Hell Teacher Nube 209

Many peculiar phenomenon occur when you're asleep, but how dangerous are they? In the case of one strange matter, one must do as their told or else face a bizarre fate...such as is the case with one of Nube's students!

#209: The Song of the Soldiers

116.
Caption:
The story this time is one that was reorganized based upon two tales that were carefully selected from among the letters of readers who had sent in for "The Many Mysteries of Your School", which had been taken applications in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of serialization.

Thank you very much for your many applications.
(TN: Considering that Nube was a series that started around the middle of 1993...and this chapter for the "4th anniversary" was released near the end of 1997/beginning of 1998, one has to wonder why it took so long to be done. My guess is probably the lack of time that WSJ gave to Nube with the end of the anime (which was completed around the middle of '97) combined with other stories that had to be told, such as the Zekki arc we've just completed. Considerably, while Nube was still a major draw in Jump, it was not as massive as Rurouni Kenshin and newer series had started to become more notable and important to the magazine, including Houshin Engi, Sekimatsu Leader-den Takeshi and One Piece. While it did take a while for this chapter to be done, at least the magazine did give it a bit of the time of day for it...though the whole Zekki mess had to be done first but that's understandable considering...yeah, Zekki)

117.
Narration: "The Song of the Seven Soldiers": At night, place by your bedside one glass of juice and a senbei before you sleep.
(TN: A particular I have to mention: the name of the "soldiers" aren't merely "heitai" but "heitai-san" giving an honorific to them; but for the sake of the story I just called them as "soldiers". BTW: "senbei" is a type of Japanese rice cracker that come in various kinds and flavors, usually with a piece of seaweed surrounding them typically)
Narrator: And then, when you do it for several days
SFX: Ooooooh...

118.
Soldiers: Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii. Ippai hoshii chimoku-san.
(TN: Unfortunately unlike typical times when a song in Japanese can be translated with no problem, this chapter's song is rather important to keep in Japanese...mostly due to the resolution spoiling what they are singing. As is, I can't translate this without giving anything away, but I do have a few hints as to what it could be for the moment:
-"Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshi": from the way the soldiers sing it here, they seem to be translated as "Soldiers want to be one". There could be other meanings based upon context but as it is here, this is the intended translation for how they sing it.
-"Ippai hoshii chimoku-san": This is where it gets more complicated: "Ippai hoshii" as read here stands typically for "want to be filled" or "filled with filledness". Meanwhile, "chimoku" is a word that only really has one word that translates into as it stands now: "land classification". While I doubt that "Want to be filled, land classification-san" stands for anything, giving away some of the proper reading and meaning would spoil the chapter)
Narration: The seven soldiers will come
SFX: Goku goku
SFX: Bori bori
Narration: And they will gradually diminish.

119.
Voice: It diminished----!!
Hiroshi: This was the 3rd day I had tested it today but my juice did diminish.
Noriko: Mine diminished just a bit.
Akira: The senbei started to too.
Nube: It's diminished---!
Caption: Allowance Details
Miki: Another pay cut.
SFX: Hiso hiso (whisper whisper)
Katsuya: A man who really fought in a desperate struggle until last time has an unthinkable arranged gag.

120.
Nube: Well? What's diminished for all of you?
Makoto: Miki-chan has been telling rumors about the seven soldiers.
Nube: Mhmm...understood. Again you're speaking stupid gossip.
Sign: I've propigated stupid gossip again.
Miki: But this is gossip: if you place down the glass and senbei once, then don't continue it for a week, you will become an animal through a curse... (Ku ku ku...)

121.
Noriko: Nube, how about that? Will you be cursed if you stop?
Nube: Hm--mm...
Kyouko: Ara, I did stop.
Hiroshi, Katsuya, Makoto & Noriko: Eeh!?
Kyouko: I believed at first and did put down the juice and the senbei but that became ridiculous.
Miki: Ha...hasn't anything happened somehow?
Kyouko: Not really--I've stopped already and 3 days have passed but nothing's occurred.
Kyouko: Actually, initially I was turning in my sleep the first day, spilled my juice, and stopped it...hahaha...

