Complete JSL Translations for Koe no Katachi

Feb 3, 2023 10:37 AM

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Jan 2023

Here's the situation: I recently finished translating all of the Japanese sign language (JSL) in the Koe no Katachi manga (along with some related bits of series analysis). This is a shameless plug for that work.

https://imgur.com/a/qymVejp
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13i0xF9tHsiH0bVO_y3eI_P6ZHCOB9lOdKWGeZIukUG4

Currently, the best way to read these notes is either through the above attached Imgur gallery or Google doc. The Imgur gallery is a slightly more exhaustive analysis via its extended supplemental notes, but the Google doc is somewhat easier to navigate. I am considering various options in terms of alternative formats for this information. I would truly appreciate the interest and feedback of all fellow fans of the series.

If you would like a more easily digestible sampling of what you can expect from my work to help you decide if it's worth your time, you can take a look at my translations and notes for Chapter 54 (major spoilers for the manga, of course):

https://i.imgur.com/ofO91SL
https://i.imgur.com/bUnQ0FF
https://i.imgur.com/v63w6LM

I think that understanding the JSL dialogue greatly strengthens one's appreciation for the subtleties of the story -- Performing this analysis certainly did so for me. Through such understanding, there are many moments throughout the entire series that gain really satisfying new layers of subtext and character nuance, especially for Shouko, who absolutely shines as a character.

As far as I can tell, this is easily the most comprehensive and rigorous JSL analysis anyone has done for the series. I hope you will all let me know what you think. I would love if this work could become a readily available resource for fans.

Jul 15, 2023 4:55 AM

AlwaysWonder

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Jul 2023

Thank you for your work, I'm really happy that there is someone truly cares for the series, both anime, manga and the fanbook and especially the shipping between the two characters like me. I mean it's really haunting and hurtful everytime I saw an anime, manga that the two main characters future was unknown, whether they end up together or not. In this series, I know and do believe that both of them will end up together since the manga did imply it so well, but the fanbook destroys it all and make it as a 50/50. Thanks to your analysis, my hope for the ship has rise up but there is one part that still make me feel unstable:
- In the Character Commentary, especially on the Shouko Future Ahead, does it true that in only describe her future in the two years gap or it is the future of herself ? I mean if other character's Future Ahead section also describe them in the two year gap then it fine, otherwise, in will be very suck

Jul 15, 2023 6:35 AM

Croseus

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Jan 2023

AlwaysWonder said:
- In the Character Commentary, especially on the Shouko Future Ahead, does it true that in only describe her future in the two years gap or it is the future of herself ? I mean if other character's Future Ahead section also describe them in the two year gap then it fine, otherwise, in will be very suck

I am gradually working on a more comprehensive translation and analysis of the fanbook as well, but, yes, in the Future Ahead section for Shouko, Oima describes her living and working arrangement while working for Salon Stray Cat starting after Ch 61 rather than where she plans to work and live after Ch 62, which is left not directly confirmed. The section describes that Shouko begins living alone in a room provided by the salon, a description that could only make sense if it occurs shortly after she moves away from home to Tokyo and starts working there. This interpretation is also consistent with the description that she hangs out with Sahara and Ueno on her days off, which is just another restatement of the status quo between Ch 61 and Ch 62.
Additionally, the Future Ahead section for Shouya is similar, making reference to Shouya likely becoming a barber and working at his family's salon, despite that simply being another restatement of the events between Ch 61 and 62. Also, Oima ends Shouya's section with a question of whether he will ever truly be able to love himself, a question that Chapter 62 gives a firm answer to if you're paying attention ("Yes").
All of this points to a consistent choice by Oima not to directly confirm the events after Ch 62, apparently seeing the foreshadowing, subtext, and implications of the manga itself as adequate explanation of the unseen epilogue. I agree with this, as I think it would cheapen the story's style and substance if she spelled out what the story itself shows through subtext and other subtle means (i.e., that Shouya and Shouko's affections for each other have grown in the intervening years, and Shouko plans to work for the Ishidas' salon).

