Translation
With the confidence that nuance and culture are perfectly accounted for.
Translation is more than rewriting a text in another language. Cultural context and nuance can make or break a translation; with Kokoro, you’re getting it all.
Do any of these sound familiar?
✔ You have koseki, or family registries, that you want to understand to trace family history
✔ You need a sensitive document translated and you want to ensure the final version is appropriate
✔ You know some Japanese so want to be able to work closely with a translator
✔ You've tried machine translation and gotten mixed results
Imagine having complete confidence in the nuance and cultural positioning of the documents you need translated.
What if I told you that you could...
✔ Be confident that you can discuss nuance, cultural influence, tone, and more
✔ Be valued as a client and individual, with sensitivity to the project and clear communication prioritized
✔ Get a unique perspective that can only come from a translator who is also a linguist and language teacher
✔ Receive complimentary corrections for one week from the date of delivery
Translation
Specializing in mainly in koseki and disaster science/disaster recovery
With Sachi’s translations, you will:
1. Create a customized service plan to meet your needs
Not all documents are the same, and not all client needs are the same. Before work begins, we’ll ensure that all of your needs are being met through a customized plan.
2. Be assured that nuance and cultural appropriateness is guaranteed
Language and culture are interconnected and it’s not possible to separate them. A good translation takes style, tone, and cultural appropriateness into consideration, and you’re guaranteed to get it all.
3. Receive complimentary revisions for one week from delivery
Is there a sentence that you’d prefer worded differently? Find a particular word that you’d like replaced? Not a problem! It’ll be fixed right away.
“I was familiar with Sachi’s skills as a translator from a previous project, and one of the reasons she was my top choice for this job was because I was so impressed by her thoughtful translation work and careful consideration of the nuances in language. Her translation work in our project was excellent, and the very high quality results reflect her careful and serious attention to detail, as well as the authors’ different points of view. I especially appreciated her flexibility, and quick and helpful communication throughout.”
— Liz Maly, Associate Professor, IRIDeS, Tohoku University
“Sachi translated historical and family documents that required a skill set and knowledge that she clearly possessed. She was thorough and her attention to detail was very important to this work. She was flexible and communicated very well. She completed the work with an absolutely high quality result.”
— Bill Hamade, Family Historian and Archivist
“Sachi worked as translator, live interpreter and provided additional consultation during pre-production for a shoot in Japan with the National Film Board of Canada. She was incredibly communicative, flexible, reliable and highly contributed to the success of the shoot. Sachi is highly skilled and is a pleasure to work with, I would absolutely recommend her services.”
— Jennifer Bertling, Unit Productions Manager, National Film Board of Canada
“Sachi was an absolute pleasure to work with. When working with archival documents she was always clear, detail oriented and efficient, she was also open and sensitive to the project and priorities at hand. I look forward to working with her again.”
— Randall Okita, Director
“Her work is always excellent, delivered on time, and she goes above and beyond to ensure the end product is clear and ready for our immediate use. I highly recommend Sachi for any project.”
— Kate Firuz, Director, Digital Payments, Avanquest
“Sachi is extremely professional with her work. She is well-spoken, enthusiastic, and very easy to work with. We needed a Japanese translator for a mobile game we have and she exceeded our expectations. She finished the work on time and was always available for further revisions and corrections.”
— Doruk Unal, Mobile Game Develper & Founder of Still57
Past Projects:
1. Koseki (Japanese Family Registries)
Koseki, or family registries, need to be translated for a variety of reasons - sometimes relating to international marriage or divorce, sometimes to prove family relations, and sometimes because people of Japanese heritage want to reconnect with their relatives. Randall Okita, a film director, required my koseki translation servcies to prepare for his documentary, The Book of Distance. Another client, Bill Hamade, required koseki translations for personal use. Registries began in the early 1800s and continue today. Although they are presently all digital, for many years, koseki were handwritten. Translating these documents requires the ability to read and decipher different calligraphic styles, the ability to research kanji no longer in use, as well as historic geographic names. Specializing in this area has proven to be rewarding for both my clients and myself.
2. Kataritsugi
Kataritsugi is an annual storytelling of survivor stories from the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters that occured in the Tohoku region of Japan. Every year, 7 survivors have their personal stories curated for a wide audience. For 4 years (2016-2018, 2021), I translated these stories. Personal stories are challenging yet fun because there is a lot of opportunity for subtle nuance and emotional expression. These stories are painful and raw narratives that allowed me to use excessible, conversational English to invite non-speakers into the lives of these survivors.
3. Brain Imaging Research
Since working at the Institute for Development, Aging, and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, I have had the opportunity to work with brain imaging researchers. One client is conducting research on wisdom - identifying what parts of the brain become active when someone provides advice. As with other specialized areas, scientific journal articles follow a specific format, style of writing, and vocabulary. This is both more challenging and easier than personal stories. Specific vocabulary is required, but the manner of expression is much more straightforward. As always, I confirm the meaning of any unclear phrases (using both languages) during the project to ensure trust and accuracy.
Your treasured documents, in an accessible language.
Want to chat first? Please complete a contact form here.
Here's what happens when we work together:
Step 1.
We will discuss your needs and create a customized service plan. If you have specific needs, please let me know!
Step 2.
Once the details have been confirmed, we agree and sign the necessary documents.
Step 3.
Work begins! If any confirmation is required, I reach out and make the necessary changes based on your response.
Step 4.
I provide complimentary revisions for 1 week from the date of delivery, so feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!
FAQs
1. Do you only translate from Japanese to English?
I provide translation services in both directions - Japanese to English and English to Japanese. No matter which direction the translation occurs in, careful proofreading is done before delivery, and complimentary revisions are provided for one week from the date of delivery.
2. Do you provide interpreting services?
Sometimes! To inquire about interpreting, please click here.
3. Do you only work remotely?
No, I can work remotely and in-person. Whether we meet in person or not will depend on where you are located, and where I am in the world at the time. Because I travel, I may be able to come to you! For inquiries, please click here.
Please note that due to COVID-19, all work is being conducted online/remotely.
4. What fields do you translate in?
Thanks for asking! Today, I specialize in translating koseki, or Japanese family registries, and disaster science, but over the years, I have worked in a wide variety of areas. Here are a few examples to give you an idea: I’ve translated brain-imaging research articles, personal stories of disaster survivors, disaster science research publications, in-house company magazines for car part manufacturers, and family registries. Other areas include consultation for documentary subtitling, proofreading for social work-related documents, interpreting for men’s bespoke shoe and clothing makers. The only request I ever turned down was the Japanese to English translation of a 200 year old, hand-written instructional manual for dancing! For inquiries, please click here!
5. I have Japanese ancestry and I’m searching for relatives who are still in Japan. Can you help me?
Yes, I can! We can create a customized combination of services to match your needs. This may include the following: Translation of the documents you have, searching Japanese-only websites for place names you may know or remember and creating a summary of those findings (this would be considered consulting), and interpretation during phone calls. For inquiries, please click here.
It’s the heart that uses words to communicate.
Want to chat first? Please complete a contact form here.