Mikayla B.
@mikaylakai.bsky.social
(she/her) | J>E video games & manga translator | 日英翻訳家（ゲーム・漫画）| https://mikaylakai.carrd.co/
Reposted by Mikayla B.
I wrote more words about how it feels to be a translator watching the games press report on AI and labor, coming from a field that's fought these battles for decades. It may look like I'm beating up on one outlet, but it's not about them; I've been trying to write this for me and my peers all year.
You Can't Report on Hunger While Taking Bread Off the Table
On the proliferation of machine translation in video game outlets covering the effects of AI on labor.
dateemups.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I wrote more words about how it feels to be a translator watching the games press report on AI and labor, coming from a field that's fought these battles for decades. It may look like I'm beating up on one outlet, but it's not about them; I've been trying to write this for me and my peers all year.
these sneaky "AI" updates to W11 are troubling because people who work under strict NDAs are at serious risk without even being notified. and who is going to be held accountable if something goes wrong? certainly not microsoft, which feels comfortable putting its users at risk over and over again
October 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
these sneaky "AI" updates to W11 are troubling because people who work under strict NDAs are at serious risk without even being notified. and who is going to be held accountable if something goes wrong? certainly not microsoft, which feels comfortable putting its users at risk over and over again
Reposted by Mikayla B.
If you're using Windows 11, Microsoft is now surveilling you in a new way. This may already be turned on on your computer, and you would not be notified; it activates whenever they detect you are in a "game", which in my experience Microsoft often false-positives on
doublepulsar.com/microsoft-bu...
doublepulsar.com/microsoft-bu...
Microsoft builds on Recall with Gaming Copilot — fails basic privacy tests
Gaming Copilot, rolling out now to Windows 11, adds a new attack surface to Windows.
doublepulsar.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
If you're using Windows 11, Microsoft is now surveilling you in a new way. This may already be turned on on your computer, and you would not be notified; it activates whenever they detect you are in a "game", which in my experience Microsoft often false-positives on
doublepulsar.com/microsoft-bu...
doublepulsar.com/microsoft-bu...
Reposted by Mikayla B.
This month, I looked at one of the most infamous mistranslations in Zelda history. In comparing the English translation with the original Japanese script, I hoped to uncover what may have led to this unfortunate error and how it might have been avoided.
annacairistiona.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/e...
annacairistiona.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/e...
Examining Twilight Princess’ Biggest Mistranslation
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of my favourite entries in the franchise, not least for its charming English translation. Unfortunately, it’s ill-famed amongst the series’…
annacairistiona.wordpress.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
This month, I looked at one of the most infamous mistranslations in Zelda history. In comparing the English translation with the original Japanese script, I hoped to uncover what may have led to this unfortunate error and how it might have been avoided.
annacairistiona.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/e...
annacairistiona.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/e...
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Who wants to cozy up this winter to spicy, spooky, or fantastic winter tales with #trans and #nonbinary characters?
Well, me for one.
Calling trans and nonbinary #writers. Submit now to join my Itchio bundle of Trans Holiday Magic! Existing or new stories welcome.
forms.gle/svdATkyeWqQ1...
Well, me for one.
Calling trans and nonbinary #writers. Submit now to join my Itchio bundle of Trans Holiday Magic! Existing or new stories welcome.
forms.gle/svdATkyeWqQ1...
October 3, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Who wants to cozy up this winter to spicy, spooky, or fantastic winter tales with #trans and #nonbinary characters?
Well, me for one.
Calling trans and nonbinary #writers. Submit now to join my Itchio bundle of Trans Holiday Magic! Existing or new stories welcome.
forms.gle/svdATkyeWqQ1...
Well, me for one.
Calling trans and nonbinary #writers. Submit now to join my Itchio bundle of Trans Holiday Magic! Existing or new stories welcome.
forms.gle/svdATkyeWqQ1...
Reposted by Mikayla B.
we've entered a dark era where hidive's janky-ass selection of like six very ungood fonts and small handful of colors now makes for the best anime-watching experience on the market, for all of ~3 new shows they pick up each season
October 3, 2025 at 4:21 AM
we've entered a dark era where hidive's janky-ass selection of like six very ungood fonts and small handful of colors now makes for the best anime-watching experience on the market, for all of ~3 new shows they pick up each season
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Here’s the final part of our four part Better Offline case against generative AI. I walk you through how there’s not enough money in the world to pay for OpenAI’s $1 trillion 4-year burn, and how retail investors are at risk as a result.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Linktr.ee/betteroffline
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Linktr.ee/betteroffline
October 3, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Here’s the final part of our four part Better Offline case against generative AI. I walk you through how there’s not enough money in the world to pay for OpenAI’s $1 trillion 4-year burn, and how retail investors are at risk as a result.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Linktr.ee/betteroffline
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Linktr.ee/betteroffline
Reposted by Mikayla B.
(2/2) We will shift our focus to our print releases, and our social media accounts will remain active.
For further information, please see the photo below.
We make this announcement with saddened hearts, and we thank you for supporting Manga Planet all these years.
