(Updated October 11, 2025)Frequently Asked Questions(and some not asked frequently enough)
Translation
We need a marriage certificate translated from Japanese to English. Can you help?
Yes, we can provide this service. Read more
Can you certify a translation for us?
Yes, we can provide this service, and have done it countless times. It is very often required for documents to be translated for litigation, and by individuals needing translations to submit to government agencies or financial institutions. Read more
We are a world-class provider of language solutions. Can you help us with the translation of the attached file?
No. We do not work with translation agencies, brokers, or other resellers of language services, regardless of whether they attempt to position themselves as localization companies, "providers of sustainable and globally empowering language solutions," or any other silly name devised to disguise their true nature as translation brokers. Our clients are world-class manufacturers and other corporations and law firms and span four continents. Our client list does not include—and will never include—companies in the translation business.
What type of AI translation engine do you use?
Since the documents you need translated have probably been created by a "carbon-based" author, we will not pretend that it is appropriate for us to attempt to translate them using a silicon-based alien intelligence translator. There are some very good reasons we do not use AI in translating client documents; it creates artificial translations.
Can you post-edit a machine translation for us?
No. We are a translation provider. And our clients know that we are a true translation company, not a translation-brokering agency, and realize why we don't engage in repair work on the output from a machine translation system, with or without the over-hyped buzzword AI.
Can you provide a translation from Japanese into French?
No. We specialize in providing high-quality translations between Japanese and English, a task at which we excel. Read more
What is your turnaround time for translation?
To answer that question in a meaningful way, we need to see the document(s) you need translated and provide you with a proper quotation. Contact us
How many translators do you have?
Many translation brokers, particularly those outside Japan, claim to have hundreds and some claim to have thousands of translators "registered" with them. Those bloated numbers are purposefully deceptive and tell of a willingness to lie about something clients cannot verify. There are some very sobering facts about the translation business that most translation consumers don't realize. Lying about translators is one aspect of the translation brokering business.
We very likely have enough translation capacity to assist you. Please contact us so that we can assure you of that. Contact us
We have a translation here that was poorly done. Can you edit it to bring it to the point at which you could certify it?
We are a translation company and are not normally engaged in repairing or certifying translations done elsewhere. As long as the translation you have was not done by AI and you can provide the source-language text, we might be able to assist, but you should keep in mind that the task of editing and/or rewriting a poorly done translation requires a skilled translator who could have translated the document in question properly from the start. This means that the editing effort might cost as much as we would charge to translate the original document and might actually just be a total retranslation, making the total cost greater than if you had started from scratch with a proper translation, unless you obtained the original translation for free.
Starting with a good translation that does not require repair work by a different entity is the best approach.
What languages do you handle?
We specialize in translation of documents for industry, patents, and other IP and legal documents (either Japanese-to-English or English-to-Japanese, but mostly JA-to-EN). This enables us to provide you with the best quality and to excel over translation providers claiming to translate in dozens or even hundreds of languages. Read more
Interpreting
Can you provide a court sworn interpreter?
We are based in Japan, and there is nothing equivalent to a "sworn interpreter" in Japan. That said, at depositions, the parties have presumably agreed to use the specific lead and check interpreters beforehand, and the interpreters take an oath to provide accurate and unbiased interpreting before the deposition begins.
We are deposing a Japanese witness. Can you interpret for us?
Perhaps, but because we are based in Japan and have numerous Japanese clients, we might not be able to help you depose a witness from a Japanese entity, but we can certainly check for conflicts before we proceed. Contact us
General Questions
What is the best way to contact you?
Because of the time difference between Japan and the US, the best method to contact us from outside Japan is usually by email, although a phone call, the time difference allowing, is perfectly fine. We undertake to respond in a timely manner. Contact us
We need to reach you by telephone. What is the best time to reach you?
During our normal business hours here in Japan. If you are calling from outside Japan, please note the time difference. For example, the current time and date in Japan is:
For this reason, calls from outside Japan might be received outside of normal business hours. We will, however, undertake to get back to you as quickly as possible if you leave us a message (or send us email at such times. Contact us
Can you accept payment by PayPal?
Yes, although we do this mainly for individuals in needing language assistance.
Can you accept payment by check?
Unfortunately, no, as checks written on foreign banks are no longer accepted by Japanese banks. The standard method of payment is bank transfer.
Can I pay by credit card?
Since our business model is B2B transactions, we do not accept credit card payments. The standard payment method is a bank transfer to our corporate account here in Japan.
Can you provide a quotation in US dollars?
Because all our invoicing is in Japanese Yen, a US dollar quote would only risk having the payment fall short of (or exceed) the billed yen amount due to currency fluctuations. For that reason, we quote and invoice in JPY.
Students & Beginning Translators
These responses to questions frequently asked by students and beginning translators are obviously informed by my opinions and experience.
That said, readers should realize that the writer:
- has been in JA-EN translation and interpreting for over four decades and
- is still active in JA-EN translation and interpreting, while keeping an eye and ear open to events affecting the lives and livelihoods of colleagues.
With that in mind, here are answers to some frequently asked questions and some that should be asked more, but are not.
Is Japanese-to-English translation a promising field?
Definitely no, particularly if you are talking about freelance translating for agencies. Attempts to succeed at making a living as a freelance Japanese-to-English translator for agencies at this point are essentially futile; only a tiny number of hopefuls will succeed, but even then only if they can acquire clients not using AI, and that is impossible for all but a tiny number of freelancers. I expand on the situation regarding trying to turn things around or educate freelancers in a separate article.
What is the best way to register with translation agencies?
Don't bother. Translating as a freelancer for agencies is ending.
I'm majoring in Japanese and want to get into translation of games and anime. Any advice?
Don't bother. It's a highly popular (i.e., competitive) field and rates are very low. And, like other fields, translation work from agencies in those fields is quickly drying up.
Should I obtain a JLPT qualification?
Don't bother. It marks you as a beginner.
That's it. The summary is: Don't bother; it's ending.