Reader Lynn sent me this photo of a pair men's swimming shorts from Wal-Mart. Since she is a Japanese major, it was odd to her to see
hiragana characters meaning "pocket-sized book" printed on the shorts.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tBeJYgIzXQ7l7qgZD9vLhtTiYkgHcA5gqnEqTvB_IX06H-qIeD2Jqqwc2mSOm-IKM0Oz0U4G7sGOTh4mT1bSWkAXdM9RV4nAqxKCT0g0NM2BN247_SVRmhFQ=s0-d)
I confirmed this with Alan, and he says:
The hiragana is clearly しゅうちんぼん [shuuchinbon], which is the Japanese reading of 袖珍本, meaning a "pocket-sized book" which was perhaps the size of today's paperback books, a handy size for carrying in the sleeves of kimono.
But as to why someone would want to have this written on their swimming trunks, I have no idea. Bizarre!
Of course, we both think it was meant to be a jab at the wearer's testicle size or the popular sport of pocket pool.
P.s. why do people still shop at
Wal-Mart?!