A question from Ask John blog in Japan

[Starchild]

I found a Japanese fan posted a question in Ask John Fankurabu today. http://ask-john.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2006/08/lolicon_c434.html#comments I decided to show the rough translation here instead of submitting it to John because I'm rather curious how American fansub users would answer the question.


I ask you a question from Japan, John-san.

These days it got easier to watch fansub even in Japan due to the widespread of the Net circumstances, especially YouTube, where you can upload any visual contents. But it also got me concerned about the quality of fansub.

I do not blame some mistranslations in fansub because it simply reflects the skill of translators, but found some subs completely different, or altered, from the Japanese originals. I think they are fabrications, not translations.

I overlook them when they are altered so that even foreigners could understand what they really mean, because it implies that some Japaneseness in anime seems to be hard for non-native speakers of Japanese to understand. I, however, was at a loss at the intention of fansub translators when I found more than half of lines were altered in some fansub.

I’m afraid that their behaviors may invite misunderstanding or confusion rather than regards for Japanese creators, not to mention that they would depreciate Japanese creators’ efforts. I’d like to know John-san’s view.

[Ironfrost]

I'm surprised at this question, and I wonder if what the submitter watched was really a genuine fansub. Fansub translations have a lot of faults, but this isn't usually one of them - if anything, fansubbers tend to stick too close to the original, and keep in a lot of "Japaneseness" that professional translations leave out.

In particular, if "more than half of lines were altered", I'd guess that what the submitter saw was either a deliberate parody or a bootleg that had been translated first to Chinese and then from that to English.

[Quarkboy]

Yeah, I'd have to see what he was talking about specifcally. I'm a fansub translator, and I know my work is at least 90% correct. Most fansubs are relatively decent in translation, with the really bad ones being kind of rare.

As for the "fansubs" available on youtube, I'd be less sure that they came from a real fansub group at all.

[himura_kenshin]

Agreed. With that many changes, I'd actually expect them to be uploaded versions of commerical releases. ;-)

John

[Suiko Eiji]

Yeah, I'd have to see what he was talking about specifcally. I'm a fansub translator, and I know my work is at least 90% correct. Most fansubs are relatively decent in translation, with the really bad ones being kind of rare.

As for the "fansubs" available on youtube, I'd be less sure that they came from a real fansub group at all.

I've done a little translation in my time, both for anime and otherwise, and I think it is entirely plausible that it is a "genuine" fansub the OOP (original, OP) could have seen via YouTube. I agree with you that whenever and whatever I translate, I put my best foot forward and try to get the best job done. However, not all translators are you or I. Fansub translators have their good and bad apples; while I would agree the real bad apples are extremely rare, they do exist in visable.

Looking at how Dragonball Z and Naruto, as two primary examples, have gained repurtations through fansubs of having vulgar and raunchy translations, so when they are seen in the US through official translations, they're seen as "toned down", "chopped/hacked up" and probably a few more things that would drive AN's word-filter crazy. Granted, there are legitimate edits in both of these series that differentiate them from thier respective Japanese counterparts; however, very rarely does it turn to word-for-word dialogue. That's what I think of when I read this passage:

I do not blame some mistranslations in fansub because it simply reflects the skill of translators, but found some subs completely different, or altered, from the Japanese originals. I think they are fabrications, not translations.

There is a difference between making a mistake due to knowledge (or lack there of) on the translator's part if the translator is honestly trying, as you or I or most other fansub translators would, and the sort of fabrications the OOP is implying and what I've layed out above.

Though, I will definately agree that it entirely depends on the exact subject matter of what fansub being viewed, whether it was truly an English-language fansub from Japanese dialogue or an English from Chinese from Japanese(-ish) translation so commonly found on many bootleg subtitle tracks.

[Quarkboy]

Looking at how Dragonball Z and Naruto, as two primary examples, have gained repurtations through fansubs of having vulgar and raunchy translations, so when they are seen in the US through official translations, they're seen as "toned down", "chopped/hacked up" and probably a few more things that would drive AN's word-filter crazy. Granted, there are legitimate edits in both of these series that differentiate them from thier respective Japanese counterparts; however, very rarely does it turn to word-for-word dialogue. That's what I think of when I read this passage:


Um... I really don't think this is the issue with those series with the translation. Especially with Naruto, even the most ardent dub haters have little leg to stand on when it comes to complaining about "dumbing" down the translation. And as for fansubs being vulgarized... the last example of that I can think of was an old VHS subs of rurouni kenshin, nearly 8 years ago. None of the popular naruto subbers, for instance, add any "colorful" language to the dialogue, to my knowledge.
Also, your other example of Dragonballz, was never fansubbed during the current digisub era, as it was one of the first anime that was on tv. 95% of the fans of that show have never seen a true fansub of it, I bet.
There are plenty of GOOD examples of crazy editing by companies(like one piece or anything else done by 4kids), but those have nothing to do with the FANSUBS being wrong. The question is that this japanese reader seems to get the impression that fansubs are generally really poorly done, when in my opinion, 95% of the fansubs out there are good quality.

