Speaking Japanese

[Guest thefrenchargel]

I've seen a decent amount of Japanese wrestling, but I don't speak a lick of Japanese, and as a result, don't understand any commentary or interviews or anything. I know it's all basically centered around the ring work, but does understanding the commentary or interviews really add to the enjoyment very much, or should I count my blessings that I don't understand a Japanese version of Tony Schiavone? Bilingual folks help me out on this one.

[Guest CB2M]

Actually, if you watch 90's All Japan, a lot of the moves are spoken in English.  My favorite announcer was Akira Fukuzawa of AJ.  He would get so fired up when calling the action, sometimes being over the top, but it was fun to listen to.  I remember during Misawa vs. Taue 9/10/95, Fukuzawa was talking with his partner, Mitsuo Momota, in a normal tone, then Misawa hit a Tiger Driver on Taue, and Fukuzawa screams "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH TIGGGGGGAH DRIVAAAAAAAAAA."  It's quite hilarious.

[Guest MRFTW]

"if you watch 90's All Japan, a lot of the moves are spoken in English."

 

As far as i've seen it's like that everywhear. Most moves are called by the same name in Japan as they are in America.

 

And I don't see why speaking Japanese wouldn't add to the enjoyment.

[Guest Jubuki]

I've always felt like hearing "modified sidewalk slam" a thousand times was a detractor - I guess that's one reason it's easier for me to concentrate when I don't understand the language...so I suppose understanding Japanese wouldn't necessarily be a benefit.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Frankly Akira Fukuzawa of AJ (Thanks for the name CB2M!  I was dying to put a name on the voice) IMO is the best announcer ever next to monsoon.  I mean, I know what the moves are, I (sort of) know the history between the wrestlers involved, all I need is some help in the 'emotional' dept. and he provides that for me.  A lariat has much more importance to a match when it is called a 'laaaaaaaaaaaaaaweaaaaaahtOH!'.  

 

I totally agree with Jubuki when he says that it allows you to focus more on the match.  Sometimes I wonder if the psychology is really there or people look into it alot more than it was meant to be since they have to fill in the blanks left open by the japanese announcing...

[Guest PlatypusFool]

"Sometimes I wonder if the psychology is really there or people look into it alot more than it was meant to be since they have to fill in the blanks left open by the japanese announcing..."

 

I definately agree with that one, like in Kawada vs. Kobashi 98, when Kawada attacks Kobashi's leg that isn't injured (am I right about that? - maybe). We assume the psychology says that Kawada is working on that leg to make both legs useless, but really he could just be making a mistake. Makes you think...

[Guest HopeSpot]

Exactly, like when Sasuke blows spots in big matches. Is he really fucking up or is he trying to say that he has butterflies which is affecting his ability to fight his opponent.

[Guest Luke Argyle]

>Insert Sabu joke here<

[Guest J*ingus]

How is "LARIATOOOOOOOOO!!!" any different from when Jim Ross yells "STUNNERSTUNNERSTUNNER!!!"?  Same thing, but lots of people bitch about JR being over the top.

[Guest Jubuki]

1) How many of those people who complain even know who Akira Fukuzawa is, or what All Japan is?  Narrows down the "lots" a good bit.

 

2) We, as English speakers, hear Ross' mistakes all the time.  We don't hear those of Japanese commentators nearly as often, although I've caught some, and there have been times when they still act like idiots by screaming at the top of their lungs or laughing at the participants.

 

3) Comparing Fukuzawa to Ross is, to use an Olympics analogy, like comparing Gary Thorne to Jim Lampley as hockey commentators.  One gets across the emotions of the audience and the pace of the match, and the other is a babbling dunce.

[Guest Captian Linger]

Since no one has chimed in as a speaker of Japanese, I'll move in here...

 

Eh, but I don't speak Japanese either!

 

I do agree with Chris's points about being able to concenrate on the match rather than be distracted by an annoucer *telling* you how to react to a match.

 

I did find something interesting, however, that got me interested in just how good the annoucning might be over there since most of us don't understand it. Apparently, jdw speaks Japanese and made this comment about Misawa/Kawada 6/3/94:

 

"The crowd heat was unreal for the last 20:00, while it was the greatest called match I’ve ever heard."

 

Kind of makes me envious to read that about my personal favorite men's match ever. Where even I can pick up on the great announcing in terms of emotion, I can only imagine how it would come off if I actually knew the language.

[Guest CB2M]

I did find something interesting, however, that got me interested in just how good the annoucning might be over there since most of us don't understand it. Apparently, jdw speaks Japanese and made this comment about Misawa/Kawada 6/3/94:

 

"The crowd heat was unreal for the last 20:00, while it was the greatest called match I’ve ever heard."

I doubt jdw speaks Japanese...but it doesn't matter.  You can still *feel* the brilliance of the call without knowing the language.  At least I can, anyway.

[Guest Captian Linger]

Hate to differ but I specifically recall jdw saying that he spoke Japanese one time. Can anyone back me up here?

 

I'd certainly find it weird for someone to call a match 'best called ever' when he doesn't even know the language.