Day 2 | 2日目

Unknown location

It is the second day of my mysterious adventure in this uncharted, and my encounter with the kirins.

I still don't know how I got here, nor do I know why to begin with. Nevertheless, I feel that I have nothing to fear from the kirins, because they have been so kind and hospitable while I'm trying to find the answers.

I've been taking notes on their lifestyles and cultures. Furthermore, I felt that this could be a time for me to brush up on my Japanese.

The presence of these kirins are perhaps what had awakened my inner passion for the Japanese arts, languages, and cultures. Perhaps if I study hard enough and refresh most of my knowledge of Japanese, then the kirins would be willing to help me expand my knowledge on other languages and cultures, such as Chinese, Korean, and Hindi. Only time will tell.

I've written down a few basic questions for me to practice reading and memorizing, for when I speak to the kirins. Furthermore, I've prepared myself a few notes on most of my studies on Japanese language and culture. Maybe with the kirins help, I can expand a little more on it later. Then, with these knowledge, I can pass it on with my fellow Equestrians when I find a way to return.

Where am I?
私はどこですか。
キリンのグロブーにいます。Red colored words are the kirins answers.

You can't talk? Why?
話せない？ どうして？
私たちは沈黙の川を飲みました。

ひらがな/ カタカナ

a | i | u | e | o

あ/ア | い/イ | う/ウ | え/エ | お/オ
k| か/カ | き/キ | く/ク | け/ケ | こ/コ
s| さ/サ | し/シ | す/ ス | せ/セ | そ/ソ
t| た/タ | ち/チ (chi) | つ/ツ(tsu) | て/テ | と/ト
n| な/ナ | に/二 | ね/ヌ | ぬ/ネ | の/ノ
h| は/ハ | ひ/ヒ | ふ/フ | へ/ヘ | ほ/ホ
m| ま/マ | み/ミ | む/ム | め/メ | も/モ
y| や/ヤ | | ゆ/ユ | | よ/ヨ
r| ら/ラ | り/リ | る/ル | れ/レ | ろ/ロ
w| わ/ワ | | を/ヲ |

n=んン

particles = を

きりン(kirin)

Kanji: 日本語, 話す(speak), 書く(write), 聞く(hear), 見る(see),日(sun, day),月(moon, month),竜(dragon),水(water),火(fire),木(wood),金(gold),土(soil)

Yesterday - きのう　or　昨日
Today -　こんにち　or　今日
Tomorrow -　あした　or　明日

Monday = 月曜日
Tuesday =火曜日
Wednesday =水曜日
Thursday =木曜日
Friday =金曜日
Saturday =土曜日
Sunday =日曜日

頭(head), 肩(shoulder), 膝(knees), 脚 or 足(legs or feet)
目(eyes), 耳(ears), 口(mouth), 鼻(nose)

Good morning.
おはよう ございます。

Hello (in the afternoon).
こんにちは　or 今日は

Hello (in the evening).
こんばんは　or 今晩は

Good-bye (for a long time).
さよなら

Short good-bye.
ビェビュー

I found out later today that the kirins are unable to speak, because of something they referred to as the "River of Silence." Furthermore, I'm in a place they dubbed as "Kirin's Grove."

That's hardly any help at all, for I still don't know where I am.

Nevertheless, I'm sure I will find the answers soon enough.

For the time being, I need to find a way to communicate with the kirins. While they cannot speak, they can, however, read. As long as the words are written in their native tongues.

Luckily for me, I've had my fair share in the study of Japanese, which is one of the languages the Kirins can understand. Hopefully, most of what I remembered would be enough for a friendly word-to-word conversations.

But during an earlier conversation I had with the kirin's leader, whom I learned her name is Rain Shine (Or レイン シャイン), she seems quite taken by my etiquette I displayed when I bowed before her, upon greetings. Even though the kirins have become mute and can no longer say their greetings, bowing is still a greeting they continue to practice.

I think Rain Shine might even like me.

Author's Note

Long ago, back when Tokyo(Tōkyō 東京) was known as Edo, Japanese was just a spoken language. It wasn't until it met the Chinese, in which many of Chinese written characters were borrowed and the Japanese developed a written language of their own. Three systems of the same language to be precise.

There is the rōmaji, the hiragana, and the katakana.

Rōmaji is basically Japanese, written with english letters.
Hiragana is the primary Japanese syllabary that uses a phonetic lettering system.
Katakana is the secondary Japanese syllabary that is categorized by short, straight strokes and sharp corners, and is used to transcript foreign language words into Japanese wordings.

Furthermore, while in English, we would write our sentences in this specific order: Subject-Verse-Object. Max travels by bus.
In Japan, the order is reversed for the last two:
Subject-Object-Verse. Max + Bus + To Travel. マクスはバスをりょこう。