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From S03E04, there's this 1 second Kaiji reference/similarity where Miko
Iino's face goes nobuyuki Fukumoto-style and either Miko or the narrator or
some sound effect whatever says 'zawa (ざわ)'.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/i2wjL.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/i2wjL.jpg)

Source:
[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Kaguya_sama/comments/ufgvf6/mikos_face_in_the_latest_episode_looks_like_a/)
user [LouijaBoard](https://www.reddit.com/user/LouijaBoard/).

Afaik, ざわ is [a Japanese onomatopoeia meaning uneasy
atmosphere](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Zawa) (also see
[here](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/81ba3o/what_the_hell_is_the_zawa_background_noise_in/))
or [a Japanese onomatopoeia for like unnerving or whispering or
something](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/2000121-anime-and-manga-other-
titles/71776896).

**Context of scene** : The narrator says prior that

> To gain even one extra minute of studying time would be a windfall for Iino!

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/gyMOR.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/gyMOR.jpg)

What the narrator says is understandable, and it is understandable Miko would
be ecstatic over such an extra minute, but...

**Question** : Why the ざわ, and why is the ざわ translated to 'ecstasy' ?


CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-01T13:51:07.817
66728
2022-05-05T11:43:25.517
2022-05-05T11:43:25.517
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question
japanese-language kaguya-sama-love-is-war kaiji
Kaiji in Kaguya-sama S03E04: Why is zawa (ざわ) translated as 'ecstasy'?


The translators for especially for those that to subtitles for simulcast
anime, oftentimes receive what they need to translate on short notice and
might not have the actual script or accompanying video and thereby not have
time to properly grasp the context of a scene.

Despite the second hand accounts that you referenced, ざわ is broadly used to
describe an atmosphere of anxiety or unease (like commotion in a courtroom),
among other things (Japanese is a very contextual language). In this context,
it can interpreted that the character is anxious, as one would be having the
chills in this sort of situation.

The translator likely chalked it up to Iino being a masochist seeing delight
in such a situation, without understanding or realizing the Fukumoto meta-
reference.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-01T20:58:41.997
66731
2022-05-01T20:58:41.997
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answer