Bakuman 88

I've basically done nothing but translate for 24 hours.
It's a high like nothing I can describe.

[Bakuman 88 Translation by Kewl0210]
Page 1:
Hattori: Is it really all right for me to be Ashirogi-kun's editor?
Top Left: ☆Jump Comics Volumes 1~8 now on sale with rave reviews!!
Title: Bakuman
Page 88 Expressive Power and Imaginative Power
Authors: Authors: Authors: Original Story / Ooba Tsugumi
Manga / Obata Takeshi
He should be elated by his reinstatement as editor... But...
Yuujirou: Didn't you want to be Ashirogi-kun's editor?
だから余計何ていうか
Hattori: I did want to. But it's kind of too much...
I had Akina-kun do the original scripts for Niizuma-kun to draw, [faces after names]
and it became like this because I gave Miura advice............
Now I feel kind of ashamed because of my selfishness.
Yuujirou: You're over thinking it. This was decided by the higher-ups. If you just do it with your head held high, it'll be fine, right?
Hattori: But.........
I'm going to tell my honest feelings to the editor-in-chief.
Yuujirou: Hey! There's no point in talking about it, it's already a done deal!

Page 2:
Sign: Fukuda
Fukuda: The fact that Ashirogi-kun got serialized.........
means he's at the level of master Niizuma.......?
Yasuoka: ......Sensei,
Is it okay if I go home now?
Fukuda: I've already done everything all I can do with "KIYOSHI"! [Face after title]
Yasuoka: Eh?
Fukuda: I mean I even did the Yankee Tag Tournament Y-1.
I thought about going higher with "KIYOSHI" but................. [face]
Okay!
With this two-week new years vacation I'm going to write a one-shot!!
Yasuoka: Eh, a one-shot!?
Fukuda: All I can do is publish a new work and switch over to that!!
I'm lower than master Niizuma and Hiramaru-san.
And I'm just on par with Miss Aoki.
With this I'll show them I can get higher than Ashirogi-kun. Forget Team Fukuda.
With that decided, I'm gonna have a meeting with Yuujirou for the One-Shot.
Phone: Pi
Pi
Yasuoka: No New Years vacation!? You're so cruel!!

Page 3:
Hattori: Editor-in-Chief...
Sasaki: Hattori, 6 months.
Hattori: Eh?
Sasaki: Half a year........ We'll see how "Kanzan Hanzai Club" is doing when it's up to chapter 25.
Hattori: U... Um, Editor-in-Chief..........
Sasaki: Of course, if it compares to Niizuma-kun in the first few chapters, that's a different story.
Yes................... Chapter 7 and on.
打切られて当然の順位なら即打切るが25話までに「CROW」「+NATURAL」に並ぶ作品にすればその後は他の作品と同等に扱う。
If it's in a position where it would normally be canceled before then, it'll be canceled instantly. But if it's at the same level as "CROW" and "+NATURAL" by chapter 25 then we'll start handling it like any other series.
Hattori: ..........

Page 4:
Hattori: I understand......... You're saying that unless the work can compete with them within half a year, it'll get cut.
Sasaki: Yes.
Miura: Senpai? ......
駄目だ編集長に出鼻をくじかれたのと威圧感で
Hattori: It's no good. I was intimidated by the sense that I'd kill the Editor-in-Chief's enthusiasm
何も言えなかった...やはり黙ってやるしか...
and I couldn't say anything... I knew it, I'll just have to stay silent about it...
Miura: Yuujirou-san.
Yuujirou: There are places where Hattori is too serious.
So he's helped Ashirogi-kun from the shadows as much as I could, but
実際に担当しとと言われるとこうなるためにしてたんじゃないって気持ちになったらしい
But it seems his feelings are he didn't want to be told to actually be their editor like this.
Miura: .........
That sounds like senpai......... And it's not that I don't understand how he feels, but
..........

Page 5:
Ashirogi: Eh? Hattori-san!?
We're going back to Hattori-san!?
Miura: If he sees those two happy, then I'm sure he'll get some enthusiasm.
Hattori-senpai.
Hattori: Hm?
Miura: How about we head over to Ashirogi-kun's place and properly tell them about the editor change?
Hattori: Right now?
Miura: That's right. Ashirogi-kun's been waiting to see you for a while.
Yuujirou: That's true. You make some good points once in a while, Miura.
Ashirogi-kun's waiting for Hattori, too.
Hattori: .........
I get it, let's go then......

