ogasaka: Something your uncle hates, huh?
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: You’re half Japanese, aren’t you? And half... where?
Miyuki: Sorry. It’s a quarter. My grandfather was German.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: My uncle is half Japanese. And half... know where?
Ogasaka: Now hey.
Panel 4:
Miyuki: It’s been awhile for you, hasn’t it?
Ogasaka: Yeah...
Panel 5:
??: We’ve spoken with the Pandorist leaders.
Per their demands, the Buddha is being removed to the skies over the Pacific.
[22]
Panel 1:
First Crewman: A.T.L. comma 005.
Second Crewman: Maintaining present heading; attitude control, check.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Bad break, but we’re shutting down.
Jouchuu: There’s nothing for it.
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: Hahh... As far as location, anywhere is fine, isn’t it?
Panel 4:
SFX: POW!
Panel 5:
Sign: “EMERGENCY”
SFX: BEEEEP!
Panel 6:
Miyuki: Huh?
[23]
Panel 1:
SFX: Koooom...
Panel 2:
Hats: “Project of Creating Space Buddha Image”
First Crewman: What happened!? Explorer II!!
Second Crewman: Get control of propulsion!!
Panel 3:
??: At this rate it’ll start re-entry!!
Panel 4:
No text
Panel 5:
Neo Ashram Leader: Can you hear me!? We are Neo Ashram!!
We have taken over this ship and the Buddha image!!
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: What!?
[24]
Panel 1:
N.A. Leader: We will destroy the Buddha image!!
This is our faction’s unanimous judgment.
Panel 2:
Jouchuu: Impossible!! You’re ignoring your elders’ words...
Panel 3:
??: On this course, it’ll re-enter and hit Western Europe!!
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: That much mass impacting...
It would have the destructive power of a nuclear weapon!
Panel 5:
N.A. Leader: We’re set to enter the atmosphere in six hours.
You had better evacuate quickly.
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: H... Hey!! Wait a minute!
SFX: sputter
[25]
Panel 1:
SFX: Kooom!
Panel 2:
Anchor: Citizens have begun evacuating the expected point of impact.
Panel 3:
Evacuees: (various screams)
SFX: (cries, sirens, car horns)
Panel 4:
Reporter: Those who cannot take shelter are crowding toward Central Station.
Panel 5:
No text
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: “......”
[26]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: ...How can this be?... The Buddha I believed would save people...
Now it’s the opposite; it’s driving them into the depths of terror.
Panel 2:
SFX: (menacing roar)
Panel 3:
Crewman: Four hours, fifty-six minutes to re-entry.
Panel 4:
Mustache: Chairman, more trouble!!
It says the UN has authorized the use of a nuclear missile!!
Panel 5:
Miyuki: That’s...
Jouchuu: There are still people there!
Panel 6:
Mustache: The limit is two hours before re-entry.
If we can’t convince the hijackers before then, they fire the missile!!
It’ll destroy Explorer II and the Buddha!!
[27]
Panel 1:
Jouchuu: Rrrgh...
Miyuki: ........
Panel 2:
Miyuki: ...Uncle...
Panel 3:
Miyuki: Uncle...
Jouchuu: ......
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: I’m sorry, but...
Prepare the shuttle.
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: I’m going alone.
Panel 6:
SFX: khoooom
[28]
Panel 1:
Crewman: What’s gonna happen, Chief?
Ogasaka: Dunno.
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: (thinking off bubble) Amazing... I don’t feel terror...
Panel 3:
N.A.: Don’t worry. When we’re about to enter the atmosphere, we’ll put you on the escape shuttle.
Panel 4:
Intercom: Gentleman of Neo Ashram!!
Can you hear me? I am standing board chairman Jouchuu of World Buddhism.
Panel 5:
N.A.: What...?
Intercom: The United Nations has called a missile strike on the Buddha!!
Panel 6:
Crew: WHAT!?
Panel 7:
Intercom: Escape quickly!!
Don’t waste your lives!!
Panel 8:
N.A. Leader: Hmph!!
We thought it would come to this. We are all prepared to give our lives, but... If that happens, the hostages will go with us.
[29]
Panel 1:
Crewman: Uwagh!
Ogasaka: ......
Panel 2:
Intercom: ...All of you... I propose a deal. Let the hostages go and take me in exchange.
Panel 3:
Jouchuu: I’m already nearly there.
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: I always keep my word, so let the hostages go. ...I beg you...
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: (thinking) Idiot... He’ll be killed.
Panel 6-7:
No text
Panel 8:
N.A. Leader: All right.
Much as I hate to cordially invite a leader of World Buddhism...
