"Kuno-each"
 

How has this show gone three seasons maintaining this moronic bastardization of Japanese? It's almost outrageous to think that with someone working on it who said the Turtles got her into Ninjutsu back in the 1980s, they continue to be ignorant on this bit. Someone, like Black Nerd, should call them out on this non-word.

What word, exactly? I'm lost.

The word Kunoichi.

Oh, that word April calls herself? OK.

Kunoichi is a term for a female Shinobi, derived from the three characters that resembles the strokes off the kanji for woman: 女. ku (く) - no (ノ) - ichi (一). the last I in Ichi is often unvoiced and silent.

A lot of Japanese, when spoken, leaves out the last vowel. Sounds more natural when spoken by a real Japanese speaker, rather than Whitman's "kuno-each" lol.

Sternin did say his Sensei at his dojo pronounces it as such.

Yep, it's being pronounced the traditional way, just sounds awkward coming from a gaijin. :tlol:

So it is you who is ignorant.

This thread is way too anime for me. Never thought we'd have a discussion of Japanese terms on a TMNT forum.

I feel like I'm on some anime dub website.

Never imagined that on a TMNT forum? With the Japanese touches that have always been a part of it? I wouldn't say it's really too surprising that it might turn up.

Otherwise, yeah I'm lost, but interesting discussion.

TMNT was created by two Americans who had little to no knowledge of Japan beyond Bruce Lee films.

That's why they didn't know Japanese names, barely had Splinter use any Japanese words in the comics, and why all the early stuff barely has any Japanese elements beyond the Foot being generic ninja's.

Seriously, TMNT was created by two guys who had no clue about Japan. Remember this is in the 80's before anime was even a thing in the U.S.

Thanks for contributing....

****ing buffoon.

I'm guessing you don't remember Voltron, Starblazers or Robotech.... Akira is another.

For that matter, we can add the 60's and 70's Astro Boy and Speed Racer to the list!

Japanese = Anime according to Cubed. At least know the definition of anime before saying that. Anime just can't be applied to Japanese spelling. Saying something like too anime makes you sound stupid to be honest.

I have to partially agree with Cyber. This topic would be at home in an otaku (not a positive term as most people think) forum. It's only going to attract Japanophiles.

On the other hand, TMNT had a generous sprinkling of Japanese words and themes. Seeing how popular it was in Japan in the 80-90s, I think that helped make that influence grow over the years. So of course there would be some discussion about how well or butchered a primarily English speaking voice actor says words.

Oh anime, I'm so glad I grew out of that phase in life. Fans were often ruthless on dubs...

Ya-mek!

Daijobu?

Baka!

Itadakimas!

Well that's my japanese vocabulary in a nutshell.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You never thought there'd be discussion about Japanese terms in a franchise heavily laced with Japanese influence. Containing budo and bujutsu, ninjas and Japanese characters.

Never, really?

I'm glad they're using Japanese terms and showing us how to pronounce them. Now I know that the I is silent in kunoichi, and I can pronounce it properly when I see it written in stories I read.

Words I've learned since watching this show:

Hajime

Yame

Kunoichi

Idetakimas

Hai

And I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of them right now. Bring on the Japanese!

Idetakimas = Itadakimasu :) Another silent vowel at the end. Closest meaning is 'Thanks for the food', but there isn't really an equivalent.

I remember Leo saying Onegaishimasu to Raph in the first episode, which is 'Please do'.

I hasten to add I am not Japanese nor fluent in the language. I did an evening course for two years, so I'm vaguely at stupid tourist level. ;D

It's simply astonishing how bloody ignorant you really are. :roll:

You...You do realize Bruce Lee was Chinese, not Japanese, right?

Anyway, as far as I can tell just from other shows I've watched that use the word, in particular Naruto, they're pronouncing it just fine. It does sound a bit more awkward coming out of April's mouth than it does Splinter, but isn't that just par for the course?

I'll also never understand the disdain that a lot of comic fans have for anime/manga either. It's fine not to like it of course, but really, it's no less silly than US comics, nor is it's fanbase any more or less volatile.