"Kamen" vs "Masked"

[Luke Groundwalker]

Both are legitament. I've seen Toei both use Kamen and Masked on official listings, so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Solid Snake]

All the merchandise I own and I've ever seen use "Masked" because they translate it. The funny thing is that when we get KRDK merchandise, they'll use "Kamen" which is funny because Americans will use the Japanese term while the Japanese will use the English one.

 

[DigDoug]

When talking to other fans, I use "Kamen", but when I'm talking to friends or relatives that are just hearing about it, I use "Masked".

 

[koji17]

It's just a matter of translation. It's essentially "Kamen Rider" as that is what it comes out to be if you read it in japanese. Toei likes to translate the full title when using it with the alphabet, so you get "Masked Rider" instead.

Most people didn't catch on to the "Masked Rider" and just chose to use it how it's pronounced in japanese which is "Kamen Rider", so that's that. :anime:

 

[strizzuth]

It'll be interesting to see how the fandom resolves this.

 

[Sentaifan'07 Xman]

Why? becuase I think most of us here are using the Japanese name not the English one. Plus I think its stupid to translate a name, you should always leave names as is. If a guy is named Ryu, then calling him Dragon would be very stupid IMO. Kamen Rider is a name thus translating it isn't a very good idea IMO.

Both are legitament. I've seen Toei both use Kamen and Masked on official listings, so it really doesn't matter.

I concur.

 

[ryuuseipro]

Why? becuase I think most of us here are using the Japanese name not the English one. Plus I think its stupid to translate a name, you should always leave names as is. If a guy is named Ryu, then calling him Dragon would be very stupid IMO. Kamen Rider is a name thus translating it isn't a very good idea IMO.

I guess by your standards, "Ultraman" should be "Urutoraman," "Ultra Seven" should be "Urutora Sebun," "Devilman" should be "Debiruman," etc.

Some superhero names are definitely worth translating. If "Masked Rider" was the intended English translation of "Kamen Raidaa" (and it actually is), so be it. I have already come to accept that. Besides, I already cringe when I hear Americans pronounce "Comma Rider," "Common Rider," "Cumma' Rider," -- AAAAAAAAUGH!!! It's "Ka-MEN Rider," for crying out loud!!! :shakefist

I have long accepted "Kikaider" over just "Kikaidaa" (because the name is a combo-pun: "kikai"/"machine" + "rider"). Same deal with "Inazuman" ("inazuma"/"lightning" + "man"). "Zubat" is understandable, because it's based on a Japanese sound effect.

And BTW, "Godzilla" (from "Gojira"; Pronounced "GO-jee-rah," not "Go-JEE-ruh"!) was not an American thing, either; Toho actually came up with that themselves, when they marketed the film overseas (before it was picked up 2 years later, it was shown in Japanese-American theaters subtitled)!

 

[Solid Snake]

I guess by your standards, "Ultraman" should be "Urutoraman," "Ultra Seven" should be "Urutora Sebun," "Devilman" should be "Debiruman," etc.!

Actually no, thats a difference in pronunciation. Not translation. The difference between "Ultraman" and "Urutoraman" is not the same as "Masked" and "Kamen".

 

[grimreapernik]

Because thats the right way to call it, it'd be like calling akaranger of goranger red ranger.

 

[FreedomR8G6B1]

I think another thing that will get the wrong impression by some if "Masked" is used is that people, who are unfamiliar with the genre, will assume Dragon Knight is some kind of Power Ranger spin-off.