私：この夏は、どのように過ごされましたか。
教授：論文をまとめるのに、悪戦苦闘していましたよ。
Akusen-kutoo
Watashi: Kono natsu wa dono yoo ni sugosare-mashita ka.
Kyooju: Ronbun wo matomeru noni, akusen-kutoo shite imashita yo.
Me : What have you been doing this summer?
Professor: I've been desperately struggling to write my research paper.
* * *
Akusen-kutoo is an idiom made up of four Chinese characters (usually two words in combination) of which there are many in Japanese. In this case the first word is akusen and the second kutoo. The idiom literally means to fight desperately against a strong enemy. From this come meanings such as to fight at a disadvantage, against heavy odds, to fight with one's back against the wall.
The present Japanese university system requires students to spend at least their freshmen year taking general studies' courses. In other words, even if one's major is Japanese literature, as a freshman you will still have to take classes in the natural sciences such as physics or mathematics, philosophy or history from the humanities and economics or anthropology from the social sciences. Rounding out this broad curriculum will be foreign language classes and physical education. Foreign students must meet the same requirements as Japanese nationals - ryuugakusei wa nihongo de kakareta hon wo yomu noni akusen-kutoo (foreign students struggle against heavy odds reading the textbooks written in Japanese).
Most national universities in Japan have a Liberal Arts Department where students with different majors must study when they are freshmen. Only in their second year can they begin studies in their respective majors. A Science Department student: "Akusen-kutoo shite iru no wa ryuugakusei dake de wa arimasen (Foreign students aren't the only ones who have to struggle rather desperately). I entered university to study physics only to find myself unable to graduate 'on time' because I flunked a 'required' history course. " "Don't be so discouraged," I told him. "Remember that even Einstein couldn't handle foreign languages or memorizing facts and dates. Did you know that though he took the exam for Zurich's Industrial University, he failed? Kare wa rekishi wo benkyo suru noni, akusen-kuto shimashita (He had to fight desperately to learn history). " I think general studies' classes can play an important part in helping a person live well in our complicated world. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education has decided to do away with Liberal Arts Department in all national universities. The teachers will be sent to the individual departments of their respective fields of specialization. I'm sure many professors who'd been taking it easy will find that they suddenly have to produce scientific papers and research reports.
A professor: "Kono goro atsui kenkyuu-shitsu de akusen-kutoo no mainichi (Everyday of late I'm in my office struggling desperately [to finish my research] ).
I'm exhausted. " Did you know it took Einstein only four months to write his four most famous papers? Einstein mo ronbun wo kaku noni akusen-kutoo shita no deshoo ka. (I wonder if he too had to struggle desperately when writing the papers. )