Jan Mitsuko Cash
@jmitsu.bsky.social
Japanese-to-English manga and novel translator, editor, etc.
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Our next Kanto Manga Loc (and more!) meetup will be on November 12!
If you are in the area and would like to attend, please let me know. Also, feel free to let me know if you’d like to attend one in the future!
If you are in the area and would like to attend, please let me know. Also, feel free to let me know if you’d like to attend one in the future!
In case anyone will be in Tokyo during October/November/December…
Planning for the Kanto Manga Loc (and more!) meetups are underway! If you would like more information, feel free to DM. 🙇
Planning for the Kanto Manga Loc (and more!) meetups are underway! If you would like more information, feel free to DM. 🙇
November 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Our next Kanto Manga Loc (and more!) meetup will be on November 12!
If you are in the area and would like to attend, please let me know. Also, feel free to let me know if you’d like to attend one in the future!
If you are in the area and would like to attend, please let me know. Also, feel free to let me know if you’d like to attend one in the future!
I haven't been sitting on it long, but Cocoon's announcement is so exciting! I think it's the first time a publisher has licensed something based on my suggestion
With the anime, someone would have probably gotten it, but maybe not as quickly and maybe not Viz
With the anime, someone would have probably gotten it, but maybe not as quickly and maybe not Viz
October 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I haven't been sitting on it long, but Cocoon's announcement is so exciting! I think it's the first time a publisher has licensed something based on my suggestion
With the anime, someone would have probably gotten it, but maybe not as quickly and maybe not Viz
With the anime, someone would have probably gotten it, but maybe not as quickly and maybe not Viz
My mom's side is Okinawan, so this one has a place very near and dear to my heart
Viz Media announced they licensed cocoon by Machiko Kyo for a physical and digital release
October 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
My mom's side is Okinawan, so this one has a place very near and dear to my heart
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
(PAID) - We need a dialogue editor who is fluent in Japanese.
Limited series, 8 episodes.
Limited series, 8 episodes.
September 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
(PAID) - We need a dialogue editor who is fluent in Japanese.
Limited series, 8 episodes.
Limited series, 8 episodes.
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Shocked and saddened to hear that Matt Haasch, founder of indie manga publishing company @starfruitbooks.bsky.social has passed away. His gofundme campaign for his medical and other expenses is still up - contribute if you can. www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-...
Donate to Matt's Journey: Healing and Comics, organized by Matthew Haasch
With your support, I can focus on healing from lymphoma while continu… Matthew Haasch needs your support for Donate to Matt's Journey: Healing and Comics
www.gofundme.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Shocked and saddened to hear that Matt Haasch, founder of indie manga publishing company @starfruitbooks.bsky.social has passed away. His gofundme campaign for his medical and other expenses is still up - contribute if you can. www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-...
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
editor friends, my job is hiring an Editor - Fiction & Non-Fiction: www.viz.com/company-jobs...
VIZ | Jobs
The world’s most popular anime, manga and more!
www.viz.com
August 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
editor friends, my job is hiring an Editor - Fiction & Non-Fiction: www.viz.com/company-jobs...
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Vols 1-5 of Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo are available now in the VIZ app! It’s such a lovely story, and I wound up reading all 44 chapters in one sitting.
Translation by @jmitsu.bsky.social
Lettering by Elena Diaz
Translation by @jmitsu.bsky.social
Lettering by Elena Diaz
August 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Vols 1-5 of Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo are available now in the VIZ app! It’s such a lovely story, and I wound up reading all 44 chapters in one sitting.
Translation by @jmitsu.bsky.social
Lettering by Elena Diaz
Translation by @jmitsu.bsky.social
Lettering by Elena Diaz
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
VIZ Media quietly added an AI-translated manga to their app and hoped no one would notice. We did.
Manga deserves better than cheap, soulless automation. This is a betrayal of translators, fans, and the art form.
We don't want your AI translations!
Manga deserves better than cheap, soulless automation. This is a betrayal of translators, fans, and the art form.
We don't want your AI translations!
