1:09: Jenny McKeon and Stephen Paul introduce themselves.
3:21: Jenny and Stephen explain how they got their start in the industry; how the Manga Translation Battle has proven to be important.
9:07: Each explain how long it took to make a living doing translation.
13:10: Suggestions on ways to avoid burnout (ex. following a schedule, knowing when editors might want the work submitted).
19:13: Stephen’s first professional work and the story around that, and how he got to work on One Piece.
25:09: Handling simulpubs, the pros and cons of weekly manga (ex. dealing with foreshadowing, gender ambiguity, checking the graphic novel version).
28:56: How to approach the “surprise gender reveal” that can occur in manga and light novels.
38:03: Dealing with singular vs. plural nouns, settings in manga and light novels.
45:23: Both explain how they handle criticism from fans, peers, or people they're working for.
51:00: How light novel translation is completely different from manga translation.
54:27: Jenny and Stephen share their revision/rewriting process for manga/light novels.
1:06:00: Both give some advice on how to break into the industry (ex. reading English prose, being a good writer).
Jenny McKeon is a full-time freelance translator and artist from Massachusetts. She primarily translates manga, such as Nichijou, Blank Canvas, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Bloom into You, and New Game!, as well as light novel series like So I'm a Spider, So What?. In her spare time, she also draws comics of her own, or watches anime with her husband and two cats.
Stephen Paul has been a Japanese-to-English translator for over 15 years, with his credits ranging from BECK to the simulpub of Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru. His other translations include the Sword Art Online manga and light novels, Vinland Saga, Yotsuba!&, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Battle Angel Alita, Durarara!!, and One Piece. He is a contributor to the One Piece Podcast, a fan run podcast that talks about the Weekly Shonen Jump manga and the anime by Toei Animation.
1:08: Emily and Jake introduce themselves.
4:31: Jake explains what manga adaptation is.
8:00: Both explain their interests outside of manga/light novels, which involves Emily sharing that he has a pizza toast blog.
11:44: Emily and Jake explain what led to them making translation their career choice.
17:42: Jake explains his first professional translation (Flying Witch).
19:25: Emily discusses how Alpaca Evolution became his first credited translation work, and the work assigned by Yen Press that definitely was not a one-off work.
25:42: How their approaches have changed from their first translation to their current one -- meanwhile Jake ends up revealing the other types of translations he does that’s uncredited...for 18+ reasons.
33:03: Both talk about getting feedback on their work, or lack of feedback on their work.
35:28: What has changed the most for them as translators since joining the industry? And their thoughts on simulcasts and the challenges they both present.
41:19: The craziest thing that has happened to them since becoming a translator -- for these two, it involves getting invited to big event.
46:28: Their approaches to handling criticism from fans, peers, and publishers.
56:30: Additional tips to improve your translation, advice for joining the industry (ex. translation theory, time management).
Born 1985 in Wisconsin, Emily Balistrieri currently lives in Tokyo. Published translations include Tomihiko Morimi's The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, Ko Hiratori's JK Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World, and Takuji Ichikawa's The Refugees' Daughter. He also translates two ongoing light novel series, Carlo Zen's The Saga of Tanya the Evil and Kugane Maruyama's Overlord. His translation of Eiko Kadono's Kiki's Delivery Service will be out in July 2020.
Jake Jung is a freelance Japanese-to-English translator specializing in anime, manga, and video games. Anime titles he has translated for Sentai Filmworks include Made in Abyss, Release the Spyce, Assassins Pride, and Why the Hell Are You Here, Teacher?! among others. He also handles the English manga adaptation of Made in Abyss for Seven Seas, and is the translator of a to-be-announced title for them releasing in 2020. He has been a full-time translator since 2010 and has focused on media translations specifically since 2013. He was born and raised in Michigan, USA and, as of 2019, resides in Kagawa, Japan with his wife and two children.
1:09: Cassiel and Jennifer introduce themselves.
5:22: The two discuss getting feedback from a client.
12:11: Cassiel discusses her first translation work...which was translating a blog post (and the company didn’t properly set her up!).
16:32: Cassiel then discusses her first freelance translation work...which involved fixing two older men’s mess on an otome game.
20:00: Jennifer discusses her first translation job, which involved working for an automotive company that wanted someone to work in their Tokyo office...except they didn’t have a Tokyo office.
25:35: How Cassiel and Jennifer discuss how they first met.
29:00: One misconception they had about translators once they got into translating, and the importance of connecting with people.
38:00: Both discuss how to handle burnout...or at least try to.
41:12: How both handle criticism from peers, fans, and clients.
47:45: Cassiel and Jennifer on how important it is to try and take care of yourself mentally.
54:05: Both discuss imposter syndrome in localization.
56:53: Both share what they’re most proud of since becoming a translator.
1:01:38: Cassiel and Jennifer give advice on getting into translation and joining the industry.
Cassiel Merricat is a Japanese-to-English translator and localizer for games and manga. After working for a hobby company she moved into game translation, and has translated a number of different titles -- particularly in the romance/otome space -- for over 11 years while dealing with numerous disabilities (is chronically ill). Loves creating writing, language, games, and bacon. She currently lives in Australia with her platonic life partner, two Cane Corsos and a kitty.
Jennifer O'Donnell is a Fukuoka-based Localization Assistant. After she graduated from SOAS (London) in 2015 with an MA in Theory and Practice of Translation she focused her efforts on the translation of Japanese media (manga, anime, and video games), as well as websites, tourism, and advertising. Since then she has studied interpreting at Bellevue College (Washington, USA) and volunteered as an interpreter at a number of Japanese media conventions in the US. Now she works in-house as a localization assistant.
Hello, and welcome to Translator Tea Times Two, a podcast series featuring conversations between translators in the anime, manga, light novel and gaming industry.