Japanese is a category 4 or 5 language. I forget which, but its one of the most difficult languages to learn and translating it to English is even more difficult. Mistranslations are extremely common and most don't realize that, which is why I take a lot of the comments the media make with a grain of salt because I imagine Shimbori is trying to convey something one way, and a translator conveys it in the most basic way possible half the time.
Everything's hard. And if it's complicated, one can always translate it in 'barebone' version with additional note on it, in regards of game article translation. Harshly speaking, if one does not carry the ability to stand for accuracy, then don't do any sort of journalism work like this. He is translating news everyone is looking forward to and if he mixes his own guesses and opinions into the translation, the news then would be diluted and bringing the wrong message. The wrong message then spread worldwide. What was 'A' becomes 'Z'. It becomes fake news the moment it steps outside its original language.
Example of what he did last time
(take note that I change the subject to DOA6 for easier understanding)
1. Article: talks about Break Blow, stating example of Hayabusa would do X moves while Kasumi would do Y moves.
BK's translation: During Break Blow, Hayabusa and Hayate would do X moves, while Kasumi and Ayane would do Y moves.
** When this happened on another game article he was translating, I talked to him on Twitter. He said the game has some cloned moveset across the characters, so he put additional character names to the translated article because he guessed these characters would do the same moves as the originally mentioned one.
** The fact: Wrong
2. Article: talks about the current theme, stating DOA would be toned-down and carried on with more natural feel.
BK's translation: DOA6 will not be sexualized and aim for realism.
** The Fact: Wrong
** When this happened on another game article he was translating, I had not decided to confront him on his Twitter just yet. But surely the mistranslation about the theme was more 'negative' ended and eye-pleasing to those who wanted to rant on the game. The false news eventually was spread and believed until today it turns into a meme.
Like I said previously, I know BK for a long time, tracing back to 2007 when we were still sitting in the same forums. I respect his dedication to translate and contribution to the community. I consumed his work until I felt something cheesy on it and began translating for myself and found mistranslation case with guesses like above and some other translations weren't even as detailed as the original.
Therefore now I won't wash his hands. No sh*t we have to take everything with a grain of salt , but I will not say it in regard of defending him. He has compromised his own credibility and I implore everyone to be aware and not just swallow translations and news. Not just from him, but from all of these gaming 'journalism' bullcrap.
