"Lady" Tsunade vs. "Princess" Tsunade

[Tama83]

As I'm sure most of you know, in the original Japanese version, Shizune refers to her as "Tsunade-hime", which would literally translate as "Princess Tsunade". However, in the English version she says "Lady Tsunade". Now, I always thought they changed it thinking that "Princess" would sound awkward to English speakers in an anime about ninja set in a world that has elements of Japan in the feudal days (OTOH, I suppose the daughter of the Daimyo might have been a "princess". IDK, really). Now the English manga will be using the literal translation of "Princess Tsunade".

While I have a neutral opinion about this, I would like to hear yours. Does anyone here think that one name or the other is "awkward". I'm curious as to what your thoughts are. Also, you'll have to excuse me if this was already brought up. Searching this forum turned up nothing.

[SonRyu]

I actually don't like the use of honorifics in english dubs (or in translated manga), even if that honorific is translated into english itself. It just seems totally awkward to me. English speakers don't add honorifics to people they are talking to, so why bother adding it into a dub which is made for those same viewers? I know it's adding that "Japanese flair" to the dub, but really, is it necessary when so many other things are changed for the english viewers to remove the cultural specifics of Japan? With the princess vs lady thing, I think both are equally awkward for something aimed at a US audience.

[EDIT: when I say "English speakers don't add honorifics to people they are talking to", I'm not counting Mr, Mrs, etc as honorifics because our use of them is not the same as the use of Japanese honorifics (if I have to argue that as opinion, so be it).]

[Tama83]

On the other hand, Tsunade is a respected, older, more senior shinobi. Even though she and Jiraiya are the same age, she nonetheless is the granddaughter of a Hokage (the first, I think). So simply calling her "Tsunade" in the English dub even in a country where don't address everybody formally a whole lot of the time like Japan does would imply lack of respect on Shizune, Naruto and Jiraiya's parts, which of course is not the case in the Japanese version. IMO, that's probably the reason Viz had to give her some "respectful" title.

I'm not disagreeing with you or anything, nor am I trying to defend Viz's reasons behind it (heck, I recently have had less reasons to defend them then before, but I digress...), I just thought I'd give a different perspective on the whole "respectful title" thing.

So, anyone else?

[Dark_Knight]

We don't use honorifics? We do use some. Examples are: Sir, Ms. Mrs. Mr. etc.

[Jo Sama]

I'm pretty comfortable with Lady, but living in Britain where where the Lord/Lady honorifics are still used probably plays a part in that.

^_^ Jo

[goddessofanime]

I haven't seen any of the Japanese episodes with Tsunade...but Lady sounds all right to me.

All I know is, she's awesome. Anyone who'll kick Naruto's A.D.D a** guarantees a win in my book.

[Gameover]

This is why I don't watch dubs. Too much gets lost/messed up in the translation and it ends up being awkward and unnatural.

Part of the reason, IMO, why "Lady" was used is because "Princess" is used with the monarchy and royalty, in English speaking countries. As such, it would lead the viewer to assume that Tsunade would have some relation to a king or ruler instead of the highly respectable, legendary status that "-hime" seems to allude to in Japanese.

"Lady" in the English language refers to a highly respectable (in theory), noble female whose position may be given to them instead of born into (like a princess). It also suggests that the person with this title reigns a smaller part of the country (ie Konoha) instead of the whole country which is the role attached to "Princess" .

[GoldSteel]

well english and japanese is not the same language and different language means differently.

saying Lady Tsunade in english version suits my ear. saying Princess Tsunade in japanese version suits my ear.