Welcome!

Here you will find randomness about me, as well as JE translations for whatever strikes my fancy and whatever I find suitable to my current level of Japanese.

Journal Notes:

All translations will be left Public. If you would like to see the updates here, please freel free to Friend! Any RL-related posts will be Friends-locked. If you want to get to know me, drop me a note on this post or start a conversation. I love meeting new people ^__^

Translation Notes:

is the awesome team I sub for. Please join the community if you're interested in fully-subbed clips and videos.

From time to time I'll do magazine interviews, Shukudai Staff Blogs, or other partial translations here. Since I'm still learning Japanese, though, I don't guarantee perfect accuracy.

General Notes:

1) All translations will be rendered with idiomatic English to the best of my ability.
2) If I have doubts about anything I translate, I will state them.
3) Corrections/Edits/Queries are ALWAYS welcome ^___^

Thanks, and enjoy!~

Oh gosh I just finished watching the new Arashi PV and it has my heart. In so many ways.

Like Jirou and Gorou duking it out for the biggest room in the house. I am totally convinced that Sho would be a bossy big brother and Jun would be the whiny selfish youngest.

Like Shirou taking the smallest room and nobody contesting it.

Like Saburou finding the letter, and Ichirou ripping up the moving-house plans.

I love it like it's cotton candy to the soul.

Also, is it just me or did they take all five of Arashi, do a composite of their faces, and then feminize the result to get the "mother" portrait? The more I look at it, the more I find a resemblance to ALL of them, which shouldn't be possible in a normal human being. 0_0

( Also, a little of my Tokyo Adventures )

Once again, I am awfully late.

Happy belated birthday to my dear yuckie_chan !

I'm glad to have met you, and I hope you're doing well!  ^__^

Back, and bringing you a translation of the most recent VS Arashi starring the Olympic athletes that Sho can never hope to compete with.

And this is how we know Aiba is a smart lad, ladies and gents. He happily squirreled his way onto the winning team, and giggled as they decimated Arashi.




Aiba VS Arashi indeed.

( Now this is what I call real entertainment )

Eeeee, there's going to be an Arashi Park! They are practically two steps away from making their own theme park! THEY COULD CALL IT ARASHILAND.

Would that be awesome or what?

Note to my lovely EnA friends:
Sorry I've been missing on the translation front for so long. This one's all yours, so take it away! ^_~

EDITS AND CORRECTIONS WELCOMED.

Shamelessly stolen from primroseshows.

The problem with LiveJournal:
We all think we are so close, but really, we know nothing about each other. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away. Then post this in your LJ and find out what people don't know about you!

Hit me with it! Any question you like, even if it's not obvious =)
1, 2, 3, Go!

( On a more Arashian note (Spoilers for Heyx3) )

Okay, I caved. I started watching The Quiz Show [1] and I couldn't stop.

( Spoilers for TQS1, Speculation on TQS2. Beware long entry... )

Taken from part of Sho's Quiz Show promotion circuit. I'd didn't include any of the actual promo stuff, but the lolz should still be there =)

( Quiz Show on Zoom in Super! [2009.04.17] )

There may be some mistakes T^T

From last-last week, where they played the Fail!Rocking-horse race. (Subbed by STORMYteam HERE. Also a locked community, though.)

Contains some extra tidbits about cut scenes and more Arashi-guest interactions.


Shukudai Staff Blog [2009.04.06]
..................

This time, we have Shinagawa-san appearing as a movie director on our show.
He dropped comments as a director everywhere. Seeing MatsuJun cutting the cake, he murmured, “That would make a nice picture”, followed by MatsuJun’s “So why aren’t you offering me any jobs?” His reply was, “Eh? If I did, would you take it?” There was some talk about how this might lead to a movie appearance in the future.

Our other guest, Motokari-chan, despite her prim and proper appearance, took on our game with abundant gusto. Thank you, Motokari-chan! Some of the scenes that were cut included a talk about Motokari-chan’s fear of aquariums. It seems that while she is perfectly fine with swimming, she is quite wary of any fish in the water.

Our Leader Ohno, on the other hand, loves sharks! Apparently, Leader’s idea of a good time at an aquarium is to press right up against the fish tank and stare a shark in the mouth as it’s bearing down on him with gaping jaws.

................


