Author Archives: Confanity

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About Confanity

I love the written word more than anything else I've had the chance to work with. I'm back in the States from Japan for grad school, but still studying Japanese with the hope of becoming a translator -- or writer, or even teacher -- as long as it's something language-related.

Breathing Om, like Dogs

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Confanity

阿吽の呼吸 (Aun no kokyuu; “Breathing Ah–Un.”) Definition: Two parties, in a mutual activity, achieving a state of perfect mental, physical, and spiritual harmony. It’s common knowledge that there is a state one can enter when wholly concentrating on some activity, … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Little, Big

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Confanity

針小棒大 shin.shou.bou.dai Literally: Needle small pole big Alternately: Something is as small as a needle, but described as a pole (as long as a person). Exaggeration. Making a mountain out of a mole-hill.

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Creation Legend (Retold from the Ailu)

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Confanity

When the titan Ghan scooped out the Armhold Valley and built up the mountains around, he did so as a playpen for his three children: the twin brothers Thahn and Thahr, and their sister Eyyafel. But unknown even to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Setting, Short Fiction, World-Building | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Not All Bad

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Confanity

Continuing last week’s oni theme: 渡る世間に鬼は無し (Wataru seken ni oni wa nashi; “Across the world, there are no demons.”) Definition: Nobody in the whole world is an oni – i.e. a purely malicious being. “There is kindness to be found … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Good Life

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Confanity

I asked my wife what yojijukugo she liked while flipping through a book of them. She said this one just as I was looking over the page it was on. That’s the six-fingered hand of Fate right there. * * … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Flight of Words (a most podern tale)

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Confanity

Today I went out on the balcony just in time to see a hundred small black birds wheel through the sky above me like a living constellation. The sky struck me as being incredibly blue. Not that it really was, … Continue reading →

Posted in Short Fiction | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Strength to the Strong with a Stick

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Confanity

Another selection from the Iroha Karuta: I’ve found a site that has not just the Edo set, but the Kyoto and Osaka sets as well, so expect to see more of these as they catch my fancy. 鬼に金棒 (Oni ni … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

NYT bump for D&D

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Confanity

So this happened in the New York Times. One thought: I’m obviously a fan of D&D, and I agree that the whole subculture surrounding it is immensely good for fostering and encouraging creativity. It’s nice to see one of your … Continue reading →

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Now introducing Yojijukugo

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Confanity

When I’m looking for kotowaza to introduce, I often come across yojijukugo – four-character compounds that often serve similar functions. (In fact, there are a number of longer sayings that have been condensed to four-character phrases.) The tradition of using … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Fiddling with XP, part 3: Apologia and Addendum

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Confanity

Last time, I outlined a rough proposal for an alternate XP system for a class-and-level RPG. This included how the DM determines awards and how the players can work to adjust their individual awards, and then how those numbers might … Continue reading →

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