Dear manga publishers, we don’t want your AI translations
VIZ Media quietly added an AI-translated manga to their app and hoped no one would notice. We did and want none of it.
www.comicsbeat.com
August 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
VIZ Media quietly added an AI-translated manga to their app and hoped no one would notice. We did.
Manga deserves better than cheap, soulless automation. This is a betrayal of translators, fans, and the art form.
We don't want your AI translations!
Manga deserves better than cheap, soulless automation. This is a betrayal of translators, fans, and the art form.
We don't want your AI translations!
We're freelancers. Legally, we cannot unionize
"Under U.S. antitrust laws, freelancers organizing to negotiate higher pay could be viewed as engaging in “price-fixing” since they’re considered individual businesses rather than employees of a single organization."
www.themuse.com/advice/can-f...
"Under U.S. antitrust laws, freelancers organizing to negotiate higher pay could be viewed as engaging in “price-fixing” since they’re considered individual businesses rather than employees of a single organization."
www.themuse.com/advice/can-f...
August 7, 2025 at 5:18 AM
We're freelancers. Legally, we cannot unionize
"Under U.S. antitrust laws, freelancers organizing to negotiate higher pay could be viewed as engaging in “price-fixing” since they’re considered individual businesses rather than employees of a single organization."
www.themuse.com/advice/can-f...
"Under U.S. antitrust laws, freelancers organizing to negotiate higher pay could be viewed as engaging in “price-fixing” since they’re considered individual businesses rather than employees of a single organization."
www.themuse.com/advice/can-f...
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Large language models are incapable of having respect for an artist. And the people choosing to use them for the localization of art hold an active disdain for that art and the people they supposedly want to appreciate that art.
July 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Large language models are incapable of having respect for an artist. And the people choosing to use them for the localization of art hold an active disdain for that art and the people they supposedly want to appreciate that art.
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Lettering pays poorly. I work a full-time office job to support my passion of lettering manga. I don't dislike AI localization because I see it as a threat to my livelihood, I dislike it because it is profane. An essential aspect of the job is respecting the work of the artist and writer.
July 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Lettering pays poorly. I work a full-time office job to support my passion of lettering manga. I don't dislike AI localization because I see it as a threat to my livelihood, I dislike it because it is profane. An essential aspect of the job is respecting the work of the artist and writer.
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
y'know, I've been a die-hard supporter of the Shonen Jump app, and lately the Viz app
but this is literally Step One to publishers strongarming licensors to save a couple bucks on translators and letterers
contact Viz... let 'em know
I actually care about the quality of the products I pay for
but this is literally Step One to publishers strongarming licensors to save a couple bucks on translators and letterers
contact Viz... let 'em know
I actually care about the quality of the products I pay for
So upon further investigation:
Viz Media added an AI Translated manga to their Viz App
• It’s listed as “TL & Lettering Provided by Shogakukan” but it’s the exact same version that’s available on Emaqi
Viz Media added an AI Translated manga to their Viz App
• It’s listed as “TL & Lettering Provided by Shogakukan” but it’s the exact same version that’s available on Emaqi
July 30, 2025 at 4:24 AM
y'know, I've been a die-hard supporter of the Shonen Jump app, and lately the Viz app
but this is literally Step One to publishers strongarming licensors to save a couple bucks on translators and letterers
contact Viz... let 'em know
I actually care about the quality of the products I pay for
but this is literally Step One to publishers strongarming licensors to save a couple bucks on translators and letterers
contact Viz... let 'em know
I actually care about the quality of the products I pay for
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
anyone who has a viz sub they pay for, I totally suggest leaving a comment about this www.viz.com/company-cont...
VIZ | Contact Us
The world’s most popular anime, manga and more!
www.viz.com
July 29, 2025 at 11:39 PM
anyone who has a viz sub they pay for, I totally suggest leaving a comment about this www.viz.com/company-cont...
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
I'm going to start a lettering consultancy agency and all it will say is "don't use comic sans, anime ace, serif fonts, or system fonts"
"also don't left justify text"
I'll personally donate $40 so you can buy a great Blambot font if you don't want to spend $130 on Wild Words!