I can totally see Ohno doing this while going =DDD YOU GUYS you have to come see!!!

Also, I watched Quiz Show 2 and HOLY MOLY Honma and Kamiyama really dazzle the eyes. Also, Loopy!Sho is simultaneously the funniest and the creepiest thing ever. Maybe it's the subject matter, but it seems to me like his acting has improved enormously since YamaTarou. I'm looking forward to STORMY's subbed version.

And now it's time for me to start studying for my actual Japanese exam ~~

At long last, the promotional material for The Quiz Show is coming out! *salivates*

Original scans can be found at Arashi_Yuuki (Locked Community).
It's hard to tell without the actual scan, so to clarify:
Kamiyama = Sho (The Host)
Honma = Yoko (The Director)


Welcome to “The Quiz Show”!
....................

This is a show under the direction of a mysterious host and director. Let’s review its peculiarities and its must-see characteristics!!

1. Peculiar Rules
The fight for a "dream" is on!
The quiz asks a total of 7 questions “pertinent to the contestant.” If the contestant can answer all seven, they will receive a prize of 10 million yen. If they wish, they can instead take a “Dream Chance” question, where, should they succeed, they will be granted any wish they desire.

2. Contestants have a Reason for Being There
There is a reason behind each contestant's appearance on the show.
Contestants are limited to one person a week who receives an invitation from the Guide (Sasai Eisuke) to Ginga TV Station. They may appear to be successful musicians, famous cellphone novelists, and other esteemed figures of society, but in reality, each of their pasts holds the reason for their appearance on the show…

3. Developments occur in Quick Succession!
Is it by accident or on purpose? The mood takes 180-degree turns midway through the show.
The host, Kamiyama, facilitates the show with his smooth-talking skills every time, but midway through the show, everything changes. Ignoring the producer, Saejima’s (Maya Miki) directions, Honma corners the contestants who are avoiding his questions. Panic rages across the set for both producer and contestant!

4. What is the relationship between Honma and Kamiyama?
What’s behind Honma’s control of Kamiyama?
From the quiz show scenes, we jump to a white room where Kamiyama rises from his bed in the midst of a nightmare. His face is lifeless. And standing next to him, watching him, is Honma. What kind of relationship do these two men have? Honma seems to carry a deep and abiding interest in the lost memories of Kamiyama.

5. Memories that are fleetingly recalled…?
Who is the woman in the afterimages of Kamiyama’s memory?
In his fragmented memory, a woman sometimes surfaces. Encircled in his bubble, Kamiyama continues to sink. And then there is the image of him at a campsite. What does the shadow of the woman reflected in the fragments of Kamiyama’s memory have to do with it? The “link” between his past and Honma’s past will draw your attention.

( Bonus: Interview with Sho and Yoko )

Quick translation today! ^___^

Has everyone seen Shukudai-kun yet? I almost couldn't breathe for laughing. They've probably bypassed 'fanservice' completely with this episode.

I don't know what else to call it when Ohno pounds on Nino's back to pop his balloon, and when that doesn't work, flips him over and sits on him. XD


Shukudai Staff Blog
..........

Is there a show where you’d hear so many instances of the word ‘breast’? (lol) In the space of 30 minutes, how many times did they say it anyway?

In this case, we had the incomprehensible, unfathomable Ayase Haruka. We weren’t prepared for her cuteness, so we had a spot of difficulty. Lots of unprecedented things happened on this show~
She was so full that she refused to try any more food! (In the end, she did sample a bit.) She completely ignored the rules of variety shows! She did not match up with any of the rules of the Hiroshima dialect. (lol) And etc, etc. Well, it turned out pretty fun.

And then there was Aibaland’s “Breast Explosion Game.” When we first explained the simple concept of stuffing balloons up your shirt and then bursting them, Sakurai-kun said “That’s the most idiotic idea ever” and “That’s doesn’t constitute Breast Explosion, that’s just plain bursting balloons!”, but he loves ridiculous things – everyone in Arashi does.

As expected, once they tried it, they really got into it. After we finished shooting everyone commended the game, and MatsuJun gave it his stamp of approval, saying “I’d be okay with doing this every other week.” Even Sakurai-kun was won over to the point where he said “We could rename this show Arashi no Breast Explosion-kun.”

Of course, we wouldn’t want to call it Breast Explosion-kun, so please continue to support Arashi no Shukudai-kun!

