A教授「今度の図書館長にN先生をすいせんしたいと思いますが」
B教授「いいですね。無難な人選だと思いますよ」
Bunan
A Kyoju: Kondo no toshokanchoo ni N sensei wo suisen shitai to omoimasu ga.
B Kyoju: li desu ne, Bunan na jinsen da to omoimasu yo.
Professor A: I'd like to recommend Professor N as the next director of the library.
Professor B: Very good. I think it's a safe choice.
* * *
Something is bunan if it lacks features which might be considered special and/or worth criticizing. Grammatically, bunan na is followed by a noun and bunan ni by a verb.
Professor N of this week's conversation can usually be found studying alone in his office. He doesn't talk much with others and even his lectures, where he must talk, are considered somber; or, as his students say, "since his voice doesn't change very much we sometimes wonder if he's really alive." The moment I heard the professor was an accomplished scholar, however, my respect for him shot right up and no one, indeed, is expected to object to him becoming the next library director; "as long as he's the director," everyone feels, "there won't be any big problems" ("kare nara bunan ni toshokancho wo tsutomeru").
But what if he's recommended as the next school president? Would we still want someone "safe," someone who would never "rock the boat" or "make waves" (bunan na hito)? Those interested in seeing new policies introduced into the school would probably choose someone a bit more unique.
Some other examples: (1) Bunan na iro (a safe color), Japanese like to do everything "the safe way"- to lead, as it were, uneventful and "plain" lives (bunan na jinsei wo sugosu). For instance, have you ever noticed how few Japanese men wear brightly colored ties? "Doshitemo bunan na iro ni natte shimau" ("I always end up choosing an ordinary, safe color"), they say. But why can't Japanese men wear bright colors and look sharp just like the Italians and British? It just doesn't seem to make sense.
(2) Bunan na okurimono (a gift selection that will neither surprise nor disappoint). For the past 20 years I've been sending gifts to my in-laws on their birthdays, on Aged People's Day, at mid-year and year-end, on Mother's Day and Father's Day. That's at least seven gifts a year or one every other month: As you can imagine, knowing what to send is difficult but over the years I've learned that ichiban bunan na okurimono wa tabemono ka hana desu (food and flowers are the safest kinds of things to send). As for food, a trip to any big department store's basement area is always best. The large assortment of unusual foods to choose from makes it all so much easier. Bunan in this case means food which is neither too hard, too sweet, too oily (cheese is out), or too Western (for example, my in-laws wouldn't appreciate wine if I sent it). In the end, thinking carefully about the likes and dislikes of the people one is sending the gift to seems to be key. Even so, bunan na okurimonowo erabu no mo taihen muzukashii (choosing a "safe" gift is really difficult).