Once upon a time, there was a single high school student.
The student loved to play games. He had friends who shared his passion.
Together they conquered various games.
But one day there was a chance.
A friend introduced something strange to the Student.
It was a series about a strange dude dressed in orange and calling himself Hokage.
Later the Student should come to realize that this was known as Anime.
So, yes, I was a Narutard.
I immediately got hooked on it.
While watching at least 5 episodes per day, One Piece replacing Naruto after that was done with, I still played another Doom known as World of Warcraft.
While everything went well with WoW, I watched various Anime on the side.
With time I also adventured into the Manga scene, though just lightly at the beginning.
One day my WoW Guild, which I sacrificed the majority of my time to, broke down.
To be honest, that wasn't the first guild that died on me, nor was it the first trouble I ran into.
Just that this guild lasted for the longest and even had friends of my real life in it.
With the break down of that guild I decided to put an end to this meaningless game.
From then on I devoted my whole time to Anime.
150-200 Episodes per week were the norm.
With time I reached a point where I watched most of the mainstream things and began to wonder what I should do now.
Looking for recommendations I joined various forums.
Through that I found my way to my excessive obsession of manga.
Now half my day consisted of reading manga, the other half was still watching anime.
Meals were just quickly in-between.
Getting to know more and more about Japanese, I developed the desire to learn it myself.
First I just studied the hiragana/katakana and some random useful words.
Seeing just how many Manga/Anime are out there, I started to think what I can do to help spread the love for it some more.
That was the start of me trying to join the scanlation scene.
Being still a novice to japanese I thought about joining as a cleaner or typesetter.
It took me a week each to complete tests of various groups. Being said that those test were just about 2-3 pages...
So yes, I sucked. The scanlation teams I applied to thought so too.
I wasn't able to join anywhere.
But that didn't kill my motivation.
I thought to myself if I can't clean or typeset that just leaves translation.
I ordered various japanese textbooks and studied.
Yeah, lol. I studied.
As crazy as it sounds. It was the first time in my life that I voluntary picked up a textbook.
And it just didn't end with that.
I spend the majority of my time studying. Leaving the Anime/Manga just for a few hours at night.
I spend tons of money on books and even went to expensive evening classes.
But the effort paid off.
When I was about to finish school, the question of what to do after came up.
As I actually had fun studying japanese (yes, FUN. I couldn't stop myself from studying more and more oO), why not take it to university?
I joined an University with a bilingual translation course. My second language being decided later as korean.
With meeting up with various professors from university regarding japanese, I handed one of them a translation I had made for a manga.
I got a positive reply from him, just saying I was still too literal.
Encouraged by that, and I think you know what I will say now, I picked up Smash!.
In the past I played badminton a lot. I think I had been doing it all in all for 10 years or so.
But I have to say, I was never a big-shot. I was just satisfied with running over the field.
Having myself playing badminton I tried out reading a sports manga, namely Smash!.
Upon seeing that the scanlation group died for it, I decided to pick it up myself.
This was the start of many happy but also sad memories. Of various hardships, but also great encounters.
As you all know, I came really obsessive towards Smash!.
But to be honest, the story itself actually wasn't really worth that much.
The only thing I can say at this point is that my obsession came from the fact that it was the first ever project I decided to translate. To prove that fact, once I finished Smash in April this year, I lost the majority of my motivation.
Over the time I joined various Scanlation groups. I dare to say that I'm a fast translator and a single group couldn't handle my speed, leaving myself impatient. I wanted to do more. Which probably was the start of my downfall. Shouldering around 20 projects by myself, being in over 5 different groups at any time and later even managing my own group.
While I still had Smash! to cling to, I somehow managed it. Though there were still troubles on the way:
Trolls on the site, the Christmas Troll as I would like to name it.
Scanlator's selfishness, leading into changing my ways to freelancing.
Leaving alone the fact that some shitty group offered me help on smash soon after I started and settling with a decent group as a joint partner immediately after, the first group I actually joined was a random small shoujo group.
