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toldnews-blog · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/the-wandering-earth-and-chinas-sci-fi-heritage/

The Wandering Earth and China's sci-fi heritage

Image copyright Netflix

Image caption The Wandering Earth debuts on Netflix on 30 April

The Wandering Earth has been billed as a breakthrough for Chinese sci-fi.

The film tells the story of our planet, doomed by the expanding Sun, being moved across space to a safer place. The Chinese heroes have to save the mission – and humanity – when Earth gets caught in Jupiter’s gravitational pull.

Based on Hugo Award winner Liu Cixin’s short story of the same name, Wandering Earth has already grossed $600m (£464m) at the Chinese box office and was called China’s “giant leap into science fiction” by the Financial Times. It’s been bought by Netflix and will debut there on 30 April.

But while this may be the first time many in the West have heard of “kehuan” – Chinese science fiction – Chinese cinema has a long sci-fi history, which has given support to scientific endeavour, offered escapism from harsh times and inspired generations of film-goers.

So for Western audiences eager to plot the rise of the Chinese sci-fi movie, here are five films I think are worth renewed attention.

Dislocation

Huang Jianxin, 1986

For most in the Western world, their first encounter with Chinese cinema came from directors like Wu Tianming (The Old Well, The King of Masks) and Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers, Raise the Red Lantern).

Image copyright NANHAI FILMS

Image caption Dislocation explores themes of work and artificial intelligence in a surreal dreamscape

They were largely preoccupied with themes like the loss of youth, tradition versus change, and creating the rural aesthetic most people associated with Chinese film.

But China in the 1980s was a scene of rapid modernisation, urbanisation and Westernisation, and films started responding to the impact of this massive change.

In Dislocation, a scientist creates an android version of himself to attend the endless meetings that rob him of his time, in a black comedy of mechanisation and bureaucracy.

Huang’s take on the debate on artificial intelligence is superbly delivered against a surreal Kafka-esque dreamscape, with stark lighting and suspenseful music, making this film a delight to watch.

Hopefully the new interest in kehuan will see it gain an official release in the West.

Warrior Revived

Li Guomin, 1995

A grown-up style of kehuan emerged in the 1990s, reflecting the themes of identity versus technological advancement which were also occupying Western sci-fi at the time.

Image copyright Shanghai Film Studios

Image caption The low budget appearance of Warrior Revived never gets in the way of its creative energy

In Warrior Revived, police officer Song Da Wei dies a gruesome death on duty and ends up in a decade-long coma. He’s brought back to life by a “miracle cure” from a biologist who has found a way to repair defective DNA.

The genetically enhanced Song finds himself uncomfortable with the cyberised world around him, and excluded by his old comrades. Meanwhile, the heavily maimed villain he gave his life to destroy is plotting to steal the gene formula and wreak his revenge.

Like a lot of great cyberpunk movies before the age of CGI, this early mainland kehuan impresses with its high kitsch, low-budget, imaginative approach.

The villain’s lair is filled with neon tubes, hand-crafted lab controls and walls covered with plastic bowls in the best traditions of the Tardis.

What it lacks in sleekness it more than makes up with innovative costume designs and soundtrack, diligent camera work and the sheer energy from the cast.

Wonder Boy

Song Chong, 1988

The 1980s brought a slew of Hollywood sci-fi films made for children, but which appealed equally to adults – like Explorers, Flight of The Navigator, and D.A.R.Y.L. – and filmmakers in China were taking a similar route.

Image copyright Children’s Film Studio

Image caption Wonder Boy remains popular and is still occasionally played out on national TV

Produced by the Children’s Film Studios and hailed as the nation’s first children’s fantasy film, Wonder Boy tells the story of a child born with the ability to generate electricity.

Bei Bei is bullied by neighbours and kept in isolation by parents who want to protect him, but is still a caring and mischievous little boy, who uses his powers to help others and have fun in equal measure.

When Bei Bei is taken away to be experimented on – by a non-governmental, possibly foreign group – a handful of the close friends he has made come to his rescue.

Well-loved for its humour and accessibility, Wonder Boy is remembered in China as a great classic, and still enjoyed by children today when it is repeated on both national television and streaming services.

Reset

Hong-Seung Yoon, 2017

Produced by Jackie Chan and winner of the 2017 Grand Remi for Best Feature and Best Actress, Reset is a time travel thriller, which addresses a Chinese preoccupation with personal roles in a culture that so totally promotes the good of society.

