barbosa2007 | 2009 in translation

I thought I would keep tabs on the number of translations I’ve done as part of a review for this year.

In 2009, I translated:

- two Aiba Masaki interviews
- two Matsumoto Jun interviews
- eight Ninomiya Kazunari interviews
- three Ohno Satoshi interviews
- three Sakurai Sho interviews
- five Arashi group interviews
- one Yamapi/Toma interview
- one Oguri/Matsumoto interview

Which brings me to a total of 25 interviews over the past year, with about three of them unfinished.

Individual interviews

Aiba Masaki – MORE Oct 2009; DUET Dec 09;
Matsumoto Jun – MORE Oct 2009; DUET Dec 09;
Ninomiya Kazunari – MORE Feb 2010; H 2010; MORE Oct 2009; MORE Jan 2010; Brutus Dec 2009; DUET Dec 09; MORE Dec 2008; MORE beginnings;
Ohno Satoshi – TV Fan 2010; MORE Oct 2009; DUET Dec 09;
Sakurai Sho – TV Fan 2010; MORE Oct 2009; DUET Dec 09;

Group interviews

Arashi - TV Japan; MORE Oct 2009; CAM CAM 2009; DUET Dec 2009; Pia A to Z
Yamapi & Toma – PINKY Jan 2010;
Oguri Shun & Matsumoto Jun – Monthly TV 2009;

Favorite individual interview – MORE: Beginnings by Ninomiya Kazunari

This is probably my very first translation of an Arashi magazine interview, thanks to scans which I found on the net. It has a special place in my list of translations because this one, like its title suggests, got the ball rolling. It was my first time reading about Nino’s views on different issues like acting, writing and relationships and getting into his head through the Japanese language was an interesting experience. The kanji was manageable too.

Favorite group interview – MORE Oct 2009: The Scenery as seen by Arashi

The article contained the right mix of seriousness and silly moments that characterises the boys. In addition, the interviewer managed to elicit genuine and heartfelt responses from the members which did not seem contrived. The last paragraph, an incidental observation on the part of the author, summed up the phenomenon that is Arashi perfectly.

Most difficult translation – H Arashi Now and Forever, Nino interview

Honestly, this has got to be the most difficult interview I’ve had to translate. The sentences were long and complicated (about 4-5 lines per sentence) and I didn’t get what the interviewer was trying to ask the boys. Nonetheless, I did get part of Nino’s interview out and will strive to work on the rest.

Memorable quotes
“Previously, [Nino] used to wear trunks…” “with Doraemon prints”
– Jun and Aiba, DUET Dec
“Virtually all the underwear I own are gifts. (sweet smile)”
– Ohno, DUET Dec
“[Jun] has grown to possess a great body!”
– Sho, DUET Dec
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
– Nino, MORE
“For many in the world, altruism can be used for selfish purposes.”
– Nino, MORE
“I still think that if you face life with a smile, somehow, something good will happen.”
– Aiba, MORE
“I thought it was absolute craziness if we kept at that frantic pace, so Nino and I devised an escape plan!”
– Ohno MORE
“Although there’s this uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next, we’re all in this together, so we’ve got no choice but to enjoy the ride.” – Sho, MORE

Overall

I was quite satisfied with the volume of translations I dished out in the second half of the year. I would have liked to challenge subbing videos if it weren't for my lousy hearing ability. (I work so much better with written interviews.) Some of the translations could use a lot of fine-tuning, but I'm generally content with about 70% of my work.

THANK YOU to all my readers who left a comment and the polite people who asked if they could use my translations. Your comments have been greatly appreciated. I'm sorry if I haven't been able to embark on the projects which some people asked for due to restrictions in my fluency of the language.