Tom, Legally Certified Date Simmelier

Nintendo obviously doesn't need the government's permission. But AFAIK, the LDP hasn't at all publicly pushed for refunds for any Japanese companies despite the nativist climate here, probably to not rock the boat, so the optics of Nintendo going it alone are quite interesting, to say the least.

It probably goes without saying that Japan is usually quite pliant with the US. It's partly out self-interest for defense reasons, but it does mean its advocacy efforts tend to be... selective. If you're a rice farmer, the LDP has your back as a matter of electoral politics, but other industries...

That's what I'm keeping an eye on next, too, seeing what steps, if any, The Pokemon Company takes beyond the statements it's made, including today. They obviously exercise a fair amount of autonomy, but now that Nintendo's broken the dam, I wouldn't be surprised to see them get more proactive, too.

Yeah, I'm really curious where I'll fall on this! I had kinda ruled out trying it until the Retronauts episode and Christa's been regaling me quite a bit with a lot of interesting stuff she's dug up about the lore that the localization clearly missed. Gonna play in Japanese and see how I feel. 🤔

This has some potentially unspoken domestic political implications here that's going to take me time to really sit down and think through. Given PM Takaichi and Trump's currently warm relations (insofar as they can be in this climate), I'm not sure that the central government is on board with this.

A lot of people in recent months had been quite dismissive of the notion that Nintendo would ever go on the offensive with this administration for a number of reasons, I always felt in my gut that they had never ruled it out, even if it's for the lowest hanging fruit in this particular instance.

Just want you to know I finally ordered the PS5 version on clearance for 1000 yen earlier tonight and it'll probably be here within the next 12 or so hours. I look forward to joining you down in your hole soon, friend. Thank you for your dedicated proselytizing. 🙏

yeah

uhhhhhhhhh
I heard you like

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4

Statistically there's probably at least one person out there who hasn't heard this yet, right?

#BandcampFriday

Eek, almost forgot! My article on untranslated Czech DOS adventure Colony 28 is now available for everyone! This is an amazing game, you've got to read this:
kimimithegameeatingshemonster.com/2026/03/06/c...

ちょっとメモ。

1/16、訪米中の小泉防衛大臣はパランティア社を訪問。
x.com/ModJapan_jp/...

3/5 高市首相は、訪日したパランティア共同創業者兼会長ピーター・ティールの表敬を受ける。
x.com/MofaJapan_jp...

雑感：
パランティアのデータプラットフォームは、イスラエルも米ICE(移民税関局)も使っています。戦争協力にも人民弾圧にも抵抗がない会社です。

日本で大量監視システムを構築、警察も自衛隊も活用しまくることになる予感がするのですが、大丈夫でしょうか。

Man and I thought I saw some cursed shit in the guys' bathrooms in this country. That's some next level stuff. 😩

Why are people here like this after the last five years??? I'd blink... less of an eye at this back "home" (trying to avoid the discovery feed lol), but here? Breaks my mind, man. 😵‍💫

My feelings on the actual mechanics and gameplay design are well-known, especially compared to its direct inspiration. But the fact it stayed on the Japanese eShop charts for MONTHS tells me there's still a hunger for games like it and it'll be really interesting to see how the sequel pans out.

Publishers are fearful of investing and then the handful that do anything like Kadokawa post-Amagami invest so little in them, they get little in return in part because I think players can tell they're playing to a dwindling crowd. Which is what makes the release of Bunny Garden so interesting.

Yeah, on some level, I think it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. The reason I frame 2009 as the last real relevant year in dating sim history is because that was when the last truly brand new, well-reviewed games came as sales fell down a cliff. But lots of genres have peaks and valleys obviously.

(Not to get too insider baseball-y, but this is also a great lesson in why clients shouldn't cheap out and always demand discounts for what *appears* to be repeat text because then we're INCENTIVIZED to process it holistically, like we should. Ain't getting this with what we call "fuzzy rates."😤)

Anyway, I know a bunch of old Japanese dating sims and adventure games in need of translation that I think my friends and I could do a great job with if you've got a million bucks or two a pop to spare on a good cause. (The good cause being, "Everybody gets paid great to take our time.") HMU. 😌🤙

Considering that the original Sky trilogy I don't think even began loc until well after Third arrived on PCs in Japan and then took as long as it did for many reasons, it's a reminder just how worthwhile a delayed localization can be, even and especially for older games. It needs to happen more. 😌

Stuff like that happens when a work has time to simply exist and percolate prior to translation. You're able to properly consider it, both creatively but also logistically, and in games it gives you unique opportunities to intimately learn how a game functions, which can lead to moments like this.

Speaking as a (biased) localizer, this is legit one of the beautiful things about loc when it's done later, rather than simultaneously. You have time to figure out stuff like, "Oh, every chest has a separate 'it's closed' message rather than a universal one" and can tune your work accordingly.

everyone thinks when i say the phrase amagami 2, i'm talking about a sequel to amagami, the hit dating sim for the playstation 2, playstation portable, and playstation vita, but it's a scale of how much amagami is currently in the atmosphere

for reference, we're at amagami 3

please act accordingly

Wow interesting! you can find out more here
nogamesforgenocide.com

Hey I thought this went without saying but my Ko-fi articles/images aren't for reposting in whole or in part. If it's not on my public site, it's not public. FFS I ~feed/clothe myself and my family~ with Ko-fi sub money, please don't take that away from me.

Takara Tomy has been putting out miniature model trains with working tracks you can lay down and stuff as capsule toys here in Japan the last couple of months. I'm sure they've done it plenty of times before and I only just noticed, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't tempting as office decor...

Classics Of Game 134 YouTube video by ClassicsOfGame

Classics Of Game 134 www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIm_...

I'll keep fighting for a seat at the table as long as I can. I love loc. But my visa renewal looms large and soon I have to start answering tough questions about how the hell I'm gonna stay here.

Anyway, keep me in your thoughts if you have projects or even in-house positions for an 11-year vet. 🙏

At the moment, I'm doing a bit better, but my current projects will wrap up in a matter of weeks and I currently have nothing else lined up. I'd be lying if I said I consider my continued presence in this industry a given and frankly this is the most hostile to newcomers I've ever seen it be by far.

As I've noted before, within the past 24 months, I've lost six figures' worth of income I was led to believe were coming my way. I have yet to fully recover. Many agencies have also stopped contacting me at all. Maybe it's because I'm outspoken here or gotten testy with some in private. I can't say.

This has certainly been my experience working in localization as a freelancer here. I've had projects I was promised and even onboarded for revoked (but not fully cancelled, I'll note) and now most requests I get are for shorter, lower quality assignments that arrive in my inbox less frequently.