Note: This blog post was originally written in Japanese for our Japanese website. We used our machine translation platform Translation Designer to translate it and post-edit the content in English. The original Japanese post can be found here.
If you are contacting a translation company for the first time, you probably do not know what kind of information to provide for requesting a quote. In the first place, people in general probably do not know what kind of process is necessary for a translation work and what kind of documents and data are taken care of.
Even from the standpoint of a translation company, we feel that the translation and localization industry is a niche.
In this post, we will introduce Kawamura International's translation services, citing representative cases when receiving translation inquiries.
Translating documents created with Office applications or PDFs
This is the most common case. For documents created in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, we overwrite the original text with translations and can also adjust the layout (which is called DTP work). It's possible to receive your translation in the same format as the original document.
For PDF documents created with design software such as InDesign and Illustrator, we can also overwrite these with translations and adjust the layout if you provide the source data (with file extensions .indd and .ai).
Even if you only have a PDF and can't provide the source data, we can deliver the translations in the same layout by using Word or PowerPoint. Just let us know what data you have, and we'll work around it.
In any case, if layout adjustments are involved, there will be layout adjustment fees in addition to the translation costs. This is mostly the same for any translation company.
Translating the audio of video files and incorporating it into videos as subtitles
Audio translation is another common inquiry. There are various cases, such as a video message from a CEO to overseas employees, video user guide of how to handle a medical equipment, and presentation video of speakers at a conference.
For the audio translation, the audio is first converted to text (i.e., transcription work). Then, the translation work takes place based on the transcribed text. The file format for this type of work is usually Word or Excel. It is common to have it in a bilingual table form with the original text on the left and the translation on the right.
If you're creating subtitles as well, you will insert this translated text into the original video file. We can take care of most file formats, including MP4 and MOV, without any problem. Recently, we have been getting more requests to deliver the translation in an SRT file format.
What languages does Kawamura support?
We support over 40 languages. One of the benefits of working with Kawamura International is that Kawamura has reliable partners in each region of the world. Below is a list of the languages that we support.
Since this is not an exhaustive list, if your language is not listed here, please feel free to contact us. In the case of rare languages, the number of linguists who can handle them is limited. Please note that it may take a little longer to deliver depending on the content and volume of the work.
Regarding the language pairs of translation, we can handle not only translation into and from Japanese but also into and from English for each language. Sometimes using English as a hub language can cut down on costs and time rather than directly translating into or from your requested language.
For example, when working on multilingual translation of a website or user manual, there are many cases where the English version is finalized first and then translated into each language based on the English version.
What is Kawamura's area of expertise?
We don't work in just one field. We can help you translate a wide range of content in various fields and any kind of document, from technical stuff to general business documents. During the company's early days, Kawamura was working on the translation of aircraft manuals for the Japan Self-Defense Forces. We have a wealth of experience in machinery and IT related manuals and specifications.
We also specialize in medical, pharmaceutical, and life science translations. Our team specializing in these areas will meet the needs of industry specific pharmaceutical and medical device-related customers.
Got marketing materials? We can take care of that too!
Our marketing translation services such as for CEO messages and press releases have been well received by our customers. Some translation companies specialize in specific fields, but Kawamura's strength lies in its diverse team and linguists that can flexibly respond to any request and field.
| Fields | Document example |
| IT / Software | User interface (UI), online help, training materials, testing, service manuals, specifications, reference materials for engineers |
| Machinery / Electronic Parts | Instruction manuals, user manuals, service manuals, work instructions, technical papers, product specifications, data sheets, white papers, catalogs |
| Medical / Pharmaceutical / Life Science | Protocol, IB, CSR, informed consent form, review report, inquiries Reliability investigation documents, CIOMS, SOP, various test reports, papers for submission |
| Patent / Intellectual Property | Specification, Gazette, notification of reasons for refusal, patent opinion letter, patent amendment proceedings, IDS |
| Legal / Investor Relations / Finance | Contracts, litigation-related documents, press releases, financial statements, IR-related documents |
| General Business Documents | Presentation materials, meeting minutes, CEO message, company profile, public relations documents |
Summary
We hope you got the brief idea of how Kawamura International can help with your translations. Feel free to contact us even if you don't know how to request the translation work or don't know what the deliverables should be. We'll take a look at your files and suggest the most effective and efficient solution. We're here to find the best solution together with our customers.
Kawamura's translation services
Kawamura International offers a variety of services related to translation.
We aim to add value to the provided data, which is an important asset of our customers, and leverage that to improve the translation productivity.
By preparing your data beforehand, you may be able to improve the quality, cut costs, and shorten turnaround times for future translation projects. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions! We're happy to help.
