From Atakigiri to Atagigiri: Touken Ranbu Players Grapple with a New Pronunciation

Popular game Touken Ranbu ONLINE officially announced on January 6 that the pronunciation of the Touken Danshi "Atakigiri" has been formally changed from "Atakigiri" to "Atagigiri." This sudden change became a major topic on the social media platform "X," with many Saniwa (players) reacting in various ways.

Upon receiving the announcement from the developers, many users expressed their surprise. Numerous posts conveyed confusion, with some asking, "Was what I heard in the commercial 'Atagigiri' not a mistake after all?" and others lamenting, "I just got used to 'Atakigiri,' do I have to re-learn it again?" On the other hand, many also shared feelings of relief and joy that their own reading had been officially validated, saying things like, "I've been reading it as 'Atagigiri' all this time, so I'm glad my pronunciation is correct now."

The change was implemented rapidly, with reports immediately after the announcement indicating that the in-game voices had already been updated to "Atagigiri." Some users expressed astonishment at the speed, questioning, "It was just implemented, and the re-recording is already done?" Furthermore, some users shared information suggesting that the Fukuoka City Museum, which is believed to house the actual Atakigiri sword, often uses the pronunciation "Atagigiri" despite the written forms "安宅切" or "あたき切." This points to the possibility that the change aligns with historical facts or the customs of the sword's custodian.

However, the new pronunciation "Atagigiri" has also elicited many comments regarding its difficulty, with users saying it's "hard to say" or "might bite your tongue." Saniwa struggling with the continuous voiced consonants were seen devising unique practice methods, such as chanting "Giarugigigiarugigigialu," and the hashtag "#Atagigiri" briefly trended, showcasing the immense engagement.

While the shift from a familiar pronunciation caused temporary confusion within the community, many Saniwa are striving to adapt to the new way of speaking. Attention is now focused on how "Atagigiri" will become established within the Touken Ranbu community moving forward.

The context

Touken Ranbu ONLINE is a highly popular free-to-play collectible card browser game developed by DMM Games and Nitroplus. Launched in 2015, it quickly gained a massive following, particularly among women, in Japan and beyond. The game features "Touken Danshi" (literally "Sword Boys"), who are anthropomorphic personifications of famous historical Japanese swords. Players, known as "Saniwa," act as masters who summon these swords to fight against evil forces attempting to alter history.

"Atakigiri" (now "Atagigiri") is one such Touken Danshi, representing a historical sword. Pronunciation in Japanese can sometimes have variations, and when a formal name or reading is established in popular culture, changes can cause a stir. The shift from "Atakigiri" to "Atagigiri" involves a subtle but impactful change in voiced consonants (from "k" to "g" in the middle), making it potentially more challenging to pronounce for some Japanese speakers.

The discussion on "X" (formerly Twitter) and the trending hashtag illustrate the passionate engagement of the Touken Ranbu fanbase. The mention of the Fukuoka City Museum is significant because it suggests the game developers may be aligning the in-game pronunciation with the historical and curatorial practices of the actual sword's custodian, adding a layer of authenticity to the game's lore.