#sora and riku calling each other aitsu is kinda... interesting

[mythicalartistx]

KH Japanese Translations Part 5

Series where I discuss fantranslations I've seen of various scenes

< Part 4 > The other parts can be found under Part 4

Haven't done one of these in a few months 😅

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In DDD, Riku talks with Quasimodo about appearances and says this,

The Japanese text:

"People can't be only judged by appearance. I have a friend who saw through my heart."

*He using the term kokoro for heart here*

English: "Trust me looks can be deceiving. A good friend sees you who you are no matter what face you wear."

The line about the heart is taken out completely. They both basically have the same meaning, but the original shows people judge you by things more than just how you look and your actions. Sora saw through his heart and saw who he was despite having Ansem's face.

The English version just simplifies it instead. He states looks are deceiving and a good friend sees for who you are. They have the same meaning but one refers to the heart and more about other things to judge someone on.

At the ending of DDD after Riku returns from Sora's heart he sees Sora eating cake. Sora rushes over to hug him and Riku asks multiple things, I'm going to point out one of the specific things I thought were interesting.

JPN: Why are you having a party without me?

ENG: And why are you having a party?

I think it's kinda funny how normally he is sadden that he got left out.

In Monstro during DDD, Riku is asked if he has someone like Jiminy. He responds with this:

JPN: It seems like he's always smiling. Aitsu teaches me all sorts of things.

Now if you remember the other translation reviews I made or just know about the word in general, Aitsu means someone and can be in a romantic sense. However, it is considered rude if you refer a girl this way and often it is towards a guy. And he obviously referring to Riku as he says he and is referring to Sora.

Eng: That stupid grin he's always wearing— he's the best teacher I could ever have.

The only difference is that the English has a more teasing or playful tone when he refers to his grin as stupid, but still refers to Sora as the best teacher.

Then when Sora is in Traverse Town and is talking to Joshua he says,

JPN: That's okay! Even if we can't see each other, I'm always connected to Riku with my heart.

English: Don't worry he's with me— even when it might seem like he's not.

This is like way off 😭. Maybe it was just too gay for them to do it correctly?? Censorship I swear 😭. They both have the initial meaning of oh we're connected wherever we are. But the JPN says with my heart and it just shows how Sora connects with his heart to Riku's.

In DDD at the end of Sora's story he encounters Xigbar who taunts him and he says this.

JPN: "It's only because your heart is connected to others that you're able to wield that power. You're not a true Keyblade wielder."

"It's fine that my power comes from everyone's hearts." Sora responds.

ENG:

"You're strong because of the ties you have with other people. As if the Keyblade would choose a wimp like you"

"I'm proud to be part of something bigger— the people it did choose. My friends they are my power."

In Xigbar JPN line it shows more about the connection between hearts. And tells him he's not a true Keyblade wielder. I noticed a lot of the lines about connections of the heart get erased within translation. And in the English he taunts Sora and calls him weak. I wonder if there is a catchphrase that Xigbar says in the Japanese or this ft just didn't have it??

Now with Sora line I'm not exactly sure which part is which but I'm pretty sure it's his catchphrase. But it's interesting since in the English he just says his friends are his power which seemingly has the same meaning as the JPN. Except if you think about their hearts giving him power then when everyone lost their hearts it makes sense why he felt powerless.

Riku at the end of the Notre Dame world is told something by Esmeralda.

JPN: "Everyone has a few things they want to keep in their hearts. You should find the answer slowly for yourself."

ENG: "We all do that sometimes. There are things we need to keep separate from the world at large, at least until we have time to figure them out"

They both have the same meaning mostly. However using heart here probably has more impact like it's more secretive and probably closer to hiding the darkness. His arc is about facing his darkness and still trying to overcome and not being afraid of it. They both are vague but talk about eventually figuring it out/finding the answer. And this probably refers to darkness.

Also if you ship SR this could also refer to him liking Sora and not saying anything or being afraid that he does.

At the end of DDD when Riku decides to make a second dive into Sora's heart he says this:

JPN: "It's not good if I don't go. I want to go"

Eng: "I heard him call my name. He needs me."

It's not much of a difference but the meaning is actually big by choosing want it shows he wants to do it. The localization choosing need shows he's going because he feels like he's needed just cause his name was called and not a personal choice. They're both good in different ways.

In 358/2 days/KH2, Riku fights Roxas to help Sora. It is just before he gives in to the darkness.

JPN: "You're really aitsu's nobody, after all. I guess I have to trust DiZ." I'm not going to explain the word since I already have earlier in the post.

Riku then explains he is going to have to do it, in which Roxas ask what and he responds, "The power sitting in my heart...the power suppressed by my heart... Even if I'm no longer me...the power of darkness"

ENG: "So it's true. You really are his nobody. Guess DiZ was right after all."

"I have to release the power in my heart— the dark power I've been holding back. Even if it changes me forever."

As much as I like the original way of how he said to describe the dark power, the phrasing flows better in the official localization. They both are basically the same except the Japanese describes the dark power. Also Riku calls Sora Aitsu.

Now I skipped a few lines of dialogue and this is because I want to eventually talk about the famous taunt quotes they have are significantly different in the versions

Finally for the last one, it is the taunt quote

JPN: Riku, "What's wrong, Sora? Are you done already? Pretty pathetic."

Sora, "What are you talking about? You’re the one who’s losing"

ENG: Riku, "Giving up already? Come on Sora I thought you were stronger than that."

Sora, "Get real, look which one of us is winning"

And the change is really interesting. In the JPN the first line is pretty much the same. Riku taunts him for "giving up" or not being able to and cause him pathetic. The ENG says, he thought he was stronger than that giving off the same taunting vibe.

Then Sora's line is actually more about Riku loosing. You're the one who is losing. The ENG localization is similar but it's vague on who is or who isn't winning. But saying losing shows that Riku is losing. But if he says Winning it could mean one wins but the other doesn't necessarily lose.

Also I'm going to be doing Part 6 really soon it's about Vanitas since I recently talked about his backstory in the novels.

So...I don't like most Axel ships since he's being shipped with little kids, but the JPN makes it understandable why some people might ship it even though it's weird and not good... 11 year age gap 😭

So when he was dying in kh2 he says Aitsu and then uh Roxas when he fighting Sora he says why did it have to be you but in JPN he refers to Axel sacrificing himself for him and being gone.... Yeahhhhh it's weird and maybe changing it was a good thing for this case cause don't ship them they're friends and more like guardian and family dynamic if anything.

#kingdom hearts #soriku #riku #sora #kh riku #kh sora #japanese translations #original translations #english versus japanese #dream drop distance #kh2 #Kingdom Hearts 2 #riku taunt #axel #xigbar #part 5 #sora and riku calling each other aitsu is kinda... interesting