A Dream of the Past Now Gone
Dream to Become a Humanistic Translator
I’ve been working as an in-house Japanese to English Technical Translator, first at a manufacturer of robotic machines, and currently at a translation agency in Nagoya, Japan for the past six and a half years. The son of a German/Irish father and Japanese mother, a memorable period of my life was growing up as an Air Force brat in Japan (‘66-’69), during which time I developed a love for the Japanese people. After graduating from high school, I joined the Navy for the purpose of returning to Japan. Military duty stations included working as a machinist mate on the aircraft carrier USS Midway and 7th fleet flag ship USS Blue Ridge, and staff at the Yokosuka Correctional Custody Unit; all three were located in Yokosuka, Japan. A strong desire to become a translator gave me the courage to leave the Navy in 1985 to attend the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and ended up graduating from UCLA with a BA in Japanese Language and Culture. My die-hard interest and desire to become a translator lured me back to Japan in 1990. In 1996 a fabulous Japanese woman convinced me to tie the knot, and the Japanese government awarded me permanent residency in 1997.
If it wasn't for my dream to become a humanistic translator, I would have left Japan long ago. Or, I could be a translator, without the humanistic part, and make life easy on myself. There are many translators, but how many humanistic translators. I could never be just a translator, because my love is too deep for Japan and the translation profession. Because I believe only a humanistic translator can have a positive impact on Japanese society, and it is my desire to show my appreciation for the kindness I experienced as a child by having a positive influence on colleagues and clients in the translation profession. This is my story of learning to be a humanistic translator in Japan.
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