As mentioned before, a single group couldn't keep up with my speed.
So I kept searching for projects that I liked and tried joining those groups.
The first to accept me on my quest for more projects was Imangascans.
Being a novice with barely any experience at that time, I had immense respect for big groups as Imangascans, Red Hawk or Illuminati-Manga.
Therefore applying to the first named, Imangascans, I was extremely nervous.
Getting accepted by them filled me with happiness. Which later should change into despair.
But let me describe the course of actions I took withing IMS.
I joined them as a translator for the series Mahoutsukai Kurohime.
They had previously wrote a recruitment drive for a translator.
But somehow their previous translator for it came back.
So I joined a group for a project that actually didn't need my help.
But oh well, seeing as how big the group was I agreed to take on a different projects. I immediately was bombed with various projects. Not all of them I saw through the end. Actually it's the majority that I didn't see to the end. Let me come to the reason for that.
After starting like 4-5 projects for IMS and joining other groups, my workload increased heavily.
But I could manage it. I chose by myself to join all these groups. I and they knew that one group just couldn't support my urge to translate.
But I then came to realize that everything except Smash got released at an immense speed.
To be honest, in all the time of scanlating manga I haven't meet even one scanlator who shared my passion for Smash!. The story might have been decent, but there was no one willing to voluntary work on the murder redraws Smash! had. Though I kinda understand it, there were really a pain.
Not being satisfied how slow Smash got released, despite me having piled up up to 10 scripts at each time and seeing how just about every other project I worked on got released twice as fast, I got fed up with it.
I threatened the groups I was in to help me with Smash. Seeing as they was no one volunteering to work on it, that was my only choice to get the releases to speed up. And why not? I mean I was translating a lot of shit for other people. Out of the 50 different series I translated over time, I can say that just only about a hand-full are projects that I choose to work on by my own interest. The other projects were just favors to other scanlators. I did those favors, believing some day they would repay me but I was gravely mistaken on that part.
When I threatened the groups, only ONE group honestly stood behind me. The name of the group is Simple Scans. They were other individuals who stood behind me and followed me to my then new created own group, but Simple Scans as the only group stood behind me with the majority of it's members (reading: those I worked with). Honorable individuals worth mentioning at this point are: Kajii, Devilfox, Kundumstaf and it the latter half Galooza. Of course there were other people, but those 4 contributed the most stuff for me and without them I would have long ago quit on scanlation.
Not to be an asshole at this point (which I am either way) but for records sake, the groups reacting the worse to my demand of help were For the Halibut and Red Hawk Scans.
To this point I still can't agree with their way of actions, but I don't carry a grudge against them anymore.
IMS was another group that didn't handle my request well either.
At that point IMS was the group whom to I provided the most translations. Getting a bit of help back in return wouldn't be all that strange. But unfortunately it was just the Admin Kajii that stood behind me. However as his position as an admin he already had his hands full with lots of other projects and their was a limit to what he could provide to me.
I parted with most of the groups on bad terms and created my own group, Black Wing. From within the scanlators I worked with, those who were able to appreciate what I gave them before, various followed me to Black Wing.
Taking over various project I translated from the groups I left to Black Wing, my group grew kinda big with as I may say a pretty decent and steady release speed.
Creating an own translation-clean exchange system to advance the releases of Smash and lastly a desperate call again to my loyal fellow-scanlators I finished the last volume of Smash. Finally.
But the finish of Smash left behind an emptiness within me.
So far I did my best to advance the release for smash. But for what should I give my best now?
My major motivation then became then repaying the scanlators that stayed loyal to me. The plan was to do one project for each of them. I also decided to focus more on stuff that I would like.
That system was semi-effective. Having my motivation changed to simple favor repaying, the only thing that kept me going were the thanks of leecher or other scanlators.
But sadly people grew used to what they're exposed to.
Suddenly my all so fast translations were nothing special anymore. It became the norm. Leechers even grew that adapted to it that they shamelessly demand for more.
Then I got into a meaningless fight with another group that previously stole a project from us.