Xia Tian (Yang Mi) is a senior researcher of wormhole technology and a single mother. When her young son is kidnapped, she is forced to hand over her research, but when the villain murders her child anyway she is forced to test her own discoveries into time travel in order to save his life, and maybe undo her own betrayal of the programme.

Image copyright Beijing Yaoying Movie Distribution Co Ltd

Image caption Reset explores the identity struggle facing many modern Chinese women

The film is an exploration of the plight of a New Chinese Woman, who walks the line between the roles of highly skilled professional and loving mother. The psychological exploration is fantastic. With several versions of Xia being generated by her repeated time travel, the face-off between our heroine and these alternate selves, including a darker, damaged one, creates an amazing tension which is missing from so many Western takes on this classic trope.

A female-led space kehuan story that also deals with single parenthood couldn’t be more relevant in a society that is simultaneously beginning a golden space age, and struggling with attitudes to women’s emancipation.

Super Mechs

Cui Junjie, 2018

Wuxia, or kung fu fantasy, is so intrinsic to Chinese pop culture it was almost inevitable that its tropes would be incorporated into Chinese sci-fi.

Image copyright Seven Entertainment Pictures

Produced exclusively for IQiyi, China’s version of Netflix, Super Mechs is set in 2066 in a world where humanity has begun to experience genetic mutations which leave some people with X-Men style super powers.

Global criminal organisations are threatening the order of society and private entities are stepping up to uphold it by developing highly advanced mechanised power suits.

Hero Xiao Qi is an ordinary office clerk enlisted by the Dragon Clan, who reveal to him his latent mutant ice powers, before arming him with a robotic power suit and sending him on a mission. Little does Xiao Qi know that he will be greeted by another mech-suited warrior with fire-based powers who will fight him to a standstill.

The “warriors with opposite powers” trope is a staple of the wuxia genre, but the film falls deeper down the rabbit hole when this deadly opponent is revealed to be Xiao Qi’s long-lost brother.

Add in ancient warring clans, fast-paced action between the sleek computer-generated mechanical fighters and a cheeky sense of humour from our protagonist, and the high budget Huayi Brothers production appeals to fans of superhero, kung fu and toku/tecuo films alike.

The works of stalwart wuxia authors like Jin Yong are steadily being translated into English, so we will certainly see more from this sub-genre reach our screens.

Acknowledging the rich and varied Chinese science fiction tradition does not at all detract from the pride in the success of Wandering Earth.

With China’s growing middle class and increased youth spending power, Chinese filmmakers are increasingly catering for a booming domestic demand for entertainment, and no longer worry as much about making their films palatable for export.

But with more East-West co-productions in the pipeline, like the animated Next Gen which originated from a Chinese web comic, it is certainly a sensible decision for companies like Netflix to bring films from platforms like IQiyi, to an English speaking audience, and that is going to include kehuan.

Western audiences may not immediately “get” some of these films, or may feel that some elements do not flow to their expectations.

But Wandering Earth and the titles above are the product of China’s culture and worldview. And to some extent, it’s what makes them different that will pique interest, fascinate and entertain.

Xueting Christine Ni is a writer and speaker on Chinese culture, based in the UK. She can be found on Twitter at @xuetingni

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redux-pain · 5 years

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Black QR Cards: story time

石像の話その１Ｓｔａｔｕｅ　Ｔａｌｅ　１ About the Statues, part 1

如月市にある、謎の石像。どういう理由で作られたのか？誰が作って置いたのか？その理由は誰にも分かっていない。ただ、夜中になると石像から不気味な音が鳴り響く…… ガサガサゴソゴソ…… 一体何が起きたのか……？

Ａ　ｍｙｓｔｅｒｉｏｕｓ　ｓｔａｔｕｅｉｎ　Ｋｉｓａｒａｇｉ　Ｃｉｔｙ．　Ｗｈｏｂｕｉｌｔ　ｉｔ？　Ｎｏｂｏｄｙ　ｋｎｏｗｓ．Ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅｎｉｇｈｔ，　ａ　ｓｃａｒｙ　ｓｏｕｎｄｃｏｍｅｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｉｔ．Ｗｈａｔ’ｓ　ｔｈａｔ？！

There’s are mysterious statues in Kisaragi City. For what purpose were they created? Who was the one who made them and erected them? No one knows. But... in the middle of the night, a strange sound echoes from the statues... a rustling sound... What on earth has awakened...?

