When managing a translation project, cost is always a factor.

Lessons from Fukushima

But if cutting costs becomes your only focus, you may end up paying far more in the long run. I see it all the time—companies trying to save a few bucks on Japanese-to-English translation only to face expensive mistakes later.

The Cost of Bad Decisions in Japanese Translation

A perfect example of this happened with a luxury motorcar brand’s financing division. They initially accepted our quote for a complex Japanese translation and localization project, only to cancel a few days later.

Ten days after that, the project manager called back in a panic. The translation agency they had chosen instead had delivered poor results. A team of professionals was flying in again from Germany in two weeks, and they needed us to step in.

After another round of price negotiations, they canceled again.

Let’s break down the hidden costs of these decisions:

• Weeks of haggling – Wasted time that likely cost more than the “savings” they were after.
• Unnecessary round-trip flights – $12,355 for four professionals to fly between Berlin and Tokyo.
• Lost productivity – $8,624 in wages for a team of finance and IT professionals over seven days.
• Delayed project impact – The project involved Japanese translation and localization of a motorcar financing application. How much revenue was lost due to repeated delays?

Fast forward two years, and guess what? They came back, asking for our services again. This time, we declined.

Why Chasing the Cheapest Japanese Translation Agency Can Cost You

Cutting costs at all costs will, at best, leave you with a translation riddled with errors. At worst, it can sink your entire project.

When budget constraints force translation agencies to cut corners, you end up with:

• Unqualified Translators – Rushed evaluations mean unskilled translators working on your project.
• Non-native Translators – The result? Awkward, unnatural translations that hurt your brand.
• Machine translation (MT) Overuse – MT can be useful, but when over-relied upon, it often leads to gibberish.
• Skipped Quality Checks – No proofreading means errors slip through, damaging your reputation.

If a translation quote seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The Hidden Risks of Offshore Cost-Cutting

Some offshore translation providers offer unbelievably low prices. But our trial translation revealed the reality behind these “deals”:

1. Unqualified Native Japanese translators – If they can’t find work in Japan, there’s usually a reason.
2. Non-native Translators – Lacking fluency, they create translations full of mistakes.

Either way, the final product won’t meet your quality expectations, and the costs of fixing those errors can be steep.

What Fukushima Teaches Us About Translation

The Fukushima disaster was ultimately caused by cost-cutting decisions that led to catastrophic failures. The same logic applies to translation—if you focus only on reducing costs, the end result can be disastrous.

Investing in quality Japanese-to-English translation from the start prevents costly rework, lost productivity, and damage to your brand. Don’t let a short-term “savings” mindset lead to long-term financial losses.

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About the Author
Ivan Vandermerwe is the CEO of SAECULII YK, the owner of Tokyo based Japanese Translation Agency Visit SAECULII for the latest professional articles and news on Japanese Translation Service

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