In Japan, there is a form of poetry called 落首, which literally means ‘the head fell off.’ This can be read as ‘ochi gaki,’ ‘ochi kubi,’ or ‘rakushu.’ Though it began in the Heian period, it was extremely popular during the Edo period. Because the Tokugawa shogunate fiercely restricted free speech, people used these poems as a form of political criticism. The name ‘the head fell off’ came from the fact that by writing these poems the author was literally risking having his head cut off. These were usually written on walls as graffiti, think Bansky but during feudal Japan. These poems were always anonymous and also very witty.

Here is a modern rakushu about Japan’s current Prime Minister, Hatoyama Yukio.

Below is a translation. Inside the “quotation marks” are the names of various birds and inside the (parenthesis) are the second meanings of those birds’ names. Line by line, here it goes:

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日本には謎の鳥がいる。正体はよく分からない。

We have a mysterious bird in Japan. We don’t really know what it is.

中国から見れば「カモ」に見える。

Chinese say it is “Kamo” (stupid person is can easily deceived)

米国から見れば「チキン」に見える。

Americans say it is “Chicken” (chicken, as in scared or afraid)

欧州から見れば「アホウドリ」に見える。

Europeans say it is “Ahoudori” (ahou = aho, or idiot)

日本の有権者には「サギ」だと思われている。

Japanese think it is “Sagi” (liar/cheater)

オザワから見れば「オウム」のような存在。

But Ozawa says it is “Oumu” (yes-man, as in the guy who always says yes to Ozawa) [Ozawa here is obviously Ozawa Ichiro, the current head of the DPJ]

でも鳥自身は「ハト」だと言い張っている。

But the bird itself says he is “Hato” (Pigeon, helpless and unsure of where to go, as in Hatoyama)

それでいて、約束をしたら「ウソ」に見え

When it promises something, it ends up with “Uso” (lies)

身体検査をしたら「カラス」のように真っ黒、

During inspection, it becomes as black as “Karasu” (crow, as in corrupt)

釈明会見では「キュウカンチョウ」になるが、

In front of reporters, it becomes “Kyuukan-chou” (naive/plain person)

実際は単なる鵜飼いの「ウ」。

In reality, it is merely a “u” (U is a bird that catches fish for people, IE a slave.)

私はあの鳥は日本の「ガン」だと思う。

But I believe it really is a “Gan.” (cancer)

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Here is the link to the original article (in Japanese): http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/politics/politicsit/351425/

And massive thanks to Hide for showing me this in the first place and helping me understand it!

Tags: current events, Japanese culture, Japanese politics

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