I began studying Japanese in 1999, when I was accepted on the Japanese Studies course at Durham University, UK. This course covered modern and classical Japanese language, as well as a wide range of areas relating to the history, archaeology, anthropology, and sociology of Japan and the wider East Asia region. It was also during this time that I made my first visit to Japan on a one-year exchange program at Kumamoto University. 

Following graduation in 2003, I returned to Kumamoto to work as an in-house translator/English language instructor at a company providing language services to some of Japan’s major companies and academic institutions. Here, I gained my first experience of translating and proofreading documents at a professional level.

In 2008, I returned to the UK to take an MA in Cultural Heritage at the University of East Anglia. As part of this course, I undertook a compulsory three week work placement at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC), where I assisted with two major exhibitions on Jomon clay figurines (British Museum (2009); Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (2010)).

I have been working as a full time freelance translator since 2011. During this time, I have had the immense pleasure of translating materials in a diverse range of fields, helping clients deliver their intended message to a global audience.

Why Work with Me?

In today's world, AI has empowered anyone to translate almost anything instantly. So why hire a human translator?  

To be sure, AI is a convenient technology that gives a general understanding of the source text. However, it lacks the human touch in understanding emotions, empathy, and the deeper meanings of text, frequently struggling with nuance, tone, context, and cultural idioms. This means that AI-generated translations can be overly literal, unnatural, or just plain inaccurate.

An experienced human translator, on the other hand, has an exhaustive knowledge of the language of the source text and its cultural context. As a translator, I spend a great deal of time researching the source text (sometimes much more than it actually takes to write!) and thinking carefully how best to render each sentence in a way that is faithful to the original Japanese yet which makes sense in English.

I believe the best translations come from a close partnership between author and translator. This is why I endeavor to work closely with all clients, asking questions to ensure that I have captured their intended message and revising the wording as needed. By doing so, I hope to provide services that are both professional and personal, and that meet the expectations of all concerned.

Fields of Expertise (Examples)

Academic

Anthropology, archaeology, history, museology, cultural heritage, religion, literature, art, sociology, social welfare, psychology, environmental science, geography, general science/engineering

Corporate

Marketing materials, technical documentation, contracts, financial reports, legal materials, disclosure, sustainability

Institutional

Museums, heritage organizations, tourist facilities, local governmental bodies, university administration, libraries, non profit organizations, hospitals, convention centers

Materials Handled

Academic papers, books, journal abstracts, fieldwork/survey reports, presentation materials, websites, emails, curricula and teaching materials, manuals, guidebooks, pamphlets, museum display text, packaging, menus, signs, video subtitles, certificates, letters of recommendation, business cards, etc.

Rates

Translation

Charged per Japanese character

Proofreading/Editing

Charged per English word

As no two requests are alike, I calculate rates on a per-job basis. Factors that I take into consideration when determining how much a job will cost include difficulty of subject matter, quality of source materials, amount of research required, length, file format, and deadline. 

Note that I will calculate proofreading and editing of existing Japanese-English translations at the full translation rate if I believe a complete re-translation is necessary. 

Smaller requests are subject to a minimum fee irrespective of the content.

My main currency is Japanese yen, but I also accept dollars, pounds, euros, and other currencies.