A silly actions. But that's how I am, always out for a fight. I destroyed more than one guild in WoW with that too. Luckily with WoW you could transfer your character to another server for a bit of money. Nobody knows you then and you can start afresh. A clear cut that leaves nothing behind.
That's not possible though for scanlation. Yes, I just might change my name and join other groups. But I still would be confronted with my previous work, my previous name.
That's why I put down manga translations. I wanted to switch over to light novel translations, but that wasn't possible either. I realized that I lost my drive for translating. Burned out.
My decision was supported through the fact that I would go to an oversea exchange to korea anyway.
And with recently getting to know that I failed my exam, I'm even less determined to continue any form of translating.
At first I wanted to take a break. That's why I did a few summaries. But that didn't suit me well.
Actually I enjoy the my free time more than I initially thought.
I haven't yet found anything yet to replace scanlation, but I'm sure I will.
That's why I wrote a long-assed post like this.
To put a clear end to this.
As of today, the IRC is unregistered and
Black Wing is completely dead.
There are a few translated scripts of mine left, and I'm sure with time they will get released.
I have been in business for nearly 2 years and have done 600 translations. A nice number to quit if I may say so.
I'll still be sometimes on irc, as I prefer to get my releases there.
ではみなさん、
ごきげんよう
TsukiTsuki
I was ordered to read this light novel and seeing how the proloque was just 1 1/2 pages, I decided to do a quick translation.
TsukiTsuki Vol 01 Proloque:
Mediafire || !TsukiTsuki
Enjoy~
TsukiTsuki Vol 01 Proloque:
Mediafire || !TsukiTsuki
Good Ending 88
Lately I don't like Good Ending. This chapter is yet another proof that the manga is just going downhill.
Seiji got back from the trip. All depressed he goes into his room, just to find a charm he bought with Yuki together. Reminiscing about the time with Yuki he gets even more depressed. The next day Seiji is absent from school. Eri and Co approach Yuki, and cautious ask why Seiji is absent. They purposely avoid the trip as a topic. seeing as Yuki doesn't look all that cheerful. The next day Seiji is absent again. Izumi then calls Seiji's home. His mother gets on the phone and tells Izumi that Seiji hasn't returned home since yesterday night when he went out for a walk. She got a call from him that he would stay over at a friend's house and thought it would be Izumi. We then see the house of the Shou-look-alike girl (forgot her name). In one corner of the room there's Seiji cowering, not saying a single word. The last page is Seiji getting hugged by the girl. End of Chapter.
The plot is just getting stupid. I just hope Seiji gets at least a shot with that new girl.
Seiji got back from the trip. All depressed he goes into his room, just to find a charm he bought with Yuki together. Reminiscing about the time with Yuki he gets even more depressed. The next day Seiji is absent from school. Eri and Co approach Yuki, and cautious ask why Seiji is absent. They purposely avoid the trip as a topic. seeing as Yuki doesn't look all that cheerful. The next day Seiji is absent again. Izumi then calls Seiji's home. His mother gets on the phone and tells Izumi that Seiji hasn't returned home since yesterday night when he went out for a walk. She got a call from him that he would stay over at a friend's house and thought it would be Izumi. We then see the house of the Shou-look-alike girl (forgot her name). In one corner of the room there's Seiji cowering, not saying a single word. The last page is Seiji getting hugged by the girl. End of Chapter.
The plot is just getting stupid. I just hope Seiji gets at least a shot with that new girl.
Cage of Eden 99
99 basically is just one big fight.
