The short story of Kanji pictures
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the “thread” radical, and on the right is a component representing weapons safely stored in a sacred box—symbolizing peace and a solemn promise after war. Together, this kanji depicts binding thread tightly to seal a sacred vow, which is why it came to mean “to tie,” “to bind,” or “to unite.”
On the left is the “horse” radical, and on the right is a component meaning something thin or flat, like a nameplate hung on a door. Together, this kanji originally depicted someone hopping lightly onto a horse and quickly riding away. By extension, it came to mean “to cheat” or “to trick” someone!
This kanji consists of two parts. On top is the “door” radical, and below it is a radical representing bound wooden strips, which were used like a notebook before paper existed. Together, this kanji means a nameplate or sign hung on a door.
By extension, this kanji came to mean anything thin and flat, like a plate or a sheet.
This kanji is a simple depiction of a door. As you can see, it simply means “door”!
Although Yoko Tawada’s novel “The Bridegroom Was a Dog “does not explicitly name Kunitachi City, its setting is modeled after the Fujimidai Housing Complex. In the story, the area around Kunitachi Station is depicted as “Kita Ward” (North Ward), while the Yaho area is portrayed as “Minami Ward” (South Ward).
Highly acclaimed for offering a fresh perspective on folk tales hidden within modern urban life, the novel was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1993.
An Ex-Con is a compelling drama about a female volunteer probation officer who struggles to guide and rehabilitate people with criminal records. Kasumi Arimura delivers an extraordinary, award-winning performance as the lead character, taking home the Hochi Film Award for Best Actress in 2022. The film brings its story to life with authentic backdrops filmed throughout Kunitachi City, including Kunitachi City Hall and Yaho Park No. 4.
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the “word” radical, which originally represented a sacred oath made before God—one so absolute that breaking it meant punishment by the sword. On the right is the symbol for a thread reel. Together, this kanji means to write down or record someone’s words accurately, just like reeling thread onto a spool.
The movie Sidecar to the Dog (2007)tells the story of a strange summer friendship between a fourth-grade girl and Yoko—a woman who suddenly arrives as her father’s mistress after her mother runs away. Played by Yuko Takeuchi (1980–2020), Yoko brings a fresh wave of energy to the girl’s life.
Set right here in Kunitachi City, the film features Yoko riding her bicycle past local landmarks like the triangular-roofed Kunitachi Station, Daigaku-dori Avenue, and Aoyagi Inari Shrine. The dialogue is also peppered with references to famous figures connected to Kunitachi, such as Momoe Yamaguchi and Kiyoshiro Imawano.
| 映画コム「サイドカーに犬」 | https://eiga.com/movie/34026/ |
This kanji depicts a thread and a reel. Just like neatly winding thread onto a spool, it represents a chronicle—methodically recording history and societal rules step by step.
