DISCLAIMER: The amazing graphics that power the backgrounds and the banner are courtesy of Fauux, https://fauux.neocities.org/ (FLASHING GRAPHICS ALERT) .
Iwakura Productions was founded in 2011 as a grassroots effort to bring Japanese titles to English speaking audiences, no matter how niche or obscure. Our first project was for Alfa System’s classic shmup ‘Castle Shikigami’ / Shikigami no Shiro.
Due to cj’s personal fixation on all things Shikigami and Alfa System, he went looking for help at romhacking.net for someone crazy enough to help translate a niche PC shmup with all of 80 lines of dialogue.
A hacker named EsperKnight stepped in, and the rest is history.
We started as a volunteer effort for that single project, and we continue to take on whatever passes under the collective gaming radar that catches our fancy. Other projects of note, complete or otherwise, include Ougon Musou Kyoku, eXceed: Gun Bullet Children, Sakura Wars, The 4th Unit, and collaborative work on Shadowrun (Sega CD), Devil Children: Red & Black and Generation Xth: Code Hazard.
Our interests range from all sorts of games: be they RPG, shmups, puzzles, even the occasional FPS or strategy game. If it’s good and worth our time, it won’t go overlooked by us, regardless of origin.
If you want to chat about games and/or other stuff, you can try our discord, but don’t expect any magical secret updates. Anything of note will be posted on the blog. …eventually….
About The Team
cj iwakura, @cj_iwakura (Project Lead & Editor – Shikigami no Shiro, Ougon Musou Kyoku, Shadowrun, Sakura Wars, Devil Children Red & Black, etc.)
A long term RPG fan who picked up Castle Shikigami 2 on a whim due to the anime cover. Despite the hilariously awful script and hobo-tier voice acting, he became a fast fan of Alfa System’s crazy works.
His first RPG was the original Dragon Warrior, and his first SMT was Revelations: Persona.
Despite his mother’s claims that he would be tired of video gaming by adulthood, his obsession has only grown. His user name is a combination of his first two initials and a healthy fixation with Yoshitoshi ABe’s first series.
Favorite Games
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, Dragon Force, Growlanser II: The Sense of Justice, Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, Samurai Western, Lunar II: Eternal Blue, Drakengard, Nier, Initial D, Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune.
EsperKnight, @EsperKnight (Lead Hacker, Shikigami no Shiro, Ougon Musou Kyoku, Sakura Wars, Shadowrun, etc.)
Has way too many translation projects going and loving it.
Cckerberos (Contributing Translator, Shikigami no Shiro & Ougon Musou Kyoku)
Naito Itsumono, @ItsumoKnight (Contributing Translator, Fate/Extra CCC)
Riiche, @RikkuChou (Contributing Translator, Fate/Extra CCC)
Kotcrab, @Kotcrab (Contributing Hacker, Fate/Extra CCC)
NoahSteam, @NoahSteam_ (Contributing Hacker/Project Lead, Sakura Wars)
And to name a few other contributors, in no particular order: Matatabi (Translator, Sakura Wars), Lent (Tester/Editor, Sakura Wars), Mono(Graphics), Joqu(Graphics), TrekkiesUnite(Video Editing), Nezumi(Translator), Crouching Mouse(Translator), Schlomo(Translator), Cargodin(Hacker), Scorp(Hacker), Walterion(Tester) and on and on and on. We freelance a lot, hit me up if you want to be mentioned and aren’t(or, uh, don’t want to be mentioned and are).
If you want to join our team or even assist in any way, shape, or form, you can always reach the project lead via discord, twitter(@cj_iwakura), or whatever.
We do not accept donations, please don’t ask.
Use that money to buy yourself something nice.
Or a Fumiko figure, either/or.
iwakura productions 
Where can I PM the team? I want to discuss contributing and don’t have a NeoGAF account or non-free email to use to sign up there.
Understandable. You can always email me: cjiwakurax@aol.com .
Do you guys have an IRC channel or something?
I’m interested in potentially doing some Translation/Checking for you if you decide to do Ougon Musou Kyoku CROSS, since I spotted some mistakes in your English patch of the base game.
Nope. We have a proboard we made for testing Ougon Vanilla, but that’s about it. Not really sure how to make an IRC channel. (Or if anyone’d care)
You can always email me as said above, cjiwakurax@aol.com . Any help is always welcome. (Funny how we had so few volunteers while working on Vanilla…)
Well, I’d have been happy to volunteer (I’ve been in the fan translation business for a while), but I honestly didn’t even know about this project until a few days ago. *chuckle*
I’ve been putting together a list of issues I’ve found with the Ougon Musou Kyoku translation as I play through, but I’m sure I’d find more if I had the full script (since obviously I’m not getting 100% of the dialogue even if I play through once with each lead character).