The Manga Planet Team
For further information, please see the photo below.
We make this announcement with saddened hearts, and we thank you for supporting Manga Planet all these years.
The Manga Planet Team
October 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
(2/2) We will shift our focus to our print releases, and our social media accounts will remain active.
For further information, please see the photo below.
We make this announcement with saddened hearts, and we thank you for supporting Manga Planet all these years.
The Manga Planet Team
For further information, please see the photo below.
We make this announcement with saddened hearts, and we thank you for supporting Manga Planet all these years.
The Manga Planet Team
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Closure of Manga Planet’s Digital Platform on March 31st, 2026
Due to various circumstances like recent restrictions from payment processors and the changing online landscape, we plan to close Manga Planet’s digital service at the end of March 2026.
(1/2)
Due to various circumstances like recent restrictions from payment processors and the changing online landscape, we plan to close Manga Planet’s digital service at the end of March 2026.
(1/2)
October 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Closure of Manga Planet’s Digital Platform on March 31st, 2026
Due to various circumstances like recent restrictions from payment processors and the changing online landscape, we plan to close Manga Planet’s digital service at the end of March 2026.
(1/2)
Due to various circumstances like recent restrictions from payment processors and the changing online landscape, we plan to close Manga Planet’s digital service at the end of March 2026.
(1/2)
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Been trying to read some isekai lately.
![Four frames comic about two types of Isekai I found and read lately. The first frame shows a young man with a sword. He says: "My name is Josh Itcantbehelped and I used to be a loser before a car crash brought me to a world where I am a god and half the population is made of SLAVE CATGIRLS". The second frame shows him crying and clenching his fist, with many a cat behind him, wearing bikinis. He says "To make it here I guess I have no choice but to own as many catgirls as I can...how tragic...". The third frame shows another character from another type of Isekai. She's a woman with a fluffy dress. She says "My name is Elise Robespierre and after being hit by a truck of terminal cancer I am now in my favorite 900 pages novel. With many a hot man.". The fourth frame shows her giving a board presentation to citizens, with graphs and pictures of plants on it. She says: "Hello citizens. This is my plan to modernize the agricultural system and prevent any further plague by creating medicine [...] taxes which ..." the text becomes unreadable as she keeps talking to her captive audience.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:h7mwv6f6sh6clwvc4ah46lp6/bafkreifkd3fek4oeyjtbo7ewtkahjxcpqw3mnbzcotaqlnyw22jsxsd5fe@jpeg)
September 28, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Been trying to read some isekai lately.
Reposted by Mikayla B.
The response to this piece has been incredible. Huge thanks to all the translators and localizers who shared their stories.
I'm now planning the next two editions: First, if you're a healthcare worker—a nurse, therapist, tech, admin, doctor—and AI has impacted your job, I'd love to hear from you.
I'm now planning the next two editions: First, if you're a healthcare worker—a nurse, therapist, tech, admin, doctor—and AI has impacted your job, I'd love to hear from you.
Actual translation is work that can't be done by machines, but that doesn't mean translators aren't having their careers impacted—or destroyed—by AI.
These are their stories www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/ai-killed-...
These are their stories www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/ai-killed-...
AI Killed My Job: Translators
Few industries have been hit by AI as hard as translation. Rates are plummeting. Work is drying up. Translators are considering abandoning the field, or bankruptcy. These are their stories.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The response to this piece has been incredible. Huge thanks to all the translators and localizers who shared their stories.
I'm now planning the next two editions: First, if you're a healthcare worker—a nurse, therapist, tech, admin, doctor—and AI has impacted your job, I'd love to hear from you.
I'm now planning the next two editions: First, if you're a healthcare worker—a nurse, therapist, tech, admin, doctor—and AI has impacted your job, I'd love to hear from you.
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Went down a small rabbit hole because I was curious where 尻餅 comes from... to think it actually came from a practice involving mochi this whole time? and here I was thinking the Japanese people of old thought butts were soft like mochi lol 😭
July 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Went down a small rabbit hole because I was curious where 尻餅 comes from... to think it actually came from a practice involving mochi this whole time? and here I was thinking the Japanese people of old thought butts were soft like mochi lol 😭
I translated the Demon Slayer and TO BE HERO X articles for this year's issue of Crunchyroll x Newtype 🥰 If you're around at AX or ANYC, you can pick up a copy for free!
July 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I translated the Demon Slayer and TO BE HERO X articles for this year's issue of Crunchyroll x Newtype 🥰 If you're around at AX or ANYC, you can pick up a copy for free!
Reposted by Mikayla B.
I'm getting real tired of not being able to trust that a video game doesn't have AI crap in it:
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
June 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I'm getting real tired of not being able to trust that a video game doesn't have AI crap in it:
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
aftermath.site/the-alters-ai-...
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Seeing a lot of racist pinkwashing bullshit about Muslims and homosexuality and it’s a good time to share how I was on the gay marriage beat for a decade and racist gays never believed me when I shared how US Muslims favored equal LGBT rights (52%) over Christian evangelicals (34%)!
