Helpful Notes:
Engrish - Engrish is Japanese translated into English by people not fluent in both languages. The translators are usually fans or one of those HK Company’s that rip the DVD’s of our favorite series. Personally, I think most fans do a better job then Chinese company’s slaughtering 2 foreign languages.
Common problems with Engrish - The phonetics of English and Japanese are different. Often translators will spell out what they hear. This leads to spelling changes in proper nouns like names of characters or cities. (Kirara is Kilala when translated into English, Koga translates to Kouga) The order of words also varies from language to language. This can make some subs very confusing to read. This is also the primary reason for title changes for episodes and chapters.(Jaken's Tetsusaiga Snatching Operation changes to Jaken’s Plan to steal the Tetsusaiga) The use of certain verbs and adjectives also varies, as does commonly used phrases and nicknames. (It’s far more common to hear “rite on” on the west coast of the USA then on the east. How many of you know what a Masshole is? It’s a New England states thing; it refers to a resident of the state of Massachusetts).
Sometimes it’s easier to keep it Japanese - Sometimes when things get translated by fans, and in some fan fictions, the original Japanese word for something is used. It’s easier to write out hanyou then half demon all the time. The Japanese language may have one word for something where in the English language it’s two words; an Irori is one of those fire pits in old Japanese houses. Some of the more rustic inns in Japan have these in the rooms.
Culture and Mythology - In anime and games we see a lot of re-occurring themes. Gods, monsters, demons, angels, the soul, heaven and hell, the spirit world, various martial arts, and wars. Writers draw from various stories from Japanese religions/history as well as the religions/history of other countries. (The monkey king is one of the better known myths used) There is almost always some sort of ultimate weapon, generally a sword (swords of light are pretty popular) involved. The sword was a damn near sacred thing to the people of ancient/old Japan and that tradition carries through to the writings of today.
It’s good to know -
Inuyasha, InuYasha, and Inu Yasha are all acceptable spellings. Kouga and Koga are both acceptable spellings. Kilala and Kirara are both right. The Japanese pronunciation of r sounds closer to l in English.
A kimono varies in length and style. Men tuck a short kimono into their hakama pants; a woman’s kimono is more like a dress and tied with a large obi.