Anyone who can translate Japanese text?

[Uufflakke]

Anyone around here who can translate this piece of Japanese text?

 

I would like to know what is written down on each coupon.

 

It was attached on the backside of a Japanese print I recently received as a gift.

 

Any help is welcome.  

 

[Stray]

FlatSpinMan, a mod on this forum, lives in Japan at the moment. Try approaching him with milk and cookies.

[Uufflakke]

Yes, I thought about sending him a PM before starting the topic but not sure though if he can read Japanese characters.

But now I realize while typing this that in case he doesn't, or not good enough, he can ask his friends, neighbours or colleagues if he wants.

I would really like to know what is written down on the coupons.

I think if this game was not Eastern Front but PTO there would be much more Japanese members around.

 

I will PM him.

[FlatSpinMan]

Hey guys

Ufff

I got your PM, but was already thinking about this. 

I can read a few of the kanji but I'll ask my wife to take a look t\at the others.

In the meantime, any context at all is really helpful. Well-written kanji is often nearly indecipherable (but it LOOKS nice). This looks more functional than that, but still, any information you have about the item or facts surrounding the item would help.

 

For a start (in my very, very rough interpretation) -  the bottom item, according to the red writing, is from something like the "Big Star Publishing?Printing? something". That is written above the phone number. It was issued in the Kanda area of Chiyoda ward, which is the business and administrative centre of Tokyo, just north of the Imperial Palace. I can't read the last address information. It reads Chiyoda-ku (Ward), Kanda, Kami?Hoken?-cho 1-1.  

The fact that it cost 9,850yen is surprising - if it's a WW2 relic, that would seem astoundingly expensive. Nowadays that sum would equate to over US$100. Back then it would have been an enormous amount of money.

 

Still on the bottom item, reading from right to left, top to bottom, I'll try and work out what I can. That won't be much.

 

First we have Toyokuni plus one more kanji. It looks a bit like the kanji for island, but I think it's not. Do you know what Toyokuni represents? One of the guys I work has the surname "Toyo", so it might just be a surname, or perhaps the name of a place.

 

In the centre is what looks like "shiraishiji/dera". Literally, "white stone temple", but more realistically just "shiraishi temple".  Possibly some kind of blessing receipt (they have that over here)?

It may even be someone's name - I have two students named "Shiraishi". I could be wrong on all of that.

 

On the left I can't really make anything out, though the last two symbols look like they mean "-'s place".

 

 

As for the top item, it looks like someone has written their name "Toyokuni" in kanji, transcribed it in Roman script, and added their phone number, or at least their best guess of their phone number. The number isn't an address, but also seems very long for an early phone number. However, Japan has always had a lot of people.

 

Anyway, that's all I can make out for now. 

[Uufflakke]

Thanks sofar FSM!

 

I am amazed how someone succeeds in learning such a language which isn't anything alike Roman script. Hats off!

 

About the top coupon with Toyokuni and the date at the bottom. My friend who gave me the original Japanese print told me it was one made by the famous Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806).

I assumed the word 'Toyokuni' was the name of the gallerist/art seller. After a quick internet search I found out it must be the name Toyokuni III who lived from 1786 till 1864.

Which of course explains the date in the right bottom corner.

As it stands now it is nót an Utamaro print but a Toyokuni print.

 

It is not a WWII relic by the way and I think he must have purchased the print about at least 30 years ago. But I will ask him next time.

 

Hopefully your wife can give the full translation of the text.

 

Many thanks!

 

P.S.

Talking about war relics, this week I was at an art fair and there was also a rare original WWII photo exhibited. It was a photo with on the right a Russian Tank in a snow covered landscape and left near the road a few groups of soldiers.

A wonderful atmosperic image (despite the horrific event). I would love to have it but € 4.500,- is waaay above my budget.