Also a bit of a translation discussion. Because that specific scene has neat humor to it — and the translations could have highlighted it by conveying the bluntness of Reno's line, maybe even by punching it up, but they softened it instead, which weakens the joke (much like e.g. Viz / vol translation loses the joke in ch 11, see Reno's fairness orientation).
The context is: Shinomiya is using her new, personal weapon: a gigantic axe.
Iharu's line is すげえ!! -> Awesome!!/Incredible!!/Wow!!/etc. And he is looking very impressed. He might generally be more easily impressed, responsive to superficial charm like power displays, etc.
Reno's line is 何が私に似合わないだよ アグレッシブで高圧的なお前の性格にピッタリ合ってるっての -> What do you mean "it doesn't suit me"? I'm saying it's a perfect match for your aggressive and overbearing personality. (Which references Shinomiya's earlier "I don't know if that axe suits me" sentiment). It's also delivered with an unimpressed, even annoyed looking expression (his eyebrows & eyes, the huff). Now:
1. Reno's wording & tone itself is already pretty harsh, e.g.:
高圧的 (overbearing/domineering/high-handed/etc) is in itself a very negative thing to say about someone.
アグレッシブ (aggressive) being written in katakana makes it read more punchy, annoyed, like he's actually mocking her aggressiveness there. Kanji for it instead would make it read more like he's making an observation, not implying "and I find that off-putting".
nothing polite or friendly/conversational there. Especially with the っての which adds an insisting, confrontational flavor (sth like: I'm telling you/absolutely/I'm saying xyz/etc).
and the ピッタリ合ってる + 性格 emphasize how perfectly (& the っての further emphasizes it) the brutal axe fits Shinomiya's whole personality, not just "well, you can be brutal sometimes, so this axe is a good fit, actually". In other words: it's not understated — unlike e.g. his teasing reply to Iharu in ch 11 (see Reno's fairness orientation) — instead it's bluntly disapproving.
2. His comment makes a — funny, but also telling — contrast to Iharu's reaction:
Iharu is going "wow!", amazed at Shinomiya's combat performance.
Reno, meanwhile, expresses instead a "all that brutal weapon makes me think of is the brutal personality I have to endure on the daily basis".
He then goes on to being a good teammate & helps her out — though wouldn't be surprising at all if it happened as a compromised fanservice (a "fine, let them collab for a bit. But I'm not discarding Reno's dislike there"), see a detailed look: Does Kn8 have a true version, that we'll never see? — but that comment implies a "I'd rather you not be around if you don't have to".
Which fits his characterization & psychology: perhaps as part of his tsukko/tsukkomi thing (see his character page), he's depicted as particularly sensitive to unfair judgements & treatment — by extension, makes sense to be put-off by people who overall are haughty, aggressive, etc. See Reno's fairness orientation.
3. Another funny contrast is what he's saying VS what the panel is showing:
Reno is rather insistently noting how the brutal weapon suits Shinomiya's brutal personality...
...but the panel wherein that part of his comment is written depicts her in a very childlike way: tongue out, like a kid who's all focused, determined to get the task done well & show everybody how awesome they are & make everybody proud.
Which makes for a visual joke/juxtaposition: "THAT is what you call aggressive and overbearing? lol". Very apt for Kn8, because it sometimes does character designs in such contradictory way. In Shinomiya's case:
in the message that can be found e.g. here https://x.com/KaijuNo8_O_EN/status/1736208208895815987, Matsumoto describes Shinomiya: キコルの可愛らしさの中に一本とおる強さを完璧に表現するファイルーズさん -> "Fairouz-san perfectly expresses the strength that runs through Kikoru’s cuteness" (it's about the voice actor in the anime). Her pigtails thingies presumably are what's supposed to evoke that cuteness visually.
but then she gets a brutal weapon: a gigantic axe. And e.g. here https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/web_pages/1272/, Matsumoto's editor mentions they match characters' combat style to their personalities & that's also evident e.g. in Matsumoto's comment on Iharu's personal weapon on his shotgun page.
