From a JETAA Pacific Northwest email about Kevin Kajitani (Hyogo-ken, 2006-07) who has created Japanese Accelerator, a new online Japanese study method for keeping your Japanese skills up. He’s offering a special discount to JET alums who want to try it out.
Research Proven Japanese Conversation Training System
Japanese Accelerator, presented by Speekit, is a unique Japanese language education tool specifically designed for Japanese. It’s method has been proven through University research to significantly improve your overall conversational fluency by putting you inside real, everyday conversations.
Japanese Accelerator will take you beyond simply “learning” the Japanese language and help you to truly *acquire* it. To learn more about Japanese Accelerator, visit us as www.JapaneseAcceler ator.com
If you are a JETAA members, you can save more than 50% off the normal price of Japanese Accelerator. Get full, unlimited access to Japanese Accelerator and it’s growing library of content for a one-time fee of just $29.
To get in on this great deal, go to: www.JapaneseAcceler ator.com/ jetaa-sign- up Read More
I just found about a blog by JET alum Aaron Madlon-Kay (CIR Ehime-ken, 2006-08) that seems to do a good job of addressing translation issues. (e.g., this post on Romanizing Japanese Addresses, this one on Translating Place Names, and this one on an attempt to translate into Japanese from English.)
Definitely a resource that other JET alums, especially other translators and those of you interested in getting into translation, might want to check out. Wish I had found it sooner, but glad to have it the JetWit orbit now.
WITLife #6 – Toyota Shock
Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers 
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).
In my previous post I mentioned that in Japan they use “Lehman shock” to refer to the crumbling of our financial institutions, and it seems like they are seeing the same phenomenon at home.
On the news yesterday morning the buzzword “Toyota shock” was used, referring to the economic woes Japan’s most famous and successful brand is having and its repercussions. (I’m waiting to see what they come up with for other countries. Is “Samsung shock” for Korea next?).
Factories are being closed in Aichi Prefecture where Toyota headquarters is located, as well as in more far-flung locations such as Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. There they have laid off 1,000 employees, who lose Read More
Japanese, Korean, Chinese searching syntax help (Denver (LODO))
Reply to: gigs-951821237@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 5:26PM MST
Software company supporting multi-language document databases seeks help with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese searching. This is a short term, part time project (that could turn into longer term or more) to work with our search consultant to test how well our search engine works when searching for phrases NEAR other phrases (proximity searches), wild card searches, and understand the best way to do searching each of the CJK languages.
Job: Translators wanted (all languages)
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From Craigslist:
Translators Wanted
Reply to: job-951792020@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 6:02PM CST
Inexpensive and Professional Translations
Alliance Business Solutions is looking for translators of all languages. Whatever language/languages you are fluent in please contact us.
We prefer individuals with Associate Degrees or higher, obtained domestically or abroad. Our compensation is based on per contract work and a % of the work sourced, which will dependents on your education and work experience of the applicant.
Please send us your resume or contact us at translators@alliancebizsolutions.com.
For further information about our firm please visit us at www.alliancebizsolutions.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Job: Freelance translator needed (J to E)
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From craigslist NY:
Freelance translator from Japanese to English (Flatiron)
Reply to: job-951723860@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 6:08PM EST
A marketing consulting company is looking for a freelance translator from Japanese to English. A minimum of 5 years experience translating Japanese material to English required. If you have editing experience, please indicate.
Subjects are mostly marketing and strategy related . Quick delivery is sometimes required. Please send your resume and translation sample to Susan.
WITLife #5 – Keeping up on the Japanese news
Career, Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WITLife #5 – Keeping up on the Japanese news
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).
Starting with this post I thought I’d introduce a more behind the scenes aspect of WIT life, that being the preparation and work that takes place when I am not traveling or working on an assignment.
In order to keep my Japanese skills sharp, besides conversing with native speakers (don’t be afraid to ask to be corrected!) I enjoy the daily programming of Fujisankei. In particular, the news airing at 7 a.m. (rebroadcast at 10) every weekday morning is especially insightful for keeping up to date on what’s going on in Japan and beyond, and how certain concepts would be expressed in Japanese.
