KONABANANA

【MARETU】SUJI (MUSCLES)【ENGLISH SUBS】

Original: Maretu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Y8Mo7nhC8)

I know this is not a new song by any means, but after a talk with my friends, I felt inspired to write my own translation. One of my favorite Maretu songs; I forgot how good it was.

ENGLISH

My frustration boils over at the inability to take action. Let's spread the word that inevitably, that lost child whose healthy yet sick body has yet to be ruined, will shed their innocence from both ends and become an adult.

I see it all the time.

Calling it "just a way to kill some time." Basically presenting it as some sort of convenience. I know this is wrong, but[2] child that you are, I can't take my eyes off you.[3] (It hurts.)[4]

If a fire is never lit, it can't go out. Countless honest mistakes have come to bear their fangs.

The rendezvous I've wanted unfortunately came true.[5] What happened next when you reattached your severed neck? I fantasize of toying with your defiled body. It would be truly wonderful if those dreams could come true…

Sympathy is useless and my urges have become increasingly disturbing. The truth is, The moment this started, there was no going back. So we should just reject the notion outright. Everyone has to swallow something vile to become an adult.

----

[1]Literal wording is "Let's scatter it", but the word "scatter" means "to spread far and wide" like a rumor, for example. Hence this translation.

[2]Literal wording is "I understand, but" with a regretful tone.

[3]Literal wording is "Let me see the child[ish] you", but the word for "see" here is 観る which means to "intently watch" hence the translation.

[4]Can also be read as "I want to see!" if you consider it a completion of 観て

[5]//逢いたい// means "Want to encounter" with this Kanji's nuance being wanting to meet up with someone you love and/or cherish. {目にあった} is a phrase that means "to experience" with a negative connotation. It basically makes the line read "the //date// I //wanted to encounter// {unfortunately came} true". However, if you read 目にあった literally, it means "eyes meet", so this line could ALSO be read, "I met the eyes I wanted to encounter". Knowing Maretu, this double-speak is on purpose. This line could also be from the other person's perspective, "The rendezvous you've wanted unfortunately came true." - I went with the speaker but both equally work.

[6]Much like earlier, this can be read as "I want to try and see" if we read みたい as a continuation of  観て

[7]I don't really know how to word this one in English. "Empty love" was the best I could do, but the words imply it being a "love" that leaves you feeling isolated and alienated.

[8]Only including this to warn of the dangers of JP to ENG dictionaries. I've seen translations that very likely used ENG dictionaries which give wildly incorrect definitions for both words in this sentence. 冷め切った is said to mean "cold", but it is "slang" so to speak for when a person becomes cold/indifferent towards you, esp. in the context of relationships. 噛みごたえ is said to mean "chewy texture" ??? Whatever that means. It actually means the way something feels in your mouth. So...the texture of the "food" and how it feels in your mouth. 

I welcome even guillotines with open arms See? Even the cat who died behind the church was laughing So, what do you want to do once summer ends? "It won't end", come on, don't say that Just being able to meet you has made me turn red like this

I don't know what happened on that day Being ignorant about it is what makes it beautiful You and me, looks like we'll wash away little by little

Take away my life, my being I don't need peace or tranquility[1] You, kill me![2] Kill me with your fangs, kill me with your claws! Hey, Take away my consent, my decision I've tried to say this all before You, kill me! With your fangs, with your claws— Kill me

Kill me

I lived believing some day these urges of mine would disappear No matter how painful it got, I'd destroy it and bury it in the dirt Even a burial can be beautiful, you know? Even for someone lacking being like me I'm still deluded, thinking I deserve a death like that

Even still, why do you refuse to kill me? That kindness of yours is what keeps me standing

Take away my life, my being I don't need peace or tranquility You won't kill me Not even with your eyes, not even with your hair Hey, I give you my consent and my decision I've tried to understand this all before You, violate me![3] With your fangs, violate me with your claws- Violate me

To kill, to be killed, killing To violate, to be violated, violating I opened myself up to the world in this hut upon a hill Right here, right now, I'm going to destroy My dreams with you

This was my first ever major translation project. Since it spanned the time of almost two years, the quality of the translations may increase as you play through the game. Nonetheless I have gone back and redone a lot of the earlier dialogue with the help of a friend to make it sound more natural in English. If you find any errors or typos, you may leave an ask and I will correct it in a patch update.

