Jocelyne Allen
@brainvsbook.bsky.social
アレン・ジョセリン
I write. I ramble. I translate. And interpret.
筆者／翻訳・通訳家／取り留めの無い人
(she/they)
brainvsbook.com
kaikatsu.ca
I write. I ramble. I translate. And interpret.
筆者／翻訳・通訳家／取り留めの無い人
(she/they)
brainvsbook.com
kaikatsu.ca
Pinned
Jocelyne Allen
@brainvsbook.bsky.social
· Jun 19
Don't call it a Substack. - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
Since people have asked why I don't start a Substack:
I have one; it's called a blog and it's at brainvsbook.com. Why would I let some company slap its brand all over my writing?? Especially when that company is fascist and transphobic! (Great summary of why Substack sucks in case you're unaware)
I have one; it's called a blog and it's at brainvsbook.com. Why would I let some company slap its brand all over my writing?? Especially when that company is fascist and transphobic! (Great summary of why Substack sucks in case you're unaware)
Flipping channels, seeing women's Olympic hockey.
"Ooh, hockey!"
Proving that I am indeed somewhere deep down inside still Canadian.
"Ooh, hockey!"
Proving that I am indeed somewhere deep down inside still Canadian.
February 10, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Flipping channels, seeing women's Olympic hockey.
"Ooh, hockey!"
Proving that I am indeed somewhere deep down inside still Canadian.
"Ooh, hockey!"
Proving that I am indeed somewhere deep down inside still Canadian.
Thank you, Tokyo evening news, for introducing me to my new obsession: the desert fairy Gundi!
February 10, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Thank you, Tokyo evening news, for introducing me to my new obsession: the desert fairy Gundi!
Sometimes, I just want to read the books and not actually translate them. Can someone pay me just to read books?? #AmDeadlines
February 10, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Sometimes, I just want to read the books and not actually translate them. Can someone pay me just to read books?? #AmDeadlines
Love is in the air, and guess what? Mini-chan is here to sweep you off your feet! She's your Valentine's Day present, you lucky dog. All boxed up just for you!
February 9, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Love is in the air, and guess what? Mini-chan is here to sweep you off your feet! She's your Valentine's Day present, you lucky dog. All boxed up just for you!
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
“She opened her eyes that had been closed.”
Well, yes, something has to be closed before it can be opened. That’s how opening works. You don’t need to tell people that. *rolls eyes at Japanese hyperspecificity* #AmTranslating
Well, yes, something has to be closed before it can be opened. That’s how opening works. You don’t need to tell people that. *rolls eyes at Japanese hyperspecificity* #AmTranslating
February 9, 2026 at 3:34 AM
“She opened her eyes that had been closed.”
Well, yes, something has to be closed before it can be opened. That’s how opening works. You don’t need to tell people that. *rolls eyes at Japanese hyperspecificity* #AmTranslating
Well, yes, something has to be closed before it can be opened. That’s how opening works. You don’t need to tell people that. *rolls eyes at Japanese hyperspecificity* #AmTranslating
漫画家の皆さん！「英語圏に出版されたい〜！海外のイベントに参加したい〜！」と思ったことないですか？？それについてちょっとお話ししますので、ご興味のある方ぜひRPのリンクでご登録ください！！
（漫画家じゃなくてもご参加できますよ！）
（漫画家じゃなくてもご参加できますよ！）
【講演会告知】
「海外に出るには
～世界に挑むクリエイターへ 最初の一歩の踏み出し方～」
日英翻訳者ジョセリン・アレン氏による講演
【代表翻訳作】
伊藤潤二『死びとの恋わずらい』（アイズナー賞受賞）
池田理代子『ベルサイユのばら』
📍場所：としま区民センター 402会議室
🕒日時：3月6日 10:00〜
📝参加方法：事前申込（無料）
参加希望フォームこちら
forms.gle/EEdHftovCoxV...
