What is written in the city of Hanamura? What do Hanzo and Genji say when using the ultimate ability? In this article, we will see some curiosities and study some overwatch phrases in Japanese. If you are from the gamer universe and you still don't know this epic game released in 2016 that mixes an FPS (first person shooter) with heroic characters with different abilities that provide a totally unique style of play. I'll take the opportunity and also mention some curiosities involving Overwatch in Japan!
Game Description: In times of global crisis, a group of heroes band together in an international task force to restore peace to a war-torn world. The group called Overwatch ended the crisis and helped keep the peace for decades to come, inspiring an era of exploration, innovation and discovery. But after many years, Overwatch's influence waned, until one day it fell apart. Now, conflicts have started to erupt again across the world and new and old heroes have been summoned.
Hanzo and Genji - Shimada Clan
Let's start translating 2 sentences from these Dragon brothers! These are the ults (ultimate abilities) that are pronounced in Japanese during the Game, no matter what language the game is in. The ultimate ability of the 2 characters are related to dragons.
Hanzo - A skilled Archer says in his ultimate skill:
- 龍が我が敵を食らう;
- Ryuu ga waga teki wo kurau;
- O Dragão come (meu) nossos inimigos;
This is the literal translation of the phrase, but some translate it as: The Dragon consumes our enemies. Have you ever wondered why they used the ideogram 龍 instead of 竜 which also means Dragon and has the same pronunciation? The choice of kanji is up to taste, but it is believed that 竜 is used more for Western dragons and 龍 for Chinese and Japanese dragons. There are no rules about this, both are dragons from any country, but 龍 seems to be a more traditional and complicated kanji to write. 我が敵 means my enemy, the word 我 is an older way of saying me.
The name of Hanzo spelled 島田半蔵 (Shimada Hanzo). Shimada is a town in Shizouka Prefecture and also refers to a hairstyle and hairstyle popular in the Edo period. Hanzo, on the other hand, is the junction of the ideograms (半) half, odd number and (蔵) to hide, to have warehouse.
Genji – A Sword Master Ninja says in his ultimate skill:
- 竜神の剣を喰らえ;
- Ryuujin no ken wo kurae
- Receive the sword of the dragon god;
Although some sites claim that the translation is Face the Dragon's Sword, the verb 喰らえ literally means to receive a blow, it also means to eat and drink. already the word 竜神 is literally the characters of dragon and god, but does not necessarily indicate a dragon god but may indicate a dragon king. The character 剣 literally means sword, it can be a double-edged sword, a saber or a blade, the term is used for swords in general.
Genji's name is written 源氏, where (源) means source, origin and (氏) means family name, surname and clan. Of course these ideograms may have some unknown and historical meanings and references that I don't know about.
Also, Genji says other Japanese words during the game:
- "Begin!" - Start!
- "流れやすい" - Flows like water;
- “俺は風だ！” (ore wa kaze da) – I am like the wind!
- "覚悟" (kakugo) - Preparation / I am prepared;
- “まだまだ” (mada mada) – Not yet, not yet!
- "Let's play well;"
- “くそ” (kuso) – Damn / Shit;
- "joutou da" - Let's fight
- "My soul is still burning."
- "Let's hope for a defensive battle" - Let's wait for our defense result;
- "My mind is as bright and clear as a stainless mirror;"
- "My soul seeks balance."
Exploring Overwatch in Japanese
The stage name hanamura (花村) takes place in Japan and means village of flowers. At this stage we can perceive several secrets and references to the Japanese language and Japan. Upon entering the stage in the waiting place you will find a red curtain written:
- 竜の吐息で魂も凍る (parte direita);
- Ryuu no toiki by tamashii mo kouru;
- Through the Dragon's breath, the soul freezes;
- 竜の心で気合全開 (parte esquerda);
- Ryuu no Kokoro by Kiai Zenkai
- Through the heart of the dragon, the spirit exudes.
The word 気合 can be translated as scream or fighting spirit. already the word 全開 can be translated as fully open or full steam ahead. In Shimada Castle you will find 2 more identical writings on the wall with a very famous Japanese proverb:
- 七転八起
- 七転び八起き; Fall seven times, stand up eight;
- Fall seven times, stand up eight.
In the middle of Shimada castle in the cinematic animation you will also find another giant scroll written 竜頭蛇尾 (ryuutoudabi). That word is another japanese language pun, as this word refers to an anticlimax or something that started strong and ended weak. But if you examine each ideogram you can understand that they also mean dragon head.
Finally, let's see a very complicated phrase to translate found in a statue of the koi robotic:
- とやちはやちはるぎなみ命舞の鯉
- I love you with all my heart, Chiharu
As the sentence is all in hiragana, it is difficult to translate it. We can find the kanji for life (inochi – 命) and 舞の鯉, which can be understood as the carp dance. Some believe that 命 may refer to the god Mikoto. It is possible that this statue could be related to the Dragon legend.
Also check out some fun facts:
- Who voices D.va from overwatch in Japanese is Risa Taneda famous for the voice of Kaori in Shigatsu wa kimi no use, Erina from Shokugeki no Souma and Mirai from Beyond the Boundary;
- Who voices Pharah from overwatch in Japanese is Romi Park famous for the voice of Edward from FMA, Temari from Naruto, and Zoe from Attack on Titan;
- to see others voice actresses overwatch voices in japanese Click here.
Finally, let's leave the first trailer for the game in Japanese. I hope you enjoyed this short article with some overwatch phrases in Japanese! Don't forget to share and leave your comments.
