Fleeing the Battlefield, Ukrainian Student Apprentices Create Subtitles for Japanese Anime

Illustration of Ukrainian refugees. (Wikimedia Commons/mvs.gov.ua/men's

JAKARTA - Ukrainian students who have fled to southwestern Japan have taken part in an internship program making translations in their native language for Japanese anime, hoping it will help them find work after graduation.

After studying Japanese in Ukraine before fleeing the country due to the Russian invasion in February, 22 students were accepted for internships in August by the Tokyo-based Japan Visualmedia Translation Academy.

They have done Ukrainian subtitles for animated films such as 'Lupine III: The Castle of Cagliostro'.

Studying at the Japan University of Economics in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, students have to think of ways to translate simple dialogues, as well as more complicated Japanese expressions into similar utterances in Ukrainian.

Although most of the anime that college students watched growing up was subtitled in Russian, there has been increasing demand for more Ukrainian subtitles since the invasion.

"It is very important to increase the Ukrainian language content", said 18-year-old student Daria, who asked that her full name not be used, launched Kyodo News on January 2.

Daria interned at the academy until November, creating subtitles for refugees fleeing Ukraine for neighboring countries.

Daria's mother, who had been evacuated to Poland, saw the film Lupine and said she laughed at the titular character's expressions.

"It's a special feeling to see her in Ukrainian", she said, adding that she was proud of her daughter for using her Japanese skills to translate hit films.

Daria said she was considering finding work as a translator in Japan after she graduated.

Meanwhile, the university said the 11 students evacuated will graduate next spring, some of whom are also hoping to find jobs in Japan.

Shinichi Matsuzaki, an associate professor at the university, helps students by calling potential employers and arranging interview opportunities.

"The university will continue to support all students until they are set on their career path or pursue further education", he said