Can you point me to a fansub released in the past year that has 50% of the dialogue wrong? In the past 4 years? I know of maybe 5-10 that I could think of, out of literally thousands of perfectly adequate translations.

Basically, in short, it's statistically improbable that the thing that questioner saw on youtube was a recent fansub. It's more likely a parody sub, or perhaps a rip of a hong kong dvd sub. Or, it could be that the questioner simply doesn't know english, and couldn't judge whether the translation was correct in the first place.

[cat_clan]

I'm a translator for an English fansub as well and I have to say that I also try to do the best job that I can do (I know I don't have the best Japanese or English, but I try my best). I agree that most of the recent fansubs are actually pretty good on the translation side.

As a fair comment, I know some groups that translate from korean or chinese translation to english, which might end on loosing a bit because of the double translation, but they don't reach the extreme of 50% of the dialogue being bad.

On the other hand, this happens quite often on Spanish fansubs... since most of them translate from English fansub translation to Spanish, and most of the groups doesn't have a Japanese skilled translator. They do tend to loose a lot and make-up dialogues sometimes as well.

I would be interested too on watching the fansub the original poster saw, in order to understand where the problem reside and answer his question.

[Suiko Eiji]

Um... I really don't think this is the issue with those series with the translation. Especially with Naruto, even the most ardent dub haters have little leg to stand on when it comes to complaining about "dumbing" down the translation. And as for fansubs being vulgarized... the last example of that I can think of was an old VHS subs of rurouni kenshin, nearly 8 years ago. None of the popular naruto subbers, for instance, add any "colorful" language to the dialogue, to my knowledge.

I'd have to try and dig out my Kenshin TV fansubs, but I'm pretty sure those were in the early E. Monsoon (possibly S. Baldric) versions; I know all of my later subs from Hecto and Shinsengumi at least had much of the dialogue correct.

Also, I'm not trying to paint with a broad brush here that all instances of vulgarity are inserted; however, I wonder sometimes if, with some series, it's not toned up a notch. I also don't mean to insiuate that Viz's translations are infalliable. I'm not a huge Naruto fan ... I think the ones I saw were all AonE(?) back in 2002-03. What I mentioned is pretty much what I gets mentioned outside of Naruto subforums, and some of it to me just seems over the top. No one drops group names, so I'm sorry I can't really source it 100%.

Also, your other example of Dragonballz, was never fansubbed during the current digisub era, as it was one of the first anime that was on tv. 95% of the fans of that show have never seen a true fansub of it, I bet.

You're correct that Dragonball Z wasn't subbed via digisubbing; that still doesn't excuse the blatent over coloring or toning up of the vulgarity when it was fansubbed. Many of the Dragonball Z fansubs from later in the series and movies that weren't released in the States at the time, did have digital copies floating about the Internet and readily available through P2P software such as Kazaa, Soulseek, etc. So, more people, hungry for more DBZ came across the same fansubs that myself, as well as many other old schoolers, came across those fansubs even while Dragonball Z was airing in the US.

There are plenty of GOOD examples of crazy editing by companies(like one piece or anything else done by 4kids), but those have nothing to do with the FANSUBS being wrong. The question is that this japanese reader seems to get the impression that fansubs are generally really poorly done, when in my opinion, 95% of the fansubs out there are good quality.

[...]

Basically, in short, it's statistically improbable that the thing that questioner saw on youtube was a recent fansub. It's more likely a parody sub, or perhaps a rip of a hong kong dvd sub. Or, it could be that the questioner simply doesn't know english, and couldn't judge whether the translation was correct in the first place.

I didn't mean to insinuate that all fansubs are wrong or that licensors are absolutely infalliable. I'm quite pleased with the quality of many fansubs released - yeah, I would even agree that number is as high as 95%. Statistic improbablility; however, is not an impossibility.

