Mario Kart in Japanese: A Chaotic, Hilarious, and Slightly Terrifying Journey

Have you ever wondered what Mario Kart sounds like in Japanese? Or maybe, like me, you impulsively bought a Japanese version of the game and now find yourself staring at the screen, completely lost? Don’t worry—I’ve been there, and I’m here to take you on a wild ride through the land of linguistic chaos, adorable sound effects, and unexpected challenges.

Why Play Mario Kart in Japanese?

You might be thinking, “Why would anyone willingly play a game in a language they don’t understand?” Good question. Here are a few totally valid reasons:

You’re learning Japanese and want to level up your language skills—because what better way to practice than getting blue-shelled while trying to translate “Congratulations”?
You ordered the game online and accidentally got the Japanese version (a true gamer rite of passage).
You’re a cultural purist who insists on playing games in their original language. Respect.
You enjoy suffering. (No judgment, I get it.)

Regardless of why you’re doing this to yourself, let’s dive into the beautiful madness that is playing Mario Kart in Japanese

1. The Title: It’s NOT Called Mario Kart in Japan?

Okay, technically, it is still called Mario Kart in Japan, but the full title is often different. For example, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in Japan is:

マリオカート 8 デラックス (Mario Kāto 8 Derakkusu)

That’s right—”Deluxe” gets a katakana makeover into デラックス (Derakkusu). Fancy, right?

And if you go back in time to the Super Famicom days, the very first game was called スーパーマリオカート (Sūpā Mario Kāto). So far, so good.

But here’s where it gets fun. The character names and track names? Oh, they’re a whole different ballgame.

2. Character Names: Slightly Different, Very Confusing

If you’ve been playing Mario Kart in English for years, some Japanese names might throw you off mid-race. Let’s compare a few:

English Name	Japanese Name (Romaji)	Fun Fact
Bowser	クッパ (Kuppa)	Named after Korean dish “Gukbap”! 🍲
Koopa Troopa	ノコノコ (Nokonoko)	Means “slowly, sluggishly”—ironic for a racer! 🐢
Toad	キノピオ (Kinopio)	A mix of “kinoko” (mushroom) and “Pinocchio”! 🍄
Waluigi	ワルイージ (Waruīji)	“Waru” means “bad”—so, “Bad Luigi”. Simple, yet genius. 💜

Next time you hear クッパ (Kuppa) zoom past you, you’ll know it’s not some random new character—it’s just Bowser being Bowser.

3. Track Names: Get Ready to Be Bamboozled

If you’re expecting the track names to be direct translations, think again. Some names are familiar, others will make you double-take. Here’s a taste:

English Name	Japanese Name (Romaji)	Translation/Fun Fact
Rainbow Road	レインボーロード (Reinbō Rōdo)	Phew, easy one! 🌈
Coconut Mall	ココナッツモール (Kokonattsu Mōru)	Not “Mall of Death by Coconut” 🥥
Bowser’s Castle	クッパキャッスル (Kuppa Kyassuru)	We meet again, Kuppa 👀
Wario Stadium	ワリオスタジアム (Wario Sutajiamu)	Another easy one—thank you, katakana gods! 🎤

But some translations are pure gold. Like Moo Moo Meadows, which in Japanese is モーモーカントリー (Mōmō Kantorī)—yes, “Moo Moo Country.”

That’s it. That’s my new vacation destination. 🐄

4. The Japanese Voice Acting: Pure Art

Mario Kart is already chaotic, but in Japanese? It’s a symphony of adorable aggression.

Peach: “いっくわよ～!” (I’m going!—but make it royalty-approved.) 👑
Luigi: “やったね!” (I did it!—always full of joy.) 🍄
Bowser/Kuppa: “ウワァァァァ!” (Terrifying roar that haunts my dreams.) 🔥
Wario: “オレ様の勝ちだ！” (I, the great me, have won!) 💰

And let’s not forget the item sounds. Hearing the Bullet Bill activate in Japanese is like an instant adrenaline boost—”ドーン!” (Dooon!)—cue the absolute mayhem.

5. The Real Challenge: Reading the Menus

If you don’t know Japanese, navigating the menus can feel like a mini-game before the actual game.

グランプリ (Guranpuri) → Grand Prix 🏁
たいせん (Taisen) → Versus Mode 🆚
バトル (Batoru) → Battle Mode ⚔️
じゆうにそうこう (Jiyū ni Sōkō) → Free Driving 🚗💨

And the worst part? Trying to read the item descriptions before a race starts. You’ll either pick the perfect kart or end up with Toad in a monster truck.