Criterion Translation

"Harakiri" (not "hari-kari") and "seppuku" are actually synonyms; they're alternate pronunciations of the same characters that literally mean "stomach-cutting." Most Japanese characters (kanji) have two distinct pronunciations. I don't remember which he actually says, but both are the same word. As for the rest of the translation, my Japanese isn't good enough to tell you how "close" it is, but I generally like Criterion's translations.

I agree with you that sometimes translators of Japanese get a little overzealous when it comes to F-bombs, but it's usually used to emphasize the intensity of the dialogue in ways that can't otherwise be done in English. For example, "Nan da yo?" is a Japanese phrase that I've often seen translated as "What the hell?" or "What the eff?" but really it's just a more forceful way of saying "What?" or "What is it?" "Nan da" by itself means "What?" and "Yo" is simply a Japanese word that adds intensity or urgency, which is why it's often rendered as a curse word in English.

don't know, but Criterion is generally more marxist-leaning..ruined many oriental movies....ruined their traditional value.

I recently picked up the Criterion DVD, and while the superior transfer and extra goodies are great, I was also disappointed in the new subtitles, especially in the final dialogue between Kaede and Kurogane. In the older editions, her last line is something like "I have done all that I set out to do," which fits perfectly with her bearing. This line is missing from the Criterion version, and the scene feels incomplete without it.

I was also bummed that Kurogane doesn't refer to himself in the third person in the Criterion subtitles. I really miss his bellowing "I, Kurogane, have RETURNED!" when he interrupts Jiro and Kaede during coitus.


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