Page 6:
Hiramaru: Ashirogi-kun got serialized? You came specifically to tell me that? I'm done with this year's work and I was getting some nice restful sleep.
I know if it's on Niizuma-kun's level it's higher than me, but I'm really pretty okay with that.
Yoshida: That's not all. Congratulations!
Hiramaru: Congratulations!? Don't tell me I finally got a firm promise for a date from Aoki-san!? [Face after name]
Yoshida: Nope! But not far off!
From elementary schoolers to house wives, the Otter Figures are selling like crazy !
小耳には挟んでました
Ooh!! And I only just over heard this, but
The ratings for the anime are still going up and up and it's getting huge promotion! It's so powerful it's breaking records all across late-night anime! At this rate it won't end even after three seasons!
This is all because of your hard work, Hiramaru-kun! It's a true otter boom!!
Hiramaru: Well, just from elementary schoolers to housewives, I was hoping to be a bit more popular with...
Yoshida: Oh? So you're all about Aoki-san, are you? [Face]
Hiramaru: Ah, mm, yes! That's right.
Miyoshi: Okay! Then hers' this week's Aoki Kou-sensei Jya~~~~~n [music note]
Hiramaru: Ooh.
Miyoshi: Aoki-san does............
Yoshida: Aoki-san does......?

Page 7:
Yoshida: really want an otter figure!!
Aoki: I want an otter figure so much...
Hiramaru: OOOoooooh.
Even Aoki-san...... This popularity is the real deal!!
Okay, then I'll sign every kind and go right over to give it to her!
担当伝いに渡してほしいと
Yoshida: No! She said she wants her editor to hand it to her.
That's the phone.
Hiramaru: Ah! It's Aoki-san, chief!
Yoshida: !
Hiramaru: Hello, it's Hiramaru.
Aoki: Good evening, this is Aoki. Congratulations, it seems your anime "Rakko 11 Gou" is going really well. Um......... That editor asked me to do this, though.........
So there are secret versions of that otter figure? There's an otter wearing pajamas with the tail sticking out, and an otter whose hands whose hands can be replaced with real limestone?
Hiramaru: Yep! It has a tail hole so he can sleep easily at bedtime, unlike when he's wearing the business suit!
Aoki: My assistant says she really wants it.........
Hiramaru: Eh, assistant!?
Did you say assistant!?
Aoki: Yes.
Hiramaru: She's not the one who wants it!? Mr. Yoshida!
Huh? Mr. Yoshida...

Page 8:
Miura: Yo! Congratulations on serialization!
Ashirogi: Thank you very much.
Shuujin: Hattori-san, we're really happy we're with you again.
Saikou: Thank you for your help again.
Hattori: ..........
I'm glad, too.
Miura: ..........
Ashirogi: ?
Hattori: Right now I want to look over things with Mashiro starting from chapter 1.
Ashirogi: From chapter 1......?
I think chapter 1 can get first place.
Hattori: Is that true.........?

Page 9:
Shuujin: It-It is. The fact that we got serialized means it was judged as a work that can win against Niizuma-kun, right?
Hattori: No.
Ashirogi: !?
Hattori: At the serialization meeting, there was a majority vote done on whether this work could win against "CROW" and "+NATURAL" or not. [Faces after titles]
Shuujin: Eh......?
Hattori: The result was 4 to 3 in favor of not winning.
But with that, they thought there was still plenty of a possibility that it can win. It was serialized with that judgement.
Mashiro: ................
Shuujin: ................[I'll be counting these ellipsis. There better be 15 periods. You're not even gonna typset that, are you?]
Hattori: Hm? ............ Against Niizuma-kun's wotk it was 4 to 3.
I didn't think they'd take it so hard......
Ashirogi: We lost 4 to 3?
Then just going over it isn't good enough.
Hattori: .........

Page 10:
Saikou: We'll redo it so it'll win, no matter who looks at it!
Shuujin: Yeah.
Hattori: ! Redo......
......These two are......
Miura: Hey, hey. Just as senpai said, 4 to 3 means you're very much in contention. And there's nowhere near enough time to redo it. You're serialized. The first chapter's manuscript being sent in is the standard practice.
Hattori: Well, it's usually like that.
Saikou: The deadline for chapter 1 is the beginning of February. It's still okay...... We'll do it somehow.
Shuujin: Dammiiit. Where'd we lose.........?
Hattori/Miura: ?
Shuujin: Let's compare our work to
"CROW" and "+NATURAL"............ [Faces after titles]
We'll do a thorough analysis.
Miura: Your work and Niizuma-kun's are totally different types, there's no point in doing that, is there?
Hattori: That's not so! We should try and do whatever we can!
Miura: .........
Hattori: Sorry.

