June 18, 2025
Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meijiza in Tokyo. It’s based on the Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa. The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation was very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance. The Meijiza Theater is located in Ningyocho, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era. That day, the hall was filled with a wide range of spectators, from young people to the elderly.
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister) and husband and son. The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in the Showa era. There are good and bad things going on, but the family stays together, supports each other and enjoys life. In these days, when nuclear families are norm, this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange. To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and children live separately with little contact with us. In fact, our family are on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart. Maybe, all members of our family value individual freedom too much. Through this play “Sazaesan, I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is.
今週初め、夫と東京の明治座の舞台を見に行きました。長谷川町子の人気漫画「サザエさん」を原作とした作品です。テレビアニメシリーズは作者の死後も根強い人気を誇り、舞台版のチケットは入手困難でしたが、最終公演のチケットを2枚手に入れることができました。明治座は、江戸時代から栄えてきた下町の歓楽街、人形町にあります。この日は、若者からお年寄りまで幅広い層の観客で満席でした。
サザエさんは、両親、兄弟(弟と妹)、夫と息子と暮らす主婦です。作者は、昭和の典型的な大家族の日常を描きたかったようです。良いことも悪いことも起こりながらも、家族は団結し、支え合い、人生を謳歌しています。核家族が当たり前の現代において、このような家族構成は非常に珍しく、懐かしくも不思議な感覚を覚えます。正直に言うと、両親が既に他界し、子供たちもほとんど連絡を取ることもなく別々に暮らしている我が家と比べると、少し羨ましく感じます。実際、夫と私は週末を別々に過ごすことになっているので、家族は崩壊寸前です。もしかしたら、家族全員が個人の自由を重んじすぎているのかもしれません。この劇「サザエさん」を通して、観客の皆さんに家族とは何かを改めて考えてほしいと思っています。
Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meiji-za in Tokyo.
Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji-za
It’ was based on the Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa.
The TV anime series remains very popular, even after the death of its author, and the tits author passed away in 1992. Tickets for the stage adaptation was very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance.
The Meiji-za Theater is located in Ningyoōchoō, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era.
That day, the hall was filled with a wide range of spectators, from young people to the elderly.
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister) and husband and son.
The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in the Showa era.
There are good and bad things going on, but the family stays together, supports each other and enjoys life.
In these days, when nuclear families are norm, this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange.
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and children live separately with little contact with us.
In fact, our family are on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart.
Maybe, all members of our family value individual freedom too much.
Through this play “Sazaesan, I would like the audienceMORE NATURALLY: I hope this play will encourage the viewers to reconsider what a family is.
Feedback
Interesting. The philosopher Mark Fischer has written a lot how social isolation is a problem in many post-industrial societies.
You might enjoy reading about him at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/マーク・フィッシャー_(理論家)
Here in Shizuoka City, Sazae san is very popular. In fact, Sazae san is marketed as a commodity to attract tourists to Shizuoka.
It’s based on the famous Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa.
English adjective order is weird and I don't know a good pattern or source for it, sorry! But "famous" goes before nationality.
The (TV) anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation wasere very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance.
TV can be omitted here and would normally be.
Watch out for plurals: "The ticket was / the tickets were"
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (her younger brother and sister) and, husband and son.
In these days, when nuclear families are norm(the norm / normal), this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange.
(the) "norm" is a noun
"normal" is an adjective
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us.
In fact, our family areis on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart.
"our family is" -> the subject is the family itself
"our family are" -> the subject is the individuals within the family
Sometimes the difference doesn't matter (e.g. our family are going to the beach / our family is going to the beach - both fine). But when you talk about the family structure itself falling apart, it's more natural to talk about the family itself as the topic.
Maybe, all the members of our family value individual freedom too much.
Through this play “Sazae-san", I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is.
“Sazae-san”
Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meijiza in Tokyo.
It’s based on the famous Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa.
The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation wasere very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance.
The Meijiza Theater is located in Ningyocho, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era.
That day, the hall was filled with a wide range of spectators, from young people to the elderly.
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister) and, husband, and son.
The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in the Showa era.
There are goodups and bad things going ondowns, but the family stays together, supports each other, and enjoys life.
"There are good and bad things going on" isn't wrong necessarily, but it doesn't sound like how I would expect most people to say this. "Ups and downs" is a very common way of referring to when a mix of good and bad things happen, especially in the context of relationships. You could also say "There are good times and bad times" which is another common way of expressing this.
In tThese days, when nuclear families are the norm, this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange.
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us.
In fact, our family areis on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart.
You could also say "our family is on the verge of collapse".
Maybe, all members of everyone in our family values individual freedom too much.
I think this is the most natural way of saying what you have written in the Japanese, but you could also say "Maybe our family values individual freedom too much." as well.
Through this play, “Sazaesan", I would like the audience to reconsider what it means to be a family is.
“Sazae-san”
Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meijiza in Tokyo.
It’s based on the famous Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa.
It's more natural sounding to say "famous Japanese comic" rather than "Japanese famous comic". In English, there is a preferred order to adjectives, and usually adjectives that are an opinion or general opinion ("famous") come before adjectives that refer to the noun's origin ("Japanese"). You can read more about it here: https://www.rarejob.com/englishlab/column/20220320/#2
The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation wasere very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance.
The Meijiza Theater is located in Ningyocho, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era.
That day, the hall was filled with a wide range of spectators, from young people to the elderly.
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister), and husband and son.
The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in the Showa era.
There are good and bad things going on, but the family stays together, supports each other, and enjoys life.
You could also say "There are ups and downs, but the family stays together"
In tThese days, when nuclear families are the norm, this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange.
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us.
In fact, our family areis on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart.
