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     I found Seidensticker's lecture interesting in that he points out an important theme in translation that is often difficult and is really a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" type of scenario: Proper names, or more broadly put, cultural context. Seidensticker points this out in the context of proper names where critics often count the number in the original text and translation and are discontent when the numbers don't match up. On the other hand, if one spent the time to explain each and every proper name, the rhythm of the literature is more than likely ruined. I think this is really difficult to balance, and there really is no right answer; people will find problems with the translation either way. I'd never really considered this conundrum, mostly due to being bilingual and having a decent insight to proper names thanks to having grown up with both American and Japanese culture, but I realize it's something immensely difficult. Even when we translated Croquette, I immediately knew who サザン was referring to even if it's a nickname because of the immense popularity of サザンオールスターズ in Japan. いとしのエリー is of course one of their most famous songs next to TSUNAMI and I don't think it's farfetched to say that anyone in Japan would know Southern All Stars and have at least heard the two pieces (there's also the fact that Keisuke Kuwata, the main singer of Southern All Stars, has quite a unique personality and a easily distinguishable husky singing voice). But I think now that it most likely isn't obvious to those in the States, even if learning Japanese, something that I was pretty oblivious to. 

    I found a similar connection in "Eight Ways to Translate You" when in comes to the connotations of each word for "you" and even "I" in the Japanese language. Perhaps it's not the best thing to judge people purely based on the pronouns they use, but I find that it happens subconsciously. There's the normal "you" like kimi and anata [anta], the anime/entertainment centered (aka the rude ones) kisama, teme, omae as well as the out of date pronouns that are rather funny to hear like nanji, sonata, soregashi, otaku. Each way of saying you has a different taste to it and I'm tuned to it in a subconscious manner that's a little hard to describe. But I'm sure it's also difficult for people learning the language. Thankfully, "you" isn't said that often, but considering the numerous ways to say "I" and the comparatively frequent usage of first person pronouns, I'm sure it's a difficult task.