Oct. 31, 2025
Dear Kyoko,
I'm sorry for the delay in replying again.
I tried many times to write to you, but each time I picked up the pen, I couldn’t find the words.
Before I knew it, the cherry blossom season had already passed.
I’m still living the same unchanging days, showing no sign of progress.
I grow weary of my own lack of talent.
How long must I keep crawling forward like this?
No matter how hard I try, all I can come up with are tired, ordinary stories. My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, only to disappoint myself again and again.
Why did I ever think I wanted to become a manga artist?
Even after my parents supported me through high school, I didn’t go on to college or find a job.
Instead, I’ve been chasing this foolish dream as their only son.
I wonder what they must think of me.
It’s as if I’ve repaid their kindness with disgrace.
I’m truly a fool, bringing shame to the very people who raised me.
Someone like me—it’s only natural that you’d be disappointed.
You must have known how pathetic I was, and that’s why you left this town, isn’t it?
Looking back now, maybe that was for the best.
Living in the city, you’ll surely forget all about me in time.
Among my fellow assistants, there are plenty of truly talented people.
Some draw astonishingly well, and some create works I could never imagine, even if I stood on my head.
They have real talent.
I’m painfully aware that it’s people like them who become professional manga artists.
Maybe I shouldn’t keep chasing a dream that will never come true.
Maybe I’m just wasting my life.
Takeshi Kitahara
May 7, Showa 51 (1976)
I’m still living the same unchanging days,Each day is much the same, and my [subject noun phrase] is showing no signs of progress.
Living cannot take the object "days".
"Showing no sign of progress" - there are two issues here. First, it must be "signs" and not "sign" (this is a fixed expression). Second, it doesn't sound right without a subject noun phrase attached. If you wanted to say it without specifying what is progressing, you could say "there has been no progress to speak of" or "there have been no signs of progress."
I grow weary of'm frustrated by my own lack of talent.
It is not typical to say that you "grow weary" of something you're the cause of. However, I do find the sentence as you wrote it thought-provoking. It makes the reader think about how one can feel powerless in the face of one's own traits. I think it would be a great sentence to keep in, I'm just adding the correction as an FYI.
My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, only to disappointing myself again and again.
I [x] only to [y] implies that [y] happened entirely after [x]. Since each draft causes the protagonist to be disappointing anew, you need to use the progressive aspect.
Even after my parents supported me through high school, I didn’t go on to college or find a job.
In America, it would not be normal to say "my parents supported me through high school" because this is viewed as an obligation of all parents to their children (however, it would be completely normal to say "my parents supported me through college." This would probably also be the case in England/Ireland/Australia/New Zealand/South Africa.
If you are writing for people from high-income English-speaking countries, it might make more sense to say "Even after all my parents did for me in my youth", to emphasize/clarify that the character feels indebted to their parents.
Instead, I’'ve been made them watch asing this foolish dream as their only son their only son chases a foolish dream.
Putting "as their only son" implies that being their only son is the foolish dream.
Some draw astonishingly well, and some create works I could never imagine, even if I stood on my head in a million years.
The idiom "even if I stood on my head" is sort of comical/lighthearted, and doesn't feel right in this context.
Correspondence: A Japanese Epistolary Novella 5-2
Dear Kyoko,
I'm sorryALSO POSSIBLE(アメリカ式スペルで ) : I apologize for themy delay ined reply once again.¶
(イギリス式スペルで ) I apologise for my delayed replying once again.
NOTE: The original is possible.
BETTER: I tried many times to write to you, but each time I picked up the pen, I couldn’t find the words.somehow the right words did not come.
NOTE: The original repeats the word "I" too much. Also, many people today with a computer -- not a pen.
Before I knew it, the cherry blossom season had already passed.
I’m still living in the same unchanging days, showing nocircumstances, with no clear sign of progress.
I grow weary of my own lack of talent.
ALSO POSSIBLE: How long mustshould I keep crawling forward like this?
No matter how hard I try, all I can come up with are tired, ordinary stories.
My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, only to disappoint myself again and again.
ALSO POSSIBLE: Why did I ever think I wantedaspire to become a manga artist?
Even after my parents supported me through high school, I didn’t go on to college or find a job.
Instead, I’ve been chasing this foolish dream as their only son.
I wonder what they must think of me.
It’sALSO POSSIBLE: I feel as if I’ve repaid their kindness with disgrace.
I’m truly a fool, bringing shame to the very people who raised me.
Seeing someone like me—, it’s only natural that you’d be feel disappointed.
You must have known how pathetic I was, and that’s why you left this town, isn’t it?
Looking back now, maybe that was for the best.
LivingMY GUESS: After you leave in theis city, you’ll surlikely forget all about me inover time.
Among my fellow assistants, there are plenty of truly talented people.
Some draw astonishingly well, and some create works I could never imagine, even if I stood on my head.
They have real talentオプション:この文は冗長です。削除しても問題ありません。/ OPTION: This sentence is redundant. It could be safely deleted.
I’m painfully aware that it’s people like them who become professional manga artists.
Maybe I shouldn’t keep chasing a dream that will never come true.
MaybeWITH A SOFTER TONE: Sometimes I feel as I’m just wasting my life.
Takeshi Kitahara
Feedback
I also realize my efforts to become a great artist and poet are utterly empty.