She's depicted like that also e.g. in ch 5.
Which also, maybe coincidentally, maybe not, matches her "just a kid who wanted love". See also Insecurity in Kn8: Shinomiya.
A similarly contradictory design is e.g. Ashiro's serious, formal style VS her cutesy harpin (or whatever the specific word; eng = not my 1st). Will prbly have more on that kind of stuff soon & will link it here once done.
So:
cute appearances.
yet brutal personality (represented by the brutal weapon).
That's the contrast. And that seems the visual joke that scene is making: "she's looking so friendly & sweet" but her behavior isn't that. It's just appearances. Reno's comment reveals that fact — as well as how he apparently dislikes (see above + Reno in the manga vs in other kn8 official content) what lies beneath that "aw"-inducing surface. And so true to Reno's seemingly exaggerated comment...
...moments later we see her making a dismissive comment to Reno ("I'll let you back me up ...if you don't slow me down") — to which Reno responds with an "ugh" type face.
Reno seems highly fairness oriented (again: Reno's fairness orientation) & Shinomiya is being exactly what he moments prior criticized: aggressive & overbearing.
It's not some more-or-less-fond "meh" at a friend being competitive — that's how e.g. Haruichi and Aoi interact throughout the manga (e.g. ch 13, 102, etc): competitive friendly banter. Shinomiya, meanwhile, is doing a "prove you're good enough to back me up" — a whole different behavior. Hence Reno's response isn't a "haha, sure thing" but that "ugh" face. It's their job though + they're not close anyway, so he doesn't bother trying to establish respect, just agrees, because they don't hang out anyway so there's no bond to try to improve. Unlike e.g. with Kafka (ch 10); whom he's in love with (how kn8 does romance), written as homosexuaI.
Hi kn8 artists, I’m looking for a picture of Kafka and Reno. From mermay, Kafka and Reno are are just talking then Kafka turns into a reverse merman. Fish on top and human legs while Reno says wtf?
If anyone knows who did this art and where it is please and thank you.
The eng translations — magazine or vol — seem generally accurate enough, afaict & afaihc so far. But sometimes they distort stuff a lot:
the mag transl is more literal = usually more accurate...
...but the vol transl sometimes punches things up — & sometimes that distorts stuff a lot.
Here's one of the juicier examples.
Idk if the vol eng translator/s for Kn8 had notes explaining scenes, character backgrounds, etc or did they only have the manga chapters to go off of. Didn't dig much, but there's e.g. this from reddit, & the translator's wording ("that one was a bit hard to interpret", "thankfully, 'tsukino' was enough of a clue for me") makes it seem like he has to work stuff out alone. If true, vol translation reflects the translator's own judgement/preference/etc, not insights from the original publisher (shueisha), Matsumoto's editor, Matsumoto himself, etc. And it does seem likely, because (& this is just one example, here's another interesting one)...
...in that ch 1 scene, Reno says: いや マジでどーでもいいんで 俺の勘違いなら エンリョなく 諦めてくれて いーんすけど じゃ！-> No/nah, seriously, I don't care/it doesn't matter to me, so if I got the wrong idea, feel free/don't hesitate to give up, It's fine. Later!
But the vol has him go "feel free to continue your quitter lifestyle". Afaict, there's nothing in that sentence or the context, or even anything else anywhere in the manga, that makes that translation accurate:
1. in that sentence, tmk, his speech style is casual in a young slang way, but socially mindful/softened around the edges. E.g:
elongated どー makes it more casual.
いーんすけど (I ̄ n sukedo) is a very casual/slurred/colloquial form of いいんですけど (Ī ndesukedo). The feel is sort of like saying 's fine instead of it's fine.
etc.
