Should we use the word "nakama"?

[Cheb]

Originally brought up by One Piece, this word is extremely wide-used in anime, as I now can easily discern it. Sailor Moon uses it ("Doing that to your own nakama! Unforgivable!" (speech to the monster) ). Mazoku use it ("Lina, become our nakama!")...

At first, it was brought up because the people who translated One Piece thought that its equivalent "comrade" is "tainted by communism". Stupid, IMO, but it's tradition now, on the other hand. Plus, "nakama" seems to have slightly wider scope and is slightly stronger than "comrade".

The thing is, I plan to start using it in my fics. I think it can make fics better (e.g. so far I didn't see anyone using the word "comrade", and something feels amiss without it).

How do you think?

[Dumbledork]

I think that nakama is very difficult to translate as it goes even further than comrade I'd say. Maybe associates... but then you're missing the "faith" element of being a nakama.

[P.H. Wise]

I always figure that if the word doesn't translate easily, just use the original word.

[Seraphim]

I always figure that if the word doesn't translate easily, just use the original word.

Pretty much what I thought too..

[P.H. Wise]

Just be sure to have a note at the end of the chapter explaining the word and all the shades of its meaning.

[mondu_the_fat]

"Brother"

If its stronger than comrade, then use brother. Not only is the closest, its likely the most appropriate. Fraternities use it, secret societies use it, religious institutions use it, heck I've seen it use by policemen to call/describe the individuals in the group.

[Knight of L-sama]

I've always thought that comrade(s) worked perfectly well as a translation. It implies both the friendship as well as being united together in some kind of struggle. (Comrade-in-arms is the preferred gender neutral version of brother-in-arms)

And whoever said that it's been 'tainted' by communism really needs to be reminded that the Cold War ended in 1990.