122.
Nube: ...
Kyouko: It's a superstition, superstition! (Hahaha...)
Nube: ...It's fine but I have some strange premonition.
Narrator: That night...
Soldiers: Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii
SFX: Za
Soldiers: Ippai hoshii chimoku-san
SFX: Za

123.
Soldiers: Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii. Ippai hoshii chimoku-san.
SFX: Oooooh...
Kyouko: Uh...
Kyouko: Ah. Ah...aah.
SFX: Goki goki goki

124.
Kyouko: Ha ha ha ha
SFX: Oooh...oooooh...
Kyouko: Nooo
SFX: Gaba!
Kyouko: A dream... (Haa haa haa)

125.
Voice: What are you saying!
Nube: You've truly been struck with a curse of going from human to beast?
Miki: Miki-chan can go from human to beast with four buttons.
Hiroshi: Nube, is it possible that a human can become an animal with a curse?
Nube: Yes.
Nube: If it was done by the dead who wander near the entrance to the realm of the dead, then they have the power to drop souls of people who have done no crime into the Realm of Beasts and make the into animals, like Jinmenken.
(TN: A couple things:
-Nube here mentions "Chikushoudou", which is in reference to the "Realm of Beasts" of the "Six Paths" ("Rokudou"), the six realms of existence in Buddhism. In Buddhist philosophy, those who were stupid or prejudice in a previous life as a human will descend down into the Realm of Beasts in their next life, being reborn as an animal within what is typically a realm of humans.
-For a bit more on Jinmenken, rerread #35)
Kyouko: No, they'll be coming again tonight. This time I'll completely become an animal.
Nube: Be calm, I'll be with you tonight.

126.
Nube: However, what I don't understand is the words they're chanting. Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii...Ippai hoshii chimoku-san...what do they mean?
Nube: Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii...I understand those words. Ippai Hoshii...what is a Chimoku-san?
Kyouko: ...?
Sign: Inaba
Nube: For that reason, I'm staying here tonight.
SFX: Gatsu gatsu musha musha
Mr. Inaba: Ye...yes.
Mrs. Inaba: Is it another fox-possession?
(TN: Reread #122 to remind yourself of what happened then with Kyouko and Nube involving a fox-possession)
Hiroshi: She's cursed over juice and senbei...What soldiers they are.

127.
SFX: Kachi kachi kachi...
Soldiers: Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii.
SFX: Za
Soldiers: Ippai hoshii chimoku-san
SFX: Za

128.
Nube: These people are pitiful soldiers...they were dispatched to a southern island in a war.
Nube: They were surrounded by the enemy and locked in a small island. They survived by eating to the roots of plants, but ultimately died of starvation. Therefore they're only tenacious when facing food.
Nube: Namu Daiji Daihi Kyuugu Kyuunan: I understand your regret but...rest in peace.
Soldiers: ......
SFX: Jaki!
Nube: !!

129.
SFX: Zubabababa
SFX: Chuin! | Kyun! Bishi
Nube: Ha----
Nube: Ku...They can't understand anything, even the sutra.
SFX: Chun!
Nube: I'll raise it up a level...
SFX: Gu

130.
Kyouko: Kya
SFX: Don
Soldiers: Ooh
SFX: Koro koro
Kyouko: ...Stars...?
Kyouko: One star...Soldiers are one star...Ri...right, that song was of stars.
(TN: Kyouko had just translated the "Heitai-san wa hitotsu hoshii" part; the "hoshii" was actually an extension of the word "hoshi", or "star", thus how it translates to "soldiers are one star"...and will explain the rest of the song)
Kyouko: Then, "Ippai hoshii chimoku-san" is filled with stars...ichimoku-san...ichimokusan...!?
Hiroshi: ?
Kyouko: Nube, hold on!
Nube: Eh?
SFX: Kyu kyu kyu

131.
Kyouko: Full of stars, full speed ahead!!
(TN: The final part of the song was figured out with "ichimokusan" not being a person but the expression that is used that is instructed as "full speed ahead" as understood by the soldiers.)
SFX: Bishuu...

