There are a couple of lovely bits of poetic description in this chapter.
I found the description of the summer heat, the light, the disappearance of the cicadas and bird song, and only the echoing of the children’s voices very evocative.
Later there is a long section of the play-acted Japan vs Russia game, and again Ogawa is in poetic form
I could follow the gist, but felt as though I was missing some of the subtlety. Here is ChatGPT’s take on the passage
Original:
ソ連のサーブが飛んでくる。
Translation: The Soviet serve comes flying in.
Explanation: “ソ連” refers to the Soviet Union. The sentence sets the scene for a volleyball play.
フローターサーブだ。
Translation: It’s a floater serve.
Explanation: A “フローターサーブ” (floater serve) is a type of volleyball serve with no spin, causing the ball to move unpredictably in the air.
手元で変化するが、日本チームはかろうじてレシーブする。
Translation: It changes direction just before reaching the receiver, but the Japanese team barely manages to receive it.
Explanation: “手元で変化する” means the ball moves unpredictably at the last moment (typical of a floater). “かろうじて” means “barely” or “just managed to.”
猫田の視線を見てソ連の前衛は、レフト寄りでブロックの構えに入る。
Translation: Watching Nekoda’s gaze, the Soviet front-line players prepare to block, leaning toward the left.
Explanation: 猫田 (Nekoda) is a player. The Soviet players read his eyes and anticipate a move to the left.
猫田は身をかがめ、ボールの下に入る。
Translation: Nekoda crouches down and gets under the ball.
Explanation: He’s preparing to set the ball.
ソ連はネットから四本の腕を突き出し、スパイクを叩き落とそうとする。
Translation: The Soviets thrust four arms over the net, ready to smash the spike down.
Explanation: Two blockers (four arms) are going up to block a spike.
ところがその瞬間猫田は、視線の向きとは正反対の、自分のバックにトスを上げる。
Translation: But at that very moment, Nekoda sets the ball to his back, in the opposite direction of his gaze.
Explanation: A clever feint—he looks one way but sets the other.
膝はしなやかなバネとなり、背中はアーチを描き、十本の指はアタッカーに向かって無言の祈りを捧げている。
Translation: His knees become supple springs, his back arches, and his ten fingers offer a silent prayer to the attacker.
Explanation: Vivid, poetic imagery showing his athletic form and silent hope for a successful attack.
見えないボールが、見えないネットの上を、ライトに向かって滑るように飛んでゆく。
Translation: The unseen ball glides toward the right side over the unseen net.
Explanation: “見えない” (invisible) emphasizes the quick, surprising motion—catching even the reader off guard.
ソ連の選手はもう誰も追いつけない。
Translation: None of the Soviet players can catch up to it now.
Explanation: The fake was successful.
猫田の祈りを受けたボールは太陽の光を浴び、白く輝いている。
Translation: The ball, blessed by Nekoda’s prayer, is bathed in sunlight and shines white.
Explanation: Again, very poetic—gives the ball a kind of sacred, heroic imagery.
アタッカーの掌で、その輝きが炸裂する。
Translation: The brilliance explodes in the attacker’s palm.
Explanation: This metaphorically describes a powerful spike—connecting with the glowing ball and smashing it with force.
I enjoyed Tomoko’s letter to her mother. It was an interesting change in language. Most of the text is written in Tomoko’s (Ogawa’s) adult voice. Bur her letter felt much more like the voice of a 12 year old.
A question - why did Tomoko stick a 10 yen piece to the letter for her mother to call? (Obviously, she is hoping to reinforce her volleyball request). But surely if the mother can’t afford a phone call, she won’t be able to afford a volleyball??
