Helping you succeed in Japan

What types of translation services are available?
- Japanese to English, and English to Japanese.
- Translation of manuals, articles, manuals and technical documents
- Websites, video subtitles, slides and presentations
- Games and Apps
For any topics new to us, we will ask you for explanations,
and we can discuss beforehand to see if we are a good fit to help
 

How much do translation services cost?
- We cost by the hour. We do not charge by characters or words. 
This way, we feel we can add more value and get more done, as well as amends, without needing to worry about the amount of words and characters.
- Of course we will always go as fast as we can without sacrificing quality. 
- We will have regular check-ins and updates so you can be aware of how hours are being used.
 

What is the process for requesting translation services?
- We have a standard set of questions to get discussions started. 
These are only a guideline, as we know each translation / writing / content creation project is different. 
- We will always discuss to tailor to your needs, but as basic questions, they would be: 

- What language do you want translation to / from?
- What type of document is it, and what is the file format?
- Rough volume / scope / number of pages?
- What is the purpose of the translation (e.g. Personal, business, submitting for government use etc)
- Who is the target audience? (e.g. Native Japanese / English speakers, what demographic etc?)
- What are your deadlines and expected dates? (including time for review, feedback, amends)
- What are your budget / cost expectations or limitations? 
 

How long does it take to receive translated materials?
- It does depend on the type of translation, the volume and complexity. The best way is to connect and discuss the needs, before we give our best estimations. 
 

Is it necessary to have a native Japanese speaker perform the translation?
- In our opinion and experience, yes it is. You can of course use AI tools, or translation services available online, however, whether translating from Japanese to English or vice versa, you want to ensure you're not just doing literal translations, and actually capturing the nuances whilst considering language and culture. One can always tell when something has not been translated or reviewed by a native speaker. 
 

Can the translation be certified or notarized?
- We do not specialise in certifying or notarizing documents. However, there are many other services in Japan that can help cover this area.
 

Are there any special considerations for translating technical or specialized documents?
- Yes there are. It's always best to allow more time to brief and educate translators on the background, the technical terms and expectations of the the technical documents.
- Without the proper explanations of background or the technical details, what we think is best may be completely different to what you're aiming for. 
- For technical, specialised industries, it's also best to have an expert on your side to verify or help amend the translated documents. There may be industry specific terms, labelling, names which only experts or someone in your field would know. 
 

Can translation services be provided in multiple languages or just Japanese?
- We only specialise in Japanese and English languages. 
 

How do I know if the translation is accurate and reliable?
- As mentioned above you can either have an expert check on your side. If that's not possible, then you'll have to trust the audience reactions and feedback. If there's no one to check on your side, then anyone you choose for translation will always have that element of risk hanging over it. Our translators are experienced in many industries and always review and feedback on one another's work for quality assurance and reliability, to ensure that you don't have to risk or worry. 
 

Are there any limitations or restrictions on the types of materials that can be translated?
- If there are any translation types or requests we definitely feel we cannot help with, we will let you know. We've never taken on work which we feel we could not deliver our best on. 
 

As a rough guide, "how long" will it take? 
- In general, it takes around 1 hour for 300 words, or 2000 words per day. This is industry standard but time varies depending the length and complexity of the text, the translator's level of expertise and familiarity with the subject matter, and the quality of the translation required.
- Do remember that translation is a highly skilled profession, and good translation requires more than just a strong command of the source and target languages. It requires a deep understanding of the cultures and contexts in which the text will be used, as well as the ability to effectively convey the intended meaning and tone of the original text in the target language.
- In short, we will always discuss with you to ensure you get the best quality and results within your expected time range.