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This initially confused me. I assumed the dictionary of obscure sorrows was a list of existing words for obscure sorrows, but I know watashi ato means “I” “after” literally in Japanese so it didn’t sound like a real word. The words in the blog are actually invented to describe obscure sorrows.



Ato using Kanji 跡 can also mean trace, track, mark. Which fits the definition better.


When I saw this word I first thought of "ashi-ato" (footprint). I think the word was probably made to evoke this meaning.


I thought of 傷跡 kizuato, which means "scar", but literally "remains of a wound". So watashiato as "what remains of me" seems to make sense.


watashi can be 渡し rather than 私, which means "to pass" I can't find a dictionary definition for 渡し跡, but you can find a few blog articles talking about old places that use this word. I think it might be an older Japanese word. https://shinsengumi-kanko.com/nagareyama-noda/yakkarawatashi...




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