.............


MatsuJun, I'd be okay with you doing this every other week, too.

I'm alive, sort of, and will commence doing mini-translations of magazine articles once I get an okay from the scanner.

In the meantime...


Some really sad statistics:

A research paper of ~2600 words took me:

Reading sources - 7 hrs
Writing crap draft - 5 hrs
Figuring out thesis - 2 hrs
Rewriting crap to fit thesis - 8 hrs

PROCRASTINATION - 3 DAYS


And what did I achieve during those 3 days?

Watched and finished GARO (牙狼). Which, incidentally, *really* floats my boat. I ended up downloading the movie and the gaiden, and now I'm in love with the theme song. It's got the cheesiest premise ever, but the special effects are gorgeous and the monsters are creepy and awesome and can I just say inventive?

I got hooked on the basis of just these two things but along the way I fell for the hero and his heroine as well and the way the series just left them all vague and undeclared at the end just makes me want to scream "GET TOGETHER ALREADY, OK?"

Now I'm trying to watch Kamen Rider while procrastinating for Paper #2 and it's just...not working for me. Maybe it's because the monsters look stupid rather than scary. I'm about 4 eps into Kabuto and it still just seems kind of kiddish and silly. I want the soul-sucking, human-torturing, batshit-crazy demons from Garo back! *pout*

Any recommendations for a good series to watch when you're trying to think of anything *but* the work you're supposed to be doing? I'm open to the good, the bad, and the truly awful as long as it sucks my brain away. =D

I always wanted a soaking wet Ohno for my birthday.

...Oh, lookie here!

If you told me this man was 18 and I didn't know better, I would believe you in a second. What is Ohno-mama feeding him and where can I get some?




( Ingredients for a Successful Arashi Concert )

Forgive me, University, for I have sinned.

I have been watching Boyband Concerts instead of studying for your exams. And I have been justifying myself with wild claims that watching Boyband Concerts somehow = learning Japanese.

In penance, I will cut the internet, turn off my computer, and hide my Arashi calendar under a silk screen until I have escaped from exam hell. If any of you lovely people have exams or tests coming up as well, my best wishes to you all~!~

Here's a question for all you luvs.

I'm currently translating for E no Arashi!! and the status for VS Arashi #45 [2009.02.30] is: 90% done.

But I've run into a wall.

Should gibberish slang be romanized as is? Or should I make up some hip/slangish English equivalent?

Exhibit A: ありマンモトゥ (Arimanmoto)
Exhibit B: ウレピー (Urepii)

The problem is that neither of them are words. What if there is no English slang equivalent? Do I make up my own gibberish? (And if so, would anyone like to make up the gibberish for me? *__*)

This is really bothering me. As a n00bie translator, I'm kind of cross-eyed on this issue. The best I can make of those two is that Ex.A would turn into "Oi shure 'ave!" and Ex.B would become "Me sho happy!" (Utter, utter fail, I know)

Does anyone prefer this to proper English with a Note saying that it's all cutesy talk?

.

Lately, the thing that's been swallowing up my hours and days and weeks is the Waseda application. It's going to eat me for lunch and then have the leftovers for supper.

It wants a minimum 2-page essay on My Aspirations Other Than Language and Culture Acquisition ... but I'm guessing that "Attending a boyband concert in person" isn't what they're looking for.

Shoot.

What ELSE is there to write?

Lately, Uta Onii has been my favourite drama, rising above Mei-chan and Love Shuffle, which are the only other two I am watching regularly.

Why? I love Kenta's expressions. I will never get tired of them.

So I bring you all picspamage, along with mini-translations to go along with each! ^__^

( Spoilers for Episode 5, plus OHNO'S FACE in all its humongous glory! )

I wanna make Maou x UtaOnii icons now just for the lulz, guyz.

Like Two-face in Batman, with Naruse's perfect hair and ice-cold smirk on one side and Kenta's dyed tufts and freaktastic expressions on the other!

But it would be so disturbing 0__0 Somebody stop me.

Done for a contest over at jenlyn_b 's page, because she is an awesome author who is giving away free books.

FREE BOOKS. Who wouldn't want free books? =D

Below you will find reviews on 15 of my favourite books that I have recently read. Plus links! Just in case anyone wants to see the covers ~

( 15 Book Reviews under here! )

Anyone else out there who's read these before?

