This video does an alright job at explaining why the Localization is so different

[SentioftheHoukai]

Again, blame ESRB. Localization had to make sure that the game would get past ESRB's standards for a Teen rating so some of the flavor text had to be localized to fit.

To be honest, I'm surprised that a lot of what Koji did made it past the ESRB's guidelines. Makes me wonder just how much of a game the ESRB actually pays attention to.

It also makes me wonder what he had origiinally included that ended up removed in the final version.

I'm no friend of dick jokes, but I'd take Koji's nonsense all over again if meant we didn't have to suffer Kate's bullsheiss diluting the narrative quality of the game and stirring up pointless arguments on this forum.

I don't even see why the ESRB is even necessary when shops like GameStop stopped requiring I.D. for rated M games seemingly a millennia ago. But then, GameStop considered themselves an "essential business" during the height of COVID and refused to close (apparently they forgot people can buy games over the net, so frankly in store purchases aren't even necessary any more) so I don't really expect any semblance of personal responsibility from them.