In order to keep the spirit of an actual Ace Attorney game, several things were changed. Most notably, the characters names.

Names:

稲刈たんぼ (Inekari Tanbo) is Phoenix Wruff. People familiar with the Japanese Ace Attorney names may recognize that this name is nowhere near Naruhodou Ryuuichi. That's simply because this character, as with Edgewurrth, were not actually named after the main characters of the original series. I decided to change this given their clear homage. Inekari Tanbo literally means "harvesting (a) rice paddy".

条框蓮司(レンジ) (Jyoukamachi Renji) is Miles Edgewurrth. To be honest, I don't think there is a pun in his name. At the very least, I had trouble thinking of what it could be. If somebody knows, let me know. The most I can figure is the first kanji in his name can mean "streak", and according to Cheshire, Edgewurrth was supposed to get the white streak of hair, not Abe, but he didn't like how it looked on the former.

萬舞 (Man Mau) is Krystal "Kris" Balle. Her name means "10,000 dances", hence her English name.

濡沼 ウキモ (Nuranuma Ukimo) is Ashley Goodhead. Ukimo doesn't seem to have much significance as a word, although it could be related to 浮き which means to float, as in like, floating in water. I say this because the other parts of Ukimo's name, 濡(Nura)沼(Numa) refer to being wet and to swamps.

If this is true, why the name choice? Well, it's very complicated...

濡 Means a little more than just being wet. It also can mean being wet in the sexual sense. There's also the word 濡れ衣 (Nuraginu) which means to be falsely accused of a crime (literally and archaically "wet clothes"). Both these I would say fit Ukimo, not only because of her story position of being falsely accused, but also, well... just look at her design. It would be naive to claim there's nothing sexual about it.

沼 has some connotations among gaming, interestingly. It can mean being addicted to something (that something being a piece of media, typically) or being "swamped" in a game, i.e being stuck and unable to progress.

Now, this meaning of the word has only come into play somewhat recently. Like, 2015-ish. Which makes it sort of inapplicable, since Gyaku San was created around 2003.

A different slang use of 沼 that was used around this time was 池沼 which means, basically, the r slur... in a way? It's used to make fun of "weird" or "cringe" behavior, typically present in those with mental disability. It's a homophone of 知障, which does mean "mental disability​".

With all this in mind, I had a very hard time piecing together a name for Ukimo that would feel at home in Ace Attorney. Especially because I don't know the full extent of what Cheshire had in mind when naming her.

Ashley was chosen given that, to me, it is a very "popular teenage girl" name. "Ash" would also make her closely related to "Phoenix". (Get it? LOL). I almost debated on making any use of ウキモちゃん (Ukimo-chan) be "Ash", but decided it would be kind of weird...

Goodhead was chosen for several reasons. It, of course, is a clear sexual pun, but it is also a reference to James Bond, something I feel could encapsulate some of the slang meanings of 沼 (media obsession) while serving to imitate Ace Attorney's love of pop culture references. "Goodhead" could also be taken literally, as in meaning she has a good head on her shoulders, which would refer to her being innocent; the "false accusation" meaning in her name.

It was the best I could do. Orz.

阿部伊知郎 (Abe Ichirou) is Abe Founder. He kept the first part, although his last name became his first name, and his original first name means "The one wise son". However, without the kanji, "ichirou" can mean to fail your college entrance exam. Considering that he lies about going to a prestigious college when he actually went to a average one reminded me of this, so his last name was chosen to hold similar meaning. "Founder", as a noun, can mean someone who establishes something, and typically this is used with positive connotation. However, as a verb, it can mean "failure", which I think is apt and captures this stark contrast meaning.

This life had a brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart This life ate hearts, pancreas, kidneys, liver, lungs, brains Sin and evil, sweet and sour, wisdom and color become foolish Oh, the sun!

Xochimiquiztli underneath the sun[1] The heart of the altar is given to the sun The morality of defending one's (new) family[2] Dyes this tail golden

Sluggishly, it ate[3] You're toddling so well, come over here Sluggishly, it ate It stood, starved, ate, lived, Drooling from its snout

Do re mi fa so fa mi re Do re mi fa mi re do Right, Do re mi fa so fa mi re Do re mi fa mi re do

This life had eyes, ears, nose, lips, tongue, marrow This life ate marrow, tongue, lips, nose, ears, eyes Truth and justice, law and authority, all turn shades of gold Oh, the sun!

