Japanese Translator .co .uk
Japanese Translation & Typesetting
Japanese Business Cards
Business cards are taken very seriously in Japan. Getting your cards accurately translated and properly typeset is absolutely essential.
Using software such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, I can incorporate Japanese text directly into your existing layout using Japanese fonts that reflect the style and weight of the English text in your existing design. Alternatively, I can recreate the entire design based on a scanned image or photograph of your company logo or letterhead.
Translating business cards into Japanese is not quite as simple as it may seem. For example, Japanese businesses tend to have more of a vertical structure than businesses in the West, and Japanese job titles tend to be quite specific about the cardholder's position within the company hierarchy. This is very important in Japan, where behaviour and language must be modified according to the relative status of the person you are talking to. Although Westerners are not expected to adhere to their strict rules, the Japanese will still feel more comfortable if they can ascertain your rank by looking at your business card.
Other things you will need to consider are the dimensions of your card (90x55 mm is probably the most common size in Japan), and whether to use a single-sided or double-sided design. These issues are discussed in more depth in my PDF file on Japanese Business Cards (104 KB).
Consider putting a QR code on your business card
Have you seen one of these before? It's called a "Quick Response" (QR) code, which is a new type of barcode that conveys much more information than an ordinary barcode. These codes can be scanned by over half the mobile phones currently on the market in Japan (where there are over 68 million mobile internet users), making them a highly convenient means of transferring information that would otherwise be difficult or tedious to copy out.
For example, QR codes are being used to represent internet URLs, email addresses, and even entire address book entries (name, address, phone number and so on). Put one of these codes on your business card and people could use it to contact you in a matter of seconds.
I hope to have an online QR code generator up and running on this website in the near future, but in the meantime let me know if you would like one added to your business card.
Printing your cards
Here are a few general "do's and don'ts" to bear in mind when getting your cards printed:
Use the correct dimensions: In the West, business cards come in all sizes. But in Japan, most business cards measure 90x55 mm. If you use cards of this size, they will be more compatible with Japanese card scanning and filing systems. Most printing companies will be able to produce card of any size, so this shouldn't be a problem.
Get them professionally printed: Don't print your own cards unless you happen to have a state-of-the-art colour laser printer in your office. Cards produced on inkjet printers may look fine at first, but they can easily be ruined by the slightest amount of moisture. Japan gets a lot of rain (especially in June), and is very humid in the summer. A single raindrop or a hot afternoon could render your card completely useless.
Use the right software: If you're producing your own card design, avoid using software like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint that isn't designed for the job. Printing companies generally don't accept files of these types, and it's rather difficult to convert them into formats like EPS that printers do accept.
Business card etiquette
The Japanese have established a great deal of etiquette regarding the use of business cards, even down to details such as who should offer their card first, and the angle of the bow they should perform while offering it to the recipient. As a non-Japanese, you don't need to worry too much about all this — just bear in mind that business cards are treated with great respect. Hand your card over carefully (don't toss it across the table), with the Japanese writing oriented so the recipient can read it. When you receive a card, read it carefully and keep it on the table in front of you during the meeting so you don't forget the name. Don't fiddle about with it, and put it away safely when the meeting is over.
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