I think it's fine to disagree with translation choices but accusing someone of deliberate mistranslation because of a couple word choices is pretty rude imo.

I agree that choices have to be made when it's inevitable. But sorry, in my book, replacing 彼 (him) by "this person" is not merely a word choice, but deliberately misrepresenting the thoughts of the character to fit a headcanon.

I think it's fine to disagree with translation choices but accusing someone of deliberate mistranslation because of a couple word choices is pretty rude imo.

I agree that choices have to be made when it's inevitable. But sorry, in my book, replacing 彼 (him) by "this person" is not merely a word choice, but deliberately misrepresenting the thoughts of the character to fit a headcanon.

It's not the translation I would've done, but there are reasons to do it beyond "deliberate misrepresentation." Pronouns carry a different weight in Japanese than in English, especially in the context of trans issues which are discussed pretty differently in Japan vs the West. I can see an argument that translating 彼 as "him" in this context would suggest the story is taking a deliberate stance on Homare's gender identity when it definitely isn't, hence the gender-neutral translation is more appropriate. Again, it's not the choice I would've made since I think the word only expresses Kaname's subjective viewpoint, but my point is just that something like this is plausible motivation. Hence why I think you shouldn't publicly speculate on the translator's motivations and instead just express your disagreement with the word choice itself.

Your sarcasm is noted and your point accepted. I was talking a big game about leaving room for nuance and not making definitive black/white interpretation there and I immediately undermined my own point with some hypocrisy.

that's refreshing to see, thank you for willing to admit this.

I will add also that I'm more than aware that there are plenty of people feigning tolerance shouting "let people be GNC!!!" out there with a glaringly vile undertone (that GNC is all anyone can ever be, while all can only be cis). I certainly hope that I'm not coming across as that. I frequently hc characters as various shades of trans or GNC, most likely both. I just really don't like it when people aggressively and rudely push their own hc as if it's the indisputable canon and worse yet the only allowed interpretation.

that and also I don't think translators should modify meaning out of preference, even though I didn't mind it at all while I read it. namely "she" & "this person" when addressing Homare.

Hence why I think you shouldn't publicly speculate on the translator's motivations and instead just express your disagreement with the word choice itself.

I more or less discussed with Skye in Discord (though I think they blocked me at some point) and I think I remember it was deliberate on their part to put in their translations the pronouns as they think they should be, whether they're in the text or not. It's a choice I can't agree with because it changes significantly the mindset of the characters.

(though I think she blocked me at some point)

Can't imagine why.

(though I think she blocked me at some point)

Can't imagine why.

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.

Hence why I think you shouldn't publicly speculate on the translator's motivations and instead just express your disagreement with the word choice itself.

I more or less discussed with Skye in Discord (though I think they blocked me at some point) and I think I remember it was deliberate on their part to put in their translations the pronouns as they think they should be, whether they're in the text or not. It's a choice I can't agree with because it changes significantly the mindset of the characters.

I mean, all translations are "what we think they should be." In order to give off what we believe to be the same feeling as the original, we often have to make changes that are subjective and open to criticism. That criticism is fine, what I'm objecting to is you asserting the motivations of someone based on a half-remembered Discord conversation. (I also disagree that this significantly changed the mindset of the characters, but that's neither here nor there.) It would've been sufficient simply to register your disagreement with the translation.

Edit:

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.

Her listed pronouns on Discord are she/her. Don't be a jerk.

last edited at Sep 9, 2026 3:07PM

(though I think she blocked me at some point)

Can't imagine why.

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.

https://www.tumblr.com/skyekurisu/741505853135470592/hi-im-a-mexican-trans-woman-who-lost-her-job-and
in the page are two links:
https://ko-fi.com/kurisutranslates
https://mangadex.org/group/cd2dec68-2dee-4b2f-aa6f-234f51f8e9e4/elpsykongroo

(though I think she blocked me at some point)

Can't imagine why.

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.

Literally in her discord bio. You argued with her enough to get blocked and you never checked?

I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

I get the impression you think I want to deny the transness of the character. It's not the case at all. I agree Homare reads are trans, it's pretty obvious.

My stance is only about the translation and how a translator shouldn't force the issue of gender by twisting the translation, when in Japanese it's something completely avoided. It adds text where there's none and spoonfeeds the readers with a pre-made opinion.

Anyway, I think I've said enough about the topic, because I'm starting to repeat myself.

I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

I'll be blunt: saying this about an actual real-life trans woman is pretty fucked up.

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.
[various pointers on Skye's gender & she/her pronouns]
I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

not a great combo tbh.

nevertheless, thank you for pointing out the translation stuff. I suppose it's unlikely to change now if you already had a discussion and got blocked over it, but I too am starting to, uh, wonder if it's just intense creative differences. at the end of the day I'm still gonna keep reading kurisu's scanlations probalby. I'll just do it with the added knowledge that there might be little flourishes & a lens added that makes for a more trans-coded reading.

I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

I'll be blunt: saying this about an actual real-life trans woman is pretty fucked up.

I don't see your point. I think it's irrelevant to a conversation about translation.

I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

I'll be blunt: saying this about an actual real-life trans woman is pretty fucked up.

I don't see your point. I think it's irrelevant to a conversation about translation.

