Koto lessons with 稽古
Vocabulary Explanation: Training with 稽古
Hired to confirm whether a client’s wife is having an affair, Kogoro reveals a candid photo he took of the wife with another man.
The client mentions he let his staff take a break so they wouldn’t know about Kogoro’s visit. Kogoro asks if that includes the client’s wife.
- 伝次郎:
- 「いや… 稲子は琴の稽古があるといって昼前に勝手に出かけたよ」
- “No... Ineko said she had a koto lesson and went out on her own before noon.”
In this scene, 稽古 is used to describe a koto lesson. This reflects the traditional and cultural aspect of the activity, as koto is a classical Japanese instrument.
The use of 稽古 instead of 練習 emphasizes the structured and disciplined nature of the lesson, as well as its connection to Japanese heritage.
Key Points
稽古 here means a formal lesson or disciplined training
In this panel, 稽古 is not just casual “practice”; it suggests a structured lesson in a traditional art.
That fits 琴 especially well, since koto is a classical instrument and 稽古 carries a more traditional nuance than 練習.
〜があるといって gives the stated reason
「琴の稽古があるといって」 means she said, “I have a koto lesson,” and that is presented as the reason she left.
勝手に出かけた means she went out on her own
勝手に often implies doing something independently or without checking with others first, not merely “freely”.
Here it adds a slightly critical nuance: she just went out by herself before noon.