You must protect your family, carve it into your DNA That gold-stained good-for-nothing could never become God The delicate ornamental tail has finished being dyed

Sluggishly, it ate That's good, so good. It stands and cries Sluggishly, it ate. It stood, starved, ate, lived, Drooling from its snout

It ate its eldest daughter from her stomach It ate its second son from his neck It ate its second daughter from her bone marrow The mother stared at its eldest son's tail

“M-Mom. Mom….”

Sluggishly, it ate Mom, mom; you little brat, don't come any closer Sluggishly, it ate It stood, starved, ate, lived, And unhinged its jaw

Sluggishly, it ate Mom, mom; you're an idiot, such an idiot! Sluggishly, it ate Living, living, living, living What it ate tasted alive

Do re mi fa so fa mi re Do re mi fa mi re do Right, Do re mi fa so fa mi re Do re mi fa mi re do Do re mi fa so fa mi re do re mi fa mi re do Do re mi fa mi re do Do re mi fa mi re do? Do re mi fa mi re do?? Do re mi fa…

That isn't right.“

[1]Refers to a death on the battlefield. From the Aztec Empire, roughly translates to “flowery death”. [2]I put (new) in parentheses because しん族 can be read as しんぞく (family) or しんゾク (new tribe) so I combined the two. [3]Written as 弄笨怠浪哩, this seems to be a rarer, alternative way to write のんべんだらり, which means "sluggishly, leisurely".

Our synced heartbeats; our dedication I won't forget those memories. Let's engrave them from head to toe. More, more, more…

I won't let you escape. I don't want what's mine to be taken. Let's become one in body and soul. More more more…

Let's finish this before it all ends. Playing house has gotten dry.

I loved you. I loved you, and yet… This is what traitors do. Give me back my thoughts. I loved you. I loved you, and yet… This whole time…

Your gentle fingers and kind expression. As to not have that stolen from me, I'll keep you here. You're already mine. You always have been. Always, always.

Let's finish this before it all ends. Playing house has become rotten.

I trusted you. I trusted you, and yet… I trusted you. I trusted you, and yet… I loved you. I loved you, and yet… I loved you. I loved you, and yet…

An abnormal taser gun achieved by geniuses and prodigies[1] Racing nerves, my brain is overflowing; all these evenly-spaced dots make a circle.

It’s just out of the question and also off-topic - a complete devotion to these meddlesome quotes. In our current oxygen-deprived era, we drink carbonated gasoline.

Limits and bounds are breaking,[1] “Get down” - are you serious?[2] I hear an alarm echoing inside my head and it’s driving me insane!

Ah, everyone and everything is drowned in an illusion inside this heinous dream. Waiting until the moon turns and stops forever in this corner, exhausted, laughing.

Ah, everyone and everything is corrupted by hallucinations in this never-ending midnight. Still formless and untouchable; there is no end in sight anywhere.

Drowning in normal, non-changing regularities and flickering dreams. Waiting until the moon revolves and stops forever in this corner, exhausted, crying.

Corrupted by innovative hallucinations in this never-ending midnight, Still formless and untouchable; there is no answer in sight anywhere.

Ah, everyone and everything is corrupted by hallucinations in this never-ending midnight. Carrying every burden on my back and drinking in the applause - it never stops ringing in my head.

[1]These lines could probably be also read in a math equation format, but due to inconsistency in their writing and also just for more easy understanding, I wrote them as a regular sentence

Note: I could not find any real-life Japanese politician by the name of 田中たろう. I believe this is a made-up name. Interestingly, "Tanaka Tarou" in itself is a somewhat generic Japanese name, like a name anybody could have. I wonder if there's some sort of symbolism there.

A rainy day, I don't have an umbrella… (Gloom, gloom) A pop quiz I wasn't ready for… (Gloom, gloom) My hair is all tangled up… (gloom, gloom) All of this is such a hassle.

From sunup to sundown, (gloom, gloom) I communicate with people… (gloom, gloom) My mere existence… (gloom gloom) …Is too much of a hassle.

No matter how many times, I'm coerced into living. Give me a break. You're so selfish! Sorry that it was a short story. I already have all I need.

Don't you just want to break?

Dull!! Dull!!

I never asked any questions. How rather ironic of me. It's none of your business, anyway. Gloom, gloom. (gloom, gloom)

We constantly force love and happiness onto others. With the exception of what's fair, we're angry.[1] Have we pretended to accept all of this? Gloom, gloom. (gloom, gloom)

No matter how many times, I'm coerced into living. Give me a break. You're so selfish! Sorry that it was a short story. I already have all I need.

