personally, r0ck on! more manga and hopefully more translated novels is definitely a good thing, imo

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/12832.html

While I'm not unhappy to see Kodansha trying to enter the manga landscape, I admit I'm concerned over what the outcome will be. Just who will be translating their titles and does translation mean "accurate translation" or "adapted for what the Japanese think is the American audience?" I need to see some completed works from them before I actually get excited over this.

omg. where were my spelling and typing skills when i typed the subject for this one?! O_O

~buries head in sand in shame~

i'll give Kodansha the benefit of the doubt at the moment considering that the japanese are capable of good englsh translations. it could happen a few ways.

1)have a bilingual japanese pro do it
2)have a bilingual american do it
3)either or and then have it proofed/reviewed by the other speaking audience.

As an America based J-to-E translator, my fear is they are going to want to use home-grown talent (in Japan) for translation. Translating to English in Japan and localizing to American readers is two different things.

But Kodansha didn't get where it is by making terrible business choices...I just hope they plan to use state-side translators for their new releases.

which isn't to say they haven't ever made bad business decisions, but Kodansha didn't get to where it is today by being wholly unsuccessful and making stupid decisions. i must say though, for that short stint where they were doing bilingual manga a few years ago, the translations were actually pretty decent. they dropped it though after a while which made me sad -.-

True they're successful, but I have doubts in their ability to enter a foreign market. Take Toei as an example. They're exceptionally successful, also, but their foray into the American market has been a disaster because they insist on doing it themselves their way. Also, having seen some of the bilingual manga, I'm not impressed. They offer a serviceable translation, but it's stilted and doesn't read as well or as smoothly as the copy produced specifically for the American audience. Likewise, over-localization scares me. Things like the name changes in Case Closed happened because the Japanese side didn't think Japanese names would sell to an American audience. I do think they could come over and be successful if they take the Kodansha route, but I'm being cautious in my optimism until I see a finished product. Especially since they have some titles I'd like to see treated well.

I hope Kodansha USA will publish Hajime no Ippo! ^_^