Nothing stiff, proper, polite; just a normal, casual young man who's somewhat soft-spoken (instead of e.g. rough like e.g. Kafka, or macho vibe like e.g. Iharu; etc). 100% consistent with his speech style all truout the manga: sometimes he speaks more formally/politely (e.g. to Iharu in ch 11 or 34, or to Kafka in e.g. ch 3, see below), as part of his serious vibe, but never stiffly polite, he's generally casual/normal in his speech (again: tho softer than some others). He's not being more nor less polite in his language/grammar than other Kn8 characters.
So, a simple, literal translation won't miss some important nuance: the content is the nuance more so than the language.
2. compared to his prior lines: 33歳未満に引き上げられますよ防衛隊の募集 少子化のあおりだとか べつに他人の人生ですし勝手ですけど 諦めた話してる時すげーさみしそうな顔してたから, that one isn't more casual / less polite either. The content itself is though, but as in "he's trying to sound casual/whatever abt it". A somewhat dismissive/polite-but-detached tone, trying to keep it respectful (mindful of autonomy). Likely bc he's pushing Kafka to follow the same path he aspires to follow, wanting him in his life because he developed romantic feelings for him (see how kn8 does romance).
3. Reno doesn't demonstrate a belief that giving up is bad. With his rational vibe (see Reno's fairness orientation), he's likely to question the logic behind giving up — but not to have some anti-giving-up ideology.
All truout the manga, Reno displays a high sensitivity to unfairness (inaccuracy, disrespect in that basic sense of "there's no reason to do that", etc). Again: Reno's fairness orientation. If his actual line was the eng vol one, it'd be inconsistent w/ that big part of him.
And so...
...when the vol transl goes "feel free to continue your quitter lifestyle" — sth way harsher than his actual line — it seems not bc of some hidden nuance in the grammar, context, etc. Instead, it seems the translator decided to out of nowhere spice-up that line or e.g. took sth from earlier, misinterpreted it, & injected in that line:
while the sentence doesn't convey what the vol transl says & Reno doesn't demonstrate a belief that giving up is bad...
...Kafka's impression makes it seem like he does believe that — as clear by Kafka's inner monologue right after their 1st exchange. He doesn't know Reno's background (which'd allow him to understand Reno's reaction), maybe has some insecurities/etc talking there, etc. But that's Kafka's perception. Not the explanation of Reno's behavior. Much like e.g. in ch 58 they go No. 6 will be key against No. 9, but turns out not quite = was prbly simply realistic writing: that's what they'd obvsly EXPECT, but they don't know what WILL actually happen. Irl, expectations don't predict the future.
So, seems the translator maybe went off of Kafka's inner monologue there ("what Kafka says here must be a hint for Reno's motivation -> Reno believes giving up is bad") & decided to inject that into the "feel free to give up" line. Either way, whatever the process was:
it's an understandable interpretation IF they e.g. haven't seen ch 101 where Reno's background is revealed, how Reno generally talks, etc.
otherwise not so much.
but regardless, it's irresponsible to use that kind of guesses for translation instead of simply conveying what's actually in the text. Bc it can grossly distort stuff. In this case, it flattens & distorts both the moment itself & Reno's character. They didn't have to punch things up & shouldn't have.
So there's that. If I got sth wrong there, lmk.
What's kind of funny: in that scene, vol transl makes him far ruder basically for no reason (again: maybe bc of Kafka's inner monologue, but it's not wise to approach translating like that) ...but then in his first interaction with Kafka, earlier into that same ch, it makes him come off more polite, afaict even more so for no reason.
both in how he phrases stuff — bc in the original he's using casual grammar (lots of contractions). Not plain rude, but not polite/proper either; just casual/informal/relaxed.
and in what he says — bc in the original he uses no polite address terms or even polite indirect speech; nothing that'd justify the "sir" there.
Wonder why the vol transl did that.
As for speech: Both Kafka's & Reno's grammar is full of contractions = casual, not formal. It's normal for e.g. Kn8 (prbly to convey characterizations instead of blurring the pic w/ the settings' norms + make it more fun to read). Still...
