Fun fact, or not? We all know some weird titles of asian movies released in the West: stupid names, racist puns… But what about japanese distributors and foreign films?
Some (poetic) translations:
• Harry Brown = Gallows for the Wolves
In Japanese: 狼たちの処刑台, Ookami Tachi No Shokei Dai*
• Cyrus = The Woman I Love, & Her Little Shithead
In Japanese: 僕の大切な人と、そのクソガキ, Boku No Taisetsu Na Hito to, Sono Kuso Gaki*
• Dead Poet’s Society = Live for the Moment
In Japanese: いまを生きる, Ima Wo Ikiru
• Hesher = Metalhead
In Japanese: メタルヘッド, Metaru Heddo
• Funny People = The beloved life of George the comedian
In Japanese: コメディアン・ジョージの愛しき人生, Komedian, Joji no Itoshiki Jinsei
(Title used for the PPV/Cable exploitation)
• Johnnie To’s Vengeance = Shoot in the Chilling Rain, the Promised Bullet
In Japanese: 冷たい雨に撃て、約束の銃弾を, Tsumetai Ame ni Ute, Yakusoku no Jyudan Wo
• Gentlemen Broncos = Mr. Golden Ball: The Worst Plagiarism War Ever
In Japanese: Ｍｒ．ゴールデン・ボール 史上最低の盗作ウォーズ, Mr . gōruden . boru shijou saitei no tousaku wozu*
• The Bucket List = How to Find the Best Life
In Japanese: 最高の人生の見つけ方, Saikou no Jinsei no Mitsukekata
• Olivier Marchal’s 36 = Perhaps a Dog Named Betrayal
In Japanese: あるいは裏切りという名の犬, Aruiwa Uragiri Toiuna no Inu
• MR 73 = Finally the Rain Known as Vengeance (image above)
In Japanese: やがて復讐という名の雨, Yagate Fukushu toiu Na no Ame*
• Truands (Crime Insiders) = Sleep in the Darkness of Betrayal
In Japanese: 裏切りの闇で眠れ, Uragiri No Yami De Nemure*
• Army of Darkness = Captain Supermaket
In Japanese: キャプテン・スーパーマーケット, Kyaputen Supamaketto
• You Only Live Twice = 007 Die Twice
In Japanese: ００７は二度死ぬ, 007 Wa Nido Shinu
• Let The Right One In = My Eli: The 200-year-old Girl
In Japanese: ぼくのエリ ２００歳の少女, Boku No Eri 200 Sai No Shoujo*
• Sucker Punch = Angel Wars
In Japanese: エンジェルウォーズ, Enjeru Wozu
In Japan, it seems normal to retitle foreign films, according to this article;
The main reason the title is changed from a katakana version of the original is usually to explain the story line somewhat. (…) It all comes down to how the title sounds and what feeling it connotes, say marketing staff. But there never has been any pattern.
No pattern, but they really like adding the word “Love” in their translations!
Find more examples on Wikipedia!
Thanks Ryuganji for sharing the translation!
*Not sure about the romaji transcription