What's the difference between a translator and an interpreter?
A translator works with documents, while an interpreter works with the spoken word. Though some do both, most prefer to specialize in either one or the other and also in a certain direction, e.g. Japanese to English or English to Japanese. The purpose of specialization is to be better able to offer quality service.
Do you do interpreting?
I've done interpreting in the past, but am now specializing in translation of Japanese documents into English.
Can you do English to Japanese translation?
No.
Do you have a special area of expertise?
I've worked in a wide variety of areas, including but not limited to clinical trials, traditional Japanese culture, mechanical engineering, accounting, fiber archeology, icthyology, modern poetry, patent applications, computerized jacquard weaving, popular Japanese culture, and medical/biological research.
How much do you charge?
The fee for Japanese to English translation is $0.22 per word (based on number of words in the target document). On average, a 400-character Japanese source document will translate into around 150 English words.
Do you work in any other languages besides Japanese?
Following are some other language pairs and specialties in which I'm competent to do translation:
French to English---Classical French cooking ($0.11 per word)
Spanish to English---Cuban music and dance ($0.11 per word)
Norwegian to English---Modern Norwegian ($0.11 per word) and Dano-Norwegian ($0.16 per word)
Lived in Kyōto, Japan from 1982 to 2003.
Received rank of shodan (Black Belt), Shinshin Tōitsu Aikidō, 1985.
Passed highest level of Japanese Language Proficiency Test (Nihongo Nōryoku Shiken Ikkyū), 1989.
In-house translator, J.T.S. Takemura Co., Ltd., 1992-1994. J.T.S. Takemura is a manufacturer of machinery and software for computerized Jacquard weaving. It was here that I first became involved with technical writing and software manuals.
Translated The Archaeology of Fiber by Junichirō Nunome, published by Senshoku to Seikatsusha Publishing Co., 1992 (Winner of the Mainichi Publishing Special Award for Cultural Achievement).
Translated Transnational Accounting, "Individual and Group Accounts, Japan," by Terumi Takita and Kenji Yumoto; published by MacMillan & Co., Ltd., UK, 1995.
Taught Writing, Japanese-English Translation and Oral Communication at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, 1995-2003. Created a seminar-style practical Japanese-English translation course.
Freelance Japanese to English technical translator, 2003-to present.