...specific tone/style varies, conveying their vibe:
Kafka speaks like a chill dude, v casual/rough in a grown-up style.
Reno speaks like a generally casual (young slang) & forward yet somewhat soft-spoken/gentle/etc young man who at times gets more formal/polite towards close friends.
Iharu speaks like a very confrontational at times, macho/bro type.
etc.
Basically what you'd expect by looking at the panels, how they're drawn, how they act — & the eng translations usually convey it well too. With some exceptions, such as this one.
In this scene, everybody (Tokuda, Kafka, Reno) is talking casually, nobody comes off as "a polite character/concerned with etiquette"; bc as seen truout the rest of the manga none of them are (hence also Reno's usage of honorifics doesn't seem an etiquette thing, as discussed in how & why Reno addresses others).
Reno: …すか? なんで 諦めちゃったんすか? -> Why did you give up? The vol transl overtranslates the politeness. E.g. んすか? (nsuka?) = a slang contraction of the polite no desu ka? = rough, very informal; not confrontational but not polite either, just relaxed. No polite stuffs ("sir" type stuff/desu or masu/etc). Lang + content + them being his v 1st words to Kafka along with the fact Kafka & Tokuda were just talking abt how Kafka failed & gave up on JAKDF = signals: blunt, forward, doesn't beat around the bush, unconcerned with formalities, "yeah, the guy has no filter". He shows social sensitivity elsewhere (e.g. "You're being rude, Iharu-kun" in ch 11, even while snickering along) & manners (e.g. a polite "yes" to his boss later in ch 1), but here he shows unfiltered curiosity. The context explains why he even bothers asking: moments prior it's said the career path in question is Reno's own ambition -> he got curious bc of shared interest [that's in ch 101 revealed as deeply personal].
Kafka: オレなりに頑張ってはみたんだけどサ上には上がいるというか… -> I did try as best I could, but... there are always people above you, or... Chill, idiomatic speech.
Reno: 自分の才能の壁にブチ当たったっての? -> First off, both eng translations pasted above attribute that line to Kafka, but it seems Reno's. So idk wsp. Apparently translates to: So you ran into/smashed into the limits/wall of your ability is what you're saying?. If it's supposed to be Reno's it's v blunt; he's not beating around the bush. It's not a rude e.g. "So you gave up because you weren't talented enough?", which is sth e.g. Shinomiya or Narumi could say. Instead it sounds like "that's what he got from it & he simply unfilteredly shares it". Reno is being socially inappropriate in a sincere — innocent, one could say — way, not in a hostile way.
Kafka: お前も年食ったらわかるように... -> You'll understand when you get older. Again, v casual as well. E.g. 年食っ is v colloquial, casual/informal. The content itself is nothing hostile, though that kind of stuff can come off as dismissive so he's not being very socially sensitive, maybe on purpose (annoyed by Reno's blunt questions).
Reno: わかんねーっス オレは諦めないんで 死ぬまでわかんねーっス わかりたくもないけど 着替えてきます -> I won't understand. I'm not giving up, so, until I die I won't understand. I don't even want to understand. But I'll go change. And then he slams the door: バタン -> an onomatopoeia for a loud slam/thud/bang.
Polite at the end (ます/masu), but the rest is casual speech (e.g. オレは = a very casual/informal "I"/"as for me"; and so on) + assertive, blunt content. ーっス are polite-ish: a casual, shortened form of desu/です or masu/ます = an informal polite marker that sounds more relaxed/rough/familiar than standard polite speech, common for young men etc, too rude in formal contexts which this isn't (again: everybody was talking casually); translating it as using "sir" overtranslates the politeness.
As for address terms: "sir" is how the eng vol translates "senpai" (先輩). The mag transl reflects the fact the original has no "senpai" there (there's ーっス, but that's an informal version of a formal language thingy (desu/masu) = sort of relaxed-polite/informally polite). The vol transl adding "sir" might be to make it more natural to the eng readers: one would use "sir" in that kind of situation. Problem is: Reno isn't talking politely enough — titles/honorifics or the language/grammar itself — that anything suggests he'd be using "sir" there if he was english.
