The title sort of says it all. I'm mainly concerned about your language choices.

Please discuss your reasons.

I prefer to watch in Japanese with Japanese sub-titles. The reason is I'm trying to learn Japanese. Since I can read better than I can listen at the moment, the sub-titles really help me understand what's going on.

Of course I PREFER this way. Finding the Japanese sub-titles for Dramas in very difficult (a few exist, but very few and not for all episodes at that).

Aren't these similar threads:

http://jdorama.com/viewtopic.5216.htm

http://jdorama.com/viewtopic.5366.htm

bmwracer wrote:

Aren't these similar threads: http://jdorama.com/viewtopic.5216.htm http://jdorama.com/viewtopic.5366.htm

Yeah, pretty similar. However, I kind of like the poll aspect as you don't have to go through 5 pages making a rough estimate how people like dramas.

I think this makes a fair thread given the poll and asking how one prefers to watch dramas. The others were about skipping dramas not subbed or watching an unsubbed drama.

I suppose you could say my answer is for ALL shows I watch of any culture: I prefer it in it's native language so that the true emotion can be conveyed properly. Because of this, if I don't know the language (pretty much anything not English), then I search for subtitles and use those.

Of course, on the debate on soft vs hardsubs, I prefer soft-subs to begin with so I can proofread and spellcheck the sucker!

Japanese audio with subs. Although, I would love to be able to watch without subs.... Dubbed JDrama would be too horrible to contemplate Anime for me is different though, I like it dubbed as long as the dub is good.

Anime Dad wrote:

as long as the dub is good.

Most of the times it isn't, though.

I prefer hearing original audio with subs.

I like raw audio with subs. Although I can understand more and more as my Japanese skills get better, if there are subs I can just concentrate on the story instead of worrying about parts that I don't get. Much easier to just enjoy the show with subs.
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Tenshigure wrote:

Of course, on the debate on soft vs hardsubs, I prefer soft-subs to begin with so I can proofread and spellcheck the sucker!

Obviously the benefit of hard subs is there's lower chance of one group stealing the effort of others (yeah, the irony that they are worried about their own intellectual property while tramping on that of the drama's owner does not go unnoticed).

Soft subs I can turn off, then if I have the Japanese subtitles, put them on instead. With hard subs, I have to play games with the screen (get a window to cover up the english subs, put placement rules on the Japanese subs). Of course, hard subs are easier to obtain since they're more sought after. While I'm in Japan, it's easy to go to Tsutaya, rent a series, and rip it with hard Japanese subtitles.

Most non-Japanese fans of Jdramas are not going to learn Japanese so it makes sense most want native language subs.

Tenshigure wrote:

Of course, on the debate on soft vs hardsubs, I prefer soft-subs to begin with so I can proofread and spellcheck the sucker!

Amen to that.

Just don't make those suggestions to the fansubbers themselves: they're really testy about that.

bmwracer wrote:

Amen to that. Just don't make those suggestions to the fansubbers themselves: they're really testy about that.

May even get them to retire, eh beemer?

Nukemarine wrote:

Obviously the benefit of hard subs is there's lower chance of one group stealing the effort of others (yeah, the irony that they are worried about their own intellectual property while tramping on that of the drama's owner does not go unnoticed).

That's what bugs the hell out of me, going back to the recent issues with Mop Girl's release. The show sat on the backburner for almost a year because the group who 'called dibs' lost interest, and when some of our fellow members here picked it up and ran with it, people were calling foul and saying they should ask for permission. I mean, give credit where it's due, but seriously...I'd love to see who's going to claim this ball should (heaven forbid) the JTV stations come after someone legally for distribution violations.

*sigh* I could rant about that all day though...just goes back to the fact that there's plenty of incomplete shows out there or ones that have never been touched all because of this debate. Of course with that double-edged sword, we've got 5 English translations of Nodame by my count so far, so a little bit of balance would be appreciated!

Tenshigure wrote:

That's what bugs the hell out of me, going back to the recent issues with Mop Girl's release. The show sat on the backburner for almost a year because the group who 'called dibs' lost interest, and when some of our fellow members here picked it up and ran with it, people were calling foul and saying they should ask for permission.

Yup.

After the grunt work was done, they were more than willing to scoop it up and release it under their namesakes...

Tenshigure wrote:

That's what bugs the hell out of me, going back to the recent issues with Mop Girl's release. The show sat on the backburner for almost a year because the group who 'called dibs' lost interest, and when some of our fellow members here picked it up and ran with it, people were calling foul and saying they should ask for permission. I mean, give credit where it's due, but seriously...I'd love to see who's going to claim this ball should (heaven forbid) the JTV stations come after someone legally for distribution violations. *sigh* I could rant about that all day though...just goes back to the fact that there's plenty of incomplete shows out there or ones that have never been touched all because of this debate. Of course with that double-edged sword, we've got 5 English translations of Nodame by my count so far, so a little bit of balance would be appreciated!