[EN item name: StatueCard1]

石像の話その２Ｓｔａｔｕｅ　Ｔａｌｅ　２ About the Statues, part 2

夜な夜な石像の周りで鳴り響く不気味な音…… 石像から鳴っているのか、それとも周りの地形から？全ては闇に包まれており、実態を知ることが誰にも出来ない。 ……ただ分かっているのは、音と一緒に、闇の中で黒くうごめく塊があると言うこと

Ａｔ　ｎｉｇｈｔ，　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｕｅｍａｋｅｓ　ａ　ｓｃａｒｙ　ｓｏｕｎｄ．Ｉｓ　ｉｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｕｅ，　ｏｒｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒｏｕｎｄ？Ｎｏｂｏｄｙ　ｋｎｏｗｓ，　ｂｕｔｔｈｅｙ’ｖｅ　ｓｅｅｎ　ａ　ｂｌａｃｋｓｈａｐｅ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ａｒｏｕｎｄｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｒｋ．

Night after night, a strange sound echoes around the statues... Does it come from the statues, or from the area around them? With everything shrouded in darkness, no one can know the truth. ....All we do know is that, along with the sound, rumor has it a black shape creeps through the darkness.

[EN item name: StatueCard2]

石像の話その３Ｓｔａｔｕｅ　Ｔａｌｅ　３ About the Statues, part 3

闇を這いずり回るかのように石像の周りを動きだす闇の生物。奇妙な音と一緒に、ひときわ大きな荒い息づかいが聞こえてくる…… その正体とは一体……？

闇の生物の正体を暴きたい者、命が惜しくない者は夜の街へと舞い出てみるが良いだろう……

Ｔｈｅ　ｃｒｅａｔｕｒｅ　ｃｒａｗｌｉｎｇａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｕｅｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｒｋ　ｂｒｅａｔｈｅｓｈｅａｖｙ　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ａ　ｓｃａｒｙｓｏｕｎｄ．　Ｗｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ｉｔ？Ａｒｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｂｒａｖｅ　ｅｎｏｕｇｈｔｏ　ｆａｃｅ　ｉｔ？

A creature stirs near the statues in the night, as if it’s crawling through the darkness. Along with the bizarre noise, you can hear tremendously loud, rough breathing... What is its true form...?

Anyone who wants to expose the true form of the creature in the darkness, anyone who places no value on their life, should go out dancing into the town at night...

[EN item name: StatueCard3]

[note on these three: The lack of plurals in Japanese means they got translated into a story about a single statue in the EN release... however, if you play the game, you know there are multiple statues in Kisaragi, making it much more obvious that this is about the noises from Takano’s machine and his heavy breathing as he goes around measuring Odo.]

鉄の胃袋Ｉｒｏｎ　Ｇｕｔ A Cast-Iron Stomach

老若男女、誰にも分け隔てなく優しさを振りまく、刑事さん。そんな彼女の凄い記録を知っているかい？スウィートリングの食べ放題。２時間掛けて食べたケーキの総数まさかの２７個。鉄の胃袋とは彼女のことか！？

Ｔｈｅ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｋｉｎｄ　ｄｅｔｅｃｔｉｖｅ．Ｓｈｅ’ｓ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ．Ｄｏ　ｙｏｕ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈａｔｗｏｍａｎ’ｓ　ｒｅｃｏｒｄ？　Ｓｈｅａｔｅ　２７　ｃａｋｅｓ　ｉｎ　２ｈｏｕｒｓ！　Ｗｏｗ！　Ｓｈｅｈａｓ　ａｎ　ｉｒｏｎ　ｓｔｏｍａｃｈ！

A detective who shows kindness to men and women of all ages without discrimination. Have you heard about her staggering record?

The all-you-can-eat at Sweet Ring. The total number of pastries she ate within 2 hours... an astonishing 27. Does she have one of those cast-iron stomachs?!

[item name: 王者のカード (Ruler’s Card); EN release: King’sCard]

天使の歌声Ａｎｇｅｌ　Ｖｏｉｃｅ Angel’s Song

胸ポケットに最愛の土偶を入れた見るからに危険な中年男。だけど、ただの危ない男ではない。何せ、その土偶と会話をする事が出来るのだ。ウワサによると、その土偶に認められた者だけが、土偶の声を聞く事が出来るらしい。その声は天使のような歌声という。

Ｔｈｅｒｅ’ｓ　ａ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ　ａｇｅｄｇｕｙ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｓｔａｔｕｅ　ｉｎｈｉｓ　ｃｈｅｓｔ　ｐｏｃｋｅｔ．　Ｈｅｌｏｏｋｓ　ｄａｎｇｅｒｏｕｓ．　Ｈｅｔａｌｋｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｕｅ　ａｎｄｌｅｔｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｕｅ　ｃｈｏｏｓｅｗｈｏ　ｈｅ　ｔａｌｋｓ　ｔｏ．　Ｉｔｈａｓ　ａｎ　ａｎｇｅｌｉｃ　ｖｏｉｃｅ．

With his beloved clay figure stowed in his breast pocket, you can tell at a glance he’s a dangerous middle-aged man. But he’s no ordinary dangerous man. Because he can talk with that clay figure. Rumor has it that only people the clay figure approves of can hear its voice. That voice is like the singing of an angel.

