Will you translate [insert manga here] for me?
Unless you can read my mind and say what I was thinking of doing next, no. Unless it's so insanely awesome that I will thank you for
the rest of my life for introducing it to me. Which is about 98% unlikely.
Will you translate [insert manga here] for my scanlations group?
See above.
I really appreciate the work you do, and I want to show that appreciation by giving something back. How can I help?
Several people have sent me questions like this over the years. I joke about giving Paypal donations and money orders, but in all seriousness, there is an even better way to help me out: sending me manga! I've gotten maybe 10 packages from friends and random people over the net so far, and let me tell you, nothing quite makes my day like a nice box of manga in the mail. Manga is more appreciated than ever, since my house burned down and I had to start my collection over again.
I try to keep my current bookshelf up-to-date on the site (see "List") so you can see what I've got. Some people have asked about what things I'd like, some have just sent me a bunch of their old manga that they have no use for. Anything is appreciated! E-mail me so we can discuss it, and I will be happy to give you my mailing address. Alternately, browse my Amazon wish list.
Can I use your translations for my scanlations?
If it's licensed/commercially available in English, no. Otherwise, maybe. Check with me.
Can I use your translations to translate into my native language (for scanlations)?
Uh, yeah, I guess. Assuming it's not readily available in your native language.
How does your format work? It makes no sense.
Yes it does.
<< appears before the name of the character speaking in a flashback.
Example: << Conan: You are thee killer!
Thoughts appear in {these things}.
Example: Conan: {Whaaa-?!}
Speech in foreign languages is written in <>.
Example: Ryusuke: < My hair is too long! >
Figments of imagination are preceded by **, unless the reader isn't supposed to know it's imagination and it isn't painfully obvious.
Example: **Iori: Are you having sexual fantasies of me again?
Okay, what the hell is this "Owari" "Kan" crap?
Good question. "Owari" means "end" and is typically what is written at the end of chapters in their respective magazines.
"Kan" also means "end" but is reserved for volumes, not chapters. I started writing them this way for one reason or another (I clearly forgot why) and I never bothered to change.
What's up with the names on your site? Are they backwards or what?
At present, my translations are about 50/50 Western/Japanese order. Originally, I wrote them all Japanese (Family, Given) order, but over time I've begun to prefer Western (Given, Family) order, and what order I use depends on when I started it, because I am loathe to change the order in the middle of something.
Will you explain honorific suffixes?
These can be very complex, and in order to fully understand them all you can do is know the language very well. But since you most likely do not understand Japanese (fluently), an explanation is certainly in order.
san - The most easily recognizable honorific. This is a simple, polite suffix which is used formally among equals, to superiors and those one is not fully acquainted with.
kun - More informal than san, kun is typically used on males. It's used on inferiors for the most part, although in schools one's male classmates are referred to with kun. When used on females, it carries a very patriarchal, older tone; this almost always occurs in the workplace (boss to female secretary, OL, etc).
chan - The "cutest" of all terms, it is extremely informal and intimate. Much better suited on girls than boys, and very often used on children.
sama - Used for lords, gods, and the exalted in general. Naturally, it shows a great deal of respect, although you certainly don't want to use it to your bosses, for example, as it's too honorary for that. You may often see this used by creepy fangirlz on their favorite visual-kei J-rockstars.
dono - An archaic term that is not used very much in modern times. It is formal and respectful, but typically used on officials (i.e. Kogorou speaking to the police inspector Megure). Read or watch something set centuries ago and this will pop up quite a bit. Much more of a "male" thing than just san.
senpai - A term for superiors within one's own "class", if you will, but it exudes a sense of camaraderie as well. You will probably see this used on upperclassmen in school the majority of the time, but you can also see it in workplace used on upon people in the same position with more seniority. Calling someone your senpai generally shows that you acknowledge their seniority and look up to them as well, and in a way seems more informal than san. Often romanized as "sempai".
Why don't the lines in your text files end at the edge of the screen?
Because my desktop resolution is 1600 x 1200, and if yours is smaller, some lines are going to extend past the length of the screen. First of all, I'm not going to change my resolution. I find that at this resolution, I can almost always keep one bubble of dialogue or thought within the length of one line, although occasionally they will go over. If it's such a bother to you, you can always try loading the files in a text editor and wrapping the lines.
I want to discuss a manga/ask for recommendations/critique you/point out a mistake/flame you/thank you/say hello. Can I do that?
Sure. Just make sure you put something in the title that makes it clear this is about my webpage because i get plenty of spam and you know how devious those spam emails can be nowadays.