Now, eng has "sir"/"ma'am" for politely addressing sb if we don't know their name. Jap doesn't. Apparently, the model is: no address terms & instead indirect polite speech (including desu/masu; but not in shortened forms, like Reno there), until the name is known & then use [name]-san — tho many Kn8 characters, including Reno, would prbly just do bare names (see how & why Reno addresses others). Reno's use of honorifics also seems to reflect personal regard, which is likely why he's not using any there. But also, again, no polite speech (or even just manners: he's being v forward). So, vol transl seemingly adjusted it for eng norms, but distorted his portrayal there:
he doesn't do any "sir"-type politeness in that moment. He prbly would if this was more formal, bc he's not uncouth (e.g. a polite "yes" to his boss when ordered to go on intestines later in that same ch, uses "captain" in JAKDF, etc). But apparently not otherwise; unless he likes the person (seems his pattern of using honorifics). Sidenote: So I updated how & why Reno addresses others for that detail tday.
his actual phrasing, too, is casual, not the polite the vol puts there.
Funnily enough, even the way Matsumoto drew him there visually fits with his speech style: casual, kind of raw/rugged, not polite/formal/proper.
So idk where they got his politeness there from, in the vol transl.
What's also weird is the vol transl has Reno use "sir" way more than he does, truout the whole manga.
It's not rly a distortion. Translating it to "sir" instead of sticking to "senpai" is a far bigger distortion: makes Reno's relationship with Kafka sound v formal bc in eng, "sir" is a polite address term for a man, very distant-sounding. So there's that. However, adding it in that particular scene does seem a distortion: weakens the apparent meaning/nuance of Reno using that specific address term for Kafka (see section "Kafka -> senpai" in how & why Reno addresses others).
Since we're at it: some other examples where the vol transl adds "sir" where it's originally not:
(ch 3) It's also another instance where the mag transl reflects what they're saying better, by simply being more literal. The emotional tone is one thing, & vol transl seems to prioritize it; but speech style is part of characterization, so it should be preserved too, if one cares abt accuracy. E.g. in the first panel there, Reno uses "please" (ください), & while the vol transl captures the emotional tone, it loses the nuance of Reno's speech style — which in this case reads like "polite language is one way Reno does sternness", has a serious, very Reno-like flavor.
(in-volume cover for vol 2). No "senpai" (先輩 or otherwise spelled) in the original.
And here's how that "first interaction" ch 1 scene fits with Reno's aforementioned fairness orientation (see) / sensitivity to unfair disrespect (e.g. "You're being rude, Iharu-kun" in ch 11 when Iharu makes a joke abt Kafka's physique):
he does get offended & acts rather rude (a "he's establishing his attitude bluntly & not hiding his hurt ...tho not making drama either").
but it's not proactive rudeness (unlike e.g. Iharu's joke in ch 11) but reactive: a response triggered by Kafka's insinuation about giving up. He doesn't get rude until the moment Kafka expresses a "you'll get what it means to give up once you've lived maybe ten more years". He also doesn't judge Kafka, just rejects his worldview.
Since the career path in question is seemingly tied to Reno's past loss (he lost his family to kaiju, ch 101), Kafka's words easily come off as condescending: "you're so devoted bc you're a teen, it'll not last forever"/etc, which to sb as generally devoted/passionate/serious as Reno, but also esp for the topic being as painful as loss of a beloved family, it'll easily come off as offensively dismissive.
He likely does recognize Kafka isn't actually invalidating his commitment — after all, Kafka doesn't know what joining JAKDF is abt to Reno. But even more rational ppl, which Reno seems to be, aren't immune to misinterpreting stuff like that if they've strong emotions around the topic. Humans are humans. Even those lower on ego still have feelings (e.g. a sense of meaning tied to their choices, etc). So it doesn't seem an instance of hypocrisy, some "edgy/angsty teen being sensitive" thing, etc...
