Hire the Best English to Japanese Translators

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Rating is 4.9 out of 5.
4.9/5
Based on 1,221 client reviews

MIKIYA H.

English to Japanese Translation & Localization | Apps, E-commerce, SEO

Sumida, Japan
$40 per hour
75 jobs
$30K+ total earnings

Need English to Japanese translation for your app or online store? I'm a native Japanese translator and localization specialist who turns English content into Japanese that reads native and actually ranks. Then I stay on for Japanese SEO to make sure it performs. 🌟 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 | 🎯 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 🏅 60+ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 | 🛡️ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲, 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 Before launch — Japanese keyword research • Government tourism board (via ad agency): funnel-mapped Japanese keyword research (TOF/MOF/BOF) with Semrush and Search Console, so content is planned around what Japanese users actually search for At launch — Website and app localization • Trendhim (Danish eCommerce): translated and localized the full website, 7,500+ product listings, marketing copy and automated emails into Japanese in about a month, keeping the brand voice while rewriting expressions that don't land in Japan • UAE beauty brand: proofread and reworked AI-translated Amazon Japan listings, replacing literal terms with the keywords Japanese shoppers actually use • 30+ mobile app and website localization projects, plus pre-launch QA for an eCommerce store entering Japan After launch — Japanese SEO and content • Shopify store SEO: full site and competitor analysis, bottleneck fixes, and before/after ranking measurement • Own Japanese SEO blog (70+ articles, ~1,000 monthly visitors) as a live testing ground for what ranks in Japan Services • English to Japanese translation and localization for apps, websites, product pages and marketing copy • Japanese proofreading and post-editing of AI or vendor translations • Japanese keyword research, SEO content audits, SEO articles and landing page copywriting • 30/60-day ranking check after delivery, so you can see what changed Why clients keep me around I spent 4 years as a software engineer and 4 years in customer success, so I'm comfortable inside your CMS, your string files and your Shopify admin, and I flag UX and bug issues while I'm there. Clients describe the work as "above and beyond" and "nothing fell through the cracks," and most projects turn into repeat work. Let's talk Send me a short note about your project, any details are fine, and I'll reply within a few hours.

Hoshun M.

English - Japanese Translator, Localization Specialist

Tokyo, Japan
$40 per hour
236 jobs
$80K+ total earnings

I’m Hoshun, a native professional Japanese translator and proofreader who turns large-scale Word (DOCX) / Excel (XLSX)/ PowerPoint (PPTX) / Google Document/Spreadsheet/Slide/XLIFF packages into flawless Japanese—often faster than average. I guarantee exceptional quality at unparalleled speed for tasks that other translators might deem impossible. When quick and meticulous translations are needed, you can rely on me as your steadfast ally. Field: General contents, Fintech, IT, etc. **<My skills>** - Translation, Localization (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, Google Slides, XLIFF, json, HTML, CSS, Texts, etc.) - Transcreation - Transcription of Japanese (Audio and video files, mp3, mp4) - Subtitling (SRT) - Proofreading, checking - Voice recording, narration, voice acting <The platform I'm familiar with> Crowdin Qualtrics Phrase **<About subtitling>** I can make SRT files or burn subtitles directly onto a video. - YouTube: Bodd x Disney (Japanese Subtitles) # Examples of my past translation projects **<Apps>** - Smart Meditation: A wellness app offering guided meditation sessions and mindfulness tools - POP guide: A digital guide app providing interactive information for events, museums, or exhibitions - 3D Modeling App: A creative tool for designing and visualizing 3D models - QuitSure: A health app designed to help users quit smoking through behavioral guidance - Toko: English leaning app - Donna: AI song and music maker - IRMO: An AI-powered art and avatar creation app for generating images and visual content - TradingKey: A finance app offering trading tools and resources for investors - Bodd: Automatic fitting app - 5 Minute Pilates: Daily Pilates guide app - Liven: Self-discovery companion app - Ruut: Personalized running & mobility training app - Pushscroll: Fitness motivation app replacing doomscrolling with workouts **<Websites>** - QuitSure: Official website for the smoking cessation app, with resources and user support - Smart Meditation: Website for the meditation app, featuring program details and subscription options - Makkah Digital Coin: A cryptocurrency platform providing digital coin services and blockchain solutions - KOMOJU card: A payment gateway site offering online transaction and e-commerce solutions - INNO SUPPS: A nutrition and supplement brand website showcasing health products - Zact: A fintech website offering digital payment and financial management services - TradingKey: Online platform for trading education, tools, and financial resources - JMarkets: A financial services website focused on market analysis and trading solutions - NEBULA: A personality‑analysis platform providing AI‑driven insights - MyTraitsProfile: An online assessment site offering MBTI‑based personality tests **< Books >** - "Wonderful Day" # Publisher Kidkidos books - "The Traveling Caterpillar" # Publisher: Kidkidos books - "I Am Thankful" By Shelley Admont # Publisher: Kidkidos books - "Under the Stars" # Publisher: Kidkidos books - "Knowing Me, Knowing You - TAKE A WALK WITH ME" by Elizabeth Murphy, Ed.D. - "If You’re not Monitoring, You’re Not Protected" By Dr. James Dean Senger **< Games >** - Passion Eye - The Last Frame **< YouTube >** - Quantum Tech HD - Oscar Hunt: Scaling US Retail Operations with Bodd **< Opera >** - Curlew River by Benjamin Britten **<Voice over, narration>** - P3 Dokument (Swedish Broadcasting Corporation) **<Medical>** - Clinical tests - Charts - Surgery explanations - Cancer study - Discussion Guide for Physicians **<Transportation>** - Fly Lili airport announcement (Air port announcement) - TVM UI Translation - Haneda Airport Parking (Terms and Conditions)