Akira and Co got back to the base, just to find it being attacked by the Kangaroos. For a while we see all people getting beat up by the Kangaroos and running around in panic. For example Fake Miina rescues Real Miina, just to have Akira rescue the two after. Rion and Rei are carrying Oomori and her tits shortly flash. Unexpected is also that the girl who seemed to be in love with Hikime, Kirino saves the girl Hikime saved, Takahashi. Her reason is that Takahashi has to treasure the life Hikime sacrificed himself for. Anyway, with everyone screaming and jumping around, Akira once again remembers Miina's words from before. The weakness of the Kangaroos. It has two: It only can advances forward and weights 80kg, so that it can jump 3m. With this info, Akira comes up with a new plan. His previous plan was to let the animals take out each other, but with just the Kangaroos here it doesn't work. Akira grabs a rope and shouts to the others to come running his way, preferable with the Kangaroos right behind them. On a certain place Akira stops and tells the others to jump to the side. The Kangaroos, only capable of going forward, run towards Akira. Upon reaching him with a jump, the pit-fall-trap activates. Akira together with all the Kangaroos falls down. But of course Akira is safe, since he had the rope tied to himself and had entrusted the other end to the Prez. The day is saved.
End of chapter.
More soon.
Akira and Co got back to the base, just to find it being attacked by the Kangaroos. For a while we see all people getting beat up by the Kangaroos and running around in panic. For example Fake Miina rescues Real Miina, just to have Akira rescue the two after. Rion and Rei are carrying Oomori and her tits shortly flash. Unexpected is also that the girl who seemed to be in love with Hikime, Kirino saves the girl Hikime saved, Takahashi. Her reason is that Takahashi has to treasure the life Hikime sacrificed himself for. Anyway, with everyone screaming and jumping around, Akira once again remembers Miina's words from before. The weakness of the Kangaroos. It has two: It only can advances forward and weights 80kg, so that it can jump 3m. With this info, Akira comes up with a new plan. His previous plan was to let the animals take out each other, but with just the Kangaroos here it doesn't work. Akira grabs a rope and shouts to the others to come running his way, preferable with the Kangaroos right behind them. On a certain place Akira stops and tells the others to jump to the side. The Kangaroos, only capable of going forward, run towards Akira. Upon reaching him with a jump, the pit-fall-trap activates. Akira together with all the Kangaroos falls down. But of course Akira is safe, since he had the rope tied to himself and had entrusted the other end to the Prez. The day is saved.
End of chapter.
More soon.
Cage of Eden 98
Time for the next chapter.
Akira and Tokiwa, the girl, are heading out in search for Hikime. Suddenly they find the birds and tigers fighting each others. Also, nearby they find a bloody uniform. Thinking that the uniform belongs to Hikime and he got eaten already, Akira decides to go on the offensive. Before he said that he had a plan to defeat all 3 animals at once. He now shares his plan with Tokiwa. They both charge at the birds. Based on the weak spots Miina told them, Akira formed a plan. The birds are bad to make turns. So once you dodged one attack of them and got near besides them, you are at the advantage. Like that Akira manages to overpower one bird. Tokiwa attacks the other birds in the same way. The plan then proceeds to the second stage. The tiger might be the strongest hunter, but based on Miina's story, their fangs are easy to detach. While the tiger attack the now weakened birds and have their fangs occupied in crushing the birds, Akira and Tokiwa have time to aim for their fangs. They manage to tear of the fangs of the tiger. Imitated the tigers leave. The birds are also wounded so bad, that they can't move anymore. Then suddenly Hikime appears. While fleeing from the birds he tripped and lost consciousness for a while. But else he is fine. Akira again notices how Miina was all right with her words and that there has to be secret behind that. The three of them head back to the base. When they reach the base, they notice a commotion going on inside. The kangaroos are attacking the base. The chapter ends with a Kangaroo jumping an attack on the two Miinas.
More soon.