...& in ch 63 sth similar happens when he responds with an offended expression to Iharu's "you do everything alone, you fucker" sentiment, see the upcoming post (likely will be titled sth like "Why IhaReno is so good").
If I find out sth is missing/inaccurate, I'll fix it, and you're also welcome to let me know.
I did this drawing of Ichikawa to make merch out of it! I tend to like characters who are either helpless or extremely cool. He falls into the cool category lol
(parts of arts by Matsumoto) From the beginning till the end. May they continue squatting together for decades to come. The very probable future captains of the Third, rivaling the First not only in power (ch 129) but also in glutes & quadriceps & hamstrings & whatnot. Which technically also translates to power (RCP).
Jokes aside, it's precious they both pose like that. Lil' soulmates. Iharu the lion (he's a leo) baring his sharp teeth proudly, ready to pounce (wonder is that why it's his iconic pose: to match his leo vibe) & Reno the ram (he's an aries), ig, with gray fluff and tufts for horns, let's say, sitting contently, with that subtle smile of his, chilling with him down here. Reno rarely smiles in the actual manga. He's a simple gay guy tho: if Kafka and Iharu are safe, he's happy.
Something I recently realized about Kikoru and Reno. Again, this is all my interpretation because I'm too ship brained for my own good (haven't had delulu hour in a while)
We all know Kikoru believes in him. She'd spelled it out herself subconsciously.
When Reno was using No. 6 for the first time, the people closest to him that we know of, Iharu and Kafka, both instinctively were discouraging about it.
I'm not saying that in a way that implies they had malicious intent—Kafka's first instinct was to go against it because he knew it was too dangerous and was worried it would hurt Reno, and Iharu's own envy + concern (which he ended up scolding himself over and stemmed from his own insecurity) made him initially also try to deter Reno from using No. 6.
It's not that they didn't believe in Reno, but in both their cases their aversion to the idea of Reno using No. 6 came from a place of concern that he wouldn't be able to handle it. Which is understandable.
Neither of them were bitter about Reno's compatibility, and Iharu's insecurity got the best of him because he thought Reno's failed test with No. 6 meant that Reno wasn't advancing as fast as he thought he was and could still catch up to Reno which is why he was relieved (at least that's how I see it! I might be wrong sjdhjdjkg... moving on—)
But then we got to Kikoru. When she first hears of the news, she doesn't worry about him at all—she's actually the one who reminds Kafka that Reno is more than aware of what his compatibility with No. 6 means, and she knows he's willing to take to take that risk anyway because she knows what it's like to feel helpless and take any opportunity to become a better and stronger solider for their comrades.
There was a time where she kind of did doubt him? But it wasn't out of worry or self-superiority or anything like that. She probably just saw him as your average officer until the raid on Tachikawa base. She told him to keep up, and he did. He exceeded her expectations and she could tell he was actually more capable than she initially thought of him. And since then she hadn't changed her mind about him since.
That's why it's so meaningful to me that she was one of the most supportive of him when it comes to No. 6. Hell, even Reno didn't believe in himself and almost succumbed to the voices telling him he was too weak to handle it.
Whether she realized it or not, part of her knows they've been in the same spot hence why she understands why he'd follow through with using 6 even if nearly everyone else discouraged him from wielding it.
Idk it's details like this that make me weakkk. She trusts him to that extent that he knows what he's doing and even stands up for him for following through with his decision. And in turn, it was her reminder to Kafka that made Kafka ultimately trust Reno to handle the mega monsters in the final fight so Kafka could go get Mina.
TLDR: This is such a major example of her respect for him. Even when others, the people closest to him were initially against him using 6, she supported him. So yeah, I'm a puddle. I melt just thinking about them. That's it goodbye :3
