Soga no Umako

Soga no Umako (?-626) was a prominent member of the powerful Soga clan. He worked together with Prince Shōtoku to promote Buddhism in Japan, but his intentions were more practical than religious. The powerful rival clan Mononobe was against the addoption of Buddhism, so Umako supported the new religion with the intention of weakening the rival family.

In 587, Umako succeeded in destroying the Mononobe clan by defeating its leader, Mononobe no Moriya. He then worked with the imperial court, but grew up disatissfied with the Sushun emperor, whom he had assassinated and replaced with empress Suiko. He then supported  Shōtoku Taishin in the adoption of Buddhism and Chinese culture in Japan.

It is believed that his tomb is located in the Ishibutai Kofun in Nara.

Samurai language - 10 fixed phrases

                                                More samurai language

1) ちょこざいなり[chokozai nari]

- approximate meaning: なまいきな、差し出がましい

- impertinent, presumptuous, impudent

- in kanji, it is written as 猪口才. 猪口 means small sake cup, and 才 means talent, so the expression might refer to someone of low ability

ちょこざいな口をきくな。

Don't be impertinent!

2) やくたいもない  [yakutai mo nai]

- approximate meaning: 役にも立たない

- useless, worthless, absurd

そんなやくたいもない話はやめろ。

Stop talking such silly nonsense.

3) ぜひもない [zehi mo nai]

- approximate meaning: やむを得ない, どうにもならない

- unavoidable, inevitable, have no choice but to ~

彼にしつこく頼まれて是非もなく金を貸した。

Since he was so persistent in asking, I had no choice but to lend him money.

4) 慮外 [ryogai]

- approximate meaning: 思いがけない、以外、だしぬけ、無礼、失礼

- unexpected, rude, sudden

- in the form 「慮外ながら」 , it's similar to 「失礼ですが」

5) 枉げて [magete]

- approximate meaning: 何がなんでも、ぜひとも、むりに、しいて

- if anything, by all means

そこを枉げてご出席くだいさませんか。

I know it is too much to ask, but won't you please attend the meeting for my sake?

6) かまえて [kamaete]

- approximate meaning: ぜったい～な、決して～な

- expresses strong negation: don't ~

7) ひらに [hira ni]

- approximate meaning: 何とぞお願いいたします

= earnestly, humbly, sincerely

平にお許しください。

I earnestly beg your pardon.

8) 一つまいろう [hitotsu mairou]

- approximate meaning: まずは一杯

= let's drink, let's have a drink

- used before beginning to drink

久しぶりだ、一つまいろう。

It's been a while, let's have a drink.

9) 過ごされよ　[sugosareyo]

 - approximate meaning: パーッといきましょう

= let's drink, let's have a good time

- with close friends, it can take the form すごせ

10) お流れちょうだい　[onagare choudai]

- used when drinking from someone else's sake cup (a superior or a person you highly respect)

- there was a belief among the Japanese that the lost drops of sake in a cup would help purify one's body and spirit

お流れ頂戴します。

It is an honor to drink from your wine cup.

Self-introduction in Japanese e-mail

Below are some structures that can be used in the beginning of a mail, when you send a mail to someone for the first time, and also have to introduce yourself. The formality degree is from polite, to very formal

• 初めてメールを送らせていただきました。

= This is the first time I am sending you an e-mail

- suitable for enquiries regarding products or services

• 初めてご連絡を差し上げます。

= I am contacting you for the first time
- standard phrase for when you send an e-mail for the first time to someone

• 突然のメールで失礼します。

= Please excuse the sudden e-mail

- another standard beginning of a first-time mail

• 突然、メールを差し上げるご無礼をお許しください。

= Please forgive me for my impolite act of suddenly sending you an e-mail
- used for superiors, conveying the apology of abruptly sending an e-mail with no or very little previous contact or greetings
- when contact someone that has been introduced to you by someone else, make sure to mention the name of the person that made the introductions