" 

 I accept your interpretation, although it is not ""on the mark"".  The actual meaning does not have a clean translation to English.  I would offer that ""non-person"" is very close, however.  I base this on what I know about Japanese history (My minor in college was Asian studies) and discussion with many of my close japanese friends (I am still a student of the culture and the language).  I would very much like to see other opinions on this topic."