Page 11:
Shuujin: Hattori-san, where do you think we lost?
Hattori: .........
Yes...... It's the expressive power as a manga.
Saikou: ! Expressive power......
例えば遠近感のつけ描き文字の置き方新妻くんの描くキャラクターは感情もストレートでメリハリがありセリフも洗練されてわかりやすいキャラに入りこんで描けている
Like for example, the way Niizuma-kun uses perspective, how he puts in sound effects. The emotions of the characters he draws are straightforward and have variety. The spoken lines are slick and easy to understand. He's able to draw engaging characters.
Somebody: Engaging characters, huh?..............
とはいえ僅差に持ち込んだ要因
Hattori: Well, you were able to put a lot of character emotions in how you drew it. And though that lost in the majority vote, in that factor it was by a small margin.
素描デッサン力写実画なら真城くんの方が上だろ
You win in drawing strength for sketch. For realistic images, Mashiro-kun is better. This work's pictures are very realistic, so that'll be a weapon for us.
And with the amount of ideas Takagi-kun has, I would say the stories are unpredictable.........
!
I have the original scripts of "+NATURAL" at the company. I'll go get them now! [Picture after title]
Shuujin: Eh? Are you allowed to just look at them?
Hattori: Akina-kun's been wanting me to look at them, so there won't be a problem.
Ashirogi: ?
[See what I have to go through? See all these words!? This's haaaaaaard...]

Page 12:
Miura: Senpai is even going for Akina-kun's scripts...... And he's even making a trip to the company and back to get them.
I'm glad to see he's gotten motivated.
Ashirogi: ?
Box: One week later.
Hattori: This is Akina-kun's highly demanded "+NATURAL" novel version coming out early next year.
[The parts with the title just say the name in katakana, so no need to typset any of that.]
Book: The hugely popular series running in Weekly Shonen Jump
"+NATURAL"
Book of the Original Story!! Akina Aiko
小説すばる新人賞作家が描く本物のストーリー
The real story by the Shousetsu Subaru Newcomer Award Winner
[You guys are killing me. Can't you just give me the friggin' good copy of the raw so I can just freaking read everything...]
TL Note: Shounetsu Subaru is a literary magazine published by Shueisha [I mean... I dunno if anyone cares. Put it in only if you think it's relevant.]
Hattori: ..................
Saikou: ............I think it's more the imaginative power than its expressive power.
Hattori: ! Imaginative power?
Saikou: These sentences have the expressiveness to be made into this manga, but beyond that it's imaginative..................... If it didn't, it couldn't become this big.
[21 periods there. Just double check.]
And the unnecessary things are left out as much as possible.............
[Obviously, none of the text in these manga pages are readable. I mean maybe if I had a better quality raw... If I'm gonna get the raw a days late you could at least give me a good quality one.]


Page 13:
必要に応じて足している
Hattori: Mm. That's true. Things that can be omitted are omitted as much as necessary.
Miura: ......
By putting in scenes that aren't in the original work, you're making it completely your own manga.
Saikou: Also the spacing panels.
Hattori: ! Spacing!? ...........
Saikou: The panels with no words.
The ones with only scenery.
And the ones that zoom out to reveal the whole body.
And the tops of characters who are silent.
.............By how these aren't necessary, it allows the readers to hold their own thoughts of its meaning. It's expanded by imaginative power.
Hattori: That's certainly true...
......It's amazing how they realized their own faults so quickly.
Shuujin: By that, you mean our name has no spacing panels.
Saikou: No. They were put in naturally. I added them afterwards, though. But there are way too few.
お互い更に意識すればいい
Hattori: That's true. You should both be more aware of when you divide panels.
..........
..........
Miura: ......What's with this high-level conversation... Like this, they're gonna catch up to "+NATURAL" really soon, aren't they?............ [Face after title]

Page 14:
Miura: Uh......... Um, Senpai...
Hattori: Ah, sorry! Without doing a proper takeover, it seems we just started having meetings.
Miura: No, I don't mind that at all, in fact I'm overjoyed about it.
Well, here's where I take my leave.
Shuujin: Miura-san, even though we never thanked you properly...
Miura: It's fine, it's fine. I'll see you again at the New Year's party.
Shuujin: Thank you so much, for everything up until now!
Saikou: And thanks in advance for anything else that might happen!
Miura: Yeah. Do your best. And I'll be trying my hardest, too.
Hattori: Miura!
Miura: Yes?
Hattori: Thank you.
Miura: ! ......

