Kakehashi Localization

Your product, in Japanese that reads like it was written in Japan.

English to Japanese localization for games, software and online stores, edited by native linguists who live and work in Japan.

Get a free quoteFree quote in your currency

日本で書かれたように
読める日本語へ。

What we translate

One language pair, done properly. We focus on the text that decides whether Japanese users stay or leave.

Games and apps

UI strings, items and skills, dialogue, tutorials, store pages and patch notes. One glossary keeps names consistent from launch through every update.

Software and SaaS

Interface strings, help articles, onboarding and billing emails, and landing pages, worked directly in JSON, YAML, PO, XLIFF, CSV or spreadsheets.

Online stores

Product pages, size guides, shipping and return policies, and marketplace listings in the polite, precise tone Japanese shoppers expect.

Subtitles and LQA

For the places your users actually meet the Japanese: on video, and on screen inside your product.

Japanese subtitles

Trailers, tutorials, online courses and YouTube videos. Send your English captions (SRT or VTT) and get Japanese captions back on the same timing, ready to upload. Every line is checked for reading speed, and names stay the same from episode to episode.

Japanese LQA

We play your game or use your app in Japanese, the way your users will, and report what goes wrong on screen: cut-off or overflowing text, broken line breaks, characters that fail to display, and lines that make no sense in context. Every issue comes with a screenshot, where to find it and a suggested fix.

How pricing works

Translation is priced per English source word, subtitles per minute of video, and LQA per hour up to a cap you approve. Every price is confirmed in writing before we start.

ServiceWhat you get
Edited machine translationMachine translation, then a native Japanese linguist edits every sentence and a second person checks numbers, terms and anything left out.
Human translationTranslated by a native Japanese translator and reviewed by a second linguist. Best for marketing copy, dialogue and anything customer-facing.
Japanese subtitlesTranslated on your timing by a native Japanese translator and checked by a second linguist. Priced per minute of video.
Japanese LQATesting on your build by a native Japanese linguist, with a screenshot and a suggested fix for every issue. Priced per hour, never above the cap you approve.
Rush deliveryDelivery in roughly half the usual time, for 30% extra.

Exact repeated sentences are charged at 30% of the word rate. We quote in USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, SGD or CHF, usually within one business day, and quotes are valid for 7 days. Business customers only.

How a project runs

The same five steps every time, so you always know what happens next.

  1. Quote

    Send your files, video or build. We work out the size and usually reply within one business day.

  2. Agree

    Reply "I agree" and pay 50% up front by card or bank transfer.

  3. Translate

    A native linguist translates, edits or tests. Context questions come to you in one batch.

  4. Check

    A second linguist checks terms, numbers, tags and anything left out. LQA issues are verified one by one.

  5. Deliver

    Files in your format with a glossary, or an issue report for LQA. The rest is due within 14 days.

Samples

Good Japanese is not a word-for-word copy of the English. Here is what we change, and why.

English

Japanese

What you can count on

Four things we hold to on every project.

Native linguists in Japan

Every project is handled by native Japanese linguists based in Japan, so the Japanese follows how people write today.

Two people on every translation

One person translates or edits, a different person checks, subtitles included. Nothing ships after a single pass.

Clear terms

A written scope, a fixed delivery date and a price agreed before we start. Read our terms of service before you order.

Your files stay private

Files, videos and builds are used only for your project and deleted 30 days after delivery. We sign your NDA on request.

Questions

If yours is not here, email us.

Can you do a test translation first?

Yes. We translate up to 300 words of your own content for a small fee, which we deduct from your first order.

Which file formats do you accept?

JSON, YAML, PO, XLIFF, CSV, XLSX, DOCX, Markdown and HTML, plus SRT and VTT for subtitles. If yours is not listed, send a sample and we will check.

How fast can you deliver?

As a guide, about 5,000 words in 5 business days for edited machine translation, and about 2,000 words in 3 business days for human translation. Rush delivery costs 30% extra.

What do you need from us for LQA?

A build or test link, any keys or test accounts, and the platforms and parts of the product to cover. We report issues in your tracker or in a spreadsheet. Fixing them is up to your team, and we re-check the fixes on request.

Do you use AI?

For edited machine translation, yes: a machine translation is the starting point and a native linguist edits every sentence. Human translation and subtitle translation are done by a person from the start. Our AI tools are set not to use your content for training.

How do I pay?

By card (Stripe) or bank transfer, in the currency of your quote: 50% before we start, 50% within 14 days of delivery.

What if I am not happy with the translation?

Tell us within 7 days of delivery. Errors on our side are fixed free of charge at any time, and one round of style changes is free.

Do you work with translation agencies?

Yes. Agencies can use us as their English to Japanese vendor. Ask us for vendor rates.

I am a translator. Can I work with you?

If you are a native Japanese linguist based in Japan and translate English into Japanese, email us with your experience, the fields you cover and the tools you use.

Get a free quote

Fill in the form and your email app opens with the details. Attach your files to that email, or include a link. We usually reply within one business day, Japan time.

Or write to contact@kakehashilocalization.com