Guarantee the success of your Japanese translation project by taking a few more minutes to truly prepare with this free checklist of quality tips (peace of mind; priceless!).

Resist the temptation to do the translation yourself

Being bilingual is a valuable skill, but speaking or writing fluently in multiple languages does not automatically qualify you to produce professional translations. Writing involves nuanced phrasing, cultural context, and audience-specific tone—elements that extend beyond the direct meanings of words.

Attempting to translate your own content can result in text that is immediately identified as foreign. At best, it may come across as awkward or amusing, which can undermine your brand’s credibility. At worst, it could be perceived as offensive, potentially alienating your audience.

To ensure your message resonates appropriately, enlist the expertise of a professional translation company, such as a Translation Company Tokyo. Professional translators have the skills to convey your intended meaning while respecting linguistic and cultural nuances, ensuring your content aligns with your brand’s image. Read more

Guess who did the translation here?

Use Professional Translation

Avoid the language department at the local university

Teaching or studying a language is fundamentally different from translating. While language students may have academic knowledge, they often lack the practical expertise needed for professional translation.

Consider this analogy: would you trust a student programmer from a university IT department to develop your corporate website? If not, why entrust the translation of your corporate website—a critical business asset—to a language student?

Professional translators bring years of experience and a deep understanding of linguistic subtleties. They ensure your message is accurately conveyed while maintaining cultural relevance, safeguarding your brand’s reputation. Read more

Use Professional Translators

Plan your translation project in advance

Proper planning is critical for a successful translation project. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to fall into the “get-it-done-yesterday” mentality, which often leads to insufficient preparation.

While many translation companies can accommodate last-minute requests, this convenience comes at a cost. Rush projects are frequently billed at significantly higher rates, sometimes double the standard price. Moreover, the urgency can compromise the quality of the Japanese translation, leaving you concerned about its accuracy and impact.

Avoid these challenges by allocating adequate time for your project. Thoughtful planning not only ensures better quality but also helps you manage costs effectively. A well-prepared approach allows the translation team to focus on delivering precise, culturally relevant content that supports your brand’s objectives. Read more

3 words: Plan, Plan, Plan

Does it absolutely need to be translated?

Before initiating a translation project, evaluate whether all the content is necessary for your Japanese target audience. Collaborate with your team to identify redundancies or material that may not be relevant in the new context.

Focus on translating only the essential content or consider creating a condensed version of the original. This streamlined approach not only reduces costs but also ensures the translated material is impactful and directly aligned with your audience’s needs.

Once you have refined the content, engage a professional translation service to deliver high-quality results that resonate effectively with your target market.Read more

Identify Redundancies

In translation, a picture really is worth a thousand words!

Japanese technical manuals are often concise, avoiding unnecessary text while incorporating animations and visuals that are easy to understand. Tools such as maps, pictograms, and diagrams resonate strongly with Japanese audiences, enhancing clarity and engagement.

Incorporating visuals strategically can significantly reduce translation costs by minimizing the amount of text to be translated. At the same time, they create powerful, effective materials tailored to the Japanese market. Well-designed visual aids not only convey your message more efficiently but also ensure your content achieves its intended purpose with precision and impact. Read more

SUGGESTION: You may want to consider this method for your local manuals, too.

Effective Messaging

Finalize your content BEFORE starting to engage a professional translation company

Starting a translation project with incomplete or draft content is a recipe for inefficiency. Translation based on a “draft-in-progress” not only consumes more time but also increases costs significantly.

Each revision introduces the potential for inconsistencies or errors in the final version, as multiple iterations can lead to confusion. To avoid this, finalize your content before handing it over to the translation team. Clear, complete, and finalized material allows the translation process to proceed smoothly, ensuring a high-quality, accurate result while saving both time and money. Read more

Submit Your Final Draft ONLY

Keep the professional translators up to speed

Effective communication with your translation team is essential for achieving the best results. Provide the translators with detailed information about the purpose of the text and its target audience. This context enables them to tailor the translation for maximum impact.

The more insights you share—such as the intended tone, style, and end use of the material—the more effectively the translators can align their work with your goals. Clear guidance ensures that the final product resonates with the audience and fulfills its intended purpose, saving time and avoiding costly revisions. Read more

Provide Translation Purpose

Encourage questions from your translators

Professional Japanese translators approach their work with meticulous attention to detail, analyzing text from every angle. Sentences are often deconstructed and reconstructed multiple times to ensure clarity and cultural accuracy.

If a translator encounters a section of the original text that seems unclear or ambiguous, they will seek clarification. This provides a valuable opportunity to refine and improve the source material. Encourage open communication and welcome their questions—it leads to a more polished and effective final product.

By fostering collaboration, you can ensure that your translation is not only accurate but also optimized for your target audience, enhancing its overall impact. Read more

Encourage Questions

Prepare a glossary for the translation company

A glossary is a crucial tool in translation, containing a list of terms along with their meanings or preferred equivalents. This is particularly important because organizations often develop their own “mini-culture,” where words and phrases may take on unique meanings. These meanings may differ subtly from the generic term, but they are essential for maintaining accuracy in translation.

Additionally, even simple words with clear meanings can have multiple equivalent terms in Japanese. The correct choice of term depends heavily on the context, making it vital to establish which equivalent is most appropriate for each situation. Read more

Provide a Translation Glossary

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About the Author
Ivan Vandermerwe is the CEO of SAECULII YK, owners of the Translation Service Tokyo Visit SAECULII for the latest professional case studies, articles and news on Japanese Translation Service

Copyright (C) SAECULII YK. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this article is permitted with inclusion of the “About the Author” reference as is (including text links, japan-translators.saeculii.com/english/services/japanese-translation-services.cfm), and this copyright information. Articles may not be altered without written permission from SAECULII YK.