I thought it was probably a good idea to make a blog page about fansubbing, specifically about the projects I am involved with. There may be links added to older shows that I worked on. Maybe... But the main focus will be for current projects.
But first, some random facts and some history:
( Skip this part if you wish, as it's just rambling anyway, right? )
I've been working on and off in fansubbing for a few years. The first project I worked on was with Iryu 2, as a part of B.O.N. Funsubs. We released a few series during my tenure with them and I had a lot of fun and learned a lot! In addition to B.O.N. I also worked with some other great folks in the community on some side projects. Again, some fun and good experience.
But eventually, my part with B.O.N. came to an end. No bad feelings or scandals or anything remotely negative. Everyone was always great. We just move on with life and it was time for a change. One of my collaborators at B.O.N., jade_frost and I wanted to work on projects we had a strong passion for. Although some series such as Ii Hito, Koi no Chikara, and Pandora I fell under this category, it was not until Gonzo - Densetsu no Keiji did we officially strike out on our own. We released a few more series, but we felt that good, quality shows that we were interested in subbing were fewer and far between.
Our last project to date was Marks no Yama. We both have jobs and have less and less time to dedicate to subbing dramas. Also, the last couple of series we did really took a lot out of us and took longer than normal to complete. It seemed it was time to take a break. It may seem like we've disappeared into hiding but that is not the case. Jade_frost and I still are keeping our eyes open for new interesting projects, and if one comes along, we are poised to jump back into the fray!
Even though I had some reservations about the amount of time I could dedicate to this hobby once again, I must admit that the itch to work on another drama project was getting the best of me again. So what to do about it?
Meanwhile, I found a new translation partner, Machi, who is a native Japanese speaker. ( Most translators in the jdorama world are not native speakers ). Like many Japanese, she has spent many years studying English. Her years of hard work and practice has really paid off. She is not 100 percent fluent but she is very good. But since she doesn't speak English on a daily basis, her skills can only improve so much. One day, I introduced the idea of trying to give some English translation a go. She was game to tackle a new challenge, and so here we are!
The next logical question was what to work on. As mentioned before, most current Jdorama don't have much appeal. There are also more translators and fansubbers that are interested in doing the current shows. But the older shows that have not been subbed are always there waiting to be tapped. The problem is always finding the raw files to work on. I went through my archive of shows and we decided to give Furuhata Ninzaburo Season 1 a try.
For those unfamiliar, Furuhata Ninzaburo is a very famous show that originally aired some 15 or so years ago. I saw some of them when they originally aired in Japan, long before the availability of shows online. ( Yup, that means going to the Japanese rental shop to watch it on VHS. Yes, VHS!!!) It's a keiji or detective drama starring Tamura Masakazu, as the title character. He plays a police detective that has been compared to Columbo. Yes, it is basically a Japanese version of that famous show. His mannerisms and way he interacts with the criminals is very similar.
As with most keiji dorama, each episode is an individual case. There are 3 seasons, but season is really a loose designation. It is not necessary to watch them all or even sequentially. Each episode stands on its own. Also, each episode stars a different guest star. Many famous geinoujin, or celebrities have appeared in the series.
Watching the shows, especially Season 1 has a very distinct, older feel to it. These are from the so-called "Golden Age" of Japanese dorama, after all. The hairstyles, the fashions, it all seems a bit dated. But I wouldn't let that dissuade anyone from giving the show a try. It's really a fun show, I think. The cases may or may not be so clever. That will be for each viewer to determine. But the subtle details are what makes it interesting, I think.
Lastly, Machi and I will do our best to combine our skills and knowledge to present Furuhata Ninzaburo in the highest quality possible, for a show that surely deserves it! But be forewarned, subbing shows from one language to another is not easy work. Even though we are both 100 percent Japanese, and each of us is a native speaker; one in English, the other in Japanese, it will take time. We are working from scratch. There's no Japanese script, no pre-timed files. ( This is actually the preferred method for fansubbing for us ). We have to watch and listen carefully to every line, every word. And of course, this is not our job. We don't get paid so other things will take priority from time to time. Please be patient.
That's all for now. I will try to post updates and release completed subs in a timely manner.
So sit back and enjoy Furuhata Ninzaburo!
Have you got the subtitles for the 1st season special?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for making these subtitles, Kazuya. I absolutely loved this series. And your subtitle is perfect!
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