[note: “Dangerous” (危険な and 危ない) here is more like “...oh, boy, here we go”, not actually someone who presents a danger.]

[EN item name: ClayDollCard]

緑の腹へ… Ｇｒｅｅｎ　Ｇｕｔ Into the Green Gut...

全身緑の人の、あの膨らんだ腹…… 一体何が詰まっているというのか？昼寝している緑の腹を突いてみた。一瞬にして、触れた指先が腹に飲み込まれそうになる…… こ、怖いっ……！泣きながら俺は逃走した…… 誰か勇気ある者を求む！

Ｗｈａｔ��ｉｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅｇｒｅｅｎ　ｇｕｙ’ｓ　ｇｕｔ？Ｉ　ｐｏｋｅｄ　ｈｉｓ　ｓｔｏｍａｃｈｗｈｉｌｅ　ｈｅ　ｓｌｅｐｔ，　ａｎｄｍｙ　ｈａｎｄ　ｇｏｔ　ｓｕｃｋｅｄｉｎ！　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｏ　ｓｃａｒｙ！Ｉ　ｒａｎ　ａｗａｙ　ｃｒｙｉｎｇ．Ｙｏｕ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｔｒｙ　ｉｔ．

That bulging belly belonging to the guy who’s green from head to toe... just what is it stuffed with? I tried poking the green gut while [he was] napping. In an instant, it was like the finger that poked it was swallowed up...

S-scary...! I ran away crying... Now seeking brave people!

[EN item name: ChallengeCard]

至極の感触Ｇｒｅａｔ　Ｔｏｕｃｈ The Best Feeling

有志が現れなかったので、再び自ら挑む事にする。緑の腹を軽く突く。波打つ脂肪細胞。さらに突く…… ヤバイ…感触がマシュマロのようだ夢中になって触る俺と、そこへ、俺の意中の女子が白い目を向けて通り過ぎて行った… 後は任せた有志たち（´；ω；｀）

Ｎｏ　ｃｈａｌｌｅｎｇｅｒ？　Ｉ’ｌｌ　ｔｒｙａｇａｉｎ．　Ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｐｏｋｅ，　ｔｈｅｆａｔ　ｗｉｇｇｌｅｓ．　Ｓｅｃｏｎｄ　ｐｏｋｅ，ｉｔ’ｓ　ｌｉｋｅ　ａ　ｍａｒｓｈｍａｌｌｏｗ！Ｉｔ’ｓ　ｎｕｔｓ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｇｉｒｌ　Ｉｌｉｋｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｐａｓｓｅｄ　ａｎｄｇａｖｅ　ｍｅ　ａ　ｗｅｉｒｄ　ｌｏｏｋ．Ｉ　ｄａｒｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｔｏ　ｔｒｙ！

No volunteers showed up, so I’ll tackle it again myself. Gently poking the green gut. Ripples of fat cells. I poke it again... Yikes... the feeling is like a marshmallow. At that point the girl I like passes by. I’m touching it as if I’m in a dream. She gives me a disapproving look... I’m leaving the rest to you, volunteers （´；ω；｀）

[EN item name: ChallengeCrd2]

俺は男！Ｉ’ｍ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍａｎ I Am A Man!

すげー怖いことで有名な、あのコンビニ店長に挑んでみることに。と、とりあえず怖いので、遠目から観察。隠れて観察。店長はずっと掃除をしている。とりあえず、入り口にゴミを投下かなりの剣幕で回収して行く。やべっ……楽しいｗｗ

Ｔｈｅ　ｇｕｙ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅｃｏｎｖｅｎｉｅｎｃｅ　ｓｔｏｒｅ　ｉｓａ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｃｒａｂｂｙ　ｇｕｙ．　Ｉｌｉｋｅ　ｔｏ　ｍｅｓｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｈｉｍ．Ｉ　ｄｒｏｐ　ｔｒａｓｈ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅｅｎｔｅｒａｎｃｅ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅ　ｃｏｍｅｓａｎｄ　ｐｉｃｋｓ　ｉｔ　ｕｐ　ａｎｇｒｉｌｙ．Ｉｔ’ｓ　ｓｏ　ｆｕｎｎｙ！

Challenging that convenience store manager is famous for being super scary. S-since it’s scary, I’m watching from a distance to start with. Hiding and watching. He’s always cleaning. To start with, I drop some trash at the entrance and he comes to pick it up with a super pissy look.