Once I’ve finished playing the game, or if you want to add me to a forum or something, I’d be happy to send you that list.
My fan translation group (Aidoru) could also do up some nicer subtitling for your version of the OP video for the game, we have a pretty decent KFX guy (and since you’re hardsubbing the OP, the level of pretty put into the KFX is to the decoding overhead).
Sure, the list would be great. I had a couple casual Umi fans test it, but no one gave any feedback of much impact besides ‘it’s not grandma eva :|’.
Also, the translator who helped us wasn’t intimately familiar with the series. I am, but I just did editing work, and don’t know enough Japanese to adjust things if needed.
Anywho, here you go: http://goldenreverie.proboards.com/
Or we could just eventually make an IRC thing I guess.
Haha, well, I’m definitely more than a “casual” Umineko fan.
As for your translator not being that familiar with the series, I was thinking that might have been the case. There were some issues with how characters were referring to each other that didn’t quite feel right – as if the person writing the dialogue wasn’t aware of their relationships (esp. characters’ relationships with Shannon, I’ve noticed).
If you do set up an IRC channel, let me know (and if you need assistance setting one up, I can provide that – I run an IRC channel on Rizon at the moment, for my fansubbing group).
I’ll sign up on those boards some time soon.
Sounds cool by me, I have nothing against IRC. Or we could just frequent your channel, either/or.
Well, if you want to do that, pop around to #aidoru on irc.rizon.net
I’m there as Shoujo Q.
Really nice blog. Thanks!
Is it true you’re making a translation for CCC?
Yes, as I’ve said on twitter(@cj_iwakura). We’re not ready to announce it formally yet, but it is a thing we’re working on.
I’m very curious if there is a way to donate. I’m very interested in the Fate/Extra CCC translation, so I’d like to help in a monetary aspect.
While I appreciate the thought, we don’t accept donations at this time.
I’m really excited that you are translating P2:EP! May I ask how it is progressing?
Bit slowly at the moment, waiting on more text extraction. But thanks for the support!
question regarding Persona 2: Eternal Punishment translation, will you be using the correct Japanese localized names or the crappy westernized names (ex: how Ms. Saeko was renamed Ms. Smith in Revelations: Persona and the PS1 version of P2EP)?
The correct ones of course.
Hey there : )
I would like to know, if the Eternal Punishment Translation project has been put on a halt or has it been abandoned?
I Just finished Innocent Sin want to know if i should wait for your translation patch.
There have not been any updates from you guys for quite some time and i know how much you like Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Regards Tempa
Well i guess i should have read the posts above…
Anyway since it still continues, could you say us roughly the % of how much has been translated?
Or a vague date of when you might be finished?
The programmer for Eternal Punishment is busy with personal stuff. The project is on hiatus until he returns.
I see… thats sad.
I suppose the project wont be finallized in 1-2 years?
I guess i play the PSX version then ( atleast that has english voice over )
Thank you for all your hard work, Iwakura! 😀 I know there is rudeness and insensitivity to go around but I want to express how delighted I have been sincerely feeling all these years that P2EP will get translated! 😀
I am gonna try it on Japanese because I am interested in learning the language. On that note, is there any kind of half-finished patch or a translated script of the game available? I apologise if I sound rude asking for any sort of patch, it is only because I want to try it in Japanese.
Whatever you read and hear, please know that there are people that genuinely support you! May you have the best of luck in your endeavors 😉
Nope. Well, there is a translated script if you use the Atlus PS1 version on gamefaqs, but no unfinished patch, sadly. Thanks for the support!
You are most welcome. I would be happy to help you any way I can if ever possible 😉 Good luck and good strength in your endeavors.
Hi CJ,
Just curious how Persona: EP is goin. Has the translator returned?
He has, in fact. (Programmer, technically I’m the translator. 😛 ) He’s working on encoding new modules.
Thank goodness you guys are back. I am really looking forward for this translation. Thank you so much for your hard work CJ and programmer (which I don’t know the name).
Be certain that a lot of personal fans are thankful for what your are doing?
And say, do you guys plan on making a progress update? We are all very curious to know how it is all going. How much of the game have you translated already? Is there a estimation of the time the project will take to be complete? Is there anyway way we fans can help with it?
I wish good luck and everything good for you guys!
So, if my understanding is correct, current status of translation project is “translation completed and awaiting to be implemented”, yes?
Yes.
Oh wow! its much further along than I thought – great job!
I have save data on my vita from Innocent Sin. Will this translation of EP recognize that save data and import it into a new game of EP. i know they did that fro the JP version but i think they cut it from the NA.
Hello, i have been following the Persona 2 EP translation for while and i would like to thank you and your team for working so hard on, it means a lot to the fans and it looks like you have made a lot of progress on it. 🙂
With that i have a few questions about it.
