Mix Up or Westernization

Jelly Donut or Rice Ball?









Here lies the question: Is the translation a mix up or a westernization of O-nigiri?





O-nigiri (Nigirimeshi) is made with boiled white rice that can be mixed with numerous vegetables or seaweed. The rice is rolled into a ball or formed into a triangle and filled with numerous flavours and toppings. These fillings can include fish, pork, seafood, pickled foods,and even miso. The rice is the wrapped in seaweed (nori).





A jelly donut in contrast is a dessert made with dough and is filled with a sweet jelly usually made from strawberries or raspberries.





These two foods really don't share anything in common other than both are filled.









Korean Style Rice Triangle

So, why the mix up? In fact it's not really a mix up but a westernization of the food to not confuse young children. Pokemon is aimed towards children aged around 10 years of age. A young child from Canada might have a hard time relating to a O-nigiri being eaten as a snack so the word jelly donut was used to relate western snack foods. O-nigiri is a snack food eaten between meals or as a meal itself and is a delicious treat for many Japanese children as jelly donuts are to western children. There really isn't anything wrong with the episode just a little mix up that can cause some confusion.

Similar rice balls are eaten throughout asia and are common in Korea and China. Kimbab in Korea is eaten similarly to nigirimeshi.



The translators of pokemon tried to relate to western audiences when the series was translated so some words are changed to make the show feel more fluid. Some references to culture are also changed to appeal to western children.



In conclusion the changes are not really noticed unless you look for them or watch the original japanese series.









The year is 2018 and my daughter and I sit down to watch an episode of pokemon. The episode we watched was "Primeape goes bananas". During the episode Brock and Misty are eating jelly donuts. However, they aren't eating donuts at all! They are eating rice balls or O-nigiri (Nigirimeshi) which is a Japanese food that doesn't resemble anything close to a jelly donut!