What is Kuru in Japanese?

Hey there! As a tech geek and data analyst who loves gaming and streaming, I‘m always researching random topics that catch my interest. Lately I‘ve been curious about the word "kuru" in Japanese and how it relates to the rare disease called Kuru. Let‘s unravel this mystery together!

A Brief History of Kuru Disease

First, let‘s quickly cover the disease itself. Kuru originated in the early 1900s among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. The Fore practiced funerary cannibalism, meaning they ate the bodies of deceased relatives during funeral rituals. This cannibalism allowed the prion disease to spread rapidly through their society.

Kuru belongs to the family of neurodegenerative disorders called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The most infamous TSE is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as "mad cow disease." Here‘s a quick comparison of Kuru and other TSEs:

As you can see, Kuru stands out as the only human TSE transmitted by cannibalism.

Now let‘s jump into some data on the Kuru epidemic itself:

• Peak number of Kuru deaths in Papua New Guinea: over 200 per year in the late 1950s
• Total Kuru cases from onset to 2005: 2,625
• Percentage of Fore people infected: as high as 10%
• Last confirmed case: 2005
• Current number of cases: Sporadic, less than 15 deaths per decade

It became clear that cannibalism facilitated the spread of Kuru. So when the Fore ended this practice in the 1950s, Kuru cases steadily declined. Today it has largely disappeared, though a few isolated cases still pop up.

The Meaning of "Kuru" in the Fore Language

So where did the name "Kuru" come from anyway? Well, it‘s derived from the Fore word kuria or guria meaning "to shake." This reflects the severe tremors and loss of coordination caused by damage to the cerebellum – a key coordination center in the brain.

The Fore also used the phrase “kuru kuru,” mimicking the repetitive shivering observed in victims. Their language perfectly encapsulated this mysterious illness that emerged among their people in the early 20th century.

Kuru as an Irregular Verb in Japanese

Now that we‘ve covered Kuru disease, let‘s switch gears to the Japanese language. In Japanese, “kuru” has a completely different meaning as an irregular verb that means "to come" or "to arrive."

Some key points about kuru as a verb:

• Unlike English, Japanese verbs conjugate based on politeness level. The polite form of kuru is kimasu.
• Here is the full conjugation:

• Since it‘s irregular, kuru does not follow typical patterns for Japanese verbs. The past plain form is kita, not kuru. And the te-form is kite.
• It‘s one of the most common irregular verbs along with suru (to do) and kuru (to come). So it‘s essential to memorize.

Comparing Kuru and Iku Based on Speaker Perspective

In Japanese, kuru contrasts with another important verb – iku (to go). Both involve motion, but the perspective is different:

• Kuru – Movement TOWARDS the speaker‘s position
• Iku – Movement AWAY from the speaker‘s position

So kuru describes something or someone moving closer to the speaker. Let‘s compare:

• Watashi wa gakkou e ikimasu – I go TO school
• Tomodachi ga gakkou kara kimashita – My friend came FROM school

See the difference? As the speaker, I "go" to school but my friend "comes" from school back toward me. Mastering this subtle distinction will help you speak more naturally!

The Versatile Te-Form of Kuru

Now this next grammar form may seem advanced, but stay with me!

In Japanese, verb roots can take ~te (te-form) to serve various functions. For kuru, the te-form is kite.

Here are some common uses of kite:

• Do X and come/go back (do X then return)
• Continue/keep doing X
• Start doing X

So it expresses action that occurs moving back towards the speaker‘s position. For example:

• Kaisha ni kite, shigoto o shimashita – I went to the office and worked
• Shaberu no o yamete kite! – Stop talking and come here!

Cool right? The te-form allows kuru to take on new shades of meaning.

Cultural Notes Related to Kuru

Beyond grammar, the links between language and culture are endlessly fascinating. Here are a few interesting Japanese words related to kuru:

• Oni – Demon, ogre denoted by the kanji 鬼
• Iketara iku – I‘ll go if I can go
• Koi – Homophone meaning love/affection, sounds like koi fish 恋

Though kuru just means "to come" in Japanese, these connections provide insight into Japanese folklore, values, and wordplay. Subtleties like this make language learning rewarding!

Is Kuru Disease Still Around Today?

I can‘t finish this article without addressing a critical question – does Kuru still exist?

The short answer is…kind of. Cases have declined sharply but sporadic deaths still occur:

• Peak Kuru deaths per year: Over 200 in the 1950s
• Kuru deaths 1996-2004: Only 14 confirmed
• Most recent case: 2005
• Projected cases per decade now: Less than 15

So Kuru has primarily disappeared along with the abolition of cannibalism. However, due to its long incubation period, isolated cases linked to past exposure still emerge.

Researchers also debate whether Kuru could reemerge or be spread by other means, similar to mad cow disease. For now, Kuru continues fading into medical history, though its legacy remains.

The Takeaway

Well, that was quite an epic journey from a rare cannibalism-spread illness to Japanese linguistics! Here are the key points about Kuru:

• Originated in Papua New Guinea from cannibal funeral rites
• Classified as a fatal neurodegenerative prion disease
• “Kuru” means “trembling” in the Fore language
• In Japanese, “kuru” is an irregular verb meaning “to come”
• Mastering kuru vs. iku and the te-form opens up fluency
• Though rare today, Kuru has a fascinating medical/anthropological history

So I hope this inside look at “What is Kuru in Japanese?” was both fun and educational! Let me know if you have any other language topics you‘d love for me to cover. Till next time!