先生：君たち、たまにパンツを脱いで寝ると健康にいいよ。
私：先生、いきなりそんなこと言うから、学生たち面食らっていますよ。
Menkurau
Sensei: Kimitachi, tama ni pantsu wo nuide neru to kenkoo ni ii yo.
Watashi: Sensei, ikinari sonna koto iu ka gakusei-tachi menkuratte imasu yo.
Professor: Students, it's good for your health if you sometimes sleep without wearing any underwear.
Me: Professor, you come out suddenly with such remarks. No wonder the students are so upset.
* * *
Menkurau means to be all in a flurry, to be confused because of something that has suddenly happened or been said.
The normally well-mannered professor surprised his students when he suddenly started talking about people's underwear. (I must admit I initially wasn't sure if I should write this dialogue. Since it's about a particular approach to better health, however, I decided why not.)
Student: "Sensei ni ikinari, anna koto iwarete menkuratte shimatta (I was taken aback when you suddenly said that)."
Professor: "Konna koto wo itta gurai de, menkuratte wa ikenai yo (You mustn't be thrown off balance by something as little as that)." There are a number of explanations about the origin of this word. Let me introduce you to the simplest, and, I hope, most interesting. In kendo one wears a men (mask) to protect one's head and face. Even with a mask on, however, if your opponent hits you squarely on the head with his bamboo sword, you'll probably become dizzy (me ga kuratnu). And so the word menkurau.
Let's continue the conversation. "Gakusei-tachi wa, hajime menkuratta ga, hanashi no naiyoo ni wa kanshin wo motta (Though at first the students were thrown off balance, they were interested in what I had to say)." Indeed, I too read in a recent magazine an article describing the benefits to be gained from sleep- ing minus one's underwear. It can help people with stiff shoulders, menstrual pain, high blood pressure, stomach pains, insomnia and bed-wetting problems.
What a surprise to read that all these things can be cured, not by drinking any medicine or doing a special exercise, but by simply going to sleep without one's underwear.
To tell the truth, I have problems getting to sleep at night. When I lived in Tokyo I Was "forced" to exercise just by traveling around the city. Here in Yamaguchi I enjoy a pleasant "drive" to the university past beautiful mountains and green forests. But I get no exercise. I'm always in a car. This lack of exer- cise, I suspect, has led to my problem with insomnia. I can't help thinking that if I take up the professor's sug- gestion my insomnia will only get worse and so have yet to try it out. If a reader has had their insomnia cured by this method please let me know.
A friend came and stood next to me as I was writing this column. Looking at the contents, she said, "Dokusha wa sense! ga konna korantu wo kaku no wo mite menkurau desho ne (When they see what you're writing, your readers will probably be taken aback)."
Is that right? Minasan, menkuraimashita ka?