Why do Japanese titles have english text?

Codename_M308

I keep on seeing screenshots of japanese games, usually scrolling shooters, that have plenty of, if not all english/engrish text.

Is there something about the Japanese language and/or public I don't understand? I don't think developers from the NES era to the PS2/Xbox/GC era would think that japanese releases would be importable or downloadable now.

 

ClockworkUniverse

You know how English speakers get Chinese tattoos because they think the language looks cool?

DonZabu

^ Except you never (or at least hardly ever) see a movie title in America that's not only Chinese, but also written in Chinese characters, meant for a general audience, regardless of whether or not the movie has anything to do with China.

vacasama

It's because the Japanese think having English names on products is cool.  I think one of the moreinfamous of this is a shampoo called "Mypee".

DYRE

^^ On the other hand, the average ability of a Japanese person to read English is significantly higher than the average ability of an English-speaking person to read Chinese, so that may contribute to it.

Bee

Relevant.

Counterclock

Gomen Nasai Bee-Kun.

glennmagusharvey

^^ FRUNK

Waltzy

Yeah I noticed this too. Some stuff on the Project Diva 2nd menus are English.

Scrye2

Not only do they usually have English/Engrish names, but even when they have Japanese names, they still use katakana characters to spell it out. What's the matter, Japan?

Iaculus

Basically, you know how English has a lot of loanwords from other languages? Well, Japan just takes that one step further by replicating the original alphabet as well.

Scrye2

No no. Katakana is used to spell out foreign words in Japanese. That kind of makes sense. I'm referring to when they use it to spell out Japanese words.

IanExMachina

Well Katakana can also be used purely for style purposes.

Solstace

A lot of the Japanese words that katakana is used to spell are actually loan words from waaaaaaaaaaay back when.  Also, katakana is frequently used for emphasis, somewhat equivalent to bold/allcaps.