Loek van Kooten, MA
@loekalization.bsky.social
Loekalizing your games from and to Japanese, Chinese, Korean, English and Dutch. Portfolio: Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, F1® 2023, Syberia: The World Before, Arma 3. Owner of www.loekalization.com Developer of www.c4ttitude.com (a CAT tool).
Bamboo, Sticks, and Stomping: How to Build a Wall (and a Kanji) Like a Samurai
February 4, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Bamboo, Sticks, and Stomping: How to Build a Wall (and a Kanji) Like a Samurai
The Inside Job
February 3, 2026 at 1:14 AM
The Inside Job
Sweat, Tears, and Kanji
February 2, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Sweat, Tears, and Kanji
New Feature: SRT Timecode Offset Slider
February 1, 2026 at 9:46 AM
New Feature: SRT Timecode Offset Slider
Guts and Glory Let's talk about 臓 (zō), the kanji that proves your body is just a high-security storage unit for a bunch of squishy, overworked roommates. This character starts with 肉 (niku, "flesh"), because nothing says "medical emergency" like a radical that looks like a slab of meat.
January 31, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Guts and Glory Let's talk about 臓 (zō), the kanji that proves your body is just a high-security storage unit for a bunch of squishy, overworked roommates. This character starts with 肉 (niku, "flesh"), because nothing says "medical emergency" like a radical that looks like a slab of meat.
Cattitude introduces live sync for Q&A with Google Sheets
Game localization is a beautiful mess. Developers write strings like “Check the chest” and assume translators will magically know whether “check” means “inspect” or “the bill at a restaurant.”
www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
Game localization is a beautiful mess. Developers write strings like “Check the chest” and assume translators will magically know whether “check” means “inspect” or “the bill at a restaurant.”
www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
January 30, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Cattitude introduces live sync for Q&A with Google Sheets
Game localization is a beautiful mess. Developers write strings like “Check the chest” and assume translators will magically know whether “check” means “inspect” or “the bill at a restaurant.”
www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
Game localization is a beautiful mess. Developers write strings like “Check the chest” and assume translators will magically know whether “check” means “inspect” or “the bill at a restaurant.”
www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
The Kanji of Chaos: Why "I" Is the Most Dramatic Kanji in Japanese Let's talk about 異 (i). Picture two hands (共), one holding a crown (田) like it's the Iron Throne, the other awkwardly supporting it like, "Uh, I guess I'll help, but this is weird, right? "
January 29, 2026 at 10:41 AM
The Kanji of Chaos: Why "I" Is the Most Dramatic Kanji in Japanese Let's talk about 異 (i). Picture two hands (共), one holding a crown (田) like it's the Iron Throne, the other awkwardly supporting it like, "Uh, I guess I'll help, but this is weird, right? "
Oops, I Died Let's talk about 喪 (mo/sō): the kanji that proves grief isn't just a feeling. Picture this: two mouths (口) screaming, a dog (犬) howling like it just saw the vet bill, and a person (亡) vanishing behind a fence like they're in a witness protection program. That's 喪.
January 28, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Oops, I Died Let's talk about 喪 (mo/sō): the kanji that proves grief isn't just a feeling. Picture this: two mouths (口) screaming, a dog (犬) howling like it just saw the vet bill, and a person (亡) vanishing behind a fence like they're in a witness protection program. That's 喪.
Another one bits the dust. Goodbye TikTok!
January 26, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Another one bits the dust. Goodbye TikTok!
One down, a few more to go. Goodbye Facebook.
January 25, 2026 at 1:51 PM
One down, a few more to go. Goodbye Facebook.
This is not a political account, but today it is. Trump and his entire government and Gestapo entourage need to be trialed for high-treason, with the most severe punishment possible.
January 24, 2026 at 9:10 PM
This is not a political account, but today it is. Trump and his entire government and Gestapo entourage need to be trialed for high-treason, with the most severe punishment possible.
