Post by Haruko on Feb 22, 2004 12:53:24 GMT -5
*Please note that Aki is standing as my official interpretator and, as such, can not edit any of what I am saying. This post reflects my and only my opinion on the matter*
To us, Japanese, manga are an integral part of our culture more so than comic books in many other cultures. They oft reflect aspects of it as much as any other medium found. It is a sort of 'way of life', every children have their favorite manga and/or mangaka and follow it faithfully.
Now, with the expand of the internet, we find more and more scanlations done by fans and, to be honest, I find it quite flattering as a Japanese to see so many different people from different countries be so interested in this part of our culture. I can, naturally, only speak for myself and though I do *look* at some scanlations, I do not *read* them for I do not understand English that well.
I do understand, as Aki has mentioned to me a few times, that some people having absolutely NO connection to the Japanese Culture say that those who do scanlations are harming the manga industry by receiving something for free thus *stealing* from the mangaka. That, to me, is a load of [CENSURED] (H: Itoshii, why the censured? A: You can't swear in a public board, chérie. H: Well [CENSURED]!!!)
Anyway, mangaka do not truly care about things like that. To them, the most important is that their work is being read and appreciated for what it is. You have to understand that to a mangaka, having fans do something like scanlations is flattering in the extreme for those take the time to read it, to translate it, to edit it and then share with others something they find worth sharing. Believe me or not, some mangaka actually *do* read your scanlations and greatly enjoy doing so seeing how well a job some are doing.
Naturally, that one appreciate a manga and goes to the trouble of buying it is something one should do but, as I stated, mangaka do not truly look at sales revenue. They are artists as much as painters, musicians and so on. To them, it is the fact that their work is being seen and appreciated that matters more than money.
I have acquiantances with some little mangaka who publish in magasines from time to time and when I told them about the scanlations Aki reads and translates for EoP, most of them were asking for the links while saying that they actually envy those mangaka who are getting scanlated.
We, Japanese, are very proud of our culture and to see others having such passionate interest in it is, to say the least, more than flattering so, please, continue to spread parts of our culture around and do not get swayed by people who say it is wrong when they have no [CENSURED] clues as to what they are talking about. (H: Again with the 'censured'! A: Gomen ne! H: ...You apologize too much)
So, this was my little take on scanlations.
To us, Japanese, manga are an integral part of our culture more so than comic books in many other cultures. They oft reflect aspects of it as much as any other medium found. It is a sort of 'way of life', every children have their favorite manga and/or mangaka and follow it faithfully.
Now, with the expand of the internet, we find more and more scanlations done by fans and, to be honest, I find it quite flattering as a Japanese to see so many different people from different countries be so interested in this part of our culture. I can, naturally, only speak for myself and though I do *look* at some scanlations, I do not *read* them for I do not understand English that well.
I do understand, as Aki has mentioned to me a few times, that some people having absolutely NO connection to the Japanese Culture say that those who do scanlations are harming the manga industry by receiving something for free thus *stealing* from the mangaka. That, to me, is a load of [CENSURED] (H: Itoshii, why the censured? A: You can't swear in a public board, chérie. H: Well [CENSURED]!!!)
Anyway, mangaka do not truly care about things like that. To them, the most important is that their work is being read and appreciated for what it is. You have to understand that to a mangaka, having fans do something like scanlations is flattering in the extreme for those take the time to read it, to translate it, to edit it and then share with others something they find worth sharing. Believe me or not, some mangaka actually *do* read your scanlations and greatly enjoy doing so seeing how well a job some are doing.
Naturally, that one appreciate a manga and goes to the trouble of buying it is something one should do but, as I stated, mangaka do not truly look at sales revenue. They are artists as much as painters, musicians and so on. To them, it is the fact that their work is being seen and appreciated that matters more than money.
I have acquiantances with some little mangaka who publish in magasines from time to time and when I told them about the scanlations Aki reads and translates for EoP, most of them were asking for the links while saying that they actually envy those mangaka who are getting scanlated.
We, Japanese, are very proud of our culture and to see others having such passionate interest in it is, to say the least, more than flattering so, please, continue to spread parts of our culture around and do not get swayed by people who say it is wrong when they have no [CENSURED] clues as to what they are talking about. (H: Again with the 'censured'! A: Gomen ne! H: ...You apologize too much)
So, this was my little take on scanlations.
...I see... :Dsupport mangaka~~ 
...maybe I should make a sh-ai manga...>_>....