I thought you could sub any show as long has you start from the first ep. From what I understand they don't want you taking another groups subs, for let's say the first 5 eps, and go from there to complete the series. Then you really haven't subbed the series yourself, but probably started at ep 6. This is my understanding from reading posts at d-addicts.

Jav_sol wrote:

I thought you could sub any show as long has you start from the first ep. From what I understand they don't want you taking another groups subs, for let's say the first 5 eps, and go from there to complete the series. Then you really haven't subbed the series yourself, but probably started at ep 6. This is my understanding from reading posts at d-addicts.

If you can prove that I haven't redone all your work from Episodes 1-5, and then you may have an argument. Problem is, the translation is going to end up about 75% the same, so if I paraphrased your work with different words that mean the same in Japanese, how is that any different? It's just wasted efforts IMHO.

That's like saying that if you want to sub an SP, you have to go from the beginning and sub the entire series it is based off of. Or hell, how would you exactly categorize Loss Time Life, a show that was basically a whole bunch of one-shots that weren't tied together whatsoever?

Like I said, I can go on with several arguments against the practice and for it, but the end goal should honestly be to introduce these shows to those who would otherwise not have the ability to access them, which is why I fully support buying legal DVDs of any shows I watch if and when they become available for sale in my region. It'll just be me grumbling in the corner in the meantime!

Jav_sol wrote:

I thought you could sub any show as long has you start from the first ep. From what I understand they don't want you taking another groups subs, for let's say the first 5 eps, and go from there to complete the series. Then you really haven't subbed the series yourself, but probably started at ep 6. This is my understanding from reading posts at d-addicts.

The exception is if you contact the original subber and they give you permission. marspeach started on ep. 2 of Scandal for instance, but with the proper consent to continue where the original subber left off.

It's a rule basically in place to try to keep subbers happy by not stepping over each other. Not a perfect solution but I think it serves it's purpose.

Tenshigure wrote:

Like I said, I can go on with several arguments against the practice and for it, but the end goal should honestly be to introduce these shows to those who would otherwise not have the ability to access them, which is why I fully support buying legal DVDs of any shows I watch if and when they become available for sale in my region. It'll just be me grumbling in the corner in the meantime!

Yup.

I'm still waiting for someone in one of those clueless stations/studios to realize the vast market out there and start subbing and distributing dramas worldwide... It's an untapped goldmine.

Tenshigure wrote:

Like I said, I can go on with several arguments against the practice and for it, but the end goal should honestly be to introduce these shows to those who would otherwise not have the ability to access them, which is why I fully support buying legal DVDs of any shows I watch if and when they become available for sale in my region.

Well that the true nature of fansubbing. If it wasn't for fansubs I would have never started watching anime or asian dramas. Unfortunately there are people out there who try to make money/profit off of fansubs.

bmwracer wrote:

I'm still waiting for someone in one of those clueless stations/studios to realize the vast market out there and start subbing and distributing dramas worldwide... It's an untapped goldmine.

I'm sure it's coming it's just going to take some time. Now more and more K-dramas are coming out on DVD in North America. I think they're hesitant because some of these shows are really catered to a Japanese audience. What I mean is that unless you have an open mind or an interest in other cultures, you wouldn't be interested in watching J-dramas. It's not like anime, were you have like robots fighting each other or something similar, that appeals to any kid with an imagination.

Jav_sol wrote:

I'm sure it's coming it's just going to take some time. Now more and more K-dramas are coming out on DVD in North America. I think they're hesitant because some of these shows are really catered to a Japanese audience. What I mean is that unless you have an open mind or an interest in other cultures, you wouldn't be interested in watching J-dramas. It's not like anime, were you have like robots fighting each other or something similar, that appeals to any kid with an imagination.

NBC is tanking... Maybe they should start showing J-dramas.

Subbed, of course.

Jav_sol wrote:

I'm sure it's coming it's just going to take some time. Now more and more K-dramas are coming out on DVD in North America. I think they're hesitant because some of these shows are really catered to a Japanese audience. What I mean is that unless you have an open mind or an interest in other cultures, you wouldn't be interested in watching J-dramas. It's not like anime, were you have like robots fighting each other or something similar, that appeals to any kid with an imagination.

I'd have to disagree to a degree here; while some of the shows obviously would require a bit of a stretch to cater to casual audiences, there are several that could very easily hang with the prime time TV shows (heck, one of the few that ws legitimately English-subbed, Odoru Daisousasen, does just that!).

If anything, the live drama groups need to work their way into the older fans out there whom watch Japanese animation (I was one of those who started up after watching PGSM for cryin out loud). They already have a feel for Japanese culture, plus storylines are built similar in a sense as well. It'd be a special interest thing either way, but the trick is these guys need not charge 50$ for a disc!

I think that if they at least try, dramas could become the next big thing. I mean, anime and manga are already really popular. Use that to help advertise. I think it could really take off. My mom and dad have seen parts of dramas when I was watching them and really liked it (my mom saw Anego and Love Generation and dad My Boss My Hero). They should just try it here. There are already a lot of anime and manga fans that I know of who have moved on to drama.
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