忘れ去る: The Art of Forgetting So Hard Even Your Brain Files a Missing Persons Report Let's talk about 忘れ去る (wasuresaru): the kanji equivalent of that one friend who ghosts you, blocks your number, and then shows up three years later like, "Who? Oh, you! Yeah, I moved to Bali.
January 24, 2026 at 5:32 AM
忘れ去る: The Art of Forgetting So Hard Even Your Brain Files a Missing Persons Report Let's talk about 忘れ去る (wasuresaru): the kanji equivalent of that one friend who ghosts you, blocks your number, and then shows up three years later like, "Who? Oh, you! Yeah, I moved to Bali.
Reposted by Loek van Kooten, MA
In solidarity with today's ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA blackout, MinnMax is donating $1 to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota for every share of this Bluesky post for the next hour.
January 23, 2026 at 4:01 PM
In solidarity with today's ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA blackout, MinnMax is donating $1 to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota for every share of this Bluesky post for the next hour.
脱: The Kanji That's a Microwave Beep for 'Naked Time' Let's talk about 脱: the kanji that proves Japan didn't just invent sushi and bullet trains, but also the perfect way to describe that moment when you realize your socks don't match.
January 23, 2026 at 4:37 PM
脱: The Kanji That's a Microwave Beep for 'Naked Time' Let's talk about 脱: the kanji that proves Japan didn't just invent sushi and bullet trains, but also the perfect way to describe that moment when you realize your socks don't match.
Let’s be real: glossaries are the unsung heroes of translation, and also its biggest pain in the neck. You’ve got a 200-term list, a translator who swears they followed it, and a client who just flagged three “mistakes” that aren’t even in the glossary.
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/termino...
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/termino...
January 23, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Let’s be real: glossaries are the unsung heroes of translation, and also its biggest pain in the neck. You’ve got a 200-term list, a translator who swears they followed it, and a client who just flagged three “mistakes” that aren’t even in the glossary.
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/termino...
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/termino...
込: The Kanji That's a Tokyo Train at Rush Hour
Let's talk about 込: the kanji that proves Japan didn't just invent sushi and bullet trains, but also the perfect way to describe chaos you can't escape.
Let's talk about 込: the kanji that proves Japan didn't just invent sushi and bullet trains, but also the perfect way to describe chaos you can't escape.
January 22, 2026 at 8:28 AM
込: The Kanji That's a Tokyo Train at Rush Hour
Let's talk about 込: the kanji that proves Japan didn't just invent sushi and bullet trains, but also the perfect way to describe chaos you can't escape.
Let's talk about 込: the kanji that proves Japan didn't just invent sushi and bullet trains, but also the perfect way to describe chaos you can't escape.
Leiden, January 21, 2026 — Cattitude, the revolutionary translation environment tool, is proud to announce the addition of native support for ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) files.
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
January 21, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Leiden, January 21, 2026 — Cattitude, the revolutionary translation environment tool, is proud to announce the addition of native support for ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) files.
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
READ ON: www.c4ttitude.com/blog/cattitu...
"This" and That: How a Wonky Pair of Feet Became Japan's Ultimate Pointer
Let's talk about 此: a kanji so eager to point at things that it forgot its own backstory. Picture two people standing side by side, feet tangled like a pair of drunk flamingos.
Let's talk about 此: a kanji so eager to point at things that it forgot its own backstory. Picture two people standing side by side, feet tangled like a pair of drunk flamingos.
January 19, 2026 at 8:45 AM
"This" and That: How a Wonky Pair of Feet Became Japan's Ultimate Pointer
Let's talk about 此: a kanji so eager to point at things that it forgot its own backstory. Picture two people standing side by side, feet tangled like a pair of drunk flamingos.
Let's talk about 此: a kanji so eager to point at things that it forgot its own backstory. Picture two people standing side by side, feet tangled like a pair of drunk flamingos.
