Japanese Honorifics Preserved In Judgment’s English Voice Acting

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has been releasing clips from Judgment that show off more of its characters, gameplay, and features, and the latest one does more than just introduce a member of the cast. As pointed out by Scott Strichart, a Sega Localization Producer, the clip also shows how the English localization handles Japanese honorifics.

The clip from Ryu Ga Gotoku introduces Kazuya Ayabe. Ayabe is a police officer who is voiced by Matt Yang King in English and Kenici Takitoh in Japanese. What’s interesting is how he refers to Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer, when he meets him. He starts with, “Good to see you, Kaito-san.” Then, when Yagami shows up, he says, “I take it you’re Yagami-san. Or would Yagami-sensei be more appropriate?”

Ayabe is local police force member who has a wealth of inside knowledge.

He may be willing to help Yagami… for a price.https://t.co/wAlKs3Jrm8 pic.twitter.com/sGcC2gE6Qj

— RGG Studio (@RGGStudio) April 30, 2019

Strichart’s tweet shows how it could have been localized. However, he noted that that his goal was to make the game more accessible, and that preserving Judgment‘s Japanese honorifics were important because it let its setting remain intact.

“Good to see you, Mr. Kaito. And you must be Mr. Yagami. Or would Mr. Yagami, Esquire be more appropriate?”

^ We chose not to do that. The English dub’s goal was never to Westernize the game, but to make Japan more accessible. No matter the language, the setting doesn’t change. https://t.co/KZUu9nDBIE

— Scott Strichart (@TriggerRedd) April 30, 2019

Judgment will come to North America and Europe on June 25, 2019. If people preorder the digital version, they can begin playing it on June 21, 2019. It is immediately available in Japan.