One thing that helps me is Buddhism and meditation. When I meditate, I realize there is no run away from emptiness: it is to okay to embrace it gracefully without fear. / 偉大な芸術家や詩人になろうとする私の努力も、まったくの虚しさだと気づいている。 助けになるのは仏教と瞑想だ。瞑想するとき、虚しさから逃れる道はないと悟る。恐れずに優雅にそれを受け入れることが、それでいいのだと。
Dear Kyoko,
I'm sorry for the delay in replying again.
I tried many times to write to you, but each time I picked up the pen, I couldn’t find the words.
Before I knew it, the cherry blossom season had already passed.
I’m still living the same unchanging days, showing no sign of progress.
I grow weary of my own lack of talent.
How long must I keep crawling forward like this?
No matter how hard I try, all I can come up with are tired, ordinary stories.
My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, only to disappoint myself again and again.
Why did I ever think I wanted to become a manga artist?
Even after my parents supported me through high school, I didn’t go on to college or find a job.
Instead, I’ve been chasing this foolish dream as their only son.
I wonder what they must think of me.
It’s as if I’ve repaid their kindness with disgrace.
I’m truly a fool, bringing shame to the very people who raised me.
Someone like me—it’s only natural that you’d be disappointed.
You must have known how pathetic I was, and that’s why you left this town, isn’t it?
Looking back now, maybe that was for the best.
Living in the city, you’ll surely forget all about me in time.
Among my fellow assistants, there are plenty of truly talented people.
Some draw astonishingly well, and some create works I could never imagine, even if I stood on my head.
They have real talent.
I’m painfully aware that it’s people like them who become professional manga artists.
Maybe I shouldn’t keep chasing a dream that will never come true.
Maybe I’m just wasting my life.
Takeshi Kitahara
May 7, Showa 51 (1976)
Feedback
Flawless!
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Correspondence: A Japanese Epistolary Novella 5-2 This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Even after my parents supported me through high school, I didn’t go on to college or find a job. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! Even after my parents supported me through high school, I didn’t go on to college or find a job. In America, it would not be normal to say "my parents supported me through high school" because this is viewed as an obligation of all parents to their children (however, it would be completely normal to say "my parents supported me through college." This would probably also be the case in England/Ireland/Australia/New Zealand/South Africa. If you are writing for people from high-income English-speaking countries, it might make more sense to say "Even after all my parents did for me in my youth", to emphasize/clarify that the character feels indebted to their parents. |
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Instead, I’ve been chasing this foolish dream as their only son. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! Instead, I Putting "as their only son" implies that being their only son is the foolish dream. |
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I wonder what they must think of me. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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It’s as if I’ve repaid their kindness with disgrace. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
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I’m truly a fool, bringing shame to the very people who raised me. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Someone like me—it’s only natural that you’d be disappointed. This sentence has been marked as perfect! Seeing someone like me |
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You must have known how pathetic I was, and that’s why you left this town, isn’t it? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Looking back now, maybe that was for the best. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Living in the city, you’ll surely forget all about me in time. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
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Among my fellow assistants, there are plenty of truly talented people. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Some draw astonishingly well, and some create works I could never imagine, even if I stood on my head. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! Some draw astonishingly well, and some create works I could never imagine The idiom "even if I stood on my head" is sort of comical/lighthearted, and doesn't feel right in this context. |
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They have real talent. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
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I’m painfully aware that it’s people like them who become professional manga artists. This sentence has been marked as perfect! I’m painfully aware that |
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Maybe I shouldn’t keep chasing a dream that will never come true. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Maybe I’m just wasting my life. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
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Takeshi Kitahara This sentence has been marked as perfect! Takeshi Kitahara |
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May 7, Showa 51 (1976) This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Dear Kyoko, This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I'm sorry for the delay in replying again. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
NOTE: The original is possible. |
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I tried many times to write to you, but each time I picked up the pen, I couldn’t find the words. This sentence has been marked as perfect! BETTER: I tried many times to write to you, NOTE: The original repeats the word "I" too much. Also, many people today with a computer -- not a pen. |
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Before I knew it, the cherry blossom season had already passed. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
I’m still living the same unchanging days, showing no sign of progress. This sentence has been marked as perfect! I’m still living in the same
Living cannot take the object "days". "Showing no sign of progress" - there are two issues here. First, it must be "signs" and not "sign" (this is a fixed expression). Second, it doesn't sound right without a subject noun phrase attached. If you wanted to say it without specifying what is progressing, you could say "there has been no progress to speak of" or "there have been no signs of progress." |
|
I grow weary of my own lack of talent. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! I It is not typical to say that you "grow weary" of something you're the cause of. However, I do find the sentence as you wrote it thought-provoking. It makes the reader think about how one can feel powerless in the face of one's own traits. I think it would be a great sentence to keep in, I'm just adding the correction as an FYI. |
|
How long must I keep crawling forward like this? This sentence has been marked as perfect! ALSO POSSIBLE: How long |
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No matter how hard I try, all I can come up with are tired, ordinary stories. This sentence has been marked as perfect! No matter how hard I try, all I can come up with are tired, ordinary stories. |
|
My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, only to disappoint myself again and again. This sentence has been marked as perfect! My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, only to disappoint myself again and again. My drawings remain clumsy, and I string together one poor draft after another, I [x] only to [y] implies that [y] happened entirely after [x]. Since each draft causes the protagonist to be disappointing anew, you need to use the progressive aspect. |
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Why did I ever think I wanted to become a manga artist? This sentence has been marked as perfect! ALSO POSSIBLE: Why did I ever |
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