Japanese publishers actually requested them to translate Smartphone,
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In the Anime News Network article, "NEWS: In Another World With My Smartphone Light Novels Get Summer TV Anime", user zztop wrote "Surprisingly, J-novel Club says the Japanese publishers actually requested them to translate Smartphone, a rarity where most times foreign translators have to approach the Japanese."
What's the link to there J-Novel said this? I don't think zztop is lying but I am curious where the source is. Also, is there a rights issue that we don't have more cases of Japanese publishers asking a foreign translate more light novels? Bonus points if there's such a case where a Japanese publisher approached a fan translator.
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@Michael-Jensen Maybe the AMA on Reddit. It is true.
Edit: Yup. Here you go.
QuarkboyJ-Novel Club: Founder • 31d
Okay that's a lot of questions. I'm on my phone at the moment FYI so pardon typos. First: hobby Japan asked us to license smartphone actually. So it's already happened -
Just saw that, thanks!
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It's not as uncommon anymore for the Japanese publishers to recommend stuff to be licensed based on what they may believe will sell overseas. I think YP confirmed this years ago at a Sakura-con panel that some of their stuff is based off recommendations too.
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They brought the title to us and requested a mysteriously ludicrous publication schedule. At first I was pretty skeptical honestly, as the title's extremely generic nature I knew would turn some people off without even reading it. But I picked up volume 1 and read the first 50% or so an was suitably heart-warmed.
As an intelligent person I read between the lines of their offer so I was happy to oblige once I secured a willing translator/editor.
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While I have not actually read any of the books (even when reading fan translations, I tend to skim read since those chapters are super-long), I am glad to give back to this industry. Thanks for your answers and this site.
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@Sam-Pinansky Getting a crack at the free PR boost when the anime starts airing is a nice perk. Assuming the show makes it past the "generic harem isekai" labels and doesn't end up in another season of direct competition.
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@Taedirk Kinda makes me wonder if the only reason it was offered was because of the upcoming anime.
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@Eternal-Wanderer Pretty much. More brand awareness will increase the value and chances of success for the IP.
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The J-Novel Club seems aggressive the translation of this series, faster than other title (3 months, 1-3 week ebook release, standard)
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@Kasinski Yep, I'm going all-out to bring you guys the speediest release possible. But don't worry, the speed hasn't compromised my translation quality in any way, either! I'm really happy to see all the positive responses to the story so far, it makes me look forward to releasing new parts every week.
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@ReadingSteiner it would be nice for other series with that speed translation but that's gonna bring more work and rushing is not a good idea (sometimes). Oh well.
Also you deserve a medal in my opinion new record the speed of translation I'm grateful for your work into this, same goes for other translator and editor.
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@Sam-Pinansky It gets even mroe interesting. Even though I still say: "Why the hell do they need a Mecha in this LN?" Although it will be Volume 6 or onward till it appears.
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@saskir Oh yeah I knew that actually since I saw volume 7 in stores.
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@ReadingSteiner Smartphone is actually the series that informed me that you guys even existed, now if I can just get my wife to look away long enough to pay for the premium membership.