June 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Seeing a lot of racist pinkwashing bullshit about Muslims and homosexuality and it’s a good time to share how I was on the gay marriage beat for a decade and racist gays never believed me when I shared how US Muslims favored equal LGBT rights (52%) over Christian evangelicals (34%)!
Reposted by Mikayla B.
It's time for the June #Japanese slang review! Click the link below to learn about
好きな惣菜発表ドラゴン
エッホエッホ
まずは、ありがとう
きょコ
羽ばたいてるね
ケチャ
マジマジマジンガー
ぽれ・ぽまえら
私信
バチギレ案件
wesleycrobertson.wordpress.com/2025/06/30/j...
好きな惣菜発表ドラゴン
エッホエッホ
まずは、ありがとう
きょコ
羽ばたいてるね
ケチャ
マジマジマジンガー
ぽれ・ぽまえら
私信
バチギレ案件
wesleycrobertson.wordpress.com/2025/06/30/j...
Japanese Slang Review – June 2025
And it’s time for the sixth Japanese slang review of 2025 (see all prior posts here)! In these posts I deep dive into the world of Japanese terms you probably won’t see in a textbook, l…
wesleycrobertson.wordpress.com
June 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It's time for the June #Japanese slang review! Click the link below to learn about
好きな惣菜発表ドラゴン
エッホエッホ
まずは、ありがとう
きょコ
羽ばたいてるね
ケチャ
マジマジマジンガー
ぽれ・ぽまえら
私信
バチギレ案件
wesleycrobertson.wordpress.com/2025/06/30/j...
好きな惣菜発表ドラゴン
エッホエッホ
まずは、ありがとう
きょコ
羽ばたいてるね
ケチャ
マジマジマジンガー
ぽれ・ぽまえら
私信
バチギレ案件
wesleycrobertson.wordpress.com/2025/06/30/j...
Reposted by Mikayla B.
'Every word has come back to haunt me': China cracks down on women who write gay erotica
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
China is cracking down on young women who write gay erotica
At least 30 writers have been arrested across the country since February, a lawyer tells the BBC.
www.bbc.com
June 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
'Every word has come back to haunt me': China cracks down on women who write gay erotica
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
sometimes I think "damn I've spent too much time on the internet" but then it comes in handy for random things like this
June 27, 2025 at 11:05 AM
sometimes I think "damn I've spent too much time on the internet" but then it comes in handy for random things like this
June 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Mikayla B.
didn't even realise he was running
June 25, 2025 at 3:28 AM
didn't even realise he was running
K MANGA is finally available in Europe, which means I can finally check with my own eyes that I'm credited in the digital release of You Can't Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister 😭🙏 A win for me and manga accessibility!
June 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
K MANGA is finally available in Europe, which means I can finally check with my own eyes that I'm credited in the digital release of You Can't Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister 😭🙏 A win for me and manga accessibility!
This reminds me of how early in my career I had to make a conscious effort to phase out the "X, but Y, so Z" sentence pattern in my English writing, which showed up a lot thanks to how often I saw it happen in Japanese. It's clunky and unwieldy, but if I wasn't paying attention I'd still be doing it
I've noticed a lot of inexperienced (and even some experienced) translators will write in this wooden way and not realise it's unnatural.
If you're an aspiring translator please, please, please read books written in your native language, not just translated stuff.
If you're an aspiring translator please, please, please read books written in your native language, not just translated stuff.
I really want someone to do a study on the linguistic phenomenon that sees native English speakers consuming so much translated Japanese media that they start using a voice similar to that translated media. Because I've never met anyone who talks like this IRL, except for those people.
June 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM
This reminds me of how early in my career I had to make a conscious effort to phase out the "X, but Y, so Z" sentence pattern in my English writing, which showed up a lot thanks to how often I saw it happen in Japanese. It's clunky and unwieldy, but if I wasn't paying attention I'd still be doing it
Reposted by Mikayla B.
Indie devs and curious nerds!
I've written a few articles for IGDA on localization for games, including scheduling, how to ensure good quality localization, and a guide on LQA.
j-entranslations.com/game-localiz...
I've written a few articles for IGDA on localization for games, including scheduling, how to ensure good quality localization, and a guide on LQA.
j-entranslations.com/game-localiz...
Game Localization for Devs
Are you a game developer interested in learning more about how localization works? Check out these articles on game localization for devs.
j-entranslations.com
June 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Indie devs and curious nerds!
I've written a few articles for IGDA on localization for games, including scheduling, how to ensure good quality localization, and a guide on LQA.
j-entranslations.com/game-localiz...
I've written a few articles for IGDA on localization for games, including scheduling, how to ensure good quality localization, and a guide on LQA.
j-entranslations.com/game-localiz...
Finished reading Babel the other day and while there's a LOT that can be said about it, one thing I liked is that the main character loves easily and loves hard. A translation will never 100% capture its source, but without love for the source you won't be able to respect and convey its ideas either
June 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Finished reading Babel the other day and while there's a LOT that can be said about it, one thing I liked is that the main character loves easily and loves hard. A translation will never 100% capture its source, but without love for the source you won't be able to respect and convey its ideas either