※この講演会は独立行政法人日本芸術文化振興の文化活動基盤強化基金（クリエイター等支援事業（育成プログラム構築・実践））による助成をうけたプロジェクト「GOMA」の一環として行われます
「海外に出るには
～世界に挑むクリエイターへ 最初の一歩の踏み出し方～」
日英翻訳者ジョセリン・アレン氏による講演
【代表翻訳作】
伊藤潤二『死びとの恋わずらい』（アイズナー賞受賞）
池田理代子『ベルサイユのばら』
📍場所：としま区民センター 402会議室
🕒日時：3月6日 10:00〜
📝参加方法：事前申込（無料）
参加希望フォームこちら
forms.gle/EEdHftovCoxV...
※この講演会は独立行政法人日本芸術文化振興の文化活動基盤強化基金（クリエイター等支援事業（育成プログラム構築・実践））による助成をうけたプロジェクト「GOMA」の一環として行われます
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
漫画家の皆さん！「英語圏に出版されたい〜！海外のイベントに参加したい〜！」と思ったことないですか？？それについてちょっとお話ししますので、ご興味のある方ぜひRPのリンクでご登録ください！！
（漫画家じゃなくてもご参加できますよ！）
（漫画家じゃなくてもご参加できますよ！）
Following ancient tradition, as is our custom in snowy times, the evening news reports solemnly on the terrible damage the frozen water has caused and teaches us once again how to walk without falling before reassuring us that the evil white fluff will soon be gone again.
February 8, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Following ancient tradition, as is our custom in snowy times, the evening news reports solemnly on the terrible damage the frozen water has caused and teaches us once again how to walk without falling before reassuring us that the evil white fluff will soon be gone again.
Absolutely did not see Peter Cetera coming at the end of Princess from the Moon. Filmmakers could not have chosen a more jarring theme song if they tried. #AmWatching
Princess from the Moon - The Criterion Channel
Directed by Kon Ichikawa • 1987 • Japan
When a husband and wife discover a baby girl in a strange, golden pod next to the grave of their daughter, they decide to adopt her. It is not until years late...
www.criterionchannel.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Absolutely did not see Peter Cetera coming at the end of Princess from the Moon. Filmmakers could not have chosen a more jarring theme song if they tried. #AmWatching
It’s interesting how “ここはどこですか” (where is this/here?) turns into "Where am I?" There’s this shift in the perspective of the two languages from positioning the self in the world to centring the self. #AmTranslating
February 6, 2026 at 11:16 AM
It’s interesting how “ここはどこですか” (where is this/here?) turns into "Where am I?" There’s this shift in the perspective of the two languages from positioning the self in the world to centring the self. #AmTranslating
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
This hybrid East Asian comics conference looks really interesting. #manga #translation
www.su.se/english/divi...
www.su.se/english/divi...
Translating Comics: Between Bubbles, Cultures, and Constraints in East Asia - Stockholms universitet
www.su.se
February 5, 2026 at 8:25 AM
This hybrid East Asian comics conference looks really interesting. #manga #translation
www.su.se/english/divi...
www.su.se/english/divi...
I've been very unmotivated lately and my work is suffering, so my new trick is to go work in this cafe that is *very* cold and not let myself leave until I get my pages done. Your feet turning to chunks of ice in your shoes and the increasing desire to please go somewhere warm is very motivating.
February 5, 2026 at 10:12 AM
I've been very unmotivated lately and my work is suffering, so my new trick is to go work in this cafe that is *very* cold and not let myself leave until I get my pages done. Your feet turning to chunks of ice in your shoes and the increasing desire to please go somewhere warm is very motivating.
The top result when I search "eat dirt" (for translation reasons) is a resounding "Yes! You should totally eat dirt!" Immediately followed by a "Hey, maybe don't eat dirt." I feel we, as a society, have gone astray.
February 5, 2026 at 2:16 AM
The top result when I search "eat dirt" (for translation reasons) is a resounding "Yes! You should totally eat dirt!" Immediately followed by a "Hey, maybe don't eat dirt." I feel we, as a society, have gone astray.
Just typed “locker” for 廊下, so it’s probably time for me to call it quits for the day. #AmTranslating
February 4, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Just typed “locker” for 廊下, so it’s probably time for me to call it quits for the day. #AmTranslating
The "What's" reaction used in this manga is sending me all the way back to my days at Honda working on the That's campaign. "What's that?" I quietly weep, rocking back and forth in the corner. "It's That's."
