Titan Class METROPLEX

[Hursticon]

I have answered it, they aren't dumb as what you think. Very often enough there are English phrases in their cartoons more than you think is just pure Japanese language.

No one is questioning the intelligence or capacity of the Japanese to understand English words/phrases, your inference to the contrary is rather off-putting.

[drifand]

No one is questioning the intelligence or capacity of the Japanese to understand English words/phrases, your inference to the contrary is rather off-putting.

Is where the topic is starting to stray off that is off putting. Like you said you didn't care whether it was in some unknown language. The answer to the question was English and that was all to it.

The other bits and pieces about "kids not understanding" etc.... is not of our concern seriously. Trent wanted to know if Japanese kids have an issue with Metroplex speaking some basic English words.

My answer is no. It wasn't like Metroplex was talking like Tony Abbot or Mr Rudd.

[GoktimusPrime]

Having lived in Japan and tutored English there, I can tell you - most Japanese kids (and adults) don't speak a lick of English. It's nothing to do with being dumb, it's more to do w/ their education system which I won't elaborate on here.

But lemme put it this way, a lot of Western kids know Japanese catchphrases without knowing their meaning like "Kamehameha," "Hadouken", "Shouryuuken," "Hokage," "Arashikage" etc. Heck... how many English speaking kids know what Latin based names like "Optimus Prime" or "Ultra Magnus" means? When I teach Latin to Year 7 students, it's always been the first time that they've discovered the meaning of these words.

e.g.
Marcellus optimus est ("Marcellus is great").
Balaena magnus^a est ("The whale is big").

Or when I teach them the verb "salit" (to jump), and explain to them that that's where the word "sault" comes from in "somersault" (to leap over). This is also why the Jumpstarters are called "Saltman" (Jumping Man) in Latin American countries. I sometimes like to amuse kids (and see who's really paying attention) by putting in ridiculous statements in questions. Like in a test a question will ask students to translate "Mater est in horto. Mater in horto salit." ("The mother is in the garden. The mother is in the garden jumping.") The clever kids have a good muffled chuckle. Often when I return the test papers I get asked, "Why is the mother jumping in the garden?" to which I reply, "Because she's waiting for the trampouline to be invented."

[drifand]

Maybe you will help more if you post this question to some of your Japanese friends whether they are disappointed with Mr Metroplex speaking in English.
This would probably rest the debate.

[Trent]

I have answered it, they aren't dumb as what you think. Very often enough there are English phrases in their cartoons more than you think is just pure Japanese language.

I have just watched Gurren Laggan, and there are words like "Giga Drill!" "definite kill".

Gundam : "Commencing sequence initiation." "critical damage" "hyper drive"

Hence, this is trivial.

This is almost like you think they won't know what is "Transform!" "To all are one" "destroy decepticons"

I never inferred that they were dumb. And i dont like that you implied otherwise. I was simply curious and asked Gok a question. I apologize for not being the cultural knowledge powerhouse that you appear to be. I will derail this thread no longer.

Gok, thanks for the explanation. It was appreciated

[Hursticon]

This would probably rest the debate.

I don't think there's as much debate as you may think there is.

[drifand]

I don't think there's as much debate as you may think there is.

Then there isn't a need to question then. Lets move on.

[Sinnertwin]

Interesting then, that in a country that features numerous robots etc that Takara would promote an item with an English chip. Having read Gok's comments in regards to the English language, one would think that replacing the English chip with a Japanese one would make it that extra bit easier for Takara to promote it & perhaps persuade those with only a passing interest to invest in one.

[Hursticon]

Interesting then, that in a country that features numerous robots etc that Takara would promote an item with an English chip. Having read Gok's comments in regards to the English language, one would think that replacing the English chip with a Japanese one would make it that extra bit easier for Takara to promote it & perhaps persuade those with only a passing interest to invest in one.

One would've thought that simply being a Giant robot toy would be enough, that fact alone practically sold me on it.
(I also understand that spacial requirements in Japan can often deter parents from larger toy purchases, sadly )

[drifand]

One would've thought that simply being a Giant robot toy would be enough, that fact alone practically sold me on it.
(I also understand that spacial requirements in Japan can often deter parents from larger toy purchases, sadly )

ditto.

And on the note of the size, you are spot on. Many in Japan do not have the space for these robots. So it is really a selective few that will buy it, and not because it isn't affordable.