132.
Soldiers: Oooooh~~~~su....superior!
Superior: What are you doing---! Stand in line!
Nube: Right...stars are an insignia of rank...their superior has appeared and returned order to the soldiers.
SFX: Kuru
Superior: Salute!
(TN: The superior says "rei" here which typically is an expression of gratitute, but since that is a "salute" to soldiers, I ended up translating it as such)
SFX: Bishi

133.
Nube: They were only just tenacious in eating due to dying with starvation. Thus, they cursed if you quit with your offering of juice and senbei part-way.
Kyouko: They were pitiful spirits.
Nube: Seems so...
Kyouko: This time was a tale that was based on a reader's letter.
Nube: If you have another strange tale, tell us.

134.
Nube -sensei's
(Useless) SUPPLEMENTAL EXPLANATION
#38: The Pacific War

In the early dawn of December 8th, 1941, the mobilized units of an aircraft carrier of the Japanese army performed a sudden attack of an American military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. With this coming to be a start, there began a war between Japan and America. This was the Pacific War.

At that time, Japan was already also at war with China and there had been an outbreak of World War II between the Axis powers of Germany and Italy and the Allies of Engand and France. Furthermore, with the outbreak of a Japan/US war, almost every area of the Earth has had a development in a circumstance of disorder unparalleled in history in collapsing into a situation of war.

Within the beginning of the war, the Japanese army showed overwhelming strength. However, starting with the defeat of Japan at that border of the naval Battle of Midway, the naval fleet was annihilated, towns became burnt areas in air raids and, on August 15th, 1945, they unconditionally surrendered.

The "soldiers" introduced in the story this time were those who died in that war.

Japan in those days positioned themselves in "The Greater East Asian War" and were occupying the countries of East Asia one after another. In this process, young soldiers were steadily sent to southern islands. What are now Guam, Saipan and beautiful coral reef islands that have become areas of sight-seeing became bloodstained battlegrounds. And starting with a loss on one occasion, without the permission of giving up and becoming prisoners of war, they delivered suicide attacks by human bomb that were called the "Banzai Attack" and feared, or died without surrender (dying without leaving a person behind) by tropical diseases such as malaria or dysentary.

Even now, when passing through the southern islands, fallen Zeros have sunken and there have come to be famous diving places If you go on a trip, don't forget about this sort of sad history. And it is fine that you also teach this to your fathers and mothers.