Maybe, all the members of our family value individual freedom too much.
Through this play “Sazaesan", I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is.
I think it may be more natural to say "reflect" as in "I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is". "Reconsider" has an objective feel, while "reflect" has the feeling of thinking about something deeply and/or philosophically.
“Sazae-san”
Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meijiza in Tokyo.
It’s based on the Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa.
The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation wasere very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance.
The Meijiza Theater is located in Ningyocho, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era.
That day, the hall was filled with a wide range of spectators, from young people to the elderly.
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister) and husband and son.
The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in the Showa era.
There are good and bad things going on, but the family stays together, supports each other and enjoys life.
In tThese days, when nuclear families are the norm, this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange.
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us.
In fact, our family areis on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart.
Maybe, all members of our family value individual freedom too much.
"All members of our family" is not wrong but is a bit unnatural. "Maybe everyone in our family values..." would sound better.
Since the sentence without "maybe" can exist by itself there shouldn't be a comma after "maybe", but I think this is very minor.
Through this play “Sazaesan, I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is.
If you're using "this" you don't need to name the play. Alternatively, you could say:
Through the play "Sazaesan"...
or just
Through "Sazaesan"...
Feedback
I agree that there's something nice about older family structures. It's quite ironic that despite having more ways to connect with people nowadays, loneliness rates are higher than ever before. Maybe this is partly because of changes in the average family structure. However, I think there is also a danger in romanticising the past.
“Sazae-san” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and children live separately. |
In fact, our family are on the verge of falling apart as my husband and I are supposed to spend weekends apart. In fact, our family In fact, our family In fact, our family "our family is" -> the subject is the family itself "our family are" -> the subject is the individuals within the family Sometimes the difference doesn't matter (e.g. our family are going to the beach / our family is going to the beach - both fine). But when you talk about the family structure itself falling apart, it's more natural to talk about the family itself as the topic. In fact, our family You could also say "our family is on the verge of collapse". This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
Maybe, all members of our family value individual freedom too much. Maybe "All members of our family" is not wrong but is a bit unnatural. "Maybe everyone in our family values..." would sound better. Since the sentence without "maybe" can exist by itself there shouldn't be a comma after "maybe", but I think this is very minor. Maybe Maybe, all the members of our family value individual freedom too much. Maybe I think this is the most natural way of saying what you have written in the Japanese, but you could also say "Maybe our family values individual freedom too much." as well. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
Through this play “Sazaesan, I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is. Through this play If you're using "this" you don't need to name the play. Alternatively, you could say: Through the play "Sazaesan"... or just Through "Sazaesan"... Through this play “Sazaesan", I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is. I think it may be more natural to say "reflect" as in "I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is". "Reconsider" has an objective feel, while "reflect" has the feeling of thinking about something deeply and/or philosophically. Through this play “Sazae-san", I would like the audience to reconsider what a family is. Through this play, “Sazaesan", I would like the audience to reconsider what it means to be a family
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Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meijiza in Tokyo. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! Earlier this week, my husband and I went to see a play at the Meiji-za in Tokyo. Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji-za |
It’s based on the Japanese famous comic called “Sazae-san” by Hasegawa Machiko. |
The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation was very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance. The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation w The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation w The (TV) anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation w TV can be omitted here and would normally be. Watch out for plurals: "The ticket was / the tickets were" The TV anime series remains very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation w The TV anime series remains very popular, even after |
The Meijiza Theater is located in Ningyochou, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era. |
That day, the hall was filled with a wide range of spectators, from young people to the elderly. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister) and husband and son. This sentence has been marked as perfect! Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister), and husband and son. Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (her younger brother and sister) Sazae-san is a housewife who lives with her parents, siblings (younger brother and sister) This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in Showa era. |
There are good and bad things going on, but the family stays together, supports each other and enjoys life. This sentence has been marked as perfect! There are good and bad things going on, but the family stays together, supports each other, and enjoys life. You could also say "There are ups and downs, but the family stays together" There are "There are good and bad things going on" isn't wrong necessarily, but it doesn't sound like how I would expect most people to say this. "Ups and downs" is a very common way of referring to when a mix of good and bad things happen, especially in the context of relationships. You could also say "There are good times and bad times" which is another common way of expressing this. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
In these days, when nuclear families are norm, this type of family structure is extremely rare, so it feels both nostalgic and strange.
In these days, when nuclear families are (the) "norm" is a noun "normal" is an adjective
This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
The Meijiza Theater is located in Ningyocho, a downtown entertainment district that has flourished since the Edo era. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! The Meiji-za Theater is located in Ningy |
It’s based on the Japanese famous comic “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa. This sentence has been marked as perfect! It’s based on the famous Japanese It's more natural sounding to say "famous Japanese comic" rather than "Japanese famous comic". In English, there is a preferred order to adjectives, and usually adjectives that are an opinion or general opinion ("famous") come before adjectives that refer to the noun's origin ("Japanese"). You can read more about it here: https://www.rarejob.com/englishlab/column/20220320/#2 It’s based on the famous Japanese English adjective order is weird and I don't know a good pattern or source for it, sorry! But "famous" goes before nationality. It’s based on the famous Japanese It |
The author seemed to have wanted to depict the daily life of a typical large family in the Showa era. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and children live separately with little contact with us. To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us. To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us. To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us. To be honest, I feel a little envious when I compare it to my own family, where our parents have already passed away and our children live separately with little contact with us. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
The TV anime series remain very popular even after the death of its author, and the tickets for the stage adaptation was very difficult to obtain, but we managed to get two for the final performance. |
It’s based on the Japanese famous comic called “Sazae-san” by Machiko Hasegawa. |
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