CRYING. Just. Believe PV, I want you so much.

...Jun throwing boomerang missiles, ala Batman...
...Nino with his... pointy...stick...thingy...
...Aiba with the projecting...rope...weapon...
...Ohno tearing the bad guys apart with his bare hands...
And we all know what Sho is XD

PV previews have established the following facts:
Sho: Yatterman
Aiba: Otasukeman (Rescueman)
Jun: Zenderman
Nino: Yattodetaman
Ohno: Time Bokan

[Romanized names from Wikipedia]

( Zoom In Super 2009.01.29: Transcription )

OMG YOU GUYS I CAN'T WAIT.

P.S. TV PRODUCERS: If you made a real-live version of this PV and turned turned it into a weekly show, your ratings would go through the roof cross my heart and hope to die. Why? Because it's Arashi fighting for justice and vanquishing evil and they know how to wear dork costumes. =D

This just made my entire day.

Dear Nino,
I'm sure Ohno appreciates being told that his fly was open on national television, but that is not something you draw attention to while the camera is on you.
~Lots of Love, Liann

( I think Aiba's wardrobe malfunctions are starting to catch on )

Capspam and Mini-translations alert.

( SCP: More proof that Arashi's biggest fan is Arashi =) )

I have Believe stuck in my head, but I really should stop listening to it. If I listen to the radio rip too much, that's what my head is going to play for me instead of the shiny perfect CD version.

But it's just so addicting *sniff*

A late Christmas + New Year's Present to everyone ^____^

I hope everyone had a good one!~

...By the way, know what's one of the things I like best about Arashi? They like to address each other as "Name-san".

It's such a small thing, yet I think it speaks so highly of their attitude towards one another. When referring to each other in front of outsiders they always use nicknames, but just between themselves, they love adding "san".

It always feels to me like they're actually saying "I think you're an idiot, but I still respect you!!!"

They probably only go to all this trouble because of the cameras, but still, it sets them apart in my mind from all the other Johnny's groups who get by with the all-purpose "kun."


...The point being: if anyone wants to know why I kept all those "san's" in there, that's why. =DD

( Translations be here! )

I like my new layout so much I went around looking for something to post about. (Thank you very much to kimmyxfleur for the base codes!)

So I was looking for today's Shukudai-kun, and I found this instead.

Arashi on Heyx3 [2008.12.15]:

-------

Hamada: Who worked the hardest this year in Arashi?
Sho: This was mentioned before on Heyx3, but it's definitely our leader, Ohno.
Hamada: Really?
Nino: He had an exhibition, a stage-play, and a drama.
Jun: It was his first serial drama. And he was the lead.
Hamada: But even so, it's just that the rest of you didn't have dramas. Otherwise it'd be the same, right?
Jun: But it was his first time, you see.
Matsumoto: Except, he hasn't even said a single word so far.
Nino: We're sorry, please go ahead and say something.
Ohno: Well, I wanted to take it easier, actually.
Matsumoto: So say in one week, how many breaks would you want?
Ohno: In a week? Well, in that case, the whole week...
All: That long?
Matsumoto: In this world, we'd call that 'Unemployed'.


( Also, XXX Adventures at a Scrubbing Parlor in Shanghai... )

EDIT: Found Aatash's full translations over at Wingsonwords and fixed my mistakes! Thank goodness not too many this time ^^ Thanks, aatash!

Do the producers in Japanese TV have THAT much confidence in our Oh-chan? I fully approve, but I can't help thinking that the conversation must've gone something like this:

Casting Manager: We need a singing, dancing, children's TV host who can pull off pastel-striped troubadour outfits!
Producer: This calls for a Johnny's idol!
Casting Manager: I know! How about the one who--
Producer: How about Ohno Satoshi? =D
Casting Manager: You mean the one who won awards for playing a murderous lawyer in an angst-laden psycho-thriller drama?!?
Producer: Wasn't he AWESOME? =DD
Casting Manager: ...B-But-- C-Children's TV Host?
Producer: He has comic potential!
Casting Manager: ....
Producer: And he makes pastel-striped troubadour outfits look hot!
Casting Manager: Ohoho, well in thaaaat case >=} 

XD

... I'm looking forward to it immensely ~