What's the title of this Japanese book?

February 10, 2014 1:09 PM

I'm trying to track down a particular Japanese-language book for my friend, but I'm having trouble recognizing some of the kanji in the title (picture inside)...

Here's a picture of the book in question.

The first four characters of the title I can recognize, using my rudimentary knowledge of kanji, but the remainder are a mystery to me. I'm hoping to be able to track a copy of this book down on amazon.co.jp or somewhere similar for my friend -- it has quite a bit of sentimental value to him!

Thanks in advance, hivemind!

posted by un petit cadeau to Writing & Language (7 answers total)

Best answer: Here we are at Amazon Japan.
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 1:14 PM on February 10, 2014

Best answer: Blast. You beat me to it.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:15 PM on February 10, 2014

Best answer: カシオト間写真 and I can't figure out the last one.

The first four aren't kanji, they're katakana.

(Alas, beaten to the punch.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:19 PM on February 10, 2014

Best answer: If you want to know how to pronounce it, it's "Katsuo Ningen Shashinshuu."

As for chocolate pickle, the last kanji means "collection."
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 2:11 PM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks, guys! My friend is going to love this :)
posted by un petit cadeau at 2:35 PM on February 10, 2014

Katsuo Ningen has a Facebook page. He's the economic development mascot for Kochi. Kochi is the southermost prefecture on Shikoku, and "katsuo" or bonito are a fish traditionally caught there. Are used in many ways in Japanese cuisine.

And yes, the mascot, with its visible flesh, is intended to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:07 PM on February 10, 2014

TWM you're right! The second kanji should have been ツ. Sorry about that.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:23 PM on February 10, 2014