February 4, 2026 at 2:32 AM
The "What's" reaction used in this manga is sending me all the way back to my days at Honda working on the That's campaign. "What's that?" I quietly weep, rocking back and forth in the corner. "It's That's."
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Fashion icon Mini-chan is here to slay...demons for Setsubun! She's going to throw some beans, get those devils out, and bring all the good fortune right into your house, looking glam as hell the whole time.
January 31, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Fashion icon Mini-chan is here to slay...demons for Setsubun! She's going to throw some beans, get those devils out, and bring all the good fortune right into your house, looking glam as hell the whole time.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
2月8日は衆議院銀選挙！
期日前投票ももう行ける！
今日行ってきたよ！
期日前投票ももう行ける！
今日行ってきたよ！
February 3, 2026 at 8:39 AM
2月8日は衆議院銀選挙！
期日前投票ももう行ける！
今日行ってきたよ！
期日前投票ももう行ける！
今日行ってきたよ！
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Highly, highly important, inflexible Japanese->English translation rule dealing with any game-themed text:
ステータス: Stat(s)
状態: Status
The top is numerical attributes; the bottom is whether a party-member is poisoned or asleep
The top is literally "status" in katakana, but that's a trap
ステータス: Stat(s)
状態: Status
The top is numerical attributes; the bottom is whether a party-member is poisoned or asleep
The top is literally "status" in katakana, but that's a trap
February 3, 2026 at 4:16 AM
Highly, highly important, inflexible Japanese->English translation rule dealing with any game-themed text:
ステータス: Stat(s)
状態: Status
The top is numerical attributes; the bottom is whether a party-member is poisoned or asleep
The top is literally "status" in katakana, but that's a trap
ステータス: Stat(s)
状態: Status
The top is numerical attributes; the bottom is whether a party-member is poisoned or asleep
The top is literally "status" in katakana, but that's a trap
My favourite part of Setsubun is the news wrap-up with all the toddlers sobbing in hysterical terror at the oni coming for them.
February 3, 2026 at 9:33 AM
My favourite part of Setsubun is the news wrap-up with all the toddlers sobbing in hysterical terror at the oni coming for them.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Brain vs Dream!
Watashi no Yume ga Sameru Made: Nagashima Hiromi
A comics friend of mine used to bang on about “multiple impressions” whenever the subject of selling books came up. He was mostly playing it for laughs, the repeated joke that only gets sillier the…
brainvsbook.wordpress.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Brain vs Dream!
This applies to all of us, not just comics creators! That means you, budding translators. Always ask for more money, more time! You are worth more!!
Know your worth; your time is gold.
What advice would you give an aspiring comic creator? - 🦝
February 2, 2026 at 9:26 AM
This applies to all of us, not just comics creators! That means you, budding translators. Always ask for more money, more time! You are worth more!!
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Know your worth; your time is gold.
What advice would you give an aspiring comic creator? - 🦝
February 2, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Know your worth; your time is gold.
Dictionary says 丁銀 is an “Edo period silver coin shaped like a sea cucumber”, which gets me wondering about both coin and sea cucumber. Turns out the dictionary is not wrong.
February 2, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Dictionary says 丁銀 is an “Edo period silver coin shaped like a sea cucumber”, which gets me wondering about both coin and sea cucumber. Turns out the dictionary is not wrong.
Putting in a special order for a crate or two to scatter on the living room floors of manga artists who torture their translators (it's me, I'm translators) with walls of handwritten text and pages of visual puns
I need you to know that you can buy individual crabs from LEGO and they are 21¢ each
www.lego.com/en-us/pick-a...
www.lego.com/en-us/pick-a...
January 31, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Putting in a special order for a crate or two to scatter on the living room floors of manga artists who torture their translators (it's me, I'm translators) with walls of handwritten text and pages of visual puns
Fashion icon Mini-chan is here to slay...demons for Setsubun! She's going to throw some beans, get those devils out, and bring all the good fortune right into your house, looking glam as hell the whole time.
January 31, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Fashion icon Mini-chan is here to slay...demons for Setsubun! She's going to throw some beans, get those devils out, and bring all the good fortune right into your house, looking glam as hell the whole time.