03/30/08: Toshi blames Fansub and Scanlation
Toshifumi Yoshida, usually called Toshi by American anime fans, is a former VIZ member. He translated and produced many anime series. After leaving from VIZ in 2004, he is working in the anime industry as a manga and anime translator of Negina, Buso Renkin and Eureka Seven, etc, and an interpreter. As for Rumiko Takahashi works, he is a translator of Ranma 1/2, producer for Ranma 1/2 English TV series, and dubbing producer for InuYasha English TV series. When Takahashi visited the US in 2000, he acted as her interpreter.
He is now visiting Japan for Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008. He is working in a booth that OTAKON 2008 demonstrates.
On March 28, an article related to Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008 appears on a Japanese news website. This article is composed mainly of his interview. It is surprising to the Webmaster because of two reasons. The first is that he is not known in Japan as described below. As far as the Webmaster knows, it is the first time that his interview is reported in Japanese. The second is that he blames fansubs and scanlations.
The Webmaster translated a part of the article:
Since 1990's, Toshi attends anime conventions held in the US frequently, talks with anime fans friendly, and informs them of latest information. So, he is very famous among old anime fans, especially Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha fans, and they have a good feeling toward him. Considering that many non-English-speaking Takahashi fans also read and watch English-translated manga and anime, his contribution to the anime and manga fandom is immeasurable. The Webmaster believes that he deserves the greatest fan, not only a great man.
But his name or achievement is not known at all in Japan despite the fact that interests in the popularity of anime and manga in the US is very strong. To be honest, this article tells the Webmaster the kanji of his full name for the first time (of course, the webmaster has known his alphabetical full name). It means that his full name was never written in Japanese magazines, newspapers or books. Therefore, it is natural that he is introduced as just an interpreter for Otakon in this article. This atmosphere is very strange. The Webmaster feels that Both he and VIZ suppress his achievement consciously.
His condemnation against fansubs, scanlations and their makers is reasonable from the standpoint of his current position, a manga and anime translator. Considering that Yuka Okada, the writer of this article, is unfamiliar with the American anime fandom, there is a possibility that she misinterpreted what he said. But the webmaster has no doubt that he can no longer welcome "advanced" enthusiastic Takahashi fans unlike he did in the good old days.
He is now visiting Japan for Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008. He is working in a booth that OTAKON 2008 demonstrates.
On March 28, an article related to Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008 appears on a Japanese news website. This article is composed mainly of his interview. It is surprising to the Webmaster because of two reasons. The first is that he is not known in Japan as described below. As far as the Webmaster knows, it is the first time that his interview is reported in Japanese. The second is that he blames fansubs and scanlations.
The Webmaster translated a part of the article:
Fansub diminishes anime DVD sale
How American people watch a raw anime? Before the appearance of the Internet, there is no way but watching ones with VHS or DVD. But P2P and Youtube changed that situation.
- One day after an anime episode is broadcast in Japan, a movie file added subtitles (called fansub) is distributed through P2P networks, and then, it is uploaded to video sharing websites such as Youtube. As a result, the anime DVD sale is dropping down - Mr. Yoshida, having an experience in a marketing of anime DVDs, explains. "In the past, a VHS tape containing two episodes could sell at 30 USD. But now, a DVD can't sell unless five episodes and less than 20 USD."
He says that pirated manga books are also being distributed through the net. Japanese manga scan pictures are available to the public in the net with their speech balloons transcribed into English translation. The scan pictures are called Scanlation, derived from Scan + Translation. Scanlations of pupular manga series appear in a week. "It is said that it's fans who make fansubs and scanlations. But the both are harming licensees' legal business. I am wondering if they reserve fans? I think they are just stealing manga." Mr. Yoshida is angry.
Since 1990's, Toshi attends anime conventions held in the US frequently, talks with anime fans friendly, and informs them of latest information. So, he is very famous among old anime fans, especially Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha fans, and they have a good feeling toward him. Considering that many non-English-speaking Takahashi fans also read and watch English-translated manga and anime, his contribution to the anime and manga fandom is immeasurable. The Webmaster believes that he deserves the greatest fan, not only a great man.
But his name or achievement is not known at all in Japan despite the fact that interests in the popularity of anime and manga in the US is very strong. To be honest, this article tells the Webmaster the kanji of his full name for the first time (of course, the webmaster has known his alphabetical full name). It means that his full name was never written in Japanese magazines, newspapers or books. Therefore, it is natural that he is introduced as just an interpreter for Otakon in this article. This atmosphere is very strange. The Webmaster feels that Both he and VIZ suppress his achievement consciously.
His condemnation against fansubs, scanlations and their makers is reasonable from the standpoint of his current position, a manga and anime translator. Considering that Yuka Okada, the writer of this article, is unfamiliar with the American anime fandom, there is a possibility that she misinterpreted what he said. But the webmaster has no doubt that he can no longer welcome "advanced" enthusiastic Takahashi fans unlike he did in the good old days.
03/30/08: Preview of Manga Chapter 548
From InuYasha dot jp (spoiler):
Coming soon...
01/31/08: Preview of Manga Chapter 540
From InuYasha dot jp (spoiler):
01/31/08: Chapter 539 "Toraeru" (Capture)
Coming soon...
01/29/08: Preview of Manga Chapter 539
From InuYasha dot jp (spoiler):
Coming soon...
01/19/08: Preview of Manga Chapter 538
From InuYasha dot jp (spoiler):
11/13/07: Chapter 530 "Sotsugyō" (Graduation)
Shogakukan publishes InuYasha Manga Volume 51 Japanese edition on October 18, 2007. It contains chapters 499 - 508.
ISBN: 978-4-09-121198-9
Price: 390 yen (3.20 dollars)
