As manga is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Japan, i've been wondering why there is such low or a perception of low ratio of translators for Japanese to English. Are there actually a lot but they're all with groups already? Cleaners/scanners/proofers/typesetters are skills which can be picked up by pretty much anyone within a fairly short time in relation to the time to be fluent in Japanese, chinese, or any other eastern language...or maybe they are working on animes instead (which btw, does anyone know if Anime is more popular than Manga over there)?

Dunno but i think ppl who translate manga from japanese to english they are doing it mostly free and gain no real profit (only donates from ppl) and since they can read the original version. Should be happy there is atleast this much teams who translate manga and anime ^^

That's a good question, I would like to know the answer myself.
Translating a manga requires not so much time...so why not?
Maybe, because:
- people, who were learning japanese/chinese, don't have confidence in their abilities so they don't apply for this job
- they're afraid of consequences in the future
- why would they bother about the others, when they can read raw scans?
- translating anime is easier?

I think anime might be more popular, at least in Europe. I'll try to check it.


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Still the bad cop.

I'm not complaining, just wondering

firs point:
"translating a manga requires not so much time"- not true especially if it's any worthwhile manga that doesn't have furigana . Checking up kanji takes time. Also think about it they sit at the pc all the time typing into a text editor.. it's less tedious than editing but isprobably more boring too.

also lots of people who are learning sign up to help translate so they can practice and improve their skills.

the risk of getting in trouble for translating a manga is soo damn small it's negligible. Once a translator even asked to use a fake nickname cause he "didn't want to be found out by his peers"

why would they bother? .. indeed.. let's hope they don't all think like that or we're screwed. ^^ Hurrah for the selfless translators :X also a lot of them have their own reasons such as practice etc. also they may not be able to read chinese korean etc so they need scans too so feel inclined to help .. also it's fun.

Aye finally you got one ^^ yes quiet a large number of the translators are in anime.. some just because they can't read japanese .. some because the rewards are greater .. or because it's more popular who knows... if only we could gt them to sign on and do some more seinen well what's popular seems to rule with the translators... but the downside is what's popular isn't necessarily good :/ Translators should pick their projects more wisely imho and not be so swayed by popularity.

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~~~the world it is a dyin'~~ so let's just enjoy the view~~~

*cough* Naruto*cough*
*cough* Bleach*cough*


I was going to comment about the translation being quick but I think for a japanese person to translate compared to an non-japanese person (who has picked it up as a secondary or more language) translating, it would be pretty quick.

It's about the quantity. One or two chapters for a month and noone should have a problem with time, even with a crazy job and taking care of 20 pets. And they don't have to sit at the pc. If the translation requires from them some time to think, they can always print it out and do notes anywhere they want, then type it into a text editor later.
Tell that to them...
And they would also have to pass the tests, that scanlation groups are usually preparing for them. How are they supposed to pass them, when the practice you're talking about is still ahead of them?
It depends on the country. In my country, few months ago, 6 or 7 young guys were sent to jail because of translating movies subtitles. And it's only an example...
Hurray...but we're screwed anyway.
Latest Bleach chapter was released by 7 groups... everyone would appreciate a new series instead of 7 releases of the same one...

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Still the bad cop.

True, but you can't tell people what series to enjoy and not. I would hate to translate/clean/proof or work on anything that I didn't enjoy doing. I guess despite the multiple groups doing the same chapter, most don't care if it's done as they enjoy the work and the series. Maybe if there were better series out there that appealed to them they would start to diverse from the popular but not that great materials.

And that's sad...there's a lot of series worth translating.
Maybe it's also caused by the problems with acquiring raw scans for some of them?
Yay, and Naruto is released by 10 groups...

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Still the bad cop.

i think its just the "too troublesome" attitude.
editors and such who dont understand japanese, do their work for the community, yes, but for themselves as well.
translators can just read the raws, and dont need the help of scanlation groups...

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the best security guard, EVER.

i translate and am learning japanese at the same time so here are most of the answers (since no is talking to a REAL translator)
it takes me from 1-12 hours to do a chapter depending on kanji, how much talking and familiar vocab. if i know most of then then 1 hour at least. (because i have to write it all down) if i dont know much of what is going on then 12 hours to get myself straight and write it all down. just saying manga or anime both takes time


hello i am one person who does this. you are just talking about someone with ALMOST no experience such as a first year.


yes i am terrified to find out that i cant work translating or doing anything in japan because japan doesnt like people doing these kinds of things so that is why i have a nickname online and dont go around telling people who i am.


we want people to think that we are decent in japanese. someone knowing that we can do it, so we should. that will get some of us to help groups. with people like you who say we are screwd because of us translators who are scared, we dont want to work with you!!!!!!! BE KIND TO US!!!!!

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本当のラクダ

"The point is that good deeds were done and we were nearby" - the idiotic Red Mage

Thanks for the truth straight from the translators mouth any other translators out there, or non translators maybe? BTW, would or rather could someone be arrested for translating stuff... scanning manga and uploading it, sure, but translating is sort of a different thing...

oh and don't mind, Indreju, the bully he's not saying you lot are screwed but us...if that's any consolation. heh. We could never hate you guys/girls since you lot are why we are here ^_^

Last edited by reanimated838uk at 8:17 am, Oct 16 2007

nice post hontou rakuda ;) ok well i run a group so i guess i am in some position to comment as well :

Indreju: once again translating manga isn't easy and takes time ( especially the better mangas)

also yes there are tests but for instance my groups test has 3 levels easy medium and hard... depending on how they do we can determine what manga they can do at a fair pace while at the same time not being too easy since a lot of them want a challenge so thay can improve. I have one translator that is improving pretty quickly and translating some hard kanjis pretty quickly now.. though it still takes time.

no indreju we're not screwed.. there are good translators out there left though small in number that pick projects that have substance rather than the popular ones.. unfortunately they're in limited supply ;) also one other things lots of translaotrs don't stick around much and lots of translators apply and then never reply again lol what a bunch of fakers ;) Translators should think about how annoying it is to have to deal with all that flip flop. If only translaotrs were as commited as editors scanlation output might double even
oh noes the werewolf got me go play mafia on irchighway via #null see you there lulz~~

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~~~the world it is a dyin'~~ so let's just enjoy the view~~~

he~ supply and demand, takes me back to economy class how about I add a Unemployment vs Average real wage diagram? When real wage rate = 0 number of workers = 0 simple enough? Basicaly when no one get's paid for what they do the number of workers (subbers) won't waste energy trying to please ungrateful consumers

Er then that theory would prove to be incorrect right at this very moment, as we have 1000's of subbers/scanlators doing exactly that for nothing. Those currently doing it do it for non-monetary reasons such as: self-development, respect, esteem, and other factors that might not have been considered, but what this thread is also about is why non subbers/scanlators consider scanlating an area not worth investing time/energy in (i.e lack of time - working multiple jobs may have an effect, laws, ...).