Don't you just want to break? Don't you just want to break?

Dull Dull Anxiety never sleeps. Let's change this future full of sob stories. Dull Dull In a life riddled with what you should and shouldn't say,[2] You can't get anything out of it.

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh. I have no God except for myself. Dull Dull Bite the severed umbilical cord. Every cell in my body is screaming out.

Dull!! Dull!! Everyone is screaming out. Dull!!

This song, as you may notice, does not have an English title… that is because I, uh, couldn't really figure one out… The main theme of this song is the word いや(iya) which means a lot of things. Most commonly, it means "no" but it also can mean "terrible" "bad" or as an adverb, to do something reluctantly or something you're not happy about. The drawn out version, いいや, can give the impression of a petulant child… I tried my best to interpret the meaning of the word throughout the lyrics.

Welcome to this foreign world

When we get there, I’ll give it to you: the coolest item ever! But to receive it, you have to defeat me It’s the mark of a true hero

Go defeat tons of monsters Go defeat them in this growing wasteland Once you realize what’s happening, you’ll become God You created these people

This ridiculous world with its egotistical landscapes is so self-centered, such a boring world!

Yeah, yeah, I’m alive, begrudgingly. Yeah, yeah, that’s right: there’s something wrong with me I am terrible. No, it’s this place that is terrible; the world I was born into

I’m leveling (up) with reality…[1] NOT! I’ve got a strong ranking…[1] NOT! And if I do, well, It’s probably just my delusions

Since I was born, I guess there must be some value to me But I’ll always yearn for other fantasy worlds

Yeah, yeah, I’m alive, begrudgingly. Yeah, yeah, that’s right: there’s something wrong with me I am terrible. No, it’s this place that is terrible! Happiness is the best Yeah, yeah, I’m alive, begrudgingly. Yeah, yeah, that’s right: there’s something wrong with me I am terrible. No, it’s this place that is terrible; the world I was born into

Welcome to this foreign world

Dazzlingly glittering eyes Start to peek through your hands in the middle of the night “No, no, that was long ago.” What are you saying?

Don’t let your guard down; hate, love; The value of generosity is something I’ll never understand Both tomorrow’s sunrise and the servants of God; Those complicated things are something I’ll never understand

Everything is so wonderful, Midnight 4 o’clock mania Without exception, everything must be cooked, burned, and eaten No matter the aftermath, Keep raising your voice

I am nothing, nothing, nothing Everything is shattering to pieces You too are nothing, nothing, nothing All the laughter has dried up That’s why there’s nothing, nothing, nothing However, however, however, Your love isn’t enough

I forgot to light the lighter All because of my own selfishness I grasp at numbingly cold hands And your cheeks are cast away

It’s all become nothing I don’t feel any shame I absolutely hate it I can’t do anything about it

I am nothing, nothing, nothing Everything is shattering to pieces You too are nothing, nothing, nothing All the laughter has dried up That’s why there’s nothing, nothing, nothing However, however, however, I’ll show off all of your value Goodbye

Shattering, shattering It’s all been completely shattered Shattering, shattering It’s all completely empty Shattering, shattering, shattering, shattering

I heard your voice singing; Each note was carried away into the sky. That day was incredibly windy, So by the time I looked up, it had already been blown away.

I heard the chime of “Yuyake Koyake”;[1] It spoke softly to me. It told me to quickly hurry home, But when I opened my eyes, It was becoming dark.

On my way home, The sky was painted red. I hurried on ahead, Or so I remember.

If a nameless star Fell from the sky, A whale’s song Would be heard.

Towards the direction of the Milky Way, Shadows continuously stretch. Any voice calling out won’t be heard, Soaring in the distant sky.

Happily, I play Cat’s Cradle. And despite my laughter, I wasn’t myself.[2]

I closed my eyes And began counting down. Joyfully and at ease, I waved my hand.

On my way home, The sky was painted red. The moment I saw it, I ran as fast as I could.

If a nameless star Fell from the sky, A whale’s song Would be heard.

The meaning of that nursery rhyme Can’t be remembered again. It will slowly be forgotten, And become a lapis lazuli gem.[3]

On my way home, The sky was painted red. The moment I saw it, I ran as fast as I could. If a nameless star Fell from the sky, A whale’s song Would be heard. (x2)

I heard your voice singing; Each note was carried away into the sky.