"also don't left justify text"
I'll personally donate $40 so you can buy a great Blambot font if you don't want to spend $130 on Wild Words!
So I looked at the OFFICIAL first english chapter of Gundam Wing PREVERNTER-7
Lol
Lmao
Lol
Lmao
July 25, 2025 at 5:19 AM
I'm going to start a lettering consultancy agency and all it will say is "don't use comic sans, anime ace, serif fonts, or system fonts"
"also don't left justify text"
I'll personally donate $40 so you can buy a great Blambot font if you don't want to spend $130 on Wild Words!
"also don't left justify text"
I'll personally donate $40 so you can buy a great Blambot font if you don't want to spend $130 on Wild Words!
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Yen has been giving me yearly raises, pretty much, so good on them, but yeah, the dollar doesn't stretch as far, so it's really stagnant.
and don't get me started on how many thousands of dollars I've lost over the years because of the yen-dollar exchange rate... 😃
and don't get me started on how many thousands of dollars I've lost over the years because of the yen-dollar exchange rate... 😃
Raises with experience are also rare. I know of two companies that give retention raises for translators who continue to work with them. Some publishers have given inflation raises, but these are also rare and are not annual, so freelancer pay has been mostly stagnant overall
July 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Yen has been giving me yearly raises, pretty much, so good on them, but yeah, the dollar doesn't stretch as far, so it's really stagnant.
and don't get me started on how many thousands of dollars I've lost over the years because of the yen-dollar exchange rate... 😃
and don't get me started on how many thousands of dollars I've lost over the years because of the yen-dollar exchange rate... 😃
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Yup. I've gotten a rate increase here and there but it's nowhere close to cover cost of living increases. So by stagnation, it really just means you're making less money. The $800 I was making on books in 2017 wouldn't go nearly as far today, and I live in relatively cheap North Carolina.
Raises with experience are also rare. I know of two companies that give retention raises for translators who continue to work with them. Some publishers have given inflation raises, but these are also rare and are not annual, so freelancer pay has been mostly stagnant overall
July 25, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Yup. I've gotten a rate increase here and there but it's nowhere close to cover cost of living increases. So by stagnation, it really just means you're making less money. The $800 I was making on books in 2017 wouldn't go nearly as far today, and I live in relatively cheap North Carolina.
For manga and light novels, rates are generally determined by the publishers, so negotiation is difficult
For translators, $5/page for manga and $10/page for light novels are the lower end of market rate, but rates vary from $1-$9/page or $1000-$1500/vol (manga) and $6-$15/page (LNs)
For translators, $5/page for manga and $10/page for light novels are the lower end of market rate, but rates vary from $1-$9/page or $1000-$1500/vol (manga) and $6-$15/page (LNs)
July 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
For manga and light novels, rates are generally determined by the publishers, so negotiation is difficult
For translators, $5/page for manga and $10/page for light novels are the lower end of market rate, but rates vary from $1-$9/page or $1000-$1500/vol (manga) and $6-$15/page (LNs)
For translators, $5/page for manga and $10/page for light novels are the lower end of market rate, but rates vary from $1-$9/page or $1000-$1500/vol (manga) and $6-$15/page (LNs)
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
I also make fonts specifically for manga lettering and provide them for free because even pro letterers make very, very little money ko-fi.com/salinsley
Support Sara's Fonts ❤️
Support Sara's Fonts
ko-fi.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I also make fonts specifically for manga lettering and provide them for free because even pro letterers make very, very little money ko-fi.com/salinsley
Getting into the Japanese media translation industry, especially for manga, is a lot harder nowadays, but here are some resources for translators, letterers, and editors
July 24, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Getting into the Japanese media translation industry, especially for manga, is a lot harder nowadays, but here are some resources for translators, letterers, and editors
A panel about legally done fantranslation would be really cool, but doing one about how to rip apart a book and distribute a fan artist's work without consulting them is so, so messed up
Fan doujin are tolerated, but companies can still sue, so it's potentially painting a target on the artist's back
Fan doujin are tolerated, but companies can still sue, so it's potentially painting a target on the artist's back
July 24, 2025 at 12:43 AM
A panel about legally done fantranslation would be really cool, but doing one about how to rip apart a book and distribute a fan artist's work without consulting them is so, so messed up
Fan doujin are tolerated, but companies can still sue, so it's potentially painting a target on the artist's back
Fan doujin are tolerated, but companies can still sue, so it's potentially painting a target on the artist's back
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Last day to vote for the American Manga Awards is tomorrow (July 24, 2025, at 5:00 pm ET)!
