![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
earth_colorsAs my way to commemorate it, I'm releasing new and improved fansubs, originally created in 2013. Now with aegisubs version! The srt were also revised but as always, I recommend the .ass version since it's more complete and has better timing. It features...
Better opening credits!
All onscreen texts translated!
Complete with lyrics and song titles!
"Mada-Mada" ending captions translated, too!
Why I had to revise. Every time I review my old subs from past dramas, I would spot some errors. I tell myself it's already done, there's nothing I can do about it. But in the case of Amachan, I just can't let it pass. I MUST redo it!
If you remember, I hesitated to sub Amachan in the beginning. It was because I wasn't confident enough to do it alone, plus the Tohoku accent was really tough. Danburi declined to watch and sub it with me but said she could help me with lines I had trouble with. I was embarrassed to always be pestering Danburi with questions, and I owe a great deal to her. But if one doesn't know the context of a line, you will sometimes fail to hit the mark, too. This was the reason I didn't release the subs as "EarthBuri Team Subs" because it didn't have the same quality as the ones we did together. If there was an error (and there were), it was mine and mine alone. The Tohoku lines were difficult, but, ironically, the one I had the most mistakes with, was Haruko who didn't speak with an accent. She had some lines that I just couldn't get back then. There were other lines and jokes, too that were really important but I messed them up as well *facepalms*. Thankfully, rewatching four to five years later, they are clearer to me now, which goes to show I've at least improved quite a bit lol. Now I can proudly release it as Wabi-Sabi Subs. Still not 100% perfect but at least to me, it's infinitely better than before.
Amachan is obviously special for me. I admire the writing, and it's something I will rewatch time and time again. It was obvious KudoKan had put real thought into the story even before typing them all out. It wasn't like the usual asadora with a simple often predictable storyline. This was more complex, intelligent, had twists and turns, and elements I enjoy spotting in a story: foreshadowing, irony, inside jokes, pop cultural and historical references/tributes, moments that come full circle, nostalgia, easter eggs, satire, self-referential humor/self parody, adlibs, character developments... It was loads of fun but most of all, it had heart. Where can you find a drama that makes you both cry and laugh during the most dramatic/touching scenes?
Btw, the most significant change I made in these new subs was to finally include the accents. I think it's better now because there were a bit many instances in the dialogue that kept mentioning the accents. Since there were various regional accents especially in the Tokyo Arc, I tried to come up with imaginary accents or eye dialect: for the Okinawa one, I used lots of z's and j's; for Tokushima, I put in d's and rr's, etc. in order to differentiate one from the other. The other change is the lyric translation of "Shiosai no Memory", particularly the line "17 year old is tempestuous like the relentless flow of the ocean waves" which works better in the context of the story.
Why should you rewatch it. It is more meaningful the second/third/fourth? time around. For those who are going to rewatch it (if you still have your raws), like me you'll probably find some things you've never noticed before, like hidden meanings of lines that you didn't catch the first time you've seen it. Also, many lines strangely mirror real life events that happened AFTER the drama aired. Lines like:
"As long as you're here, I will kill your chances." ~Aramaki Taichi Ep 101. Nounen Rena (Aki) who now had changed her stage name to Non, has still ongoing conflict with her agency. She is said to have ended her contract with them but there are still legal matters they're still fighting about in court, that is why her activities are limited. Imagine, even the rights to her own name is being disputed! Poor Non. Hearing Haruko calling Futomaki "petty and small-minded" now felt like a big "eff you" to Non's agency.
"I don't have to sell 10,000 copies... If the song I sing reaches one person, then I would have become like you." ~Aki Ep 97. It seems Non had taken her "Aki" role to heart. As you know, Non has seriously embarked on a career as an indie singer and guitarist. I once saw a video of Non doing a live street concert. It reminded me of GMT5's determination to keep on fighting even without their office's help. Frankly, she may not be a great singer but she's doing earnest work.
Also, Haruko setting up her own office in the story seem strangely funny now after hearing recent news that actress Koizumi Kyoko has broken away from her long-time agency, gone independent and had set up her own production office.
Jokes and lines mentioning about Ojii-chan Chubee's death (actor Kanie Keizo passed away several months after the drama ended) now feel poignant and rueful. Especially when you hear the the song lyrics "Are you leaving without saying goodbye"... (-_-)
And finally, "In the entire Japan, there is no one who can play Amano Aki better than you." ~Suzuka Hiromi Ep 130. That line seems to be speaking to Non directly, doesn't it? Hope to see her in another lead role in a drama soon. Ganbappe, Non!
So come, get the new subs. Delete the old one, and forget that ever happened lol. For those who haven't watched it yet, links to raws and subs are here as well as the link of raw for the Kouhaku Utagassen 2013 performance. Enjoy watching/rewatching~... Happy Jeh jeh!