[30]
Panel 1:
???: Ready to rendezvous.
Atmospheric re-entry in two hours, twenty-five minutes.
Panel 2:
N.A.: All of you, onto the shuttle!
Panel 3:
N.A.: We’ll fire you off after the rendezvous.
SFX: click; shoop
Panel 4:
No text
Panel 5:
No text
Panel 6:
???: Chairman Jouchuu’s shuttle approaching at 20m!!
12 minutes until the time limit!!
Panel 7:
Miyuki: Uncle... ...Mr. Ogasaka...
Panel 8:
SFX: click clack
[31]
Panel 1&2:
No text
Panel 3:
SFX: POW!
N.A.: Gaagh!!
Panel 4:
N.A.: Damn you!
Panel 5:
SFX: Crash! Tinkle.
Panel 6:
SFX: roaring
Panel 7:
N.A.: Uwaaaah!
SFX: rumble
Panel 8:
SFX: roaring
[32]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Crewman: Aagh! Chief!!
SFX: Shoop
Panel 3:
N.A. Leader: K... Kill him!!
Panel 4:
SFX: click clack click
Panel 5:
SFX: Pak pak plang!
Panel 6:
SFX: Pow pow pow pow
Panel 7:
SFX: Chunk!
Panel 8:
SFX: BOOM
[33]
Panel 1:
No text
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: Vacuum!!
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: Why did I do something like this?
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: To save the Chairman...?
Because I didn’t want the Buddha destroyed?
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: Well... I’m done for either way...
[34]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka: Hhah!
Panel 2:
No text
Panel 3:
Ogasaka: You... You saved me...?
Jouchuu: There was only half a minute to spare. You were nearly killed by the decompression.
Panel 4:
Ogasaka: Half a minute! What quick work...
Anyway, I was saved...
Panel 5:
Ogasaka: But Chairman, you’re no ordinary guy.
Jouchuu: Is that so...
Panel 6:
Jouchuu: Before I entered the priesthood, I was on a space station’s rescue team.
That’s when my religion and philosophy were formed.
[35]
Panel 1:
Ogasaka: G’ah!!
Panel 2:
Jouchuu: The Buddha went a little off its trajectory...
Thanks to you blowing the emergency valve... The new crash point is in the middle of the Gobi desert. There was no way to get it out off a re-entry path, but this will keep the damage as small as possible.
Panel 3:
SFX: Pow
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Re-entry...
Panel 5:
Jouchuu: All... all my fault...
Panel 6:
No text
Panel 7: BOOOOOM
[36]
Panel 1:
SFX: Sheoooooo
Panel 2:
Ogasaka: The Buddha’s crater.
Panel 3:
SFX: roar
Panel 4:
Jouchuu: Ah...!!
Ogasaka: ...That’s.... No way!!
Panel 5:
SFX: gong gong gong
[37]
Panel 1:
Monk: Master...
Sage: Yes, Gijou?
Panel 2:
Monk (Gijou): This is a photo of the crater from 20,000 feet.
Panel 3:
No text
Panel 4:
Sage: This is fate. Jouchuu, the people on the station, and even those young Pandorist acolytes, fate moved them all to bring about this miracle.
Surely it is a message from the Lord Buddha, perhaps not for we here on Earth...
Panel 5:
Sage: But to be seen by those who look down from above!!
[38]
Panel 1:
Miyuki: I see it... I see it!!
With a telescope, you can see it just fine from here!
Panel 2:
Miyuki: That Buddha... Uncle did say he was going to make history.
Panel 3:
Miyuki: They’ll put your name in the Buddhist Scriptures, too, no doubt about it!!
Ogasaka: Heh... heh heh...
Panel 4:
Text: We are people who know only the small world around us. We are people who see nothing but a need to struggle against others. Look up at us who have gone into space.
Look at the place we’ve carved out in the stars. Alone in the endless blackness, we must understand that we can only live in this oasis.
Sidebar: Originally published August 1986
*Translation by Laura Fox (foxinthestars@yahoo.co.uk; http://foxinthestars.dreamwidth.org), September 2011*
Any rights I hold in my translation, I release under a Creative Commons Attribution license (see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ---i.e. as far as I’m concerned, you can do anything you want with it as long as you preserve that line between the asterisks); the rest is between you and the original owners.
This translation was produced as a means of study and should be viewed as student work; I’m sure it’s clumsy and at times inaccurate, but if it will even let you follow the gist of the story, I thought it was better to share it than to hoard it in secret. I hope you get some enjoyment or use out of it.
I have a couple more of these almost ready and will post them soon, at least if anyone wants them.
*and by "stack of dictionaries" I mostly mean Rikaichan.