Akira and Tokiwa, the girl, are heading out in search for Hikime. Suddenly they find the birds and tigers fighting each others. Also, nearby they find a bloody uniform. Thinking that the uniform belongs to Hikime and he got eaten already, Akira decides to go on the offensive. Before he said that he had a plan to defeat all 3 animals at once. He now shares his plan with Tokiwa. They both charge at the birds. Based on the weak spots Miina told them, Akira formed a plan. The birds are bad to make turns. So once you dodged one attack of them and got near besides them, you are at the advantage. Like that Akira manages to overpower one bird. Tokiwa attacks the other birds in the same way. The plan then proceeds to the second stage. The tiger might be the strongest hunter, but based on Miina's story, their fangs are easy to detach. While the tiger attack the now weakened birds and have their fangs occupied in crushing the birds, Akira and Tokiwa have time to aim for their fangs. They manage to tear of the fangs of the tiger. Imitated the tigers leave. The birds are also wounded so bad, that they can't move anymore. Then suddenly Hikime appears. While fleeing from the birds he tripped and lost consciousness for a while. But else he is fine. Akira again notices how Miina was all right with her words and that there has to be secret behind that. The three of them head back to the base. When they reach the base, they notice a commotion going on inside. The kangaroos are attacking the base. The chapter ends with a Kangaroo jumping an attack on the two Miinas.
More soon.
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora
Dun Dun Dun.
I reveal to you my first light novel project:
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora.
Long time ago I watched the anime and totally loved it. While searching for LN I saw this with 8 volumes, still untranslated. Perfect found.
I want to hone my translation skill into german a bit more, so I will be translating it (first) into german.
Though I already got many mails asking me if I would share my translation.
So I decided I would convert the prologue into english and release it too.
I activated the comments for this one, and if you like this and want more english releases, please comment.
I will definitely be doing the german version, though it's still unknown if I will make it public. Comments for that also appriciated.
First I want to recruit proofreader for it, but then I wasn't sure if I was going to release it at all, so I didn't accept anyone. The german translation shouldn't be all that horrible, a few wrong commas, but the english one certainly needs proofreading. But I just don't want to bother with that. Depending on the comments I will see how I will proceed.
Okay, then onto the release.
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora Prologue:
Deutsch || English
P.S.: I'll update the pdf over time, so that every volume has one pdf.
I reveal to you my first light novel project:
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora.
Long time ago I watched the anime and totally loved it. While searching for LN I saw this with 8 volumes, still untranslated. Perfect found.
I want to hone my translation skill into german a bit more, so I will be translating it (first) into german.
Though I already got many mails asking me if I would share my translation.
So I decided I would convert the prologue into english and release it too.
I activated the comments for this one, and if you like this and want more english releases, please comment.
I will definitely be doing the german version, though it's still unknown if I will make it public. Comments for that also appriciated.
First I want to recruit proofreader for it, but then I wasn't sure if I was going to release it at all, so I didn't accept anyone. The german translation shouldn't be all that horrible, a few wrong commas, but the english one certainly needs proofreading. But I just don't want to bother with that. Depending on the comments I will see how I will proceed.
Okay, then onto the release.
Enjoy~
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora Prologue:
Deutsch || English
P.S.: I'll update the pdf over time, so that every volume has one pdf.
Cage of Eden 97
Onto the next chapter.
With the whole group singing their mood get better. After that Akira is in deep thought. After getting asked what's up, he proposed to launch an attack on the animals themselves, instead of waiting for them. At the moment they still have the stamina, but they're out of food and water. Various methods then get dicussed within the group, like the birds have bad eyes in the night, what actually isn't true. Or surrounding the kangaroo and attacking it, which also falls flat since it can jump 3m. Suddenly the real Miina starts talking about the weakness of the animals. Upon more asking from Akira, she reveals weak spots for all the three types of animals, that are currently a threat to them. Akira asked Mariya to confirm it with his encyclopedia but it has no data. It also seems that Miina has animals drawn in her sketchbook that she hasn't seen before, which leads Akira to the assumption that something is up with her. Based on the facts Miina provided, Akira seemed to have come up with a plan. One that deals with all of the animals at once. And he plans to execute the plan alone. That immediately gets rejected by Rion, who calls him reckless. Akira argues that the other are too injured and a big group would danger the success of the plan. When he gets ready, they suddenly notice that a boy, Murayama, is gone. He was the one in the previous chapter who proposed the idea of sacrificing someone to the animals. They search the whole base, but Murayama is nowhere to be found. Murayama is out in the open with a stick and wants to kill at least one animals, so he can face the others again after his stupid act in the previous chapter. Before the scenery switches back to the base, we see a tiger up on the tree behind Murayama. In the base, Akira is about to go out, when Rion suddenly hugs him. She gives him one of her ribbons and ask him to definitely return it. Then another girl suddenly starts stripping... Unfortunately she wears bloomers. She wants to go with Akira, since it seems the plan needs a fast runner and the girl is/was in the track and field club. They both head out in search for Murayama. End of Chapter.