First of all, Skye being a trans woman (and you not being one) is actually relevant to a discussion on how to translate trans-adjacent manga.

Second, and more importantly, you're the one who made the "Did you just assume Skye's gender?" joke, and you're the one who doubled down on refusing to call her a woman instead of simply saying "Okay, got it" and moving on. If someone here made her gender a discussion point, it was you.

I don't see your point. I think it's irrelevant to a conversation about translation.

Obviously it's irrelevant about the translation, that's not the point. You may not care, but for people who are constantly denied/stripped of their identity, choosing to continue using they when you know it's she is a choice and a bad one.

I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

I'll be blunt: saying this about an actual real-life trans woman is pretty fucked up.

I don't see your point. I think it's irrelevant to a conversation about translation.

You're demonstrating a very strong bias against gendering transgender women as women. I think that is very relevant to a discussion about pronouns on gender ambiguous characters in translation

I'm only interested in translation. Whether they're a he/she/they/it is irrelevant.

I'll be blunt: saying this about an actual real-life trans woman is pretty fucked up.

I don't see your point. I think it's irrelevant to a conversation about translation.

You're demonstrating a very strong bias against gendering transgender women as women. I think that is very relevant to a discussion about pronouns on gender ambiguous characters in translation

Sure, let's throw around accusations of transphobia because I want to be faithful to the Japanese text. Guess the Japanese language is transphobic too, since it can avoid pronouns entirely. How dare they.

I have no issues gendering trans women as women if they're explcitely trans women in the story.

Unfortunately, it's not the type of manga I translate. I'm more into toxic yuri.

I frustrates me a lot - even though I should know better - when we get stuff like this, stuff that really just boils down to "draw a trans girl, call her a boy", from mangaka in {Current Year}. There have been explicit, unambiguous transgender characters in mainstream series going back decades! From big name stuff like One Piece to niche stuff like Boys Run the Riot, to older stuff from the 20th Century like F.Compo or Stop!! Hibari-kun. The excuses get more and more thin each year.

The character depicted here certainly reads as trans-coded to me. Reacting so strongly as to cry while looking in a mirror... it's hard for me to read it as anything else, even knowing the author probably didn't intend it.

Sure, let's throw around accusations of transphobia because I want to be faithful to the Japanese text. Guess the Japanese language is transphobic too, since it can avoid pronouns entirely. How dare they.

Kirin-kun, you're not getting these accusations because of your position on manga translation but because you are actively refusing to call a real-life trans woman a woman. For the record I believe you're motivated more by stubbornness and a personal antipathy than bigotry per se, but the result is the same.

Sure, let's throw around accusations of transphobia because I want to be faithful to the Japanese text. Guess the Japanese language is transphobic too, since it can avoid pronouns entirely. How dare they.

Kirin-kun, you're not getting these accusations because of your position on manga translation but because you are actively refusing to call a real-life trans woman a woman. For the record I believe you're motivated more by stubbornness and a personal antipathy than bigotry per se, but the result is the same.

But I didn't even know she was a trans woman! I don't spend my time scrutating people's profile to make sure of their prefered pronouns. If I'm unsure, I use "they" and then someone proceeded to change my words to "she", with no explanation. Anyway, I'm tired of defending myself from imaginary offenses. And I really think that whether the translator is a woman or has opinions and experience about trans gender issues shouldn't skew a translation a way or another.

(though I think she blocked me at some point)

Can't imagine why.

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.

You ain't subtle. Using the fucking transphobic meme here says a fucking lot considering the context of the rest of what you've been saying. Just be honest with us instead of trying to be fucking coy.

last edited at Sep 9, 2026 5:11PM by

Changing the text in translation like that seems pretty terrible to me, actually, not "well, just translator choice".

But I didn't even know she was a trans woman! I don't spend my time scrutating people's profile to make sure of their prefered pronouns. If I'm unsure, I use "they" and then someone proceeded to change my words to "she", with no explanation.

I understand. But when multiple people pointed out that she is indeed a woman, instead of accepting that and moving on, you lashed back. I'm glad you are recognizing it in this post though, so I won't say anything further.

And I really think that whether the translator is a woman or has opinions and experience about trans gender issues shouldn't skew a translation a way or another.

Everyone's life experiences impact how they translate.

Edit:

Changing the text in translation like that seems pretty terrible to me, actually, not "well, just translator choice".

It was one word. Like I said, I would've translated it differently, but words get changed all the time in a translation for all sorts of reasons. It's extremely common.

last edited at Sep 9, 2026 5:25PM

Lariria posted:

(though I think she blocked me at some point)

Can't imagine why.

Bold of you to assume Skye's gender.

You ain't subtle. Using the fucking transphobic meme here says a fucking lot considering the context of the rest of what you've been saying. Just be honest with us instead of trying to be fucking coy.

Tbh, I myself didn't know what meme you're talking about before looking it up.

"Bold of you to assume " is a pretty common expression and no one is obligated to know it was part of a transphobic dank meme decades ago.

Also, please, be respectful. No need to be rude and use the F word. It just make you sound immature.

Are you 12????? Getting mad about adults using curse words in 2026?????

This is just baffling me!

last edited at Sep 9, 2026 5:28PM by