たいやきのしっぽ

15:59 Sep 7, 2010
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Japanese term or phrase: たいやきのしっぽ
It seems this relates to whether or not you find bean paste in the tail of a "taiyaki" treat. (Can I assume it's considered lucky if you do?) Does anyone know an English equivalent, preferably short and snappy? In my context, it's used as the title of a column in an internal co. newsletter that features short anecdotes about staff members.
Shannon Morales
United States
Local time: 16:50


Summary of answers provided
4You cannot please everyone
humbird
3Striking gold
Hannah U
1free gift/extra
cinefil


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Striking gold


Explanation:
Getting a taiyaki with bean paste in its tail is lucky so, perhaps it could be like the english saying to strike gold? To be lucky and discover something good?

Example sentence(s):
  • He struck gold. Striking gold.
Hannah U
Local time: 06:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
free gift/extra


Explanation:
元々しっぽは指でつまんで食べるための持ち手であり、最後に捨ててしまうものだったので、餡は無いのが正式である。
甘い餡を食べた最後の口直しとするために、餡を入れるべきではない。
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/たい焼き

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Note added at 8 hrs (2010-09-08 00:40:55 GMT)
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頭からかぶりついてアンコで甘ったるくなった口腔内を、生地だけのシッポの部分の芳ばしさが絡めとり、噛むごとに甘味がフェードアウトしてゆく・・という、
「美しきタイヤキ完結劇」が展開されたものだった。
http://maruccho.way-nifty.com/sobae/2005/01/post_8.html


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Note added at 8 hrs (2010-09-08 00:45:42 GMT)
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or: tidbit

cinefil
Japan
Local time: 06:50
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
You cannot please everyone


Explanation:
Very interesting question Shannon!
However what came to my mind first is different from your understanding. So read on.
Taiyaki's tail with anko (bean paste) seems very common in this age of abundance.
See this site when a then famous Tsuruo Ando quite impressed with たいやきのしっぽ full of anko. That was 1953, and such was a rarity.
http://www.taisei.co.jp/about_us/library/column/tower/2008/1...

Then I found this site that seems quite comtemporary. Here people are arguing whether taiyaki tail should have anko or not.
http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q138...

Since your text subject is current and anecdote to a company member in company newsletter, when anko in たいやきのしっぽ is referred to in such context it cannot be one-sided.

Now that since tail anko is a matter of preference of consumers, it sounds like a matter of "some like it while some don't", thus my translation.

Does this fit the context?

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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