Ep26: Tracks of the Soul
Well, there ends a fabulous first series for me to translate. It was interesting, and not at times, and like all other Jigoku Shoujo series, started kind of dull… but it ended quite interestingly, I guess.
The final episode was kind of ?!?! but hey, Jigoku Shoujo never really made sense in the first place. I guess we can say that the whole “You are me” thing is deeper than it sounds — perhaps Yuzuki is Ai reincarnated or something, as this series is full of Buddhist imagery and concepts. And Shinto ones, I guess. I love how the Japanese treat them as though they were one unit. Which I guess, is how it is in Japan, since you go to both shrines and temples depending on your business.
I mean, Ai did die, so it might make sense for Yuzuki to be a new Ai, quite literally, which means that all the “other” Jigoku Shoujo are probably the same person or something.
Anyway, since this was the finale, there’s not much to say/note except commenting on the ending, so here is one translation note:
23:15 — 北特院礼父命揚信士 — this is the thing you place in a shrine to your ancestor, in this case the father. This phrase is quite confusing, and therefore, “Rest in Peace: The Father Who Gave His Life” is the best I could do. The whole thing acts as a sort of “religious name” for the dead person. “北特院” (hottokuin)’s homophonic nature to “掘っとく” (hottoku, leave alone) may signify letting the person rest in peace. “礼父命揚” would mean something like “thank the father who gave his life.” And “信士” is an honorific, signifying that the man who died was an adult.
Hope you enjoyed my translation/everyone else at Yuurisan’s hard work! It felt like quite a long season, but it’s over. It kind of makes me sad to see Jigoku Shoujo end. Oh well, I guess I can go watch season 2 again, since I don’t seem to remember it very well…
Man this ep beat all the others in Mitsuganae by a long shot. Too bad most of the season wasn’t as good as this. You and Yuurisan did an awesome job with it anyways (considering you were the only subs to keep up with the releases as well, haha), so major kudos.
Also Ai was so much more beautiful than normal. ;_;
@zaudragon
Thank you for your translations and your notes. I love this series and the two other seasons as they showed me something like “the dark side” of Japanese people’s feeling. I know a little more of Japan, but I love it a little less.
*nosebleed*