Goodbye America, goodbye Microsoft! Never an American OS again.
January 18, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Goodbye America, goodbye Microsoft! Never an American OS again.
Your Brain on 3 AM Coffee: The Real Story of 徹夜 (Tetsuya)
Let's talk about 徹夜 (tetsuya): the art of staying awake all night, only to realize at dawn that you've just spent six hours arguing with strangers on the internet about whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
Let's talk about 徹夜 (tetsuya): the art of staying awake all night, only to realize at dawn that you've just spent six hours arguing with strangers on the internet about whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
January 18, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Your Brain on 3 AM Coffee: The Real Story of 徹夜 (Tetsuya)
Let's talk about 徹夜 (tetsuya): the art of staying awake all night, only to realize at dawn that you've just spent six hours arguing with strangers on the internet about whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
Let's talk about 徹夜 (tetsuya): the art of staying awake all night, only to realize at dawn that you've just spent six hours arguing with strangers on the internet about whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
The Kanji That's Basically Your Mom Yelling "You're Doing Too Much!" Meet 過 (ka/su): the kanji that's here to remind you that yes, you can eat an entire pizza by yourself, but no, you shouldn't.
January 17, 2026 at 5:11 AM
The Kanji That's Basically Your Mom Yelling "You're Doing Too Much!" Meet 過 (ka/su): the kanji that's here to remind you that yes, you can eat an entire pizza by yourself, but no, you shouldn't.
The Kanji That's Basically a Money Fountain (But With More Hot Springs and Geysers)
If you have ever dreamed of a magical hole in the ground that spits out water, money, and the occasional naked stranger, congratulations: you have just described 泉 (izumi).
If you have ever dreamed of a magical hole in the ground that spits out water, money, and the occasional naked stranger, congratulations: you have just described 泉 (izumi).
January 16, 2026 at 8:10 AM
The Kanji That's Basically a Money Fountain (But With More Hot Springs and Geysers)
If you have ever dreamed of a magical hole in the ground that spits out water, money, and the occasional naked stranger, congratulations: you have just described 泉 (izumi).
If you have ever dreamed of a magical hole in the ground that spits out water, money, and the occasional naked stranger, congratulations: you have just described 泉 (izumi).
The Sneaky Superhero of Your Garden: Why "Nira" is the Batman of Vegetables
If you have ever stared at a bunch of 韭 (nira) in the supermarket and thought, "Is this grass? A rejected haircut? A vegetable that lost a fight with a lawnmower?" Congratulations, you are not alone.
If you have ever stared at a bunch of 韭 (nira) in the supermarket and thought, "Is this grass? A rejected haircut? A vegetable that lost a fight with a lawnmower?" Congratulations, you are not alone.
January 15, 2026 at 5:49 PM
The Sneaky Superhero of Your Garden: Why "Nira" is the Batman of Vegetables
If you have ever stared at a bunch of 韭 (nira) in the supermarket and thought, "Is this grass? A rejected haircut? A vegetable that lost a fight with a lawnmower?" Congratulations, you are not alone.
If you have ever stared at a bunch of 韭 (nira) in the supermarket and thought, "Is this grass? A rejected haircut? A vegetable that lost a fight with a lawnmower?" Congratulations, you are not alone.
And so it begins... slowly moving from American Windows (right) to European Linux (left: openSUSE Tumbleweed). Goodbye America.
January 11, 2026 at 10:17 AM
And so it begins... slowly moving from American Windows (right) to European Linux (left: openSUSE Tumbleweed). Goodbye America.
Today, I completed the transition from Microsoft Word to LibreOffice Writer. My first Japanese lesson using Writer proceeded without issue, confirming what I already suspected: European software delivers performance without compromise.
January 9, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Today, I completed the transition from Microsoft Word to LibreOffice Writer. My first Japanese lesson using Writer proceeded without issue, confirming what I already suspected: European software delivers performance without compromise.