Japan Translation and Website Localization

Make the message clear

Convey the essence of the client's message

In the realm of creativity and ideas, translate the idea if a translation of the word is not adequate

In the realm of the technical world, translate word for word with an emphasis on clarity

Japan is the second largest market in the world and has a population of more than 130 million people.
(White Paper on Internet use in Japan.)

More than 50% of Internet access and internet-based shopping is done through cell phones in Japan

Web users are four times more likely to purchase from a site that communicates in the customer's language (www.idc.com)

Over 100 million people access the Internet in a language other than English

Over 50% of Web users speak a native language other than English (www.glreach.com)

We are all part of a global market connected by a borderless Internet borders

Website translation is one of the most cost effective methods of expanding your market to Japan. It's a small investment that doesn't require a presence in Japan with the attendant cost of an office, telephone, incorporating a company, etc. We have qualified translators in your given field combined with marketing experience to ensure that the core message of a translated website is not "lost in translation". We will localize your ideas and concepts, ever mindful of the local environment including the pervasive use of mobile phones to access the web.

Our clients benefit from our combined expertise in translation and website development.

OCTOPUS What's in a word? Translating ideas when words don't work... In a cartoon created by an American cartoonist and published in Japan, the punch line didn't fly. It showed a working class woman preparing a special surprise menu for her boyfriend. She cooked octopus that appeared to be crawling out of a boiling pot. This may be funny to the western eye. After all, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, isn't it? But for a Japanese octopus is a delicacy, especially when it is nearly alive when eaten. In Japan, eating octopus is no joke. Our native speakers will not laugh either, but they'll give us a good "translation".

Without a web development and programming capability, some translation agencies are unable to deal with the variety of formats and ongoing administration of changing content. By separating these functions, the developer is often consumed with cutting and pasting text to put it in a format workable by the translation agency. We are able to take source files such as HTML, XHTML, XML, Java and many more, protecting all of your coding throughout the translation cycle and returning it to a fully working format.

If your business requires periodic changes to website content (with or without translation services), we can make a proposal to periodically change your content.

If you have ongoing translation service requirements we can tailor a solution for you, including monthly invoicing, test pieces, in-country liaison and custom built translator teams with a full understanding of your company.

The quality of any translation is difficult to quantify. Legal, Medical or other technical documents are much easier to measure in terms of accuracy since these documents need to be translated literally. Other materials including websites and creative documents will fail as good translations unless the essence and quality of the intended message is also conveyed. We use translators who live in country and translate into their mother tongue. Our translators are at least bilingual and many with extensive exposure to the country of their second tongue.

We assign translators in two main categories: (1) general assignments which use commonly used terminology; and (2) technical assignments, which are handled by specialists in the given field. We are committed to quality and the continuous improvement of our services.

A sample of all translated material is double-checked by one of our editors to check for spelling errors, correct use of grammar, missing or wrongly translated words.

We also offer a two tier checking system for enhanced review.

Our website translation services offer the benefit of our combined translation and website experience. We are actively promoting our own IT business on our website, which is directed to both the Japanese community and to the expat community in Japan and to web users worldwide. We pass this experience on to our clients who wish to have a Japanese website to promote their message or products. We will work with you, and where possible, with your in-country reviewers to ensure the style and knowledge of the translator meets your requirements.

We work with our customers to try to meet their deadlines. We bend our schedule to meet yours. We are continually working to bring down costs and pass these benefits onto our clients. We welcome the opportunity to give you a quotation. You will find our fees reasonable and our service reliable.

sales@tokyo-it.com