In your final paragraph, all of the above could be true and I agreed with that on my first post.

[John]

It's also possible that the person asking the question is referring to parody subs, which are not intended to be a proper translation. A good example is the "Best" fansubs of Musashi. They're not labeled as parody subs, but they're clearly not accurate translations that are intended to be taken seriously.

[raven1234]

PPl have too much time to think about free stuff

[Starchild]

Err, he says it is the fansub of 桜蘭高校ホスト部 http://www.ntv.co.jp/host/ , translated by a group called FRoP. He claims that they tend intentionally to prepare the incorrect translation, especially for episode 17 and 18.

By the way, I'm frustrated with the fact that he did not mention which fansub he's criticizing when he posted the question to Fankurabu. (He told which fansub he's talking about after he knew John's answer posted here.) If I had submitted it directly to John, and he had kindly answered it in Ask John, it would have been an uncorrect answer.

[Suiko Eiji]

Ok, so we're looking for Ouran High School Host Club (for the Kanji impaired) by FRoP, specifically episodes 17 and 18...

I searched AnimeSuki and did not see them listed amongst other BitTorrent-using groups. I again searched YouTube and they came up quite easily. I can't view the videos as I am at work at the moment but I followed the web address in the description of the YouTube clips. It links back to this (http://ouran.krysyuy.net/) US Ouran Host fansite. They don't say whether they are fansubbers or parody or what have you. The follwoing is taken from their site updates section, dated 13 August 2006:

To reiterate, as some of you don't like to read everything, Lunar has not yet released 18 or 19 Subbed. I upload their episodes. If you're eager to see/download 18 subbed, visit [FRoP] Fansubs forum subsection here.

Browsing the first thread about episode 18 in their forum (http://www.krysyuy.net/forums/index.php?board=36.0) (also was originally linked in the "here" in the above quote), they honestly don't seem to know what they are doing. At one point they are talking about not being able to "translate the boxes" and scouring the Net for translations and another member offering translations based off of a Korean sub of it.

[Starchild]

Thank you for your kindness, Suiko Eiji, and I'm sorry to make you make an effort to answer his unmannered question.

BTW, to sum up your story, are they based on Korean fansub? I'm sorry, but I lost eagerness to search the forums for myself.

[Suiko Eiji]

Thank you for your kindness, Suiko Eiji, and I'm sorry to make you make an effort to answer his unmannered question.

No problem at all; anytime, Starchild.

BTW, to sum up your story, are they based on Korean fansub? I'm sorry, but I lost eagerness to search the forums for myself.

The subs from this group seem to be based upon a limited knowledge of Japanese and cross-checked against a "downloaded Korean sub". They do not specifically say if the Korean sub is a fansub or what, but considering that the sub is at about the same pace of the show airing in Japan, I would assume it to be a fansub.

[John]

The fan translation group "FRoP" is a new group that has only produced two or three translated episodes. They're not one of the veteran, established and well known translating groups. Since they're seemingly still new to fansubbing, it may be that they're just inexperienced; therefore they've made mistakes in their translation.

I must admit that in a case like this, their poor translation could influence the way some English speakers percieve Ouran Host Club, but I think that translations like this are rare exceptions, and many of the English speaking fans who watch fansubs would likely be skeptical about translations produced by an obscure fan translation group.

[Starchild]

John, can I translate your post for the man who asked a question? I'd like to post it in the comment entry in AJ Fankurabu. He also seemed to be concerned about the bad influence to the fansub community.

[John]

Please feel free.

[GokuMew2]

About FRoP's Ouran subs, this was discussed on the ouranhostclub community on LiveJournal last week or so and sparked a huge debate.

It turns out that the subbers were members of the forum on the For Richer or Poorer website. For those who might not know, For Richer or Poorer is one of the best Ouran fansites out there. It was said that the subbers took lines from the manga (I assume scanlation) and used that in their fansub of the anime episodes.

I personally did not download FRoP's sub and am still waiting for Lunar's version. I don't really trust new groups, especially those that are formed only to sub one series. I didn't think that FRoP's translations would be so off though since FRoP the site has a pretty good reputation. Because of this, I think fans with limited knowledge of the Japanese language can easily mistaken FRoP's work as an accurate translation of the original work.

FRoP the fansub group just needs to be a little more careful in the future. I'll stick with Lunar since I hate switching groups and because I'm very anal when it comes to translation accuracy. .^^; Hey, I'm not a TC for nothin'!

