The Great Passage (舟を編む)

The vast ocean of words.

Without a means to cross the ocean,

we can only stand and watch,

keeping the words we desperately want to express inside.

A dictionary is a ship that is able to cross that ocean.

The Great Passage

On a quiet dreamlike morning

On a quiet dreamlike morning

The crimson sky shines through the window and reflects off my pen

The crimson sky shines through the window and reflects off my pen

In the vivid clatter of the night, I wander between cities like a cat

In the vivid clatter of the night, I wander between cities like a cat

Deep thoughts

Deep thoughts

A flexible conception

A flexible conception

Foreseeable aspirations

Foreseeable aspirations

Distant memories

Distant memories

Unruly hair

Unruly hair

A narrow mind

A narrow mind

A large circle of friends

A large circle of friends

A long silence

A long silence

A short greeting

A short greeting

Tone of voice

Tone of voice

The light in our eyes that slightly differs

The light in our eyes that slightly differs

Traces of friendship that's not in the treaty

Traces of friendship that's not in the treaty

In the ocean that sweeps the sand of eternity

In the ocean that sweeps the sand of eternity

Swept and sunk in the waves with sparse opposites and similarities

Swept and sunk in the waves with sparse opposites and similarities

Clashing and exact opposites become resolved and connected

Clashing and exact opposites become resolved and connected

Reference

Reference

Conclusion

Conclusion

I'll gather words

I'll gather words

that have

that have

scattered

scattered

over

over

many

many

months and years

months and years

With the fragrant sea breeze, the connection that rests on the seashore becomes one

With the fragrant sea breeze, the connection that rests on the seashore becomes one

Vastness

What was the first dictionary you held, Mr. Matsumoto?

It was Otsuki Fumihiko's Sea of Words, which I inherited from my grandfather.

When I learned that Otsuki compiled it by himself after overcoming many obstacles,

it left a deep impression on me as a child.

I bet you looked up some naughty words too.

I would never.

Is that right?

My first dictionary was the Iwanami Japanese Dictionary in junior high.

I looked up all the dirty words.

But that is a very elegant and refined dictionary.

I'm sure you were only disappointed.

Yes, that's exactly right.

Hey, it sounds like you looked them up too.

We've made many dictionaries together, Araki.

I have fond memories of each.

I'm so sorry that I won't be able to see our work through to the end.

So you won't be able to stay on in the editorial department?

I do plan to drop by as much as I can,

but my wife's condition isn't improving.

I've been too busy with the dictionaries to do anything for her,

so I wanted to at least be by her side after retirement.

That is probably for the best.

It is your turn to support her now.

I promise to find my successor before I retire.

Someone who will be able to perfectly assist you,

lead the dictionary's editorial department,

and further advance our plans to create a new dictionary.

Someone young and brilliant.

I doubt I will ever meet another editor like you.

Compiling a dictionary is very specialized.

It's completely different from books and magazines.

It requires patience and attention to detail,

an indulgence for words but not overly so, while also having a wide perspective.

Is there a young person like that in this day and age?

There has to be.

I will do whatever I have to do to find one.

Dictionary Editorial Department

Sasaki, where's Nishioka?

He's not back yet.

Where has he gone off to again?

Sasaki, I have a favor to ask.

Yes?

If there is anybody who might be suitable for dictionary editing, would you let me know?

I don't care what department they're in.

Okay.

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It's absolutely crucial in order to create The Great Passage.

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