Uh oh... this is fun lolol

[EN item name: Man’sCard]

俺は男？Ｉ’ｍ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍａｎ？ I’m... A Man?

コンビニ店長の回収スピードに負けないため、次々と投下する。次なるゴミを手に、投下準備に入ると、１人の少女が俺の前に… 俺を凝視し、次に俺が手に持ったゴミに目を止める。少女は冷たく笑って去って行った…… ぐはっ…俺様に１００のダメージ↓

Ｉ　ｋｅｅｐ　ｄｒｏｐｐｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｔｒａｓｈ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｓｔｔｉｍｅ　ａ　１ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｇｉｒｌ　ｃａｍｅｕｐ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｌａｕｇｈｅｄａｔ　ｍｅ，　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗａｌｋｅｄａｗａｙ．．．　Ｉ　ｓｕｆｆｅｒｅｄ１００　ｐｏｉｎｔｓ　ｏｆｄａｍａｇｅ！

So I don’t get beat by the store manager’s picking-up speed, I'm gonna drop [trash] over and over. With the next trash in my hand, I go in, preparing to drop it. The girl in front of me... she stared at me, and the trash in my hand caught her eye. She left with a cold smile... Guha... My incredible confidence took 100 points of damage ↓

[EN item name: Man’sCard2]

集え我らが希望！Ｗａｎｔｅｄ Together, We Are Hope!

この世で出会いたくない女性。それが、市民会館のババァ！あれはヤバイ！　人じゃない！美青年は絶対に近づくな！ヤツのテリトリーに入った瞬間即死亡。さあ、ぶさいく軍団よ、お前たちがこの世の最終兵器。ヤツの生気を奪い去れ！

Ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｉｒｌ　Ｉｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｗａｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ．ｓｈｅ　ｗｏｒｋｓ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｖｉｃｈａｌｌ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｉｓｎ’ｔ　ｈｕｍａｎ．Ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ’ｒｅ　ａｔｔｒａｃｔｉｖｅ，ｙｏｕ’ｒｅ　ｄｏｏｍｅｄ．　Ｕｇｌｙｇｕｙｓ，　ｕｓｅ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｐｏｗｅｒｓｔｏ　ｏｖｅｒｃｏｍｅ　ｈｅｒ！

There’s one woman in this world you never want to meet. The old lady of the Civic Hall! She’s a terror! She’s inhuman! Handsome young men: do NOT approach her! The moment you enter her range, you’re doomed. Ugly crew, you guys are the world’s final weapon. Drain her life force!

[EN item name: SummonsCard]

私の愛しい人Ｍｙ　Ｍａｎ The One I Love

３区にあるユウジ様のお店。みんなは変って言うけど、全然そんなことないんだからね？ユウジ様は本当に最高なの！ああ、この想いを受け取ってもらえないかしら……。とりあえず、ラブアタック内容を、次から報告しちゃいます☆

Ｙｕｚｉ’ｓ　３ｒｄ　ａｒｅａ　ｓｔｏｒｅ．Ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｓａｙｓ　ｈｅ’ｓｓｔｒａｎｇｅ　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔｔｈｉｎｋ　ｓｏ．　Ｉ　ｗａｎｔ　ｈｉｍｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｈｏｗ　Ｉ　ｆｅｅｌ．　Ｉｗｉｌｌ　ｒｅｐｏｒｔ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｎｗｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ｌａｔｅｒ．

Yuuji-sama’s store is in Sector 3. Everybody says he’s weird, but I don’t think so at all. Right? Yuuji-sama is the best, actually! Oh, I wonder if he’ll accept my feelings... I’ll start with an assault of love. I’ll report its contents in the next one☆

[EN item name: LoveSeedCard]

泣かないで…… Ｄｏｎ’ｔ　Ｃｒｙ Don’t Cry.....