[cat_clan]

I saw the first part of ep 17 released by them on youtube, while they make some loose translation from time to time... I didn't thought it was really bad translation wise. I only compared the spoken dialogue, I didn't compare any of the dialogue boxes that appears often (since on youtube I couldn't read the translation of the boxes, because of the video quality).

But I must agree that they seem to have small Japanese skills and cross-checked with Korean subs.

[hiroaki]

I’m afraid that their behaviors may invite misunderstanding or confusion rather than regards for Japanese creators, not to mention that they would depreciate Japanese creators’ efforts.
誤訳というより言語的相違感なんじゃない？

Certainly, I know a funsab translator who say that Itadakimasu is only greeting, and it don't have mean. However, "All fansub translator are belong to the volunteer."

[Starchild]

Certainly, I know a funsab translator who say that Itadakimasu is only greeting, and it don't have mean. However, "All fansub translator are belong to the volunteer."

funsab ---> fansub
say ---> says
don't ---> does not

BTW I'm at a loss what you'd like to mean by "it don't have mean."

[Suiko Eiji]

BTW I'm at a loss what you'd like to mean by "it don't have mean."

I believe he means it does not have a direct English translation.

[djcubez]

If anything I think that companies like VIZ dumb down translations more than fansubbers do. For example, the English version of Dragonball Z is like watching a totally different show.

[Suiko Eiji]

If anything I think that companies like VIZ dumb down translations more than fansubbers do. For example, the English version of Dragonball Z is like watching a totally different show.

Apples and Oranges.

Viz does some things that aggrivate me a bit with translations (and song re-writes). Aside from the song issue, which is only on certain releases and not even an entire series continuously, Viz has mildly accurate translations (a few words here and there I wouldn't necessarily agree with) but it's more the editing phase they go through that I'm not really fond of. They also like to cut and paste over opening and ending credit text, which seems to be a case-by-case basis for practically every other anime I've seen released in the US.

Dragonball Z is released by FUNimation. It was their first, and worst, handled property in the US. They're making good on their reputation and fixing most of their problems with the subtitle tracks, especially on the oldest parts of the series. Let's not confuse some of the dopey re-writes for the dub as an 'inaccurate' translation.

[Soluzar]

If anything I think that companies like VIZ dumb down translations more than fansubbers do. For example, the English version of Dragonball Z is like watching a totally different show.
Well.... as Suiko pointed out, DBZ is licensed to FUNi, not Viz, but that doesn't really change the nature of your argument, nor of my response. In the years since the intial release of DBZ took place, FUNi have changed the way they handle anime titles completely. Their current releases are as good as you could possibly expect, except in some specific cases where the Japanese studio have requested a specific change to the script for the dub, or for the subs.

Some people confuse FUNimation with 4Kids, just because FUNi used to (still do?) the distribution for 4Kids licensed properties. The truth is that 4kids are really the only company I've noticed to make anything but minor changes in an anime script. Admittedly, if you watch the televised version of certain anime, you'd be dissapointed, but those changes are made to comply with broadcasting regulations, and are not always reflected in the DVD release.

In short, my argument is: Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater, because 4Kids are in a clear minority when it comes to inaccurate translations.

[Suiko Eiji]

In short, my argument is: Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater, because 4Kids are in a clear minority when it comes to inaccurate translations.

Words to live by in this discussion, I'm glad you mentioned it.

Some people confuse FUNimation with 4Kids, just because FUNi used to (still do?) the distribution for 4Kids licensed properties. The truth is that 4kids are really the only company I've noticed to make anything but minor changes in an anime script. Admittedly, if you watch the televised version of certain anime, you'd be dissapointed, but those changes are made to comply with broadcasting regulations, and are not always reflected in the DVD release.


I don't know if FUNi used to distro for them or not... I thought I remembered them having a third party, but I cannot for the life of me remember who...

Either way, you make a good point. 4Kids and their practices, while not unique, are certainly in the minority. In fact, probably for nearly the past 25 years of releases in the US, there has been at least one company that severely alters the content of the shows they produce and create an altertate version if you will.

[Soluzar]

I don't know if FUNi used to distro for them or not... I thought I remembered them having a third party, but I cannot for the life of me remember who...
I know it happened at least for a few titles, because I have some DVDs with both the FUNi and the 4Kids logos on them. I'm not sure how long it went on for though.

