Translators Unite: Translator Interview #3
Going in-depth with the translators of DLsite's "Translators Unite"!
This time we interview the translator "Handmade Dumpling Club" (hereafter "HDC").
DLsite Staff: Hello! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
HDC: When it comes to handmade dumplings, Utsunomiya is the best! I'm the dumpling-loving president of the Homemade Dumpling Club! Nice to meet you!
DLsit Staff: Your dumpling love is on display already! (laughs) Starting things off, how did you first find out about "Translator's Unite"?
HDC: I saw it in a Twitter ad. I thought it sounded like a neat service and decided to sign up.
DLsite Staff: Thank you! What was it that made you want to try translating for "Translator's Unite"?
HDC: I've always loved adult-only content, and had already been translating them as a hobby. In a way, translation is also a form of creation, so my translations all feel like my own children in a way. I felt "Translator's Unite" was not only an opportunity to share my translations for others to enjoy, but to have them released and recognized as official translations. I think those active in illegal translation now should quickly transition to "Translator's Unite" so they can create translations that have the circle/creator's blessing.
DLsite Staff: We can really feel your passion! When did you first start studying Japanese?
HDC: I've always enjoyed games ever since I was little. Back then, even if games had the "official" sticker, the contents were still all in Japanese. At the very least, I wanted to know what items were what, so I studied hiragana so I could make reference sheets. I also watched anime and tried to learn the rules of games like Menko. If you can't read the rules, it's easy to get tricked, so I also studied Japanese in order to win (laughs.)
DLsite Staff: What sort of otaku series are you into?
HDC: In terms of anime, I enjoy series like "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Galaxy Angel". In terms of manga, I like a bit of everything, but I first found out about doujin from a scene in "Minamike"...and from there, manga and doujinshi became my main otaku focus.
DLsite: I see. What kind of works do you enjoy on DLsite?
HDC: I like almost everything, but in particular, I enjoy works with futanari and oversized dicks. But the best is when you find a work that hits just right for that moment.
DLsite: What sort of criteria do you use for deciding on what works to translate?
HDC: I just translate works that make me think "Ooh! I absolutely must translate this!" I want to translate those interesting works that not enough people know about.
For one of the works I translated, I saw the author on social media saying "If this doesn't sell, I'll have to go get a regular job to pay the bills..." Seeing something like that, I felt it was my mission to make a translation of the work and help drum up interest in it.
DLsite Staff: I see! What work has left the biggest impression on you?
HDC: The 3-part series "NTR School Trip", "NTR School Life", and "NTR Graduation Trip" are still fresh in my memory. They were full color, so it was hard to make the translations for them, but I did everything right down to the sound effects.
DLsite Staff: Have you encountered any difficulties while translating with "Translators Unite"?
HDC: I imagine everyone shares this issue, but Mantra (the manga translation system) has very limited functionality, which makes it hard to use well, even for simple things like copying and pasting... Also, recently a translation application limit of 10 was set, so it has become difficult to add new applications.
(DLsite Staff Note: For any translators that wish to cancel an ongoing translation application, please contact us with the title(s) you wish to cancel.)
DLsite Staff: What aspects of "Translators Unite" do you find convenient?
HDC: Mantra (the manga translation system) is quite good at removing the original Japanese lines from manga. It's obviously lacking in overall functionality, but the auto-retouching is great. Inputting text is also quite easy compared to Photoshop.
DLsite Staff: Thank you! What motivates you to continue translating for "Translators Unite"?
HDC: Going back a bit to what I said earlier, it feels all worth it to me when I see people learning about the works I chose through my translation. For example, I really love seeing discussions of the translation on forums, tweets from the author saying "Wow, someone translated my work into Korean!", and things like that.
DLsite Staff: You've translated a lot of works for "Translators Unite". From an income perspective, do you find the extra money from translating helps out?
HDC: Definitely! I'm still working a regular job while doing translation as a side gig, but I feel like the day will come when the income from translating eclipses my regular job, and I'm able to quit, and live freely (laughs.) To be honest, I didn't anticipate my translated works to sell as well as they have.
DLsite Staff: That's good to hear! Before we end the interview, do you have any messages for the users who buy your translations?
HDC: I still have a long way to go, but I thank everyone for buying my translations. While I might not have perfect translations, I always do my best to make translations that don't get in the way of the work. I'm going to keep translating so more and more fans can enjoy doujin works!
DLsite Staff: Finally, do you have any words for those translators out there who haven't registered with "Translators Unite"?
HDC: To be honest, in Korea, there are still a lot of active illegal scanlators out there, so I'd like for them to reconsider their options. Sometimes users will give a couple of hundred Won for a translation of certain works, but "Translators Unite" feels like the better option with better outcomes for everyone involved. So, I hope more works can become available with "official translations,"
DLsite Staff: Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us!
For any potential translators out there interested in partaking in "Translators Unite", you can find more details about the service below! You can also check what works are available for translation now!
↑Available languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
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