Edit: Oh, also -- Regarding whether only Shouko's "Future Ahead" section is like this: No. As mentioned above, Shouya's is like this too, as is Kawai's, which makes reference to her going to the same university as Mashiba, something that happens between Ch 61 and 62.

CroseusJul 15, 2023 6:40 AM

Jan 5, 8:11 AM

verjab

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Mar 2022

Thanks for your hard work, you rock!

May 27, 9:53 PM

Seansy

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Jun 2023

109

You are the GOAT for doing all of this work. Seriously.

While many of the translated signs from your work are stated by the characters, many are also not stated, or summarized differently compared to their actual meaning. It is frustrating that this was never included on the margins of the manga for readers to better understand. Or at least at the end of a volume to help fill in the blanks. While I get that it fits within the themes of the story, and certain signs are PURPOSEFULLY kept out/vague due to the unreliable narration/understanding from Shouya of what Shouko is saying, it is unreasonable to expect a reader to understand the full subtext of the series without the author providing it in some further form or fashion in the original work. You cannot expect everyone to learn JSL to read this story, so the fact that you had to put in untold hours of work on this project that the author, or someone within the publishing company, could of provided themselves to assist the audience, is a detriment that should have been addressed internally. This is especially impactful in understanding Shouko's character. This also happens quite a bit in the movie too, which further cements my belief that it was all purposefully left out by the author. The biggest contrary example of this in the movie version of the story is how Shouko says aloud what she signs to Shouya about how he isn't at fault for the climax, stating instead that she is at fault for failing to change, but this information was totally omitted in the manga! How the flying fuck can you omit such a crucial piece of information in arguably the most important scene in the entire story!?!?! My only conclusion is that the director/screenwriter decided that it was too important to leave that information out in the scene as it was in the manga... DUH!!! OF COURSE IT SHOULD OF BEEN INCLUDED!!! ARGH!!!

Putting aside my frustrations with how the manga failed to include so much important information itself...this guide you have provided has been instrumental in helping me better understand the story. I also greatly appreciate your additional analysis and notes to supplement the JSL translations you created. All of the motifs you pointed out, notes pointing out unspoken developments, and analysis of the subtleties within the story, were all greatly appreciated in supplementing my understanding of the story as I read it for the first time. After reading through the story with your notes, I have reached the same conclusion you have on the "true ending". It just makes too much sense not to be the case.

I hope everyone else that has read or plans to read this incredible story also reads it along with the OP's notes as I did. ESPECIALLY if you feel that the ending wasn't definitive enough for your taste or that Shouko's character wasn't fleshed out enough. The notes and analysis together will help further flesh out Shouko's character and create a more fully defined ending about how "A Silent Voice", or "The Shape of Voice", is also about "A Silent Love" or "The Shape of Love". I don't want to give too much away from the OPs work, but suffice it to say, there is a very good reason for many of the decisions the author made. This includes having Shouko and Shouya feed Koi (a homophone in Japanese for Love) together every Tuesday (a JSL pun with multiple meanings), among numerous other examples.

Thank you again OP for all of the time you spent on this indispensable guide. I will forever treasure it along with this beautiful story.

SeansyMay 28, 8:32 AM

See All Discussions

» Difference? Mangahater - Apr 19	10	by no_comparison115 »» May 18, 11:48 PM
Poll: » Koe no Katachi Chapter 10 Discussion LucarioDude - Nov 5, 2013	35	by Saiunknown »» Apr 30, 5:48 PM
Poll: » Koe no Katachi Chapter 62 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Maerow - Nov 15, 2014	291	by KanYeeT »» Apr 19, 7:55 AM
Poll: » Koe no Katachi Chapter 61 Discussion Ana - Nov 9, 2014	45	by KanYeeT »» Apr 19, 7:41 AM
Poll: » Koe no Katachi Chapter 57 Discussion Maerow - Oct 11, 2014	40	by KanYeeT »» Apr 19, 6:46 AM

Complete JSL Translations for Koe no Katachi

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