In a realm consumed by a curse, darkness hung heavy in the air, suffocating every glimmer of hope that once existed. The curse, a malevolent force born of ancient evils, wielded its power over all who dwelled within its grasp. It twisted hearts and minds, turning love into hate, trust into betrayal, and joy into despair. Once a thriving and prosperous land, this cursed realm now lay in ruins, its once vibrant cities reduced to rubble and its people reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. The curse had seeped into every aspect of life, permeating the very essence of the land and its inhabitants. No one could escape the curse's grip.
No one could escape the curse's grip. The wickedness it brought forth could be seen in the eyes of the people, now soulless and haunted, as they dragged themselves through the remnants of their existence. Laughter no longer echoed through the streets, replaced instead by the chilling silence of a world devoid of happiness.
Cursed Realm is an accurate translation.
Disclaimer: I don’t work for TCB or speak for them, I got this translation from a discussion with a native Japanese speaker on the JJK Discord. I'm not here to shit on VIZ either. My goal is to clarify a translation debate in Chapter 160 when Kenjaku walks Sasaki out of the colony.
You cannot translate Japanese as literally as you have (referring to this post "It's not called the Cursed Realm"). There are nuances involved in the readings of kanji as well. You are a self-stated beginner (as am I) so it makes sense. Like a user mentioned in the comments, 呪い (noroi) is used in a variety of cases as a catch-all term (referring to cursed spirits, an attack, or a post-mortem burden) and here we are seeing it ascribed to a physical place and I will explain how.
The 'cursed realm' translation came from the furigana for 間 which is read as はざま (hazama) instead of あいだ (aida, the more typical reading according to native speaker). When it’s read like this, the word has the same meaning as 狭間 (also hazama) which carries the connotation of describing a physical, narrow place between two things, that is also well-hidden (hence “realm”). The はざま (hazama) reading can also indicate an interval of time between two things, including life and death. This is in-line with the cursed realm theory, where the primary occurrences of it were during times between life and death according to the original theorist.
You also made this mistake of not acknowledging the unusual reading of 呪い (which was majinai instead of noroi). You can read more about that particular reading and its nuances from soukatsu and the replies here .
If you are too lazy to click on the hyperlink here it is.
All in all, the interpretation of “cursed realm” is up to the individual, but it’s not necessarily true that TCB pulled it out of their ass or translated it that way because it "sounded cool." In fact, VIZ failed to translate the hidden connotation here, which isn’t unheard of since it is fairly difficult and things like this get lost all the time when going from JP to EN. It is subtle and difficult to convey in just one dialogue bubble. Even readers who believe the Cursed Realm is not real should grasp the nuance of the kanji and acknowledge Kenjaku's usage of 間 (hazama) indicates a sort of physical place.
New American Bible
Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants pay for their guilt; Therefore they who dwell on earth have dwindled, and only a few are left.
But amid the desolation, a flicker of hope remained. There were those who refused to surrender to the curse's darkness, who clung to the belief that there was still a chance for salvation. These brave souls formed a resistance, a beacon of light in a world consumed by shadows. Led by a wise and powerful leader, the resistance fought tirelessly to break the curse's hold on their realm. Their weapons were not swords or magic, but rather courage, resilience, and unwavering determination. They sought out ancient texts and sought the guidance of sages, delving into forgotten knowledge and unlocking long-lost secrets. They knew that the curse would not be defeated easily. It thrived on the suffering of others, growing stronger with each passing day. But the resistance had a weapon that the curse did not - the power of unity. They banded together, uniting their strengths and talents, forming an unbreakable bond that the curse could not penetrate. With each passing day, the resistance grew in number and strength, their light pushing back against the darkness. Slowly but surely, they began to see glimpses of the realm they once knew. Love began to bloom, trust was cautiously rebuilt, and laughter, though faint, began to echo through the streets once more. The road to freedom from the curse would be long and arduous, but the resistance pressed on, fueled by the hope that they were not alone. They knew that their struggle was not in vain, for they were fighting not only for their own salvation but for the restoration of their realm. In a realm consumed by a curse, the battle between light and darkness raged on. But the resistance, with their unwavering spirit and unyielding determination, held the key to breaking free from the curse's grip. And though the road ahead was treacherous, they knew that their united strength would be the catalyst for change. *.
Reviews for "The Cursed Legacy: How a Realm Fell Victim to its Own Curse"
1. Alex - 2/5 - Although the concept of "In a realm consumed by a curse" seemed intriguing, I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style was overly complex and confusing, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with or care about their struggles. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Emily - 1/5 - "In a realm consumed by a curse" was a complete letdown for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot seemed to go nowhere. The world-building felt shallow and inconsistent, leaving me with more questions than answers. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to engage with the story. I found myself losing interest early on and had to force myself to finish. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Jason - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "In a realm consumed by a curse," but unfortunately, it fell short. The story felt predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional, and their actions often felt unrealistic. The writing style was also cumbersome, with excessive descriptions that weighed down the narrative. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and would not recommend it.
4. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "In a realm consumed by a curse" to be a disappointing read. The plot lacked coherence, with random subplots that didn't add much to the overall story. The world-building was confusing and poorly explained, leaving me feeling disconnected from the setting. The author relied too heavily on clichés and tropes, making the story predictable and uninspiring. Overall, I was left unsatisfied with this book and wouldn't recommend it.