Since it was raining that day, I couldn't go to any StarBucks. Very inspired I wrote this essay about manga...
These words you can’t translate.
While watching an anime, there are some words that clearly fall hardly in the ear. Same for the translation that is to be read as subtitles to the image.
In Animes, words often come out in English, even though speaking Japanese.
In Animes, subtitles in English are full of Japanese words impossible to translate.
A · Starting with titles.
It is common to see English titles. While some Animes are called Tenjou Tenge, Dorohedoro, Keroro, Ichigo 100% or Abara. Some other are clearly in English, for instance : Death Note, Gundam, Monster or even Blame !
Continuing with names :
However, it doesn’t end there. Even characters have English names. While some characters are called Japanese like : Sakura, Sasuke, Anakari or Kenzo Tenma. Some characters are also called : Light, Johan, Nina or Bob Poundmax.
Ending with spoken language :
Key objects are also often in English while the rest of the manga is in Japanese.
For instance One piece is the key object every one must found in the manga of the same name. Millennium is the name of the criminal organization in Gun grave. Exile is the lost space-ship in Last Exile.
Or even words are in English. For instance « Thanku », literally « Thank you » in English.
B · What about these Japanese words that can’t be translated :
It often appears that words are part of a lager cultural background. Consequently, these words can’t never be translated in English. For instance there is those Shinigami (death gods) that are often represented in mangas. As well as Akuma (devils). Translating them would be a big mistake since it is not the same translation. And there are even more examples, such as Chakra (soul energy) or Shikai and Bankai. As well as there is no word to translate the exact nuances of Ara kiri. To explore furthermore our explanation we will take the example of the two more successful anime nowadays : Bleach and Naruto.
Bleach :
Every characters in Bleach is carrying a Zanpakutu. It is always very powerful. It’s name influence it’s power. It is hard to translate Zanpakutu but let’s say it is more or less a Katana.
Here are a few Zanpakutu and their use dictated by their names, never to be translated.
Hyourinmaru : it literally means « Ice ring ».
With a cry of "Souten ni zase!" (Sit upon the frozen heavens), Captain Hitsugaya doesn't so much make Hyourinmaru itself change as he does summon a giant dragon made of water. An eastern dragon, not the western fire-breathing type, it's probably several hundred gallons of near-freezing water that he can point and send anywhere he wants. Both dragon and chain radiate such a chill that any water, even the moisture in the air, starts to freeze. So even if you don't drown in the deluge that is the dragon, the water still soaking you will freeze you to your core.
Ryujin Jakka : « flowing flame blade ».
Along with Hyourinmaru, Ryuujin Jakka is an elemental blade, though in this case the element is fire. Reciting the sentence "Banshou issai haijin to nase" (reduce all to ash), Yama-jii sets Ryuujin Jakka on fire. Flame sprouts from the hilt and blade, wrapping around Yama-jii in one huge conflagration. The blade itself remains in his hand, though it's hard to see through all the flame. It doesn't take much imagine to figure out that Yama-jii can probably manipulate all that fire with a craftsman's precision.
Senbon Zakura: “Thousand Cherry Trees”
Speaking the short word "chire" (scatter), Captain Kuchiki makes Senbon Zakura's blade disappear. It isn't gone completely, it has just disintegrated into millions of tiny, razor-thin metal petals you can only see when they catch the light and wink, like the quick flutter of falling cherry petals. Captain Kuchiki mentally controls this razor cloud, and can slice somebody to ribbons without them even seeing what hit them.
Naruto:
In Naruto, all that is in the fields o frealms is kept in Japenese. All powers and magical seals are given in Japanese even in the English translation. I have chosen the example of what is called “Kekkai Genkai” in Naruto. Literally, it means “advance bloodline limit”. In Naruto, it is about powers that are transmitted uniquely by blood. These are very powerful powers. The more important ones are (ones again, never translated even in English versions).
Byakugan: “White eyes”
The Byakugan, literally White Eyes, (or Evil Eye as it is known in the English translations) is a very special condition of the eye that occurs naturally in all members of the Hyuuga clan. Used mainly as a taijutsu technique, the Byakugan gives it's user many great abilities including the ability to have a 360 degree field of vision, except for one tiny blind spot behind the first thoracic vertebra, this tiny spot is the only known weakness of this special ability. With the Byakugan activated it's user has the ability to detect anything that moves around them in a 50 foot radius, making the Byakugan a difficult task to fight against. When used with chakra the Byakugan becomes more powerful and can see through most solid matter over extremely long distances and allows it's user to see the inner coil system of the enemy, opening them to an attack on their tenketsu (Chakra Holes) by the hand of the juken (Gentle Fist).
Sharingan : « Copy Wheel eyes »
The Sharingan, literally Copy Wheel Eye, is a very special condition of the eye that occurs naturally in some members of the Uchiha Clan. Most notably the Sharingan's most well known ability is to be able to memorize any technique that it has been a witness to including nijutsu, genjutsu and taijutsu techniques. Other abilities of this very special eye include hypnosis, allowing it's user to suggest actions and thoughts to the opponent. The Sharingan also has the very useful ability to see through any illusionary technique.
Shikotsumyaku: “Corpse Bone Pulse”
It belongs to the Kaguya clans. Through this technic, they have a frightening and graphic ability to manipulate their bone structure, they can control the density, the shape the movement and the number of their bones and use them as weapons that are as sharp as a dagger and very destructive to their opponent. The bodies of those who possess this bloodline are virtually indestructible with their special offense even allowing them to shoot bones out of their fingertips that are as sharp as a spear, any point of contact on their body would cause great damage to their opponent. The most powerful techniques this unique clan possesses are it's many dances that are named after flowers.