The first is how the translation will be distributed e.g. will it be an .ISO file of the game with the translation in place or would we have to install it manually into the .ISO?
Secondly will there be any alpha or beta version of the translation that can be downloaded before the complete version and are all the menus and settings screens translated too?
Also what are the chances of a 2017 release? It was mentioned above that the translations are complete and ready to be implemented how long does that usually take?
Sorry if any of my questions were dumb as i have no clue about any of the process.
Thank You 😀
-Remains to be seen, it’s up to Scorp.
-And nope.
-Possible, I make no promises.
-All depends on the programming. As you may know, Atlus’ programmers are forged in the fires of hell, and their works are notoriously difficult to mess with.
Can we be friends????
Very grateful you guys for doing this. Eternal Punishment looks so much better than Innocent Sin and I’d like to play the PSP version of it. Takes a lot of time I imagine to program all of this so thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I dont know if youre accepting subbing request but will you please consider translating the 3 Boku no Natsuyasumi ports on PSP and Huokago Shounen on the DS? Unlike the titles you’ve translated, these games are like a simple life sim of a childhood you ever wished you had. The games are so simple you can just walk all day for the entire month and finish the game by doing so. I’d assume it isn’t that text heavy.
Please, give these games a look. They’re a masterpiece that too bad, didn’t reach the west.
Good day!
I’ve never even heard of them, but you’d be surprised how even the simplest games can have a LOT of text. You should ask about it at Romhacking.net, I’m sure you’ll find someone interested in the titles.
Best of luck.
Imma’ just about to drop a “Thank You!” note here when I found someone who loves the BnN series as well. I’ve played the 3rd one on ps3, probably the best game in that console for me. It’s like harvest moon, tamagotchi, pokemon, and animal crossing stitched together in a ghibli world. Quite like groundhog day but your actions carry over and your goal is to have as much fun as you can each day for an entire month. Sometimes time feels too short actually. Too bad the guys at neogaf and romhacking would always pass on on translating this series.
By the way, thanks so much for all your hardworking, I forgot what I was about to say here when I read someone commented about BnN.
Will the patched version be compatible with the original save data when released?
Is there a donation or patreon set up for this page? I’m sure there are various people that would be more than willing.
Also would a (Out of text script) translation for K-On! Houkago Live!! be possible at any point?
So I keep hearing. But sadly, no, there are no plans for that now or ever.
As for the K-ON thing, best left to someone who’s a fan of the series. I’m sure someone at GBA temp or RHDN is interested.
Hello ! Just wanna know, how is P2-EP doing ? How high the chances of a 2017 release are ?
Also, is there a specific place to look for news about P2 or we just need to check the home page?
For tiny updates, twitter. Anything major is posted here.
Yeah. I am also wondering when P2-EP will be available…
When you got more free time, please consider finishing up Monster Hunter 3rd Portable. I think it’s 80% done, only lacking the tutorial and npc dialogs. For dirt poor people, this is the closest to Monster Hunter World we could get for our old PSPs. Thanks so much!
So just curious do you guys plan to do the other Sakura Taisen games when you are done with the first one? Its one of my favorite series only available in Japan. I am actually in the middle of my 3rd run through all the games in a row right now and noticed you were working on a patch for the first game and got excited and wanted to ask.
Hello there! I’m just leaving a comment to say thank you for all your hard work, and good luck for your current and future projects!
Btw, I’m real happy that you guys are doing the CCC translation! Seriously, can’t wait. No rush tho 😉 Ganbatte!!
So i have some questions,
1) will these game be available for download or are they gonna be translated via blog? And if they are going to be available for download, where can i download them? (Im mostly intrested in fate ccc)
2) is there any charge for use in case of download?
Hi guys, sorry for the bother! I’m currently working on a Fate/extra italian patch but I have some troubles extracting the (formato) files. Did you use a specific tool for this step? Would you share it with me or tell me where to find it and how to use it? Thanks!
Um… Sorry to bother but, I can’t seem to be able to use the Extra perfect patch.
Both of the options to got me an error saying that it’s because I use a 32bits system… Is there anyway I can use the patch?
Your discord link is expired. I’d like to rejoin I deleted my discord but now I’m back on it. I’m trying to get back on a few of my old favorite channels including yours.
https://discord.gg/6erWzrsU
Thanks
Apologies to be a bother, but perhaps could I ask for a discord link?
https://discord.gg/SzGEZMKM
sorry to bother but the discord invite expired could i get a new one
https://discord.gg/SuQkErQF
Sorry to bother, but i wanted to ask if there are some news on the translation of “Devil Children Red & Black” for ps1, so any news about it?
I can’t translate but if y’all ever need an artist, hit me up !
Hey, Iwakura, can you hit me up with the Discord channel link pls? Thank you!
hey just want to know the status of your devil summoner translation