[1]The Yuyake Koyake chime is a chime that plays around 5pm in many populated Japanese areas. It serves to remind young children to hurry home, typically after school. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0nuMJeXyHk

[2]The word itself used here means delirious, crazed with, or obsessed with. Since it’s a little vague in that sense, I made the lyrics “I wasn’t myself” as in “I’m losing myself”.

[3]While I don’t have an explanation for the vague mysteries of this song, becoming a “lapis lazuli gem” could possibly refer to the children’s song becoming some sort of common wisdom or truth, or perhaps a repeated song not many people know the true meaning to (the popular "pockets full of posies" rhyme comes to mind, for example) as lapis lazuli is associated with these ideals. It is also associated with the night sky, and this song IS about a supposed star. I’m just speaking out my ass here though.

NOTE: this song's title could also be read as "Become unusable" or "Become worthless". I believe given the song's lyrics and the imagery, both the Buddha title and this "worthless" title are to be taken into account, and the Japanese title is suppose to be a pun encompassing both meanings.

Overdose, verdose My desire for death is an overdose Become a buddha

More than anything in this world, Enough to bet this life on I think there's no unforgivable things, Except the morning alarm If I were Japan's Most important and powerful person, I'd outlaw them right then and there![1]

I don't want to work! But I don't have any money! And I don't wanna get out of bed

I wish I had a friend somewhere… A gentle, kind oil baron… Yes, I want a friend like that!

Hey, mother, It looks like my time has come The vibes are rising towards the heavens! Hey, father, Make my funeral look like an EDM With a rainbow disco-ball, Please make it like a party!

Overdose, verdose My desire for death is an overdose Become a buddha

Today, too, my heart has ran out As well, reality is shut out As soon as I wake up I shut down I can try to strike a fighting pose "But if you fail to keep it up, then its totally pointless." Hey, don't say something like that… In my opinion,[2] I'm doing my best, but It all remains the same, tiresome and worthless

For one, I have no motivation I'm so unorganized And I'm starting to doubt I'm human… If you could make a living… Simply by reading comics in bed… Then I'd have won the Nobel prize!

Hey, mother, From here on out, I'll proclaim myself as dead Heaven called saying they need me! Hey, father, Please dress my tombstone with LED lights Grand enough to make the DJ jealous!

Overdose, verdose My desire for death is an overdose Become a buddha

Stop singing I don't wanna listen! Everyone is so talented… Thanks.

“Don't slack off,” how many times have I heard that one? So I thought I'd do it from now on On top of a chair for three years “Good things come to those who wait,” isn't that what they say? “In being immobile, be like a mountain…” If you're rushing to live, you're rushing to die Right now all my problems are making me tired I'll do it some other time…

Hey, mother, It looks like my time has come The vibes are rising towards the heavens! Hey, father, Make my funeral look like an EDM With a rainbow disco-ball, Please make it like a party!

Overdose, -verdose My desire for death is an overdose I promise to do my best in the next life Even more, My desire for death becomes an overdose Just for five more minutes, Let me go back to bed!

[1]クビにします means to “fire someone” as in to fire someone from their job, but that doesn’t really make sense in this context. Earlier, alarm clocks are personified by using 輩(ヤツ), giving them a more human quality. Since it talks about firing the alarm clock, I feel it’d be more fitting and make more sense to de-personify it to mean “outlaw” or “get rid of”.

The mobile game's hidden side-- I tried to remove the cover. Despite the fact it should have been empty, A faint light leaked out. Curiously, I peeked inside, And saw the battery was decayed. It slipped from my palm And slammed on the ground. I had no choice but to look at it, But when I did, the screen was shattered.

For fun, I write inside an umbrella. On its own, a bone broke. The sound felt pleasant within my skull, Damp and broken.

Bright water gushed forward-- I wanted to drink it. Despite the fact it should have been empty, The water overfilled the brim. I sipped at it, and though I tried to hold it in, The water was too sweet, so I spit it out. A black liquid leaked out, And even though I was utterly terrified, I touched it And blood mixed with it.

The sound felt pleasant within my skull; On its own, a bone broke. For fun, I write inside an umbrella. This is all your fault.

The sound felt pleasant within my skull; On its own, a bone broke. For fun, I write inside an umbrella. This is all ⬛⬛⬛ fault.