愛しのユウジ様の胃袋を満たすべく手作りクッキーをポストに投下。ああ、手に取り喜んで下さっている私、し・あ・わ・せ♪ て！　ウソでしょ！？ユウジ様ったら、つまずいて、クッキーを全部ぶちまけちゃった… ああ、ユウジ様泣いてらっしゃる…

Ｉ　ｇａｖｅ　Ｙｕｚｉ　ｈｏｍｅｍａｄｅｃｏｏｋｉｅｓ．　Ｈｅ　ｆｉｎｄｓ　ｔｈｅｍａｎｄ　ｓｅｅｍｓ　ｈａｐｐｙ．　ＳｏＩ’ｍ　ｈａｐｐｙ．．．　Ｗａｉｔ！Ｈｅ　ｆａｌｌｓ　ｄｏｗｎ　ａｎｄｓｐｉｌｌｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｏｋｉｅｓｅｖｅｒｙｗｈｅｒｅ．Ｈｅ’ｓ　ｃｒｙｉｎｇ．．．

I put some homemade cookies in my beloved Yuuji-sama’s mailbox, to fill his stomach. Oh, he’s picking them up! I’m su-per ha-ppy ♪

Huh?! Are you serious?! Yuuji-sama tripped and spilled all the cookies... He’s crying...

[EN item name: LoveLeafCard]

私の天使様Ｍｙ　Ａｎｇｅｌ My Angel

ユウジ様のクッキーを手に、入り口付近でうろうろする私。と、そこに白いコートが似合う美少年、いや天使様が登場…… だけど、目の前をバカ面した男が遮ったのでムカついてクッキーを投げつけてやったわ！　ふんっ！私は今日から少年を追いますわ♪

Ｉ’ｍ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｔｅｒａｎｃｅｗｉｔｈ　ｃｏｏｋｉｅｓ　ｆｏｒ　Ｙｕｚｉ，ｂｕｔ　ａ　ｇｕｙ　ｉｎ　ｗｈｉｔｅｐａｓｓｅｓ．　Ｈｅ　ｌｏｏｋｓ　ｌｉｋｅａｎ　ａｎｇｅｌ．　Ｉ　ｇａｖｅ　ｈｉｍａ　ｃｏｏｋｉｅ．　　Ｆｒｏｍ　ｎｏｗｏｎ　Ｉ’ｌｌ　ｃｈａｓｅ　ｔｈｅｇｏｏｄ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ｇｕｙ．

I’m lurking by the entrance to give Yuuji-sama some cookies in person. ...And, a handsome boy appears--no, an angel! In a white coat that looks great on him. But a man with a goofy face got in front of me and blocked him, so I got mad and threw the cookies at him! Hmph! I’m going after younger guys from now on ♪

[note: These three have been using "watashi”, indicating that they’re written by a woman. ...No information about her age, but yes, she does say she’s going after “shounen” from now on, not bishounen. (Bishounen is usually used for guys under 20 anyway; Western fandom imported it early on as a new type of genre aimed at girls was developing, and it’s become divorced from the age connotations of “shounen”**.) Anyway, she’s talking about Shinji here, so... hopefully she’s 17 or 18!!!

**This also applies to terms like shounen-ai and shoujo-ai, which were historically used to refer to pederasty, and saw a resurgence in the manga world when early sexually-charged yaoi works were emerging. Current Japanese fandom has dropped shounen/shoujo ai because the words are so age-specific. Of course the replacements, Boys’ Love and Girls’ Love, are just direct translations of the problematic words... but English-speaking fandom already did the same thing with shounen and shoujo, so it’s fair enough.]

[EN item name: LoveFlowerCrd]

ただ者じゃないＨｅ’ｓ　Ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ No Ordinary Guy

ＴＯＹＢＯＸに、毎日居る俺。特に、格闘系では負けなしの俺。と、そこに今日は店長が乱入あんな、ヘラヘラした男に負けるか甘かった…… 秒殺されたｏｒｚアイツのコマンド入力は神の領域！悔しい…あんな男に負けるなんて！クソッあのＴシャツ脱がしてやる！

Ｉ　ｐｌａｙ　ｇａｍｅｓａｔ　Ｔｏｙｂｏｘ　ｅｖｅｒｙｄａｙ．Ｉ　ｎｏｒｍａｌｌｙ　ｌａｃｋ　ａｎｏｐｐｏｎｅｎｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｆｉｇｈｔｉｎｇｇａｍｅｓ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎａｇｅｒｐｌａｙｅｄ　ａｇａｉｎｓｔ　ｍｅ．　Ｉｃａｎ’ｔ　ｂｅｌｉｅｖｅ　Ｉ　ｇｏｔｏｗｎｅｄ　ｂｙ　ｓｕｃｈ　ａ　ｎｅｒｄ！ｏｒｚ

I’m always at TOYBOX, every day. I’m especially good at the fighting games. I never lose. So today the manager took me on in one... I figured I couldn’t lose to that goof. So naive... He slaughtered me orz He’s absolutely godly at punchng in the commands!

