InterviewーPeople who work with SunFlare
Embracing language with joy, every day
KD
Originally from the UK, KD currently provides translation and bilingual review/editing services through SunFlare. He works across a wide range of fields, from investor relations documents and copywriting to game localization. We asked him about his work with SunFlare, his lifestyle as a freelancer, and his plans for the future.
Current work
I translate investor relations documents such as integrated reports and press releases. I also handle marketing-related projects. I mainly translate, but I also review/edit translations as an English native speaker—seeing other translators’ work is a great learning opportunity, so I find it rewarding in its own way. Sometimes I think, ‘I would translate it like this,’ but I try to preserve what I can rather than reshaping the text to match my own style.
— In addition to translation, KD reviews and edits other translators’ work as an English native speaker. When he reviews and edits, he makes sure to respect the translator’s text.
I acquired my expertise in areas like investor relations materials on the job. I also learn by referring to past documents. For specific topics like economics or corporate management, I research them on a case-by-case basis and apply what I find to my translation.
— KD has been deepening his expertise by steadily working on actual projects.
Discovering Japanese and his journey
I started learning Japanese when I was in junior high school. I was a fan of Japanese pop culture, such as anime, manga, and games. English versions were rare back then, and I was so eager to dive in that I started teaching myself Japanese.
— His interest in Japanese pop culture was what inspired him to start learning Japanese.
I was intrigued by Japanese characters, particularly kanji. Kanji was difficult, but I made a point of learning four common-use kanji characters per day. I majored in Japanese at a university in London, where I studied Japanese history and literature. I actively sought out opportunities to listen to real Japanese in order to learn and absorb it.
— He then spent a year studying at a Japanese university as an exchange student.
After returning to the UK, I wanted to work in an environment where I could use Japanese, so I took a part-time job at a store that sold Japanese products. Because the owner didn’t speak Japanese, I acted as a kind of liaison. I later earned a master’s degree at a graduate school in Japan and moved to Japan when I got married. Another reason for relocating here was that I wanted to continue my research at a Japanese university.
— He currently lives in Kansai, where he works as a freelance translator and bilingual reviewer/editor.
In my neighborhood, people don’t speak a heavy Kansai dialect, but I still sometimes find the differences in intonation between the Kansai dialect and standard Japanese tricky (laughs).
Making a career out of language
After completing my master’s degree, I wanted to continue my research by entering a doctoral program. However, it was hard to make a living solely from research. I occasionally took on translation work as a part-time job, and I enjoyed it so much that I found myself wanting to pursue it further.
— While he was a doctoral student, he began working as a bilingual reviewer/editor.
I learned about SunFlare at a part-time job. I took the trial tests for translation and bilingual reviewing/editing. I passed the tests, and soon afterward, a large bilingual reviewing/editing project came in.
The mix of translation and bilingual reviewing/editing varies from month to month. Sometimes it’s fifty-fifty; other times, translation takes up more of the month. Right now, I get most of my work from SunFlare.
— He passed the trial tests and began working with SunFlare. He contributes as both a translator and a bilingual reviewer/editor.
I have three young children, so I work from home. I work about eight hours a day. When I have openings in my schedule, I get to spend time with my kids, which I really appreciate. I read Japanese picture books to them, and they actually serve as wonderful textbooks for Japanese expressions. I buy them online or at bookstores.
— He makes flexible use of his time, which is one of the perks of working from home.
Projects he remembers most
I particularly remember working on cosmetics copy, as well as other copywriting and transcreation projects. I took time developing ideas and proposed multiple options. It made me nervous, but it was a rewarding experience.
— For the cosmetics copy, he received samples to try while working on the projects.
Other memorable projects include movie synopses and construction notice copy for a new commercial complex. Translating the storyline for a mobile game is another project that really stuck with me. The plot was humorous and fun.
Challenges and how he navigates them
There have been times when my schedule was tight and I felt under pressure. Once, I made it through the trial for a major project, only to find that when it was confirmed, it coincided with other ongoing projects. Regrettably, I had to decline. The subject was something I felt comfortable with, and the client was keen for me to take it on, so it was really disappointing.
— Since translation jobs come in on the clients’ schedule, projects sometimes overlap, forcing him to turn some down.
Because I’m from the UK, I’m always conscious of the differences between British and American English. They’re mostly the same in business English, but game localization, for example, tends to use a lot of conversational language, so I have to be especially careful with British expressions that Americans wouldn’t typically use.
— He consciously seeks out new input every day to maintain and broaden his expressive range.
I listen to book readings on podcasts and read nonfiction, always keeping an ear and eye out for interesting English expressions.
What makes translation fascinating
I genuinely enjoy translation itself, so I’m very happy that I get to work with language all day long. Being able to use my language skills and read a wide variety of materials is another perk. I also appreciate that I’m still getting work as a human in the age of AI.
— One of the things he loves about translation is the opportunity to continuously accumulate knowledge over time.
When I translate something, it really stays with me, so I end up learning all kinds of things and building my own knowledge. When it’s not just about getting the meaning across but making sure it truly resonates with the reader, I believe there’s still a place for human translators.
— He has also worked as an interpreter, but he feels translation suits him better.
I’ve done interpreting jobs for a university. I’d sometimes receive reference materials in advance to prepare for the assignment. Interpreting was thrilling (laughs), but translation simply suits me better, and I genuinely enjoy it.
Future aspirations—Embracing new challenges with joy
Looking back, I’ve taken on a wide variety of projects, and I’d like to keep doing that across many different fields. Ideally, I’d love to do more fiction, story-driven projects, and games.
— Apparently, there have been cases where he received an inquiry, only for the project to end up being handled by AI.
That’s all the more reason I want to bring my human touch to the work and focus on those fields. First experiences are exciting, no matter the field, so I want to keep taking on new challenges.
[Editor’s note]
KD, originally from the UK, lives in western Japan with his family and works as a translator and bilingual reviewer/editor. His fluent Japanese reflects not only the patient, steady effort he invested in mastering the language, but also the sincere and dedicated character that enabled him to do so. The thoughtful way he carefully chose each word revealed the same sincerity and dedication he brings to his work. We look forward to seeing him continue to refine his craft in the years ahead.
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