Genjuro Kibagami
Edgy redhead rivals of the Edo era
Challenges
vs self
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| There's no need for two of us in this world. I'll kill you! | We don't need the same two men in the world! |
Basically the same. English version cuts the "I'll kill you!", which is somewhat understandable but it's kind of...cute? how Genjuro keeps shouting "KILL YOU!" in Japanese.
The English version is somewhat stilted, but there's way worse in Samurai Shodown 2. Way, way worse.
vs others
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| I'll kill you! | Kill you! |
I tried to make him a bit less caveman-y. I admit the official version is more literal.
Win Quotes
vs self
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| ...I cut a boring object. | You can imitate my looks, but can never imitate all of myself. |
What.
The Japanese line is similar to Lupin III's Ishikawa Goemon XIII's psuedo-catchphrase, but it's not identical. If SNK were going for a reference it would probably be more direct, but instead it's more of a cool samurai thing to say.
The English version is completely different. I guess I can see how a literal translation wouldn't work for Americans in the 90s, but it's not hard to punch up into something that still sounds cool. Then again, that would probably require our missing editor to come back. As is, the English line just sounds like someone had to make up a win quote for a doppelganger match and didn't know what else to put in there.
win with killing blow
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| I couldn't not cut that smile to pieces. | |
| That kind of naivete doesn't belong in this chaotic world. That's why I killed you. | I'll be never beaten by anybody who lives in confort, like you. |
I wasn't sure where to put that English line, again, but the second of these lines seems closest. At least it's sort of connected, with naivete sort of being like living in "confort". It's a stretch, but it's the closest there is. At least it's not as completely bizarre as Haohmaru's line, but it's still hard to think of something to say here because...there's just not that much of a connection!
And there's a blatant typo plus a missing word, but that's kind of the least of this line's problems.
win otherwise
| My translation |
|---|
| What is it you desire? Money? Power? Peace! Happiness! ...useless twaddle. |
Genjuro is a pretty fun edgelord rival in Japanese. He's just such a jerk about everything.
Story
Opening
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Time flowed on after the disaster at Shimabara, but the storm clouds once more begin to gather... | Time had passed since the last trouble. New battles are going to start, now again. |
| Genjuro: Heheheheh....finally, it begins. | Genjuro: Huh, now is the time for all beginning! |
The first line is the same for everyone. Find details on Haohmaru's page.
Genjuro's line here is broadly accurate, but falls down in some bizarre ways. He's doing a sort of evil chuckle in Japanese, which gets changed to "huh" in the English. This completely changes the feeling, from Genjuro looking forward to the chaos to being mildly surprised it's happening. Then "the time for all beginning" is borderline nonsensical in English and sounds almost...religious? It's not the very standard line it is in Japanese.
So while technically the translation is "accurate", the tone and feel is completely off.
Stage 3
On Mizuki's page.
Stage 6
On Mizuki's page.
Stage 8
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Genjuro: ...you. | Genjuro: ..you the evil king. |
| Rakikiki...it's all going so well, isn't it? There's only four left. If you want your wish to come true, hurry and kill them at once. | Ha ha ha, everything is successful now. If you finish killing that four people, I will grant your wish. |
| Genjuro: ...I know. | Genjuro: I got you! |
| Genjuro: That demon king...he's too trusting. | Genjuro: Ha! You no my enemy! |
Right in the first line, we have a rare expansion in English. Gotta make sure players know the evil king is here. In Japanese it's a sullen spark of recognition, in English it's...kind of goofy.
Mizuki's line is pretty much the same, just odd and slightly off-sounding in English. It does get across the idea that Genjuro has a deal with the dark powers, and he's killing people to get his wish to come true. Just...Engrishy.
Genjuro's acknowledgement in Japanese is again sullen and somewhat bored. He sounds much more enthusiastic in English.
Then Genjuro implies he's planning on backstabbing Mizuki/Ambrosia. Or at least he does in Japanese. I'm honestly not sure what to make of the English line. It sounds like they were trying to translate "you're no match for me", but that's not the Japanese line at all. I'm not sure what the connection is here.
Stage 11
On Mizuki's page.
Stage 12
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Genjuro: I'm through acting. You demon king or whatever, I'll kill you now! | Genjuro: The evil king, you should disappear. |
| Rakiki-useless! Useless!-kikiki! Nkikira-I'll eat you all! | You, impertinent small fry, I'll eat, eat you all! |
| Genjuro: Hehehehehehe. I told you, it's time to die! | Genjuro: I said you before, didn't I? Pass away! |
The English version of Genjuro's first line is both weirdly softened, and drops that Genjuro has been just pretending to do the demon king's will. Instead it sounds a bit more like Genjuro has a sudden change of heart.
Mizuki's line is the same for everyone, so check out Haohmaru's page.
Genjuro's final line is...technically accurate, but incredibly Engrishy. Stunningly so. Editor, come back!
Ending
| My translation | Official translation |
|---|---|
| Genjuro: Hmph....a weakling. Hm? It's him. | Genjuro: Ha, ...too weak. Oh, he is... |
| Genjuro: Had a hard time with that monster, eh, Haohmaru? I'll kill you now. | Genjuro: You had a hard fight, Haohmaru. Now, I'll kill you. |
| Haohmaru: Gh... | Haohmaru: You, bas... |
| Oshizu: Please, wait! | Oshizu: Stop it! |
| Oshizu: Haohmaru-sama is injured. You should challenge him after he has healed! | Oshizu: He is wounded. You should challenge him when he's better. |
| Genjuro: ...I didn't expect such a spirited young lady. Hmph...very well. | Genjuro: ...you are quite right. All right, I will overlook you this time. |
| Genjuro: ...it's you again. | Genjuro: It's you... |
| Genjuro: You're an eyesore. Leave! | Genjuro: I'll kill you! |
| Genjuro: ... | Genjuro: ........ |
| Genjuro: ...do as you please... | Genjuro: Have your own way. |
Most of this is the same as Haohmaru.
Genjuro's first line is somewhat confused, but the "too weak" more or less makes sense in context. In English, his recognizing Haohmaru sounds more like an awkward addendum to the first sentence, but it should become clear in the next line.
The Genjuro and frog bit at the end is straightforward, so there's not a lot of changes...except Genjuro's second line. He's just telling the frog to get out of his sight in Japanese, but this gets punched up to threatening to kill it in English. Damn, Genjuro! I suppose someone thought it went with his personality, and, well...I can't say they're wrong.
"Have [it] your own way" is actually pretty good, except for missing that important word. It's accurate in meaning and tone, though, so I want to recognize it.