Translation - Strawberry Productions

Source: Ichigo Productions

For this installment of learning Japanese through anime titles by a vote of 2 to 0 we’ve chosen “Oshi No Ko”. I tried twice to read the original manga (comic) and failed both times.  Three protagonists end up dying within the first volume of the manga and it turned me off.  The work is supposed to be a black comedy, but at the time it was just simply too black for me.

It is wildly popular in Japan and it didn’t surprise me that it became an anime.  The anime was done by a first rate studio and the voice talent is top notch. Given the studio and the voice actors I decided to give the work one more shot.  I’m happy I did as this production is quite good.  I also knew what I was in store for with the anime so it was less shocking.  What is really interesting is the studio decided to make the first episode 90 minutes.  In this way it could encompass the three deaths with less spoilers.  The remaining season is 10 episodes of the standard 22 minute length.

The show is a black comedy about the Japanese entertainment industry.  It starts with the idol industry and branches out into other parts like low budget movies and reality TV as the series progresses.  I don’t want to put spoilers here so I’ll link to the Wikipedia entry if you are interested in a plot synopsis that includes spoilers.

Oshi no Ko (【推しの子】, “My Favorite Idol” or “Their Idol’s Children”

This is the rare anime that uses Japanese for the title globally.  The translation used by Wikipedia was done by Wiki contributors before the work was translated to English.

推し – Oshi – the usual definition for this is “1. push, pushing, 2.weight, pressure 3. authority, forcefulness, boldness, audacity, persistence”.  In casual usage it can also mean a “recommendation”.  The usage in this work is new and mostly used by younger people.

This new slang is used in the context of an entertainer or similar figure that you wholeheartedly support – i.e. a fanboy or fangirl.  It’s commonly used in the idol industry, but it doesn’t have to be. The Wikipedia entry uses the translation as “idol” here and is perfectly acceptable.

の – No – Japanese grammar particle that works like  ‘s  (apostrophe s) in English.  It shows possession or can be used to link multiple nouns together.

子 – Ko – This is commonly used for child.  However, it does often sometimes refer to young women in their teens and early twenties.   It also a very common way that female first names are ended in Japanese.  So, for example. if you read the name Yoko Ono there is a high probability Yoko is female as well as likely to break up a band.

The English Wikipedia translation  of “My Favorite Idol” or “Their Idol’s Children” is perfectly fine and can work with either meaning of “Ko”.  Given events in the story the second translation is entirely valid, but I prefer the first.

 

Pussey

Source: Pixaboy

A Student of Japanese Reacts to this Billboard First!!!

I listen to lots of music on YouTube and the “algorithm” picks up music commentary and analysis in addition to music.  Nothing sets my teeth on edge more than the usual clickbait nature of these videos and their thumbnails.  The thumbnail is some long haired dude or quirky gal wearing a ridiculously big pair of cans with a faux shocked expression and the title, “Music Teacher Reacts to Latest Awful Pop Music Hit”.  Bonus points for the text using an obnoxious font and color.  Any video with the word “react” in the title is an absolute “no-click” for me.

The opening music for “Oshi No Ko” is done by a dance and electronic music group called Yoasobi.  Their music is heavily, heavily processed and mostly annoying.  It’s a shame because the lead singer when she doesn’t have the Auto-Tune turned up to 11 has a really nice voice and wonderful phrasing.  However, they have managed to capture a Japanese music first.

YOASOBI’s ‘Idol’ Surges to No. 1 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Chart

YOASOBI’s “Idol” soars to No. 1, from No. 6, on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. survey (dated June 10). The song, originally sung in Japanese, hit the top 10 six weeks earlier and now becomes the duo’s first leader on the list following the May 26 release of its English-language version.

“Idol” is also the first song originally performed in Japanese to top the Global Excl. U.S. chart.

The song is sung from multiple people’s perspectives including a J-Pop idol.  The perspective includes that of a young woman with the Japanese equivalent of “vocal fry” It’s as annoying in Japanese as it is in English.