牧師：百人一首全部覚えたんです。
私：まあ、すごいですね。私もかぶとを脱ぎますわ。
Kabuto wo Nugu
(Nihongo no totemo joozu na bokushi-san to)
Bokushi: Hyakunin-isshu zenbu oboeta'n desu.
Watashi: Maa, sugoi desu ne. Watashi mo kabuto wo nugimasu wa.
(With a minister who speaks excellent Japanese)
Minister: I've memorized the entire hyakunin-isshu.
Me: Wow, that's something. I have to take my hat off to you.
* * *
Kabuto refers to the helmet or headpiece used in the battles of yesteryear. From the fact that people took their helmet off after losing a battle comes this week's expression meaning to surrender, capitulate, throw in the sponge, or knuckle under.
The "Hyakunin-isshu" is a collection of 100 31- syllable poems written by 100 poets. Each poem consists of five lines broken up into 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. A popular New Year's game using these poems consists of two decks, 100 cards to be read and 100 cards to be picked up. On'the reading card are the first 17 syllables-along with a portrait of the poet. On the other card to be picked up are the remaining 14 syllables. The object of the game is to pick up as many scattered cards as possible that match the ones read out. Someone who has memorized all of the poems will, of course, be at an advantage.
I played the minister one-on-one. We were about halfway through when he said, "Doo desu ka. Sensei, moo kabuto wo nuide wa (So how about it Sensei? Time to throw in the towel, isn't it?)." Yes, he had taken more cards than me. His hand, indeed, would often be reaching out for the matching card after just the first five syllables were read. I said, "Mada mada, kabuto wo nugu wake ni wa ikimasen yo (Hold your horses. I'm not ready to surrender yet)," but knew that if things continued like this I would certainly lose. Though I thought for a moment that kabuto wo nugu mae ni yameta hoo ga ii no de wa nai daroo ka (before admitting defeat, perhaps it would be better if I just gave up), the thought was too mortifying.
When playing hyakunin-isshu, a 'reader'is necessary. I wonder if my friend reading the cards thought I was strange the way I was so intensely playing the game? She did laugh a bit as she read the cards...
Finally, only 10 cards were left. The minister spoke up, "So Sensei, you're the loser. Moo kabuto wo nuidara ikaga desu ka (Isn't it perhaps time you admit that you've been beaten?)." But we weren't playing poker and so didn't need to bluff each other. In reality, we we're neck and neck. We both had a 50 percent chance of winning. I answered back, "On the contrary, if anyone's going to be giving up, it's you, not me (Sochira koso. Kabuto wo nuganakerebanaranai no wa, sochira desu yo)."
The game finally ended. After counting the cards, it turned out he had 48 and I had 52. I was ahead by a margin, albeit a small margin. I still had to take my hat off (Watashi mo kabuto wo nugazaru wo enai) to the foreigner who remembered all of the poems.