An essential part of being a translator/interpreter is knowing the correct vocabulary for recent phenomenon, as these are words that change with the times and require constant updating of your brain. For example, in Japan the collapse of our economic institutions is referred to as Read More
WINNER: Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, Uwajima-shi, Yoshida-cho, 2003-05)
Translators Mini-Challenge is a new arbitrarily recurring feature presented by professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999).
Welcome to this week’s JetWit Translators Mini-Challenge! The first person to respond by email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with the correct English translation of the below Japanese term will win a free Gaijin-a-Go-Go CD (Go-Go Bootcamp)!
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すかすか
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CORRECT ANSWER: “Hollow”
Stay tuned for the next Mini-Challenge! You never know when we’ll strike again!
WIT Life #4 – Airport security and death row
Career, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #4 – Airport security and death row
WITLife is a series by Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).
My most recent assignment with the State Department had me doing simultaneous interpreting for a group of six officials from Japan’s central government.
They all came from different ministries ranging from Justice to Finance to Health (one of whose former officials was just murdered along with his wife in a recent high profile case). It was neat to talk to the participant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (aka MEXT), who met his wife in the workplace (when she was a tantousha for the JET Programme) and to hear stories from her experience traveling to promote it.
The trip was a success but was book-ended by two harrowing experiences. When the group arrived the day Read More
JetWit note: You must live in the Seattle area do be able to do this job. No telecommuting. Sorry for any confusion.
From the JETAA Pacific Northwest email list:
CHRISTOPHER HARRISON
Aerotek Professional Services, Inc.
* E-mail: chharris@aerotek. com
Our client, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment, is looking for 5 Japanese Translators. In this role this person will be will be centered around Fashion and Pop culture (It’s a fun opportunity for anyone that has an interest in Fashion or has a keen fashion sense). The translation piece will be centered around in-game dialogue describing styles and items, accessories etc. Candidates must have a Level 1 certification in Japanese translating. Anyone with a Fashion writing background is great! If you’re interested please contact Chris Harrison at 425 893 6049 or by email chharris@aerotek. com
Kia’s Homemade Bake Sale!
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Professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999) is making homemade sweets and baked goods for pick-up or delivery in NYC and Jersey City right out of her home for the holiday season.
Go to www.homemadebakesale.com to place an order.
JET alum photos from Obama-shi, Fukui-ken Celebration
Celebrity, Humor, Japan Trends, Photography, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on JET alum photos from Obama-shi, Fukui-ken Celebration
JET alum professional translator Philip Schnell happened to be in Japan at the time of Obama’s presidential victory, decided to drop in on Obama-shi and stumbled into the surreal experience of a Japanese Obama watch/victory party.
Click here to see more of his photos.
Noriko Furuhata, the JET Coordinator at the Consulate General of Japan in New York, recently explained to me the term shiwasu, which literally means “teachers run around” and refers to December being an extremely busy month as everyone tries to finish up everything they need to do before year’s end.
Feel free to post comments if you have additional perspective on this term.
I’m just wondering how I made it through 3+ years in Japan and 7 years of JET alumni involvement without ever previously hearing about this. :-)
Translators Mini-Challenge is a new arbitrarily recurring feature presented by professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999).
Update: The winner is Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06)
Welcome to the first-ever JetWit Translators Mini-Challenge! The first person to respond by email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with the correct English translation of the below Japanese term will win a free Gaijin-a-Go-Go CD (Go-Go Bootcamp)!
*******
凸凹（でこぼこ）
*******
ANSWER: uneven, rough, rugged, bumpy
Stay tuned for the next Mini-Challenge!
Job: Position Opening at the Japan-America Society (D.C.)
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Position Opening at the Japan-America Society
Mon Dec 1, 2008 7:25 pm (PST)
Japan-America Society Seeks an Assistant for the 2009 Japan Bowl
The Japan-America Society is now taking applications for a temporary position opening from mid-January to mid-April 2009 to assist the Director of the National Japan Bowl to prepare and run the 2009 competition. Read More
