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American-Owned Japanese Patent Translation & Japanese Deposition Interpreting Boutique Decades of Experience In-depth Subject Matter Expertise Based in Japan, Serving the World |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Translation Can you certify a translation for us? Go Can you translate at a deposition for us? Go What is your turnaround time for translation? Go Can you provide a translation from Japanese into French? Go We have a translation here that was poorly done. Can you edit it to bring it to the point at which you could certify it? Go Do you use any tools such as translation memory in performing translation? Go What languages do you handle? Go Can you translate my wife's family register into English and certify the translation? Go |
Interpreting We will be deposing Japanese witnesses in the near future. Can you act as our interpreter? Go We just received a retention agreement to sign and notice that a non-refundable deposit is required. Why? Go Is a deposition visa required for a paralegal we take to a deposition in Japan? Go In what locations can you provide deposition interpreting? Go Can you provide a court-certified interpreter? Go |
General What is the best way to make contact with you? Go We need to reach you by telephone. What is the best time to reach you? Go Can you accept payment by check? Go Can I pay by credit card? Go Can you provide a US dollar quotation? Go For what fields can you provide translation and interpreting? Go |
Translation-Related Questions
Can you certify a translation for us?
Yes, we can provide this service.
Can you translate at a deposition for us?
You appear to be confusing translation (of the written word) with intepreting (of the spoken word). We do both, and if you need an interpreter for a deposition involving Japanese, we can provide the services you need.
Can you provide a translation from Japanese into French?
Probably not. Unlike the translation services that claim to be able to translate any language into any language, we prefer to provide high quality translations between Japanese and English.
What is your turnaround time for translation?
To answer that question in a meaningful way, we need to see the document(s) you need translated and offer a proper quotation.
We have a translation here that was poorly done. Can you edit it to bring it to the point at which you could certify it?
The answer is highly dependent upon the quality of the original translation. You should keep in mind that the task of editing and/or rewriting a poorly done translation requires the efforts of someone who could have translated the document in question properly from the start. This means that the editing effort might cost as much as we would charge to translate the original document.
Do you use any tools such as translation memory in performing translation?
The short answer is no. The type of patent translation we specialize in is not amenable to the use of translation memories, and would in fact slow us down in providing patent translation because of the added burden of dealing with the quirks of the TM software.
What languages do you handle?
We specialize in translation of patents and other IP-related documents between Japanese and English only (either direction). This enables us to put in our best effort and excel over translation providers claiming to translate in dozens or even hundred of languages.
Can you translate my wife's family register into English and certify the translation?
Yes, we can. Please be aware, however, that most of our business is with known corporations and law firms, many of them well-known. Before we even start to do a translation for an individual, we need to know the potential client's physical address and telephone number, and also need to determine whether a bank-to-bank transfer for the payment is going to be possible. We also reserve our right to ask for full payment in advance. But before anything happens, you need to contact us to get a quotation for the translation you require.
Interpreting-Related Questions
Will will be deposing Japanese witnesses in the near future. Can you act as our interpreter?
Mostly likely not, unless you are representing a Japanese firm yourself. Our interpreting practice is limited to providing services for Japanese entities and their counsel.
We just received a retention agreement to sign and notice that a non-refundable deposit is required. Why? Is a deposition visa required for a paralegal we take to a deposition in Japan? In what locations can you provide deposition interpreting? Can you provide a court-certified interpreter? What is the best way to make contact with you?
In view of the difficulty of pursuing remedies should payment problems—administratively related or otherwise—occur, we require a non-refundable deposit for all interpreting assignments undertaken for all entities outside of Japan, including US counsel of Japanese entities. The deposit also compensates us for lost business opportunities that occur when we need to turn down other assignments after reserving days for you. Keep in mind that, once received, the deposit can be credited to the final invoice amount and, in combination with a signed retention agreement, initiates our commitment to provide services for your assignment. However, if the entity ordering the interpreting services is in Japan, (for example, in the case of working directly for a Japanese entity in Japan), the non-refundable deposit might not be necessary. Please contact us for details. Top
The short answer is yes (and this has been verified with the US Embassy recently), but there is a qualification. If your paralegal has a Japanese passport, a visa is not required. Top
Most of our deposition assignments are at the US Embassy in Tokyo or the Consulate in Osaka. We have also provided interpreting services numerous times in Korea and in Hawaii and the Continental US. The main reason this occurs is because of the difficulty in reserving deposition rooms in Japan.
There are no court certifications for interpreters practicing in Japan. Since almost all of our assignments are for US federal courts, in which it appears that there are no certifications for Japanese-language interpreters, this is almost never a problem. Occasiionally a non-IP case in a state court will require a Japanese interpreter. In that case, we might be able to recommend a US-based court-certified interpreter.General Questions
Because of the time difference between Japan and the US, the best method to contact us is usually by e-mail. I (on my BlackBerry) or someone else will be sure to receive your note to us in a timely manner and response in kind.
We need to reach you by telephone. What is the best time to reach you?
If you are calling from outside Japan, please note the time difference. When the US is on standard time, the US West Coast is 17 hours behind Japan Standard Time and the US East Coast 14 hours behind JST. For example, the current time and date in Japan is:
For this reason, calls often come in outside of our normal business hours. We will, however, attempt to get back to you as quickly as possible if you leave us a message at such times. Top
Can you accept payment by check?
Because checks are not the normal payment instrument in B2B (and almost all other) transactions in Japan, and because foreign checks often require a month to clear here, our policy is to accept only electronic (wire) bank-to-bank cash transfers as payment. This method has worked successfully in receiving payments from dozens of US law firms over the years, and payment method details are clearly explained in both our interpreting retention agreement and our invoices.
Can I pay be credit card?
Since we are a company that does almost exclusive business-to-business transactions, the payment method is the standard bank transfer to our corporate account here in Japan. We cannot accept credit card payments.
Can you provide a quotation in US dollars?
Since all our invoicing is in Japanese Yen, a US dollar quote would only risk having the payment fall short of (or exceed) the billed yen amount due to currency fluctuations. Since the invoice is usually issued only after an assignment is completed and there is a significant time that passes before we receive payment, you will need to calculate the JPY amount to be sent at the time of payment, rather than to calculate a USD amount at the time of quotation and send the equivalent amount of yen at the time of payment. Currency exchange rates are readily available on the Web (e.g., at the Yahoo website).
For what fields can you provide translation and interpreting?
We have a broad range of experience in translating Japanese patents and providing intepreting services in patent infringment litigation, and can accommodate your requirements in most fields. Please contact us with specifics.
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