east asians don't do that
they might be all about the 'action' ╮(￣▽￣)╭
What "East Asians" do or do not do in real life doesn't necessarily apply in manga. This is a yaoi. And in every second yaoi, "East Asian" men freely say "I love you" to one another. This argument seriously needs to be retired. It does not play in this context.
Ah, we could get properly into it talking about RL linguistics vs manga lol, I do find it interesting.
In manga true, the boys tend to say 'Suki or Daisuki' a fuck-ton - which is 'I really like you!' or a kind of 'love' - but not a 'I love you!!!' that will scare people away lol.
the hard core 'I love you!' 'Aishiteru' yes as that person says is rarely uttered - even in Manga, because people literally find it creepy - and I think manga-ka tend to feel that way too. But it can be ambiguous, which is why everyone needs to take these opinions and comments with a pinch of salt.
Also, we are kind of trusting the translators on this so I don't believe we can take that translation as gospel 100% of the time. But It's interesting huh!
Hmm. But everyone is quick to trust the translators on "Don't toss my heart around," which is not what Asami says and not even the intent of the phrase in the original Japanese. The official Yamane-approved English translation is "Don't distress me," which is closer to the intent as well as more true to what the stoic Asami would say, but we don't like that, do we?
But the point of a good translation is not simply to give the literal equal of the word in the other language but the intent within context. If the intent of the word or phrase is to express the feeling of love without that exact language but the language you are translating into uses that language and doesn't shy away from it and you don't want to do a translator's note to explain the cultural subtleties, you go with the equivalent in the language you're using.
Consider this for a minute: overcome with feeling, Asami finally loosens his jaw and spurts "Daisuki!" to Akihito. If the translator slavishly translated this as "I really like you!" English-speaking readers would guffaw. It would absolutely destroy not only the moment but the character himself. That is why translators adapt the language to their audience, to maintain the intent of the original when necessary.
Great and all, but I'm not sure at all where this argument fits with what I was saying. I didn't state the opposite above : /
I know the point of a translation isn't necessarily to give the exact translation, I speak and am studying Japanese and have been for many years so as a language all about context - I get it.
I just don't get what your point is making in reference to what I said???? I am not putting my own speculation onto translation or what Asami or other characters would or should say in a manga or what it would and should be translated as - I was giving actual examples from manga I have read in both Japanese and English in the past ten years….that use 'Like' not 'love' for example which is a different word and meaning culturally. I was merely stating that characters almost NEVER use Ashiteru, stating that the 'a' commentator had an actual valid point and people shouldn't get so worked up about it.
but man it's so stupid that they never told each other 'I love you'