Cute scene between Akira and Rion. What's more, some bloomer action. What will happen next?
More soon.
With the whole group singing their mood get better. After that Akira is in deep thought. After getting asked what's up, he proposed to launch an attack on the animals themselves, instead of waiting for them. At the moment they still have the stamina, but they're out of food and water. Various methods then get dicussed within the group, like the birds have bad eyes in the night, what actually isn't true. Or surrounding the kangaroo and attacking it, which also falls flat since it can jump 3m. Suddenly the real Miina starts talking about the weakness of the animals. Upon more asking from Akira, she reveals weak spots for all the three types of animals, that are currently a threat to them. Akira asked Mariya to confirm it with his encyclopedia but it has no data. It also seems that Miina has animals drawn in her sketchbook that she hasn't seen before, which leads Akira to the assumption that something is up with her. Based on the facts Miina provided, Akira seemed to have come up with a plan. One that deals with all of the animals at once. And he plans to execute the plan alone. That immediately gets rejected by Rion, who calls him reckless. Akira argues that the other are too injured and a big group would danger the success of the plan. When he gets ready, they suddenly notice that a boy, Murayama, is gone. He was the one in the previous chapter who proposed the idea of sacrificing someone to the animals. They search the whole base, but Murayama is nowhere to be found. Murayama is out in the open with a stick and wants to kill at least one animals, so he can face the others again after his stupid act in the previous chapter. Before the scenery switches back to the base, we see a tiger up on the tree behind Murayama. In the base, Akira is about to go out, when Rion suddenly hugs him. She gives him one of her ribbons and ask him to definitely return it. Then another girl suddenly starts stripping... Unfortunately she wears bloomers. She wants to go with Akira, since it seems the plan needs a fast runner and the girl is/was in the track and field club. They both head out in search for Murayama. End of Chapter.
Cute scene between Akira and Rion. What's more, some bloomer action. What will happen next?
More soon.
Cage of Eden 96
Continuing where I left off with the last post, the girl returned alone from the river. She explains what happens and how Hikime sacrificed himself to save her. Another random girl, who seemed to be in love with Hikime, blames now the surviving girl and says she should have died instead of Hikime, since Hikime was a strong boy and therefore more useful than her. Oomori stops her though. While Mariya assess their situation again, he also speaks of an "invisible enemy". That's when the ostrich things appear again. They come close until the barrier and leave again after a short period. That attitude of the animals leads the group to the assumption that the animals are being wary. That they are just waiting for a good chance to attack. Oomori tries to console the surviving girl, who seems to blame herself now, when she suddenly collapses. She's down with a fever from exhaustion. Mariya explains that it puts a lot of stress on the mind being hunted by animals 24/7. Then once again the ostrichs appears. This time they come inside the base, past the barricades. Mariya explains that the animals got wary because they lighted the fire before, but now it's time they get over it. Some random guy propose to sacrifice one person of the group, so that the others can flee while the sacrifice is being eaten. Akira immediately punches him. Akira tells him never to say such a thing again and that he wont let him off as easy next time. This is what Mariya meant with "invisible enemy", their uneasiness. Strangely it doesnt get mention what happens with the ostrich at this point, but it seems that they left again. Oomori lies down with her fever and speaks with the surviving girl, who still blames herself. Oomori encourages her and says that the girl must have some kind of specialty to her. The girl then answers with singing. Oomori wants her to sing a song for her and she does so. After a while the whole group joins in the singing. End of chapter.
More soon.
More soon.