-----Original Message-----
From: bert.miller@unisys.com <bert.miller@unisys.com>
To: ffml@fanfic.com <ffml@fanfic.com>
Date: Friday, November 06, 1998 5:08 PM
Subject: Re: [FFML] your TM fic./Funaho-dono's occupation?

Query:  this fic seems to translate "Minister of Information" to mean
"Royal Family's Press Secretary", which I suppose is allowable, but not an
obvious choice of occupation for a Heian-era Japanese woman.

>From watching the OVA episode in question, however ["Here Comes Jurai"], I

interpreted "Minister of Information" as meaning "Chief Spymaster" (i.e,
head of the Jurain CIA/NSA/Mil. Intel.), which seems to me both a much

more

logical occupation for a Heian noblewoman (quite possibly raised on
intrigue from infancy), and more consistent with what Funaho-dono is up to
in that episode, trying to negotiate dangerous weapons technology out of
the hands of Jurain enemies and ideally into Jurain hands.

Anyway:  does anyone know for sure, possibly by correlating the Japanese
version of the title to the actual titles of Japanese cabinet ministers?

First, let me say that my ability in the Japanese language is 0/0+ at best.

Second, I happen to agree with you on Funaho's role in Jurai's government.
This press conference would normally have been handled by someone else, if
it were held at all. But things were getting out of hand. The people were
restless for information about their princesses and weren't all that
concerned where that information came from, or whether or not it was true.
When the King and Queens came back without Aeka and Sasami, the press
really started speculating. Funaho was running damage control. Funaho wears
several hats.

I probably could have explained better. I'll do better in the next part.


Damien