Page 15:
Hattori: I'm glad I came here so soon. It's thanks to you I got rid of my doubts.
Miura: .............You're so sly, senpai...... Shouldn't you have brought me, your kouhai, to Akina-kun's place?
You're trying to act cool too much! It's gonna be embarrassing when I meet you again at the company tomorrow, ha ha.........
Senpai, with the current popularity of "+NATURAL" you've given me as a handicap, I'm not gonna lose.
Hattori: Yes, that's just what I want.
Ashirogi: Thank you for all your hard work!
Miura: I've gotta do my best, too.
Whoever: If we just consciously add in spacing panels, it'll be fine, but
with the current name adding them will make those panels smaller and it'll be harder to read.
For now, we'll redo it with more space.
Hattori: Yeah. That's a good plan for what we can do now...
And making the characters more emotional so they're easier to relate to...

Page 16:
Shuujin: We'll have to work right up to the end.
原稿を落としたのでは元も子もないそこそこにな
Hattori: Well, if we don't have a manuscript we haven't got anything. So do it in a hurry.
Saikou: ............From Shuujin's name I need to find a way to give it more imaginative power, giving it a better presentation..........
But how should I get that power?
Hattori: I said it would probably get first place before, but a 300 vote first place and a 500 vote first place are totally different.
And as we progress we can't forget that just having a good first chapter isn't good.
Ashirogi: Right!
Box: That night, Shuujin rewrote the name, and we finished talking about me going ahead with the opening color pages.
Two days later.
効果音に至って
Shuujin: Okay, engaging characters... Adding space for timing... and a way we won't get beat by Eiji's sense with the sound effects......... Thinking of all this is so hard~~~~
Saikou: Is it really that hard?
Shuujin: Yeah, it is.
I can't think of a good way of doing it without looking at your clean-copies of the names, ya know~~~

Page 17:
Saikou: Imaginative power... Space......... Sound effects, eh...?
For Eiji, he can just draw it as it comes to him naturally, right?
!
Hattori: What is it, Takagi-kun?
Shuujin: Mashiro brought up some thing weird. If you can, we'd like to discuss it with you ASAP.
Hattori: Something weird!?
Shuujin: Eh? Yes.
Hattori: Got it. I'll be right over.
Shuujin: He... He's saying my original work will be fine as just sentences.
Hattori: Just sentences?
Shuujin: I was finally getting the panel division, but then I'd go right back to being just an original author, right?
Hattori: !
I see, Mashiro-kun.

Page 18:
Mashiro: Yes!
With it just as written sentences, I can imagine!!
And then when I make it a name the panel divisions and presentation methods will definitely be drawn out of it! That way, with just the words on the page, I can draw freely!
And I'll be able to decide the spacing panels, too.
And Takagi knows very well how much weight chapter 1 holds......
Of course, only if Takagi gives the OK.
I can't say for sure if it'll make it better.
Shuujin: What do you think, Hattori-san...?
Hattori: It's worth a try! I think we should do it.
But do you think, doing it that way, you can make it in time?
Saikou: I'll make it!
Shuujin: I see...... Maybe that way I could spend more time on the character's emotions and writing details, too...
Saikou: I know, right? Then let's try it.
Yeah, with Hattori-san saying that, too, it gives me more confidence.
Hattori: They're not wavering at all! And their chemistry together is good...... Their relying on themselves! With these kids we can go for the top!

Page 19:
Miura: I knew it. Despite it being work, being able to have meetings like a pretty girl like you, Iwase, is fun.
Iwase: !
D...... Don't you screw around with me like that!
The... The next time you make a comment like that, I'll sue you for sexual harassment!!
Miura: Hih... I'm sorry!!
Iwase: I've decided now.
Miura: Eh... What... Y... You just said you'd sue me......
Iwase: Not to Hattori-san or Takagi-kun who abandoned me...... I'm not going to lose to anyone anymore!
I don't care about love anymore! I'm going to be the top original author in this world!
The top. And please take notice of that editor for me!
Miura: I......... I understand. I'll do my best...
Insert Text: Love has changed into hatred... The now brutal woman stands in the two's path!!
Bottom: Bakuman
... Page 88
/ End