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Are you interested in getting your master’s in translation with a focus in Japanese, but also want to learn from anywhere in the  world? Discover our online program and all that our Japanese translation degree can provide for your future career.

What Is a Japanese Translation Degree?

A master’s in Japanese translation is a postgraduate program that gives students the skills and knowledge they need to thrive within the language services industry. More to the point, a Japanese translation degree centers on honing abilities for translating and localizing content from Japanese to English for a variety of workplace applications.

Students enrolled in an online Japanese translation degree program develop foundational translation strategies alongside cultural awareness and technical skills  through rigorous coursework. They engage in a range of hands-on translation exercises that provide practical experience and prepare them for real-world translation challenges.

The curriculum within the master’s degree in translation with a specialization in Japanese incorporates aspects that include:

• Applied translation theory and strategies specific to the language pair
• State-of-the-art computer-assisted translation technologies
• Coursework on localization and project management
• Intercultural communication in the language industry

The master’s of translation in Japanese program prepares students for a variety of translation settings, such as legal, technical, and literary, broadening students’ knowledge and employment opportunities.

91¸£Àû Our Master's of Translation in Japanese Program

Thanks to the , we are able to provide 91¸£Àû grad students with our online M.A. in Translation program. With our 100% online asynchronous program, you can easily earn your master’s in Japanese translation from anywhere in the world! Not to mention, with our online curriculum, our courses are able to easily accommodate your busy schedule.

Course Information for the Master’s Degree in Translation with a Language Specialization in Japanese

Students in our program will take 36 semester hours of classes, which also includes a case study in translation. Full-time students complete our program in two years. If you are interested in being a part-time student to earn your Japanese translation degree, please refer to our roadmap for part-time students. Students on a part-time basis complete our program in three to six years.

Some of the classes you will take, such as Project Management and Terminology and Computer Applications, will cross all six language specializations. Other courses will be specific to the Japanese-English language pair, including:

• Practice of Translation in Japanese
• Japanese Scientific/Technical/Medical Translation
• Japanese Literary and Cultural Translation
• Commercial/Legal/Diplomatic Translation in Japanese
• Case Study in Japanese Translation

ADMISSION INFORMATION FOR OUR JAPANESE TRANSLATION DEGREE ONLINE

Our guidelines for admission to the master’s of translation in Japanese program are as follows:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• A CD or MP3/wav file with a five-minute oral sample in the applicant's first and second languages (conversational, not read from a script)
• Writing sample(s) in applicant's second language, which should be accompanied by a signed declaration that the sample is original work and that the applicant received no help in its preparation
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score

To see a list of all requirements for admission and their details, please refer to our admission requirements page, and be sure to contact our faculty and staff if you have any questions about our Japanese translation degree online.

JAPANESE TRANSLATION DEGREE COST INFORMATION

Our current tuition rate for our master’s in Japanese translation program is $559.90 per credit hour for non-Ohio residents. There are also additional costs for specific required courses, such as the Software Localization course ($45).

Why Japanese Is in Demand

Japanese-English is one of the due to the Japanese language’s complexity and specialized industry demand. Other key drivers for demand include:

• Japan remains a major global business hub, so companies around the world require Japanese translations for contracts, trade, product launches, marketing materials, customer support, and more.
• Many high-value industries – such as manufacturing, technology, automotive, and others – either sell in Japanese markets or have production and supply chain departments in Japan, necessitating accurate Japanese translations for effective communication with workers, business partners, and customers.
• Japanese can be difficult to translate accurately due to context dependence, cultural nuances and politeness levels, and other factors, all of which make skilled translators more valuable and marketable.

Career Opportunities with a Master’s in Japanese Translation

Students who obtain a degree in Japanese translation will be prepared for a career in the translation field and can go on to fill a variety of essential roles, including:

• Language consultants
• Localizers
• Post-editors
• Professional translators
• Project managers
• Quality assurance managers
• Terminologists
• Much more

Along with these, Japanese translators are highly sought after in key markets, including:

• Gaming and video games – Japan is a major gaming market, , and diverse companies need to localize their gaming materials into Japanese to reach this high-spending player base. Dedicated players also expect culturally natural dialogue, polished UI text, and logical story references, solidifying the importance of going beyond simple word-for-word translation. Japanese language localizers can end up working on new games, updates, live-service events, downloadable content, and more.
• Anime and manga – Being among the major pop cultural exports of Japan, anime and manga stand out as key opportunities for Japanese translators, as they are  and offer plenty of employment opportunities. For both industries, companies need talented individuals to work on subtitles, dubbing scripts, scanlation alternatives, marketing copy, and print adaptations to ensure meaning is preserved while target languages are naturally represented.
• Automotive – With Japan’s major footprint in the automotive world – including the presence of brands like Toyota, Honda, Subaru, and Nissan – dedicated Japanese translators are needed to work on manuals, warranties, contracts, compliance documents, dealer materials, websites, internal training content, and more. Precision and attention to detail are particularly necessary, since automotive content often must adhere to safety and engineering guidelines while still being digestible to readers.
• Technology and electronics – Japan’s manufacturing sectors create many products, particularly in the technology and electronics space, that are sold all over the world. This means businesses need translators to work on product documentation, patents, R&D materials, user manuals, technical specifications, software, quality documentation, and regulatory materials. Even the smallest translation error could create safety or legal issues, so skilled translators and localizers are sought out to ensure documents are clean, clear, and professional.
• Literary translation – As interest has grown worldwide for Japanese manga, fiction, and nonfiction, the need for talented translators who can help works reach a wider audience has followed. Literature depends greatly on tone, rhythm, ambiguity, and cultural nuance, going far beyond simple literal meaning. Success often depends on a translator’s ability to preserve voice and style while making the text feel natural in the target language.

Ultimately, the Master of Arts in Translation with a specialization in Japanese positions students for diverse roles within exciting and fulfilling industries.

Faculty Spotlight

Our Japanese translation specialization is led by exceptional educators with diverse classroom and field experience. You can review additional information about instructors on our faculty page.

WHAT MAKES OUR ONLINE JAPANESE TRANSLATION DEGREE AT KENT STATE DIFFERENT?

With a 90% graduation rate, an exceptional faculty and staff, and unique courses designed to teach you all aspects of translation, localization, and language project management, our online M.A. in Translation program with a language specialization in Japanese is truly exceptional!

And since our program is offered completely online, you can take your courses anywhere you have access to the internet. From cafes to libraries to even your living room couch, our online program is fully accessible anywhere, making it convenient for your personal schedule.

Learn More 91¸£Àû Our Online Master’s Degree in Translation for Japanese!

Interested in getting more details or have any questions? Request more information today!