Can ZUN read English?

[TheMasterSpark]

Hello,

I've been thinking of sending ZUN a short letter of appreciation through either his blog or his twitter, but I've no idea if he'd actually be able to read it without dragging it through a translator. Has it ever been revealed (through an interview or something) if ZUN is capable of understanding English?

[warpshadow]

Possibly a little bit. Japanese students do take English classes.

[Dead Princess Sakana]

I dunno about Zun's English, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. Japanese might learn English, but more grammar, less vocabulary.

However, we have a lot of nice people here who are capable of translating to Japanese, so if you just ask one of them they'll surely help you.

[Cadmas]

Didn't someone send him a letter before on behalf of the western touhou community dealy dealy?

[Forte Blackadder]

I didn't know he care about western touhou community tho.

[Sabino]

looking at some spell cards and titles I'd think that he's fare with english but not so much as to reading stuff fluently.
If you want, I can try translating in my spare time, but I think we should just leave ZUN be, he's happier with his peace, quiet, and glass of alcohol.

[Sen]

Judging by the quality of the random English throughout Double Spoiler, I'd say no :V

[Nyyl]

Judging by the quality of the random English throughout Double Spoiler, I'd say no :V

REST 4!!

[Alfred F. Jones]

My personal favourite is "Argade Mode" in SWRRRRRRRRS. :V

[nintendonut888]

ZUN has an interesting vocabulary of English words that he knows, but if the Engrish he uses in the games is any indication, his grammar sucks.

[Jaimers]

Don't forget HARRY UP!  :V

[Serela]

Don't forget HARRY UP!  :V

Well this can probably be excused for being like 15 years ago, but  :V

[Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin]

If his English is anything like my Japanese, I'd say sending him a letter in English won't be entirely appreciated ...

[Nat Tea]

REST 4!!

That's not actually terrible.

My personal favourite is "Argade Mode" in SWRRRRRRRRS. :V

That's Tasofro's fault.

ZUN, your English is fineeeeeeeee.

[Slaves]

REST 4!!

"Shooting" instead of "Start Game" really had me going.

[Iryan]

Don't forget HARRY UP!  :V

What about Continuous and Totle?  :V
And the classic "Girls do their best now and are preparing. Please watch warmly until it is ready."

Also, transliterating the name "Flandre" into the Katakana for "Fu ra n dō ru" (or vice versa). I know the name isn't English, but an English ponounciation of it wouldn't have looked like that, either...

So yeah, don't make the mistake of overestimating his English skills.

[Ghaleon]

"Shooting" instead of "Start Game" really had me going.

Me too, especially since you don't really shoot in DS..Unless you mean like a photoshoot type of sense...Which I kinda doubt.

[moldy_tomato]

Me too, especially since you don't really shoot in DS..Unless you mean like a photoshoot type of sense...Which I kinda doubt.

That's how I interpreted it immediately when I saw it. You shoot photos. Why makes you doubt it?

[Ghaleon]

That's how I interpreted it immediately when I saw it. You shoot photos. Why makes you doubt it?

Because Zun's English is normally wonky. Photo shooting is not quite as basic a term as some of the other terms/words that get screwed up.
Not to rag the guy, his English is better than my Japanese.

[Nyyl]

That's not actually terrible.

I've never heard anyone say "there are rest 4 pictures to take"
unless I'm interpreting it wrong, and rest is supposed to mean "break" rather than "remaining"? 

[Firestorm29]

I've never heard anyone say "there are rest 4 pictures to take"
unless I'm interpreting it wrong, and rest is supposed to mean "break" rather than "remaining"? 

If I'm not mistaken, didn't older arcade games sometimes use that Rest #, but to indicate lives. It's not like this is the first time I've seen Rest used like that for games.

[Slaves]

to be fair, using "Remaining (x)!" wouldn't sound very good either.

[dustyjo]

This is unprecedented serious affair.

[Observer]

[Serela]

Kareidoscope

GIRUGAMESH

But seriously, that picture made me giggle.

[Ghaleon]

If I'm not mistaken, didn't older arcade games sometimes use that Rest #, but to indicate lives. It's not like this is the first time I've seen Rest used like that for games.

Yeah, not just arcade games, but many NES games as well. But that's an example IMO of some basic terminology being messed up compared to shoot. I think shoot was just coincidently "right" in a way that Zun never even intended >=P.

[Nyyl]

to be fair, using "Remaining (x)!" wouldn't sound very good either.

I had something more like "[X] Left" in mind...
Well I guess we're not here to debate something silly like English grammar in a doujin game. If "Rest #" has been used in a variety of games then I admit defeat

[Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin]

Violator and subject to severe penalties and will be prosecutedt to the full extent of the jam.

[ebarrett]

the full extent of the jam.

Looks great when it appears on Dangun Feveron, though.

[Hieda no Aya]

I dunno, I think "Shoot the Bullet" is way too good for ZUN to not know what photo shooting is.

Personally, though, I'd still like to know who Norma is.