A Retelling of "Run, Melos!" - Part 1 There is a well-known Japanese novel called "Run, Melos!" by a Dazai Osamu. It was published about 70 years ago, but it's still popular. Most Japanese people, even children know its gist. By the way, there is a recent retelling of this story with a lot of obsolete phrases. It is really hilarious. Here is the retelling: http://7oku.hatenablog.com/entry/2013/11/30/215734 I never ever think this retelling deserves learners' time because it is full of outdated words and phrases, but for some learners who'd seriously like to read it for science I'm going to pick up and explain all of them. プッツンする: to get out of mind, get mad; プッツン seems to describe a sound when something very important is broken inside your head. I'm not sure what it is. チョベリバ: It literally means "super very bad". Choberiba(チョベリバ) is a short form of Chou(super)-berii(very)-baddo(bad). Even when it was fashionable, a lot of people thought it sounded really silly. So, if you'd like to look stupid, I strongly recommend using this word. アベック: a couple who are married or having a romantic relationship; It comes from a French word "avec". I haven't heard it for ages. It sounds really ancient. When did it go? I don't know. Here is a serious essay about this word on a newspaper. http://www.mainichi.co.jp/pdf/140515miyake.pdf トレンディな: This word means "trendy", but it isn't a trendy word any longer. It reminds me of things in the late 1980's. It seems to have gone with the bubble economy. こにゃにゃちわー: This word sounds like "konnichiwa", doesn't it? It comes from an old Japanese cartoon called "Tensai Bakabon", which was very popular in the 1970s. It also appeared on one of the opening songs(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TE4ttbu_jU). Its lyrics are very funny. They're full of nonsense. マブダチ: a true friend, a best friend; It was slang among delinquent teenagers in the 1970s. I think it is kind of representing their culture. Anyway, I recommend copying and pasting the word "ヤンキー", and looking for its images on the Internet. Seeing is believing. ブルー: being depressed; It comes from an English word "blue". People used to use it to describe their own feelings, but some people still seem to use it.