Noriko is a super star Japanese translator. Her favorite part of translating is research; she loves digging into the subject matter and refining the information with her linguistic skills in order to render a translation that reads as if it were an original text. She likes researching because it helps her understand and appreciate other professions, disciplines, industries and cultures.

Noriko’s passion for translation can be traced back to her childhood, when her mother gifted her a 50-book collection of stories from around the world. The collection sparked her curiosity for other countries and cultures. Growing up in Kagoshima, she would switch between her local dialect and standard Japanese for everyday interactions. In retrospect, Noriko realizes that this early back-and-forth set the foundation for a life dedicated to languages and translation.

When her son started preschool and she decided to go back to work, Noriko did what she knew best: she researched. That is how she discovered the world of Translation and the opportunities available within the industry. Knowing that she possessed the right skillset for it, she decided that she would become a translator. She set herself up for the task of taking the American Translator’s Association certification exam. After several months of thorough preparation, she passed the challenging exam on her first try.

Soon after becoming certified, she began to receive job offers and to establish professional relationships, some of which remain her clients after nearly 20 years. Among her many experiences, she recalls the opportunity to assist a non-profit organization whose mission was to provide support for the Asian American community. Through the organization, she received training in healthcare interpretation and hands-on experience by assisting medical professionals at doctor’s offices and hospitals for over four years.

As a certified translator, it is very important for Noriko to stay up-to-date with current world events in English and Japanese. For this reason, she makes it part of her daily routine to read the news in both languages in subject matters that are wide-ranging. She also follows the advice of her peers on social media to gain more knowledge and inspiration. She enjoys that the profession challenges her to always learn new things, be it a new subject or a new translation tool.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, growing plants, and creating things with her hands. If she were not a translator, she thinks that she would like to be an artisan or a farmer. As a person who enjoys building things, she is aware of the changing landscape in translation with the evolution of technology. She keeps an optimistic heart and will continue to translate as long as it is fun.

Noriko has been part of the BeatBabel translation team since the early days. She especially appreciates BeatBabel’s multilingual team, one that understands the challenges of translation, communicates clearly, and values quality. She gives high-praise for Senior project manager Kaoru-san, who “is aware of challenges and quirks of translating into Japanese. She helps translators do a good job through clear communication and thorough preparation. Thank you, Kaoru-san!”