※This article is repost of a note I posted in June 2025.
I recently posted the English version of my visual novel — and to my surprise, the response from English-speaking otaku was overwhelmingly warm. Truly heartwarming stuff.
You can check out the post here, where I explain the game and share some of the script ↓
What really struck me was how passionate the Overseas fans were. Their comments gave me real courage.
When I compare that to how Japanese otaku respond… well, it’s pretty different. Let’s just say Japanese fans are a bit more reserved. I’m like that too.
Rather than replying directly to creators, they’ll usually just retweet quietly and whisper a thought into the void. There’s a kind of quiet elegance to it — even their praise is subtle and low-key. And I actually love that.
But in contrast, English-speaking fans are so expressive. It’s not better or worse — it’s just that their passion feels like hunger. A hunger for stories and culture. And honestly, I think that hunger is a good thing.
Dio is a ravenous beast, and you are merely the one who inherited. That gap will steal your victory... and tear you apart!
A big part of how I see life was shaped by Steel Ball Run. You can’t win without hunger.
I genuinely believe that. When you live with that hunger, you naturally end up bonding with others who also feel that same emptiness. It’s easier that way.
Of course, it doesn’t matter where you’re from — if you’re hungry, I’m on your side.
At the same time, I do think Japanese otaku tend to have it too easy when it comes to content. There’s so much of it constantly being released, they don’t have to starve for it. And that difference fascinates me.
After a lot of thought, I decided to keep “Onii-chan” in the English version of the game.
That choice came from deep personal conviction — I was one of those kids who got way too into Sister Princess, after all. I have strong opinions on how little sisters should address their older brothers.
Personally, I’m a fan of “Ani-chama” or “Nii-ya,” but hey — watching the English translation of Sister Princess slowly evolve is a joy of its own.
There’s even a Wikipedia page for the show, wedged hilariously between Getter Robo and Patlabor.
The translators did their best to differentiate the sisters with unique elder brother terms, while the kanji names in Japanese just blur together.
It’s all part of the charm.
Still, no matter how much effort you put in, “Bro” just ends up sounding so… American. Kind of too active. Too sporty.
That’s probably because Western sibling dynamics are more horizontal — less about seniority and more about equality. Like, “senpai/kouhai” doesn’t even exist there. Power isn’t age-based — it’s skill-based. That’s both awesome and terrifying.
And so, perhaps because of that longing, a new wave of otaku emerged in the West — fans who want to be called “Onii-chan” by Japanese characters. You’ll see them flooding Vtuber streams with desperate, greasy comments like, “Can you say Onii-chan~?”
It’s kind of gross — but it’s also kind of sincere. There’s real respect in there. Something about the sound of Japanese — the “chan,” the softness — it hits different for them. They’ve discovered, in their own way, that “Onii-chan” is supreme.
Even in Japan, one of Sister Princess’ main girls, Karen, calls her brother “Onii-chan.” But hey, Holden Caulfield’s little sister Phoebe from The Catcher in the Rye calls him “brother” too. She’s the ideal imouto from your country. So maybe one day, you’ll be able to translate the exact nuance of “Nii-san,” too.
That said, Phoebe actually calls him “Holden” in the original text — which is beautiful. But in Japanese, calling your older brother by name feels a little too distant. That’s why I went with “Nii-san.” The fact that this tug-of-war has been happening for decades is kind of amazing.
The fact that people can have such intense discussions over a single line from a little sister character shows how much culture still has room to evolve.
Without hunger, there is no victory! Yet my hunger must burn higher—purer—than Dio’s ever could!
For me, all of this comes back to that same concept: hunger.
To get this visual novel project off the ground, I had to go through some pretty traumatic stuff — to the point where I relapsed and had to start psychiatric treatment again.
I was furious at the apathy and abuse from people in power. So I walked away and started building this on my own. And somehow, my old team came back — every single one of them. We’re even working on another big project now.
One friend, who also got pushed around by that same toxic system, almost cried when we reunited. “I can’t believe we get to make games together again,” they said.
We’re angry. And we’re hungry.
Through a string of wild coincidences, I ended up in a place where I can directly communicate with English-speaking otaku. And once coincidences are used, they become destiny.
I’m genuinely fascinated by the cartoon and Vtuber cultures the West is growing on its own. After next year’s anime drops, I won’t have much left to do just in Japan. I want to build bridges. Blend with the world.
Once this visual novel progresses a bit more, I’d love to start a blog and Discord server for English-speaking fans. Slowly, gently, maybe we can form a kind of community.
If you’re even a little interested — reach out. I’d love to hear from you.
"Onii-chan would be totally hopeless without me, huh?"
Comments (1)
Leave a comment