[Stelok]

In the anime Dokuro-chan's sub-episode 5, Sakura reads the kanji on the front of his sweatshirt aloud as "pedo--"

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1816/pedopp1.jpg

and then read the other kanji on his back as "-phile"

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/5109/philefh7.jpg

But someone on another forum translated both of these kanji as "Rori-" and "-kon" which are romanized as Lolicon.

In a fansub of the anime called Love Get Chu, when Momoko saw a naked guy in front of herself, she screamed "sex offender." I don't know what she was saying since I can't hear but I don't think Japanese use that word frequently.

I watched two different fansubs of the anime Macross Zero. Shin Kudou was referred as "ensign" in one fansub while as "lieutenant" in another fansub. Roy Focker was referred as "major" in both fansubs. I honestly think they are mistranslations. As I had said I'm deaf, I don't know what Japanese ranks they are using, but I believe the producers of Macross Zero must be using the Japanese Imperial rank system used by both Imperial Army and Navy prior to the end of World War II.

If Roy and Shin are both navy pilots, then Roy should have been called "lieutenant commander" and Shin should have been called "ensign."


Imperial Japanese Navy (http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=show&id=150&sid=1354)

Imperial Japanese Army (http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=show&id=150&sid=1350)

The titles of Imperial Army and Navy ranks are exactly the same but with different English translations when when I've looked at and compared the sites' contents.

http://www.uniforminsignia.net/

[Quarkboy]

In the anime Dokuro-chan's sub-episode 5, Sakura reads the kanji on the front of his sweatshirt aloud as "pedo--"

and then read the other kanji on his back as "-phile"

But someone on another forum translated both of these kanji as "Rori-" and "-kon" which are romanized as Lolicon.

These are both perfectly reasonable and accurate translations. The difference is that "lolicon" is an english abbreviation by the japanese which has somewhat spilled BACK into normal english usage. Many american otaku types would know what "lolicon" means. It means "pedophile". However, the word is still relatively obscure, and using "pedophile" maintains the correct meaning. The difference here is to which audience the fansubbers are trying to reach: Only hard core otaku who know the meaning of "lolicon" or a more general audience. (Another option is to have a note explaining the meaning of lolicon).

FYI, lolicon was created by shortening the phrase "lolita complex". You could make the argument that the meaning is less harsh than "pedophile" but that is the closest translation.

In a fansub of the anime called Love Get Chu, when Momoko saw a naked guy in front of herself, she screamed "sex offender." I don't know what she was saying since I can't hear but I don't think Japanese use that word frequently.

I think I know the fansub you're talking about. It was done by some arabic group and was horrible. But putting that aside, it's almost surely a translation of the word "hentai!" (used as a noun) or "chikan". I would have used "pervert!" or "sicko" or "molester", but sex offender isn't THAT far off.


I watched two different fansubs of the anime Macross Zero. Shin Kudou was referred as "ensign" in one fansub while as "lieutenant" in another fansub. Roy Focker was referred as "major" in both fansubs. I honestly think they are mistranslations. As I had said I'm deaf, I don't know what Japanese ranks they are using, but I believe the producers of Macross Zero must be using the Japanese Imperial rank system used by both Imperial Army and Navy prior to the end of World War II.

If Roy and Shin are both navy pilots, then Roy should have been called "lieutenant commander" and Shin should have been called "ensign."


Imperial Japanese Navy (http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=show&id=150&sid=1354)

Imperial Japanese Army (http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=show&id=150&sid=1350)

The titles of Imperial Army and Navy ranks are exactly the same but with different English translations when when I've looked at and compared the sites' contents.

http://www.uniforminsignia.net/

Now you're just being picky. Actually, translating japanese military titles is not very easy, and often inconsistent even among official sources. There are different conventions for each branch, and they've also changed over history. So who are you to say which rank is "correct" in the fictional world of Macross? As long as the relative ladder of ranks are maintained, that's often the best one can do. This comes up all the time in Gundam shows, actually. Which particular military branch conventions should one use? There is no clearly defined answer, I'm afraid.

[Stelok]

I see.



Now you're just being picky. Actually, translating japanese military titles is not very easy,

No, but equating the Japanese titles to a rank of United States Army and/or Navy is easy, providing that one would read the U.S. military rank structure and pick the closest equivalent from it. But those fansubbers don't seem to understand the distinction between the ranks of the Navy and Army in the West, which is unlike the Japan, where they are apparently the same.

