Informative / Educational Articles

I still remember how it felt when I first started studying Japanese and translation, so I wrote these articles with that feeling firmly in mind.

Whether you’re studying Japanese, translation, or just want to know more about how this stuff works, hopefully you’ll find these articles helpful and interesting.

Japanese Language & Cultural Study

• How to Tell the Difference Between Chinese and Japanese Writing

  Tip: If you see a round "の" character, it's Japanese or Japanese-connected.

• Japanese Numbers, Dates, and Wordplay

  Japan's number-based wordplay is often 100% lost in translation.

• The English Word “Let’s” is Everywhere in Japanese Entertainment

  Let's look at why this word is so prevalent in the Japanese mindset.

• The Japanese Word “Okama” in Video Game Translations

  We can follow this controversial word's evolution by examining Japanese games.

• The Letter “W” Means “Double” in Japanese

  The letter W appears all the time in Japanese - think of it as "double"!

• The Problem with L, R, and Other Letters in Japanese Translation

  There's logic behind all those funny Japanese typos, and it goes beyond L and R.

• The Word “LABO” is Everywhere You Look in Japanese

  "Labo" in Japanese parallels "lab", "workshop", and "studio" in English.

• Tricky Translations #1: Maou & Daimaou

  These simple Japanese terms can be translated many different ways.

• Tricky Translations #2: The Four Heavenly Kings

  This simple Japanese phrase often stands out in translation, but why?

• Tricky Translations #3: False Friends & Japanese Hips

  If words have nuances, then imported "loanwords" carry local nuances as well.

• Tricky Translations #4: “I” & “Me” in Japanese

  With dozens of ways to say "I" and "me" in Japanese, a lot can get lost in translation.

• Video Games and Japan’s Three Main Writing Systems

  Japanese video game text has continued to transform since the 1970s.

• When Is It Okay and Not Okay to Localize Something?

  As a translator, you can take the source to the reader, or the reader to the source.

• Why “Hai” Doesn’t Always Mean “Yes” in Japanese

  Basically, negative questions work differently in English and Japanese.

• Why Japanese Games Have Tiny Text on Top of Normal Text

  This aspect of the Japanese language opens it up for many unique uses.

Japanese-to-English Translation

• Cultural Obstacles in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves’ Design

  All those boxers, janitors, and bakers weren't in the original Japanese game.

• Examining Rhapsody’s Famous Line About “Direct Translations”

  The translator breaks etiquette to try to make a point for non-translators.

• Game Localization & Nintendo of America’s Content Policies in the 1990s

  Nintendo's content policies in the 1990s shaped an early era of game translation.

• How “Control Code” Mistakes Can Wreck a Game Translation

  Translators must also deal with text formatting and messy logic control codes.

• How Items & Names Get Sorted in Japanese Games

  Why are items in Final Fantasy 1 organized so strangely in English?

• How the “Metal Gear” Name Is Explained in Japanese

  A scene in Metal Gear Solid 3 explains the meaning behind the iconic name.

• How to Pronounce Ryu’s Name

  The language barrier has plagued Ryu's name for decades now.

• Redundant Translations in Japanese Entertainment

  Redundant translations in Japanese entertainment.

• Religious Content Changes in Game Localizations

  Game publishers have been changing religion-related content for decades.

• The Result of Poorly Localized Japanese Puns, in Action

  It's important to retain humor in translation, but it's rarely as easy as it sounds.

• Why Yoshi Is Sometimes Called “Yossy” in Japan

  Japan uses its own unique method to spell Japanese words using English letters.

English-to-Japanese Translation

• Common Problems When Translating Games Into Japanese

  Translating your game into Japanese can be disastrous if it's only an afterthought.

• Metric System Localizations in Japanese Entertainment

  Localization changes in popular media can continue to "echo" over time.

• Popular, Infamous, & Surprising Game Localizations into Japanese

  Which English-to-Japanese game translations are the most beloved?

Professional & Industry Experiences

• Fan Translations that Became Official Translations

  Some fan translations have actually made that legendary big leap.

• Getting It Localized #1: Skies of Fury DX

  An indie developer personally experiences the difficulties of game localization.

• Learning Japanese & Becoming a Translator

  If you're considering learning Japanese, this might be useful but outdated info.

• Literary Translators Comment on Localization & Re-Translation

  The word "localization" may be new, but the idea has been around for centuries.

• Personal Experiences as a Fan & Professional Translator

  My early-era experiences as a professional translator and a fan translator.

• Professional Translators Discuss Fan Translation Experience

  Is it helpful or harmful to mention your fan translations in a job application?

• Writing a Final Fantasy Fanfic for a Translation Job Application

  When I applied for a job at Square in 2002, I didn't expect this on the test!