たもと (tamoto)

* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”

As I was getting my daily dose today of Horie’s trial today on the livedoor higaisha nikki, I came accross the word tamoto. While it literally refers to the sleve of a kimono, it is generally combined with the verb 分かつ (wakatsu) and used to mean “to part ways”.

Example: 宮内被告は…堀江被告と袂（たもと）を分かつ決心をした状況を詳細に語った。 “Miyauchi explained to the court in detail the situation that lead him to choose to part ways with Horie.”

Here is the rest of the sentence for those stippy.com readers out there wondering what caused Miyauchi – said to be Horie’s closest confidant – to stab his best mate in the back:

宮内被告は「強制捜査後、（堀江被告が）社員よりも交際相手がかわいそうと言っているのを伝え聞き、守りきるのは無理と思った」と証言し、堀江被告と袂（たもと）を分かつ決心をした状況を詳細に語った。

You can read the rest of the blog here.