If Macross Zero was fansubbed by the British or the citizens of the British commonwealth such as Australia using the Royal British Air Force rank structure, Shin Kudou probably would have been addressed as "pilot officer" and Roy Focker would have been addressed as "squadron Leader".

Royal U.K Air Force-------Royal U.K. Navy----------Royal U.K. Army
(0-1) Pilot Officer---Acting sub-lieutenant---2nd Lieutenant
(0-2) Flying officer---sublieutenant-------Lieutenant
(0-3) Flight Lieutenant---Lieutenant------Captain
(0-4) Squadron Leader---Lieutenant Commander---Major
(0-5) Wing Commander---Commander----Lieutenant Colonel
(0-6) Group Captain-----Captain-------Colonel
(0-7) Air Commodore----Commodore----Brigadier
(0-8) Air Vice Marshal---Rear Admiral---Major-General
(0-9) Air Marshal------Vice Admiral----Lieutenant General
(0-10) Air Chief Marshal-----Admiral-----General

Ranks and insignia of Royal Army, Navy and Air Force of the United Kingdom (http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=state&id=133)

[Suiko Eiji]

No, but equating the Japanese titles to a rank of United States Army and/or Navy is easy, providing that one would read the U.S. military rank structure and pick the closest equivalent from it.

According to the reference you listed for the Imperial Japanese Navy, it can be hard to distinguish even within the equivalent branch link of the US military. The IJN has 15 different officer classifications rather than the USN's 10.

For some reason, open to speculation, I suppose, most anime I have ever encountered use rankings relating back to the IJN and IJA rather than the more modern ranks of the Jieitai branches. Finding exactly which rank cooresponds with which rank may be open to interpretation for someone not familiar with all of the job duties associated with each individual rank in the Imperial Forces and how it compares to the US forces. Likewise for most other militaries.

[Stelok]

I had just remembered that I watched a fansubbed episode of the anime Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai. One of the characters said „Let‘s eat the watermelon before it gets cold.“ Now that‘s either a fabrication or a bad translation. I eat cold watermelons, because cold watermelons are more delicious. That‘s why we keep them in a refrigerator. Have the fansubbers never eaten a cold watermelon before? A better translation should be „Let‘s eat the watermelons before it gets rotten.“

According to the reference you listed for the Imperial Japanese Navy, it can be hard to distinguish even within the equivalent branch link of the US military. The IJN has 15 different officer classifications rather than the USN's 10.

For some reason, open to speculation, I suppose, most anime I have ever encountered use rankings relating back to the IJN and IJA rather than the more modern ranks of the Jieitai branches. Finding exactly which rank cooresponds with which rank may be open to interpretation for someone not familiar with all of the job duties associated with each individual rank in the Imperial Forces and how it compares to the US forces. Likewise for most other militaries.

Battle Programmer Shirase is one of those anime you mentioned using the Imperial military rank titles. Apparently, the Battle Programmer Shirase writers were equating the U.S. military ranks to those of the IJN rather than to those of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Obviously, those fansubbers failed to distinguish the differences between U.S. Arny and Navy, because according to their translations, a computer genius named Yoriko was a major in the United States Navy. “Major” is NOT a U.S. naval rank . The naval equivalent to Yoriko’s rank should be lieutenant commander.

But however, in spite of my views, I am inclined to agree with your argument that finding a rough equivalent to a Japanese military title is much harder than I would think.

True. The rank titles of three Self-Defense forces (Land, Maritime and Air) are different from Imperial Japanese military and more distinguishable from each other.

[Quarkboy]

I had just remembered that I watched a fansubbed episode of the anime Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai. One of the characters said „Let‘s eat the watermelon before it gets cold.“ Now that‘s either a fabrication or a bad translation. I eat cold watermelons, because cold watermelons are more delicious. That‘s why we keep them in a refrigerator. Have the fansubbers never eaten a cold watermelon before? A better translation should be „Let‘s eat the watermelons before it gets rotten.“


I hate being put in the position of defending other fansubbers' mistakes, but I think that this is not actually an error in translation, but more likely a freudian slip/typo. The japanese was most likely "eat it while it is still cold", however, because the common english expression is "before it gets cold", either the translator or the editor typed that out of habit, and no one noticed the error.

I doubt it was the translator not understanding what the japanese meant (I mean, if they were going to fabricate something, why would they make something up that didn't make any sense :)?)