Azumi: Overlooked, Never Translated Classic

[AironicallyHuman]

I'll be straight here: I joined the forum just to bring Azumi to the attention of an active translation group. Your Btooom releases were always fast (prior to 'training' people with intentionally slow releases, due to running out of content), and any group willing to take on a manga 48 volumes long, with no previous attempt to continue on from, would have to be pretty damn fast if they ever hoped to finish it before death. The speed at which VIS translate Sekitou Elergy (which I'm very grateful for them bringing to my attention!) makes me have to start to ponder whether death or its English conclusion will come first...

I'm not trying to rub anyone up the wrong way by joining just to make a request. Feel free to ignore this if you've got other projects planned. But, if that's the case, I'd appreciate it if someone knew of a group that might be willing to take it on instead, if asked. As your typical 'leeching' anime/manga fan, I can't say I'm overly familiar with those behind the releases of my favourite titles on the internet.

Here's the deal: Azumi is a timeless series, without anything similar in execution. It's on-par with the likes of Berserk and BotI, which are reverred even outside of Japan, but very few are aware of its existence as far as English speaking/typing people go. The ONLY people in the know would be those who've encountered the live-action adaptations; the first of which being a very good film. And I think that's a DAMN shame... especially with all of the newer rubbish that gets attention purely because people disregard old for new.  I understand NOTHING outside of a few JP keywords (thanks, anime!) and can't read Japanese AT ALL... yet I still 'read' the first six volumes RAW. It's THAT good.

Since I rarely post on forums these days, I made the following post on MAL around 4-5 hours ago. But it looks set to be ignored and I figured I might as well *TRY* to bring it to at least one group's atention. Here's the post I made:

I ask (if there are any manga translation group members) because one of THE classic manga has yet to be translated into English. At all. And I'm not exaggerating. It's equivalent to, say, Berserk or BotI not having been translated. The most frustrating thing about the lack of translation is that the entire 48-volume manga - as well as the first 8/9 volumes of the remake - are available on Mediafire, in HIGH quality. (I'm 'reading' the scans via CDisplay.)

In case you haven't guessed based on the volume number, I'm referring to Azumi - a manga that started in 1994, ended in 2008 and has TWO live-action movies released even in the shithole known as England. (I only came to know of the existence of Azumi thanks to the live-action adaptations.) As luck would have it, the first Azumi was a great one; good enough to create interest with no knowledge of the source material.

http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=7842
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384819/

The other day I re-watched the first movie. Then, I went on the net to check if any RAW scans existed, since it got me in the mood to see how the manga differs. I found the following: http://vnsharing.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3363334

Same mass-downloading and a few days later, I got around to 'reading' the first six volumes--me being able to understand a large chunk of what was happening thanks to the first movie. And I have to say, it's truly a masterpiece without anything else like it. From friends being forced to kill each other at the start to the ignorant-of-the-world assassins slaughtering villagers, it covers some very uncomfortable ground, but it also has a sense of humour; Azumi's complete lack of femininity and the other assassins having little understanding of sex leading to much fun. But it's the gradual transition Azumi goes through as she starts to question what she's done that's the main draw, and that aspect was handled exceptionally.

...so, yeah: it baffles me that lots of new mediocrity get focused on by groups but not a title that should EASILY reach the first page of the manga rankings... if a group picked it up and people started following it. It's quite simply too good not to be popular. Even the art is impressive--Azumi either looking beatiful or cute-comical, depending on the situation, and me being able to follow the story to a certain extent because of the vivid expressions.

In short: it'd be kinda rude for me to join a site and ask a group to start on a new project, I feel. So, if any translation people exist, want to check out the first Azumi movie, see where I'm coming from and suggest it, PLEASE GOD DO IT!

PS: I'm aware this isn't the Azumi sub-forum, or the manga forum. I figured, since there's a thread no-one famiuliar with Azumi would read in its forum and more members would glance at general, I'd put it here. (Y'see, I got all strategic.) Move thread and I bite.

http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=33986

PS: I tried to post this in the suggestion forum. Couldn't see a topic creation button. Not sure if the forum is closed to newbies?

[Koro]

MU page: http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=4757
If any of our TLers are interested it's a certain possibility, but given the genres listed I'm not so sure that will be the case.

[leonne]

48 volumes?  with the genre and the total volumes, you need a good dedicated translator to work on this

[AironicallyHuman]

To be precise, 48 volumes... PLUS the on-going 9+ volume remake. :D

Just so you can see the scan quality and that it isn't ALL killing...

Spoiler for Hidden:

(Using my extensive knowledge of Japanese, I know that in the above Azumi's actions are shown on the same page as sex to highlight her lack of maturity/ladyness)

Like I said SOMEWHERE above: there is plenty of humour mixed in. It isn't an angst fest since, at least to begin with, the characters see no wrong in killing people just because they're told to.

Can't you, like, force one of your translators to either read v1 (since he/she can actually READ it, unlike me!) or watch the movie?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC6vjBb9KeQ

[Koro]

It looks easy to clean (and probably typeset), but getting a translator who's interested is the tricky part. Tran might be, but I don't think PROzess or Katsu would be, and the other translators are very unlikely to touch something that long.