This sucks... I can’t believe I lost to HIM! I’m gonna rip that friggin T shirt right off him!

[item name: 勝負のカード (Battle Card); EN release: ContestCard]

邪魔すぎるＨｅ’ｓ　Ａｎｎｏｙｉｎｇ Quit Blocking Me

いつも大きな犬と一緒に居る少女。あの犬… オスなのかメスなのか？も、もしもオスならば、俺様のキックがクリーンヒットするぜ！ＨＡＨＡＨＡ！　これで少女は俺に一目惚れ！？　あっいや… そんな目で見ないでくれ… 俺様は、ろ、ロリコンじゃねえ！

Ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｇｉｒｌ　ａｌｗａｙｓｈａｓ　ａ　ｂｉｇ　ｄｏｇ．　Ｉｓ　ｉｔａ　ｂｏｙ　ｏｒ　ｇｉｒｌ　ｄｏｇ？　Ｉｆｉｔ’ｓ　ａ　ｂｏｙ　Ｉ’ｌｌ　ｋｉｃｋ　ｉｔ！Ｈａｈａｈａ！　Ｉ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒ　ｉｆｓｈｅ’ｌｌ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｍｅ？　Ｂｕｔｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｍｉｓｔａｋｅ　ｔｈａｔ．Ｉ’ｍ　ｎｏ　ｐｅｄｉｐｈｉｌｅ．

There’s this girl who’s always with a big dog. That dog... is it a male or female? I-if it’s a male, I’m gonna score a critical hit with a kick! HAHAHA! Maybe then the girl will fall for me?! Uh, wait... don’t look at me like that... I-I’m not a pedo!

[item name: 絶体絶命のカード (Driving-into-a-corner Card); EN release: StalemateCard]

[note: The use of “ore-sama” and video game terms in this one might hint that it’s the same author as the ones about dropping trash in the convenience store. Also, starting to feel like I should have let some of the people in this town die after all]

羨ましすぎるＩ　Ｅｎｖｙ　Ｈｉｍ Quit Being So Lucky

凄い美女２人を見つけちまった！１人はツインのドリル！もう１人はショートのブロンド！あまりの美しさに、ハート出たさ☆ だけど、その２人となぜか、男が一緒に居やがった…… しかし、そいつも美青年…… よ……世の中ずりぃよ（ノω・、）

Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ｔｗｏ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙｇｉｒｌｓ．　Ｏｎｅ　ｈａｓ　ｇｏｒｇｅｏｕｓｃｕｒｌｓ，　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｃｕｔｅ　ｓｈｏｒｔ　ｈａｉｒ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｂｒｏｋｅｍｙ　ｈｅａｒｔ．　Ａ　ｇｕｙ　ｗａｓｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｍ．　　��ｅ　ｗａｓ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ．Ｉｔ’ｓ　ｎｏｔ　ｆａｉｒ．

I found two incredible beauties! One with twin drill-braids! The other with short blonde hair! Their colossal beauty made hearts pop up☆ ! But for some reason there was a guy with them... And HE was good-looking, too... The world... the world is cruel... （ノω・、）

[note: ハート (haato) means the actual ♡ symbol. And the EN release makes this sound like it’s about Rui and Mika, but it’s actually Natsuki and Nola.]

[EN item name: GoddessCard]

一体何がしたい？Ｗｈａｔ？ What The Heck Is She Doing?

如月学園の国語教師なんだけど、たま～に、海岸沿いを走ってたり、太陽を見てブツブツ言ってたり、一体何してるんだろう？　それにさ、同じ場所をグルグル回ってたりするんだって。なに？　あの先生も何か信仰中？次見かけたら、通報しようかな……

Ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒｏｆ　Ｋｉｓａｇａｒｉ　Ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｗａｓｒｕｎｎｉｎｇ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅａｓｉｄｅｔａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｈｉｍｓｅｌｆ．　Ｗｈａｔｉｓ　ｈｅ　ｄｏｉｎｇ？　Ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅｓｈｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｗａｌｋｓ　ｉｎ　ｃｉｒｃｌｅｓ．Ｉｓ　ｈｅ　ａ　ｍｅｍｂｅｒ　ｏｆ　ａｃｕｌｔ？　Ｉ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｔｅｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｐｓ．

She’s the Japanese teacher at Kisaragi Academy, but now and then she runs along the coast, staring at the sun and muttering to herself. What the heck is she doing? Plus, she goes around and around the same spot in circles. What is going on? Is this teacher part of some religious thing too? Next time I see her, maybe I should call the cops...

