Inuyasha - Translation Notes

INUYASHA: SENGOKU O-TOGI ZOUSHI:
TRANSLATION & READING NOTES

READING THE MANGA

The manga is scanned as it appears in the Japanese publication "Shonen Sunday.
That is, it's read from right to left. I generally keep the words in the same
places as they appear in the original.

PARDON MY JAPANESE...

First of all, obviously I'm not a professional translator. I've studied Japanese
and translate this for my own enjoyment, so I just don't forget what I've learned.
(Not that manga is a very good way of "studying the Japanese language" so to
speak, it's fun to read...) That and I like continuing to read and learn more about
the Japanese culture and language.

Anyway, I do take a few minor liberties in translating. I try to keep things as literal
as possible while still trying to flow in natural English (ie. not quite "bookish")
and build on character personalities. There are swear words where the language becomes
so in the original Japanese version. I also find mistranlations and errors in my
translating here and there. Plus there's almost always lines that bowl me over
in regards to what they really mean...

This isn't perfect, but hopefully passable.

~ MS

CHAPTER 400 GLOSSARY & NOTES

Please refer to the Inuyasha General Glossary for recurring words that remain untranslated.

HAPPY 400 CHAPTERS, INUYASHA!!

"MEIOUJUU" - (title, throughout chapter) "Meioujuu" is the name of that turtle-like youkai. Its name literally breaks down into "Dark-King Beast." Looking up the kanji and more information for "Meiou-juu," I also found that "Meiou-sei" (Dark-King Star) is the name for Pluto, and that "meiou" is often associated with the underworld.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY HERE- (page 7) When the villager says "That's just what they say here," (sore ni koko dake no hanashi da...) it's translated literally. In practice, I've actually heard this phrase used to mean, "That's just between you and me."

IN THAT YOUKAI BODY THAT IS ONLY HUMAN - (page 16) I believe that the terms the meioujuu uses here, "youkai no mi de ningen ni kumishi," it's implication is that although Inuyasha's body "looks youkai," the meioujuu is saying he's in the class of humans. Meaning, "an inferior class" or something along those lines. Had to mess with that line a lot to get it to make sense...

RAIMEIHOU! - (page 17) Hey look! I'm badass and scream out attack names, too!! Apparently the meioujuu is special enough to that his attacks get named. ;) Anyhow, raimeihou breaks down into "Thunder," "Dark," and "Spore/Sack." I'd go with something like, "Electro-Static Zappy Clods!!" BbBZzZZZtTTTTt!!!!

CHAPTER 400 MESSAGE FROM TAKAHASHI - Published along with the chapter was a one-page insert regarding the success of the Inuyasha series worldwide. Alone with it, came a message from Takahashi.

Original message: Mina-sama no ouen no okage de, 400-kai o mukaeru koto ga dekimashita. Ki ga tsukeba ichi-ban nagai rensai desu ga, mada mada kakanakereba naranai episoddo ga takusan arimasu. Toriaezu rensai 500-kai mezashite ganbarimasu!

Translation: Because of everyone's support, I've reached the 400th chapter. Noticeably, this is my longest series but, there are still a number of episodes needing to be drawn. So for now, I'll keep my eyes set on the 500th chapter!

And on to the next chapter!!

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