Welcome to the Konnichiwa Korok project! This is dedicated to analyzing how professionals at Nintendo Treehouse went about localizing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
To achieve this goal, I’ve broken down the Japanese into a translation that is as direct as possible to the original Japanese. This is then compared to the localized version of the same text and provides us insight into Treehouse’s creative process.
Note: This is not a critical analysis, but an educational one.
This post is covering the first of 23 memories (including the five from The Champions’ Ballad DLC Pack): “Subdued Ceremony.” Take a look below!
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退魔 (たいま | taima) = eradication of malignant spirits
剣 (つるぎ | tsurugi) = sword
選ばれる (えらばれる | erabareru ) = to be elected; to be chosen
ハイラル (はいらる | hairaru) = Hyrule
勇者 (ゆうしゃ | yuusha) = hero
The sword which repels evil chose Hyrule’s hero…
Hero of Hyrule, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness…
たゆみぬ努力 (たゆみぬどりょく | tayumimedoryoku) = endless/tireless effort
結実 (けつじつ | ketsujitsu) = fruition; being successful
剣技 (けんぎ | kengi) = sword skill
認め (みとめ | mitome) = approval; acceptance; recognition
That untiring effort and skill with the sword are recognized…
You have shown unflinching bravery and skill in the face of darkness and adversity.
女神 (めがみ | megami) = goddess
ハイリア (はいりあ | hairia) = Hylia
〜において (〜nioite) = in; at; on
祝福 (しゅくふく| shukufuku) = blessing
授ける (さずける | sazukeru) = to grant; to award
I grant you blessings in the name of the Goddess Hylia…
And have proven yourself worthy of the blessings of the Goddess Hylia.
廻る (めぐる | meguru) = to go around; to return
黄昏 (たそがれ | tasogare) = twilight
染まる (そまる | somaru) = to be tainted; to be steeped; to be infected
廻る is an alternate form of 巡り.
To soar through the sky, return through time, or to be steeped in twilight…
Whether skyward bound, adrift in time, or steeped in the glowing embers of twilight…
結ばれる (むすばれる | musubareru) = to be tied together; to be wed
剣 (つるぎ | tsurugi) = sword
勇者 (ゆうしゃ | yuusha) = hero
魂 (たましい | tamashii) = soul; spirit
共に (ともに | tomoni) = both; together
Bounded together is the soul of the hero and the sword…
The sacred blade is forever bound to the soul of the Hero.
さらなる力が そなたと そして退魔の剣に宿らんことを……
さらなる (saranaru) = further; even more; still more
力 (ちから | chikara) = power; force; energy
そなた (sonata) = that person (someone close to the listener)
退魔 (たいま | taima) = eradication of malignant spirits
剣 (つるぎ | tsurugi) = sword
宿る (やどる | yadoru) = to live; to dwell
「～があらんことを」(ga aran koto o) is a grandiose phrase. Religious characters in manga and games say this all the time. “Xがあらんことを” is an archaic-sounding idiomatic phrase that means “I wish you X” or “May there be X”. It’s a fixed pattern used mainly by priests.
Furthermore, I wish for [this] power to remain within this person and the sword which repels evil…
We pray for your protection…and we hope that—that the two of you will grow stronger together, as one.
やれやれ (yareyare) = Good grief!/Oh dear…
前途多難 (ぜんとたなん | zentotanan) = grim prospects
みてえ is male slang for みたい (mitai).
な (na) is often used by men, and usually within the same age group. It’s used similarly to ね (ne), with a rising intonation, but the sound comes off as a bit rougher. It’s also used much more in casual situations than ね, which is more acceptable in a work environment. Basically, な is a way of expressing an opinion or feeling without asserting yourself too much. However, it can also be used to confirm information.
[Zelda makes] it seems like our future is grim.
She’s making it sound like we already lost.
What are you talking about?
「御付の騎士任命の記念に 太古の伝説 真似てみろ」って はやし立てたの あんただろ？
御付 (おつけ | otsuke) = retainer; attendant; escort
任命 (にんめい | ninmei)= nomination; appointment
記念 (きねん | kinen) = commemoration; celebration
太古 (たいこ | taiko) = ancient times
伝説 (でんせつ | densetsu) = legend
真似 (まね | mane) = imitating/copying
はやし立てる (はやしたてる | hayashitateru)= to cheer; to hype up
てみろ is the imperative form (rough/vulgar/male speech) of 〜てみる. This form is used when you tell people what to do strongly or when you challenge people to do something.
あんた is another form of あなた, which means “you.” However, あんた implies looking down on someone.
Weren’t YOU the one who pushed the idea to “imitate the ancient legend to celebrate his assignment as [Zelda’s] knight escort?”
You’re the one who wanted to designate the appointed knight with all the ceremonial pomp, grandeur, and nonsense we could muster!
とはいえ 彼に対する態度に関しては あの姫と気が合いそうだよ 僕
とはいえ (tohaie) = although; be as it may; though; nonetheless
対する (たいする | taisuru) = to face; to confront; to oppose
態度 (たいど | taido) = attitude; behavior
関して (かんして | kanshite)= in relation to (regarding)
気が合い (きがあい | kigaai) = mood; feelings + together (mutual consent)
Nonetheless, I feel the same as the princess regarding her [hostile] attitude about him.
And if you ask me, the whole things does seem a bit overkill. I think I’m on the same page as the princess regarding…this boy.
しょうがない (shouganai) = It can’t be helped./There’s nothing that can be done.
御ひい様 (おひいさま | ohiisama) = princess
「〜にとっちゃ」 (〜nitoccha) = concerning; regarding
あいつ (aitsu) = he; she; that guy
存在 (そんざい | sonzai) = existence
「〜にとっちゃ」 is a colloquial way of saying 「〜にとっては」.
It can’t be helped. For the princess, his existence seems…
Oh, give it a rest. That boy is a living reminder of her own failures.
コンプレックス (こんぷれっくす | konpurekksu) = complex (short for inferiority complex)
象徴 (しょうちょう | shouchou) = symbol
もんだから (mondakara) is used in situations where you’re giving a reason why something couldn’t be helped, usually something negative.
…symbolic of her [inferiority] complex.
Well, at least that’s how the princess sees him.
I hope you found that informative and interesting! Feel free to share with anyone who might enjoy this. Sometimes I stream myself doing these translations on Twitch. Please look forward to the next post covering Memory #2: Revali’s Flap!
I'm glad to finally introduce Konnichiwa Korok, a personal project analyzing the localization of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! This is a look at Memory #1: "Subdued Ceremony." Welcome to the Konnichiwa Korok project! This is dedicated to analyzing how professionals at Nintendo Treehouse went about localizing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
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