Please do call or drop us a line to discuss how we can help your business, or for a no obligation estimate.
Subtitling and production support (Japanese to English)
We collaborate with clients in the UK and Japan to provide high-quality subtitling for corporate videos, tourism PR campaigns, current affairs programmes, TV dramas, and feature-length documentaries. As well as subtitling final footage, we offer draft translations of raw Japanese video material to support non-Japanese-speaking editors. We also produce and edit English scripts and narration. Our subtitling and production support services ensure your videos feature polished, natural and professional English.
Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop
This BBC expose of sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa, founder of the highly influential talent agency Johnny & Associates, had a huge impact in Japan. It featured interviews with some of the hundreds of male entertainers abused by Kitagawa over decades, as well as Japanese journalists who tried unsuccessfully to expose the scandal. The programme prompted outrage in Japan and has led to new protections for young performers.
The Contestant
This HBO documentary tells the story of a bizarre 1990s Japanese TV show. The contestant of the title, nicknamed “Nasubi,” lived in a tiny apartment and was forced to survive with only the items he could win in magazine competitions, even replying on prizes for food and clothing. The documentary covers the severe psychological toll the experience had on Nasubi and explores the ethics of reality TV.
Atomic People
This BBC documentary features testimony from survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Known in Japanese as Hibakusha and now in their 80s and 90s, these survivors share their memories of the bombs’ immediate impact, lasting trauma, and the stigma they have faced over subsequent decades. In 2024, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Some other subtitling and production assistance projects that we have recently worked on.
Subtitles for videos that promote tourism destinations in Japan
We use natural and evocative English to convey the destinations’ special features, paying special attention to cultural and historical terms that need explanation.
Subtitles and narration for news programmes and documentaries made by Japanese media
We use natural and concise English to convey complex topics in a journalistic style.
Subtitles for a video to promote an international arts prize
We shortened and clarified an artist interview to simplify complex abstract ideas.
English subtitles for a video on medical technology
We worked closely with a video production company to handle client feedback and make multiple revisions.
Recent Posts
- Translating a memoir by Kodo Nishimura November 16, 2022
- When (and when not!) to use NMT November 6, 2022
- Seeking Japan’s 72 seasons in London December 9, 2021
- Ikigai and 42 other Japanese words for a mindful life February 28, 2019
- Translation or transcreation? February 15, 2019
WeDoJapan Newsletter
Curious about Japan, copywriting and marketing translation? Subscribe to our newsletter for information and inspiration delivered to your inbox!
Professional affiliations
Tony is a qualified member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). Tony and Yoshie are members of the Japanese language specialist network of the ITI.
Partner organizations
WeDoJapan is an official business partner of Export to Japan, a project led by UKTI to assist UK companies doing business in Japan. See here for more details.
