Not Just "Translating" Words, but "Localizing" Intent
Update : 2026/2/27
Every word carries an "image" shaped by its historical and cultural background. Simply replacing the surface meaning of a word with its Japanese equivalent is nothing more than "supplying words." To convey the intended meaning rather than just the language, we need more than translation—we need localization.
For example, when classic Western jokes or slang are put through machine translation, they often become incomprehensible. A literal translation might be in Japanese characters, but it fails to function as a joke. This happens when one follows the "form" of the words while ignoring the "intent."
Japanese has a convenient script called Katakana, which allows foreign words to be incorporated directly. However, simply converting an English word unfamiliar to Japanese ears into Katakana is not a true translation. It isn't "Japanese"; it's just "English in a form that Japanese people can phonetically read."
Take the word "Arcane." If you translate this as "アーケイン (Ākein)," it remains an unknown word to most Japanese players. There is little difference between that and leaving it in English. If the meaning isn't conveyed, it fails as a translation, let alone as localization.
To truly convey the meaning of "Arcane," several translations could be considered depending on the context:
Hijutsu (秘術 - secret arts) / Kinki (禁忌 - taboo): When referring to secret magic systems or hidden technologies.
Inishie-no (古の - ancient): When emphasizing historical weight or the passage of time.
Shin-en (深淵 - abyss): When expressing something fathomless or beyond human understanding.
Madou (魔導 - sorcery/magical path): To instantly signal to Japanese fantasy fans that "this is related to magical power."
These are just examples, but I believe that localization for creative works means not just "showing" the original text, but "delivering" the meaning embedded within it.
However, over-simplifying every word isn't always the right answer. Sometimes, intentionally leaving a difficult Katakana word as a unique term within that world—and letting the player infer its meaning—is a valid technique. If a word’s meaning becomes established through the story and settles as part of the world-building, that too is a form of localization.
"Do we deliver the meaning, or do we leave an air of the unknown?" This choice is only possible through communication between the developer and the translator. Such a process is essential to delivering the maximum charm of a game to local players.
Author : Mikado Tashiro
I am dedicated to expanding the presence of indie games in Japan. Although I am in the early stages of building my official portfolio, I successfully completed my first full translation project within less than a month of launching my activities.
Beyond direct translation, I am committed to sharing insights gained through my work. I author in-depth articles focusing on linguistic nuances, cultural adaptation, and the technical aspects of localization to contribute to the growth of the game translation community.