[note: Another mistake due to lack of coordination in the EN release. Aoi is the Japanese teacher, not any of the male characters.]

[EN item name: ReportCard]

成敗してやるぅ！Ｉ’ｌｌ　Ｂｅａｔ　Ｙｏｕ I’ll Give You What You Deserve!

謎のカメラマンが如月市に来た。愛想が良く、住人達には人気だが、俺はアイツだけは気にいらねぇ。アイツは、美しい大人の女性に気に入られようとしている変態だ！臨時の講師してるのも、きっと女子高校生が目当てなんだ！ネガにはきっと… け、けしからん！

Ａ　ｍｙｓｔｅｒｉｏｕｓ　ｃａｍｅｒａｍａｎｍｏｖｅｄ　ｔｏ　Ｋｉｓａｇａｒｉ．　Ｈｅ’ｓｐｏｐｕｌａｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｂｕｔｍｅ．　Ｈｅ　ｔｒｉｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙｇｉｒｌｓ　ｂｕｔ　ｈｅ’ｓ　ａ　ｆｒｅａｋ．　Ｈｅ’ｓａｌｓｏ　ａ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｉｇｈｓｃｈｏｏｌ，　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｈｅ’ｓａｆｔｅｒ　ｙｏｕｎｇ　ｇｉｒｌｓ．．．Ｏｈ　ｎｏ！

A mysterious cameraman has come to Kisaragi. He’s friendly enough, and popular with the people here, but I don’t like him. He’s a pervert trying to get in good with pretty grownup women! And he’s a temporary lecturer [at our high school]. He’s gotta be after the female students! His film negatives must be... a-absolutely scandalous!

[EN item name: PervertCard]

これぞ紳士Ｇｅｎｔｌｅｍａｎ Now That’s A Gentleman

ベンチに座り、海を眺める、紳士様ふと、立ち上がろうとした瞬間、前のめりに、顔から倒れる紳士様。そして、私と目が合うこと数十秒。紳士様は何事も無かったように素早く立ち上がり、身なりを正すと会釈をして去って行った。 ……これぞ英国風の紳士様？

Ａ　ｇｅｎｔｌｅｍａｎ　ｉｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅｂｅｎｃｈ，　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅｏｃｅａｎ．　Ｈｅ　ｆａｌｌｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅｇｒｏｕｎｄ，　ｃａｔｃｈｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｅｙｅ．Ｈｅ　ｐｒｅｔｅｎｄｓ　ｔｈｅｒｅ’ｓ　ｎｏｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ．　Ｈｅ　ｓｔａｎｄｓ　ｕｐａｎｄ　ｂｏｗｓ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ．　Ｉｓｈｅ　ａｎ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｇｅｎｔｌｅｍａｎ？

Sitting on a bench, gazing at the sea... a bona fide gentleman. Suddenly, as he tried to rise, the bona fide gentleman pitched forward and fell over. And he made eye contact with me for a few moments. The bona fide gentleman rose as if nothing had happened, fixed his clothes, nodded to me, and departed. ...Is this the meaning of a bona fide English-style gentleman?

[item name: マナーのカード (Etiquette Card); MannerCard]

☆アンラッキー☆ Ｕｎｌｕｃｋｙ ☆ Unlucky ☆

幸運を手にしたいって？あははっ…… ふざけんな。そんなの手に出来るなら俺が先に使ってるっての。ハイ残念でした。このカードを手に入れた人は最高の不幸を手にしたぞ＾＾

Ｙｏｕ　ｗａｎｔ　ｇｏｏｄｌｕｃｋ？　Ｍｕａｈａｈａ！Ｉ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｉｔ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｙｏｕ！Ｓｏｒｒｙ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｃａｒｄｉｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｂａｄ　ｌｕｃｋ！

Are you looking for some good fortune? Ahahah... gimme a break. If it’s possible to get it like THIS, I’m gonna use it up first. So, too bad for you. Whoever finds this card will find the worst possible misfortune. ^^

[item name: 幸運のカード (Good Luck Card); EN release: HappinessCard]

#QR cards #items #lux pain #system info

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