Mark, a Japanese to English translator based in Boston, neither planned nor expected to go into translating. However, after meeting his Japanese wife and living in Japan for two years, he returned to the US to continue his studies in philosophy and wanted to do some part-time work. Studying Japanese for almost five years paid off and translating has now become an integral part of his active and interesting life.

Do you translate full-time? What is your special area of expertise?

No, I translate part-time. I dedicate most of the rest of my time to studying philosophy and improving my language skills. I translate from Japanese to English, and I specialize in advertising/marketing, technology and business communications.

Outside of the languages you translate, which others do you speak, if any?

I know elementary French and greetings in Tagalog.

What was your most enjoyable translation experience? Your most challenging?

My most rewarding recent translation was for an art exhibit in New York City. It definitely ranks within the top three most difficult translations I’ve ever done, but the fascinating theme and content of the exhibit brought me into an uninterrupted state of flow as I worked. After I finished the translation, I eagerly looked up all the artists’ bios and photos of their work. My enthusiasm for the job must’ve shown in my work, since the client uploaded a comment praising my translation. That job was a nice reminder that the work we do is important and means a lot to our clients and their intended audiences.

Describe your office setup or workspace.

I switch between my desk, sofa and dining table. I sometimes go to cafés or the library.

I live above a busy street near a busy subway station in the Boston area, and so I rarely experience the pleasure of monastic silence. Nonetheless, I’m able to focus as long as it’s just white noise in the background. For that reason, I never listen to music unless it’s something repetitive and hypnotic, like Philip Glass or Brian Eno.

I almost never wear pajamas while working. With Skype and so on, you never know when someone will video call you. Plus, getting dressed and “being in uniform” are part of my routine and help me get in the right mindset.

Describe the view out your window (or office, or wherever you work from!)

There’s a small park across the street, and I often gaze at it when I need a mini-break. When I need a longer break, I go for a stroll at a bigger park down the street. Aside from the park, there are lots of New England colonial style brick buildings. There’s also an ugly strip mall, but I try to ignore it.

Describe your workflow. Are there translation to-dos you check off every day, and an order of operations?

Every night, I plan my schedule for the next day. Since freelancing allows great schedule flexibility, my schedule is never the same. However, I generally exercise, get ready, nap, and study and read Japanese at the same time every day.

I exercise first thing after waking up since it helps clear the morning mental fog and gets me active. I usually work out at home or go jogging along the Charles River. Then I get ready. For enhanced productivity, I take a 20 minute nap sometime between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Finally, I study and read Japanese for an hour and a half from 8 to 9:30 p.m.

Based on your linguistic and cultural expertise, what are the best books you would recommend to others?

I’m fond of a light novel called Kino no Tabi -the Beautiful World-. It’s about a traveler who visits different countries (they’re called “countries” even though they’re more like cities) and only stays for three days at each. The countries range from ultra-advanced to primitive. I especially like the author’s unassuming, introspective style.

What is your favorite “translator’s snack” for while you work?

Green tea. Hot in the cold months, and cold in the hot months. I especially like a type of Japanese green tea called gyokuro-cha (玉露茶), which literally means “jewel dew tea.” The tea has a characteristic flavor since it’s grown in the shade rather than in the sun.

Finally, if you had to give advice to your fellow Gengo translators, what are the best ways to relax and stay sane as a translator?

Vieux Carré:
One part rye
One part cognac
One part sweet vermouth
One bar spoon of Bénédictine
Two dashes Angostura bitters
Two dashes Peychaud’s bitters

Pour over large rock in double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

If you want to relax, I recommend ordering this drink at a good cocktail bar.

I also enjoy cooking, hiking and a sip of whiskey after a hard day. I’m active in several Japan-related groups in the Boston area, so feel free to contact me if you’re in the area and would like to join us sometime! I also throw the occasional okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) party. If you don’t know what okonomiyaki is, then I hope you live in a city with a large Japanese population because, if not, then you have some traveling ahead of you!

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