(TN: A few things:
1. First of all, "Pacific War" is basically as it sounds in Japanese: "Taiheiyou" is the Japanese word for the "Pacific Ocean", while "Sensou" is Japanese for "war". Secondly, while this does try to emphasize the "Pacific War" as a different war from other aspects of World War II, it is still part of the entire campaign and tied to all Japanese aggression during this period, both in their actions in China and other parts of East Asia as well as their alliance in the "Axis Powers" with Germany and Italy.
2. One aspect that people seem to not realize regarding when this phase of the war began is the difference in time that leads to one reading of the initial attack in Japan and the attack in the rest of the world. To the Japanese, all of their attacks occurred on December 8th, which was in Japan time. However, the aircraft carriers were within the area of Hawaii when the attack was launched, which at the time was December 7th Hawaiian time. (which likewise was the time in the rest of the United States.) Thus, when people talk of the Pearl Harbor incident, the Japanese state it occurred on the 8th of December, while Americans are taught it occurred on the 7th.
3. "Pearl Harbor" in Japanese is "Shinjuwan", which literally is a fusion of the words "Shinju" or "Pearl" and "Wan" or "Harbor". (it is somewhat weird that a location in Hawaii as notable as Pearl Harbor would have a specific Japanese name.)
4. A slight and important addendum to those who don't know: while Pearl Harbor was the most notable attack on that date that lead to the American involvement in WWII, that was not the only attack that occurred on that date. Japan had a massive offensive which attacked several areas simultaneously as they began a major push in conquering Asia, which included attacks on Thailand and British Malaya and would also include pushes towards Indonesia and many Pacific islands.
5. Prior to 12/8/41, the main Japanese front in the war was their aggressive push into China, which was the "Second Sino-Japanese War" which had started in 1937. To some, this war could actually be the true beginning of WWII as opposed to Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939.
6. The Battle of Midway, which occurred between June 4th & 7th in 1942, was a massive blow to Japan and a major early victory for the Americans in the war, where the American forces dealt a massive blow to the Japanese forces by destroying a major sector of their fleet around the Midway Atoll, around the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archapelago. Due to the heavy losses and the lack of resources to replace them, the Japanese slowly began an attrition that would lead to their ultimate defeat.
7. Like their war starting on a specific date, the Japanese also have a specific date for when the war ended: August 15th, 1945. On this day, after massive losses as well as pressure from the Soviet Union in the north and two atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito issued what was known as "Gyokyuon-housou" (The Jewel Voice Broadcast) over the radio. This day was a massively important day, not only because it was Japan surrendered [though they never said "surrender" but merely "accepted the Potsdam agreement"] but it was the first time in history that the common, ordinary Japanese people heard their emporer speak to them.
8. While many typically merely referring to the entire Japan war as the "Pacific War", the Japanese consider the "Greater East Asia War" (Daitoua Sensou) as the formal name for all their aggression in the front against the US, Britain, China and the combined Allied front (including the Second Sino-Japanese War), as decided by Japanese cabinet on 12/10/41.
9. A "Banzai attack" or a "banzai charge" is a human infantry attack by Japanese forces both used for suicide and to die with honor in respect to the Japanese concept of not surrendering and taking down foes with them as they die.
10. The "honorable death" many Japanese soldiers and civilians tried to accomplish in this era had a specific term of "gyokusai" or "jade shard", with the belief of either a suicide attack or seppuku for death. The term is tied to a Chinese expression of "a great man should die as a shattered jewel rather than live as an intact tile".
11. The "Zero" or the "Zero-sen" as they're called in Japanese, refers to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a superior carrier plane that allowed the Japanese to have dominence early in the war until Allied resources caught up and surpassed them with greater fuel economy, firepower and speed. They were also notable for their usage in the infmous "Kamikaze" attacks during the closing years of the war.)

TN: First off, a massive apology. This chapter I've translated has been done since Sunday but I've been so busy with everything that's been going on in my life that I didn't get the chance to get it up until now. With that said, sorry for keeping you on edge from reading this.

As for the chapter itself...well, I sort of get the need to cool down after the whole Zekki arc...but did it have to be so convoluted a cool-down? In a way it works, but somehow....the way that the whole curse regarding the soldier ghosts worked out, it did feel like it was a rather big stretch to try and make it work. I know this was tied to a contest, but somehow I have a hard time in trying to connect "feeding sorrowful soldiers" and "turning into a monster if you don't". The soldiers themselves are so sad that they really should have no real connection in making others suffer while they themselves are trapped in this oblivion for their suffering. In particular, Kyouko messed up something so stupid that it nearly hurt her...I get that there are weird things that one can do to keep away spiritual phenomenon, but to make it as it was and to make Kyouko the one to suffer and nearly go down because of how convoluted it all got just really bugged me. Heck, if she didn't have that Christmas tree up, she would have gone down and turned into dog-girl like it was nothing! I do get this was Makura and Okano's whole idea of "let the fans make the tale", but to combine these two tales and make it all convoluted like this sort of ruined the whole thing for me. Maybe if it was another phenomenon that was a tad closer to the tale of the dead soldiers, even if it involved the whole "juice and senbei" bit, then it would have been way more believable and interesting then what we got. But...I guess I can't complain. (though one other question: where the heck did Miki get that bunnygirl outfit and hide it under her jacket during school...but then again Miki is a wonder in herself)