GamesRPGLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthYakuza studio director dispels speculation that localization changed parts of Like a Dragon: Infinite WealthWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthYakuza studio director dispels speculation that localization changed parts of Like a Dragon: Infinite WealthWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sega)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s executive producer has shut down speculation regarding localization for the new RPG.
However, the Sega team also said that “the player, whichever country they’re from, should understand and feel the same thing as someone playing in the original language.” This kickstarted some heated debate on social media sites, where some users declared, without evidence, that Sega’s localization team had effectively robbed Infinite Wealth of its Japanese identity.
Some users in particular honed in on one scene in Infinite Wealth, early on, where Nanba tells protagonist Ichiban Kasuga that their mutual friend Saeko Mukoda is an “independent woman.” Nanba then calls out Ichiban for using some “pretty sexist” language in the past towards Saeko, and users accused Infinite Wealth of the usual nonsense: either going “woke,” or pushing a “feminist agenda.”
Now, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head and Infinite Wealth executive producer, Masayoshi Yokoyama, has weighed in on the topic. In the first of several tweets below, Yokoyama reassures his followers that Infinite Wealth, and other Sega games, aren’t fundamentally changed when they go through localization. In other words, the content of the original game isn’t altered during the localization process.
ローカライズについて。その①何か話が間違って伝わってそうですが、ローカライズでオリジナル（日本）の内容を変えることはないです。意図しない蔑称や差別的表現、宗教的な問題などがないかチェックしてもらい、その上でオリジナル脚本で直したりしてます。つまり日本版と海外版で違いはない。January 31, 2024
ローカライズについて。その①何か話が間違って伝わってそうですが、ローカライズでオリジナル（日本）の内容を変えることはないです。意図しない蔑称や差別的表現、宗教的な問題などがないかチェックしてもらい、その上でオリジナル脚本で直したりしてます。つまり日本版と海外版で違いはない。January 31, 2024
In his second tweet below, Yokoyama adds that whenever an RGG Studio-made game has content that doesn’t get across to an international audience, for example a Japanese cultural reference, they alter the text during the localization process to become a reference that an international audience would understand. Yokoyama is adamant that RGG Studio developers would never allow an entire character to be changed during the localization process.
ローカライズについて。その②例えばコトワザだったり、日本の昔話だったり、龍8の章タイトルとかは元ネタの意味が伝わらないので、それぞれの言語の文化圏に沿ったネタに変えたりはしてます。キャラクター性や性格を変えることなどこだわりの強い龍チームが許すはずもないので。January 31, 2024
ローカライズについて。その②例えばコトワザだったり、日本の昔話だったり、龍8の章タイトルとかは元ネタの意味が伝わらないので、それぞれの言語の文化圏に沿ったネタに変えたりはしてます。キャラクター性や性格を変えることなどこだわりの強い龍チームが許すはずもないので。January 31, 2024
Thirdly, Yokoyama simply says that RGG Studio and Sega is doing the same localization today that it has been doing since the days of Yakuza 0. Sega’s localization team purposefully changes text that would be derogatory or offensive in other cultures and tongues, but the implication here is that these changes don’t fundamentally give international players a different product to Japanese players.
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ローカライズについて。※ラスト・ゲームをした人が気分を害する固有名詞や表現は事前に避ける・直訳では意味がわからない言い回しや揶揄表現は文化圏に合わせて変えていく※当然日本もチェックする・龍0以降、ずーっとやってること・龍が如くを正しく伝える。そのためのローカライズチームJanuary 31, 2024
ローカライズについて。※ラスト・ゲームをした人が気分を害する固有名詞や表現は事前に避ける・直訳では意味がわからない言い回しや揶揄表現は文化圏に合わせて変えていく※当然日本もチェックする・龍0以降、ずーっとやってること・龍が如くを正しく伝える。そのためのローカライズチームJanuary 31, 2024
でも翻訳って本当に難しいんだと思います。現に発端となったインタビューも翻訳されたものですし。社内でも私の通訳は最も困難らしいですし。さまざまな表現を使ってガンガン話してしまうので。。。ご迷惑お掛けしてます‼️※ブリッジチーム、いつもありがとう😭January 31, 2024
でも翻訳って本当に難しいんだと思います。現に発端となったインタビューも翻訳されたものですし。社内でも私の通訳は最も困難らしいですし。さまざまな表現を使ってガンガン話してしまうので。。。ご迷惑お掛けしてます‼️※ブリッジチーム、いつもありがとう😭January 31, 2024
Yokoyama has been with RGG Studio since before it was even called RGG Studio - back when the Yakuza series as a whole was just in its infancy. If there’s anyone who knows what they’re talking about, with game localization or anything else regarding the series, it’s probably him.
Read up on our very ownLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth reviewto see why we called it one of the very best RPGs we’ve played in recent years.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”