animenyc.com/american-man...
animenyc.com/american-man...
American Manga Awards - Anime NYC
THE AMERICAN MANGA AWARDS 2025 Anime NYC is pleased to present the second-annual American Manga Awards for 2025. This awards program honors exceptional manga, talented creators, and the publishers who...
animenyc.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Last day to vote for the American Manga Awards is tomorrow (July 24, 2025, at 5:00 pm ET)!
animenyc.com/american-man...
animenyc.com/american-man...
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Centuria from Manga Plus/Viz
mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/titles/100314
"A bitter slave. A cruel bargain. A child worth saving. When Julian trades a life to awaken an ancient god, he gains powers he must use to protect an innocent in a brutal world."
mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/titles/100314
"A bitter slave. A cruel bargain. A child worth saving. When Julian trades a life to awaken an ancient god, he gains powers he must use to protect an innocent in a brutal world."
July 22, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Centuria from Manga Plus/Viz
mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/titles/100314
"A bitter slave. A cruel bargain. A child worth saving. When Julian trades a life to awaken an ancient god, he gains powers he must use to protect an innocent in a brutal world."
mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/titles/100314
"A bitter slave. A cruel bargain. A child worth saving. When Julian trades a life to awaken an ancient god, he gains powers he must use to protect an innocent in a brutal world."
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Hima-Ten! from Viz Media
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
16-year-old Tenichi is a part-time house cleaner. Himari Yoshino, a model, transfers to his school. He is then hired to clean her apartment regularly, as contrary to Himari's public persona, she is unable to keep her place clean.
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
16-year-old Tenichi is a part-time house cleaner. Himari Yoshino, a model, transfers to his school. He is then hired to clean her apartment regularly, as contrary to Himari's public persona, she is unable to keep her place clean.
July 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Hima-Ten! from Viz Media
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
16-year-old Tenichi is a part-time house cleaner. Himari Yoshino, a model, transfers to his school. He is then hired to clean her apartment regularly, as contrary to Himari's public persona, she is unable to keep her place clean.
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
16-year-old Tenichi is a part-time house cleaner. Himari Yoshino, a model, transfers to his school. He is then hired to clean her apartment regularly, as contrary to Himari's public persona, she is unable to keep her place clean.
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Shinobi Undercover from Viz Media
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
"Even in modern Japan, ninja still hide in the shadows. Young ninja Yodaka has received his mission--protect high school student Aoi at all costs."
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
"Even in modern Japan, ninja still hide in the shadows. Young ninja Yodaka has received his mission--protect high school student Aoi at all costs."
July 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Shinobi Undercover from Viz Media
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
"Even in modern Japan, ninja still hide in the shadows. Young ninja Yodaka has received his mission--protect high school student Aoi at all costs."
www.viz.com/shonenjump/c...
"Even in modern Japan, ninja still hide in the shadows. Young ninja Yodaka has received his mission--protect high school student Aoi at all costs."
Reposted by Jan Mitsuko Cash
hey @animenyc.bsky.social — this panel is so disrespectful to all of the manga localization professionals going to the con. can you please clarify the wording to let all of us know you’re not actively endorsing unauthorized distribution?
July 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
hey @animenyc.bsky.social — this panel is so disrespectful to all of the manga localization professionals going to the con. can you please clarify the wording to let all of us know you’re not actively endorsing unauthorized distribution?