Megumi I.

Japanese/English translation

Kurume, Japan
$25 per hour
163 jobs
$10K+ total earnings

I've been working as a Japanese-English translator for more than 20 years. My area of expertise is in the automobile, construction, IT and tourism industries. I love to cook and knit so I'm familiar with the terms for those, too.

Fuka M.

Japanese-English Financial Translator | Ex-Banker & FP&A | Banking, IR

Osaka, Japan
$25 per hour
4 jobs
$100+ total earnings

I'm a Japanese-English translator specializing in finance and banking, backed by hands-on experience — not just language study. Career background: - Corporate banking (Mizuho Bank) — corporate lending, financial analysis - Corporate sales (Persol) - FP&A & accounting at the overseas subsidiary of a Japanese listed company (Malaysia) — monthly reporting, J-GAAP conversion, transfer pricing documentation This means I don't just translate financial terms — I understand what they mean in practice: how a P&L is read by management, how banking documents are structured, how J-GAAP and local GAAP differ. Certifications: TOEIC 905 | FP Level 2 (Japan) | Bookkeeping Level 2 (Japan) What I can help with: - Financial statements, IR materials, and management reports (JP↔EN) - Banking and lending documentation - Business correspondence for cross-border finance teams - Proofreading/QA of financial translations (catching errors that non-specialist translators or MT tools miss) - AI/LLM output evaluation for finance-related content I'm looking for long-term partnerships with businesses that need financial translation done right — not just linguistically correct, but professionally accurate.

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How to Hire Top English to Japanese Translators

What is an English to Japanese translator?

Working with clients and customers in Japan often requires having access to someone who is skilled in English-to-Japanese translation. There are many ways language translation services can be useful for your organization, whether it’s transcription services, translation of legal documents, or direct verbal translation.

How do you hire an English-to-Japanese translator?

You can source English-to-Japanese translator talent on Upwork by following these three steps:

  • Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in an English to Japanese translator.
  • Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
  • Shortlist and interview English-to-Japanese translators. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview. 

Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of English-to-Japanese translator you need to complete your project. 

How much does it cost to hire an English-to-Japanese translator?

Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.

  • An experienced English-to-Japanese translator may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
  • A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their English-to-Japanese translating services more competitively. 

Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project. 

How do you write an English-to-Japanese translator job post?

Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.

Job post title

Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample English-to-Japanese translator job post titles:

  • Need someone fluent in Japanese to translate business documents from English
  • Looking for expert in Japanese language and culture to help with movie script
  • Need Japanese speaker to accompany me to Tokyo for education conference

Project description

An effective English to Japanese translator job post should include: 

  • Scope of work: From reading and writing in both English and Japanese to understanding Japanese culture, list all the deliverables you’ll need. 
  • Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project. 
  • Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, events, or documents, mention this here. 
  • Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.

English-to-Japanese translator job responsibilities

Here are some examples of English-to-Japanese translator job responsibilities:

  • Translate to English care instructions accompanying Japanese-manufactured apparel
  • Teach English-speaking Canadians how to speak Japanese
  • Translate all textbooks from English to Japanese 

English-to-Japanese translator job requirements and qualifications

Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in an English-to-Japanese translator. Here are some examples:

  • Minimum of five years living and working in Kyoto
  • Track record of translating large volume of business documents from English to Japanese
  • Exhibit strong understanding of Japanese culture and customs