[leonne]

how many  pages per chapter? if it's not over 24 i think it wont be that hard

[AironicallyHuman]

The average does actually seem to be around 24 pages per volume, having glanced through a few of the early chapter lists.

Here's the v1 list:



And one other thing: when I downloaded the 48 volumes, 46/48 of the Mediafire links worked. For the other two, there are still DDLs easy enough to find via Google.


I understand it's ultimately up to the translators. All I can ask is that, assuming they aren't frequent posters on the forum, someone ask them/threatens violence if they don't watch the movie. That's all. At least I can say I tried the wall of text approach to ask nicely!

Now I go sleep. Farewell!

PS: Even if you did start and then dropped it, as long as SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET planted a virtual e-manga foothold for others to use, someone else might continue.

[Tetsu]

To be precise, 48 volumes... PLUS the on-going 9+ volume remake. :D

Just so you can see the scan quality and that it isn't ALL killing...

Spoiler for Hidden:

(Using my extensive knowledge of Japanese, I know that in the above Azumi's actions are shown on the same page as sex to highlight her lack of maturity/ladyness)

Like I said SOMEWHERE above: there is plenty of humour mixed in. It isn't an angst fest since, at least to begin with, the characters see no wrong in killing people just because they're told to.

Can't you, like, force one of your translators to either read v1 (since he/she can actually READ it, unlike me!) or watch the movie?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC6vjBb9KeQ

can't you learn some ****ing japanese? with that attitude why would someone scanlate for you? there's probally a reason why its not scanlated, look at our project list, do you think we have the time to comit to it? id gladly try it for a bit, but no tler will be up for it.
Seconldy "someone ask them/threatens violence if they don't watch the movie. That's all. At least I can say I tried the wall of text approach to ask nicely!"  wtf once again thats not the right attitude. If you had the right of it, you'd do something to benefit this group either joining for a position (dont give me that bs about no skills, everyone started from a newbie) or donate.
PS. Your attitude has royally pissed me off, I think when I get back from work i am going to ask rl  jap tler  to take a look at it for me so I can see how good it is, then leak some blurry intense pages leaving the tled version unreadable

ok sorry for my outburst I apologize. Here is a proper response diy you troll

*awesome customer/otaku relations*

[Tetsu]

you have all the tools to do it yourself im sure if not, just get ps, (you already have the raws) use google translate and there you go

[PROzess]

I like the art. Reminds me of Ranma oO

but I don't think PROzess or Katsu would be, and the other translators are very unlikely to touch something that long.

You're being too biased there... Just because I only translate porn ecchi for Japanzai, doesnt mean I only do porn ecchi.
So far I have translated every genre except Yaoi.
It's just that seinen/mature plots flow better with me.
I'm a huge romance fan (and thus shoujo) but sexual intercourse is a way more natural description of a relationship than any other shoujo portraits....

[Tetsu]

i think it looks good, but i dont like the op's attitude but i wouldnt mind cleaning it, depending on what the raws are wait yaoi  nvm

[PROzess]

I'm taking a look at the remake.

[AironicallyHuman]

Hello, Tetsu.



You're an arse. I was being on my best behaviour since I was asking for something for nothing, but you're an arse. I'm sorry. I'm glad you aren't the proofer for Japanzai when you failed to comprehend the whole 'plz don't be offend, ignore if u no like dis' part of my rambling.

I wanted to alert a group that a manga in desperate need of attention hasn't been attended to. Ever, in the history of the internet. I did so. I was aware it'd be rude to join just to ask, but it wasn't as if I threatened internet violence without sarcasm, you elite muppet squad member. AND I FUCKING HATE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT USE FUCKING CAPITAL LETTERS. Fuck... And what's with Raichu looking gormless for an avatar?

FYI, I'd have been willing to proofread, or maybe even learn to clean, if asked. But learn an entire language? Why don't you try first, assuming you're being as much of a hypocrite as it appears. Arse! (Naturally, I'd have prefered the on-release cheer-leading role...)

......

Erm, but yeah: the Azumi 2 / remake scans aren't so hot, just so you know. They're all double-paged (?) and the DDLs that work aren't so plentiful. But since it's a remake and something is most certainly better than nothing, yes please... IF IT INTERESTS YOU AND YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MANY OTHER TITLES! Please don't think any harm will come to you, should you do nothing. At all.

PS: If it helps motivate you, I could show you scans where Azumi is naked, and/or when she kicked a guy perving on her in the balls? Just say the word, like.
PS2: Dropped Ranma after 5 volumes. Takahashi is terrible when not focused and she just goes on forever with the silly. Maison Ikkoku is where it's at.

[Unknown]

Pretty sure Tetsu misinterpreted AironicallyHuman and now the flame war begins!

[Koro]

Double pages can be a pain, but they're certainly workable. It depends on the amount of noise/dust when cleaning... and redraws.
PROzess probably found the raws himself, but posting a page or two to give us a general idea about the raw quality would help.