I am finally back working on this project! Thank you to Yuki-san for helping me when I got stuck. The end is finally in sight! Takumi-san uses the phrase "ato no matsuri" (the festival after?), and then at the end, Maya says "matsuri no ato" (after the festival), and I don't really know what they're getting at. The original title of this page is Matsuri. You can read more about matsuri here. Hamidashi means something like, "sticking out", "overflow". Pearl's Japanese name is Harumi, Hami-chan for short, so they got her character to answer the reader comments in the puntastically named Hamidashi Letters Corner. Turnabout Trials is the literal translation of Gyakuten Saiban. I had to use that version to make Phoenix's observation work.
Episode 2 — October 2004 Issue
Takushuu Column — Ace Attorney and Festivals
Hello. It's hot every day, huh? It seems like day after day, the heatwave of over 30° is just going to keep going, but... here's one big question.
... So an air temperature of 30°, it makes you feel really hot, right? But hang on. If water has a temperature of 30°... it's kinda lukewarm, right? So even though the temperature is the same 30°, what a temperature difference it is! Maybe it's because my head is lukewarm, but I don't have an answer.
Speaking of temperature differences, there's something about the Ace Attorney series that's bothering me.
Recently, I had a go at playing the first game again, after a long while, but... Phoenix is strangely cold, compared to Maya.
Maya: Why is it Little Olde Tokyo?!
Phoenix: Don't you [omae] get all serious about this, too.
Shall I brand you as "omae", Phoenix?
Again, Maya being Maya:
Maya: I believe in the lawyer. And because of that, the lawyer, too...
She's strangely charming.
I wonder what the temperature difference is between AA2 and AA3?
Besides the story itself, the words... the dialogue is always varying. It's hopeless.
"From now on, I'm definitely not going to make them speak like that!" I think, when I notice such lines, and it quite bothers me.
"Whichever game you start with, you can enjoy it without difficulties" is the goal I set out with when I work on the Ace Attorney series.
However... the temperature difference with the dialogue and the difference in feeling between the scripts' volumes is definite... no. Rather, it's overwhelming. Hmm, it's an unexpected and difficult thing, huh?
... Well, it's time to talk about the theme. If I remember correctly, it's "Ace Attorney and Festivals". This time, I wrote complaints about the dialogue but... it's all about "after the festival".
Well then, until we meet again next month!
Outtake Theatre
Prosecutor Godot Compilation
Men drink coffee in silence... such an image is strong with Prosecutor Godot, but... in actual fact, they chat quite a bit. Most of the rejected lines are about him. He's a man who loves the aroma of coffee above all else. He's clueless about anything else but that, for sure. (—Takumi)
A man who spits towards the heavens, catches it back with his own face...
The taste of defeat, the taste of coffee... as hot as hell, and just as bitter... but somewhere, a faint, sweet aftertaste starts to follow...
[Footer line] Listen up, you! A bet's only good when your life is the ante.... [I think this was the Japanese version of this English line from The Stolen Turnabout]
Letters Corner
• Seeing Naruhodo Gyakuten Saiban! next to the usual Dorimaga content, I was a little shaken up! (Cat Lake, Saitama Prefecture)
~ Because it was so text-heavy, the person in charge was also a little shaken up!
• It makes me so happy to see Takumi-san and Suekane-san's serialisation! I will keep buying Dorimaga as long as the serialisation continues! (Anon, Tokyo Metropolis)
~ It's still continuing (probably). I'll be happy if you end up addicted to Dorimaga by the time the serialisation is over!
• It was interesting, I really look forward to Outtake Theatre (nasa, Mie Prefecture)
~ "Next time, it won't be a Godot monologue. We will show you characters and interactions that were cut during the making of Ace Attorney," says Takumi-san. I can't wait!
Festival — At the Wright & Co. Law Offices
Once again, Takumi-san has been asked about the state of affairs at the Wright & Co Law Offices. The topic is "festival", and there's a cute guest visiting Phoenix and Maya's place?!
Maya: Hello! Today I'll be introducing you to our wonderful guest!
Pearl: Long time no see, Mr Nick!
Maya: It's Pearly, aka Pearl Fey!
Phoenix: Oh, Pearls. What's going on today?
Pearl: Our village is holding its summer festival this evening! So here is your invitation!
Phoenix: Really? Kurain Village, huh? Sounds fun.
Maya: We still do it in a quite traditional way! We bring out the portable shrines, and the festival floats and so on.
I'm so excited! There'll be the cool evening's Test of Courage!
T-Test of courage?
You know it's still held in the traditional style! So there are goblins, and the deceased...
Phoenix: ...I wonder if the spirit medium's test of courage is bearable for a lawyer.
Maya: But I've already made an advanced booking for three people for the Special Course.
Phoenix: By the way, what even is this festival about in the first place?
Maya: Oh, it'll be a really boisterous affair! We'll loosen our yukata a little, slip our hand fans into our sashes, and we'll dashingly sport a hyottoko mask on our heads.
That's only one very specific aspect you're focusing on, Maya.
Pearl: Why do you say that?
Phoenix: No, I was wondering about why it has to be so noisy, and will there be a lot of people and will I get tired...
Pearl: Oh, oh, but I think I know.
Oh here it comes! Little Snippet's Pearls of Knowledge!
You've got it the wrong way round.
Pearl: When it comes to the festival, it's to give thanks to the spirits.
Maya: The spirits?
Pearl: We pray for a year of peace, and then we have fun with the spirits, so...
Maya: Me, when I scoop goldfish, I can only see the ones right before my eyes.
Pearl: But, Mr Nick, won't you be carrying a portable shrine?
Phoenix: Oh yes, of course.
Pearl: So surely, a spirit will be there riding atop your shrine!
Maya: But hang on. The top of the portable shrine is for making the noise.
Phoenix: Yes, there will be young men at the top wearing happi coats, and stuff like that.
Maya: That's a little rude, isn't it? They'll end up sitting on top of the spirits and overshadowing them.
Pearl: Oh, that's right!
Phoenix: Speaking of which, it's kind of the case with the flower-viewing festival too.
Maya: In what way?
Phoenix: Well, we call it "flower viewing", so shouldn't the leading role be the cherry blossoms?
Pearl: That's right.
Phoenix: But no one is looking at the cherry blossoms.
Maya: Well, I feel like kicking up just as much of a fuss about that, then! We can loosen our shirts a little, insert some dried squid under our belts, and we can dashingly wrap a polka dot necktie around our heads!
That's only one very specific aspect you're focusing on, Maya.
Maya: Well, after all, it's the festival of ignoring the lead role and making a noise!
As for Turnabout Trials, whether the trial is the lead role or not is another mystery.
We ended up at a conclusion that's just a little painful, didn't we?
Maya: It's feeling a little like before "after the festival".