Articles
March 8, 2004
An A-Un Editorial Team
by Pamela J.Noda
Can native speakers and non-native speakers work together as equals? They can on an a-un editorial team. Pamela J. Noda shows us how.
Many of us working in English-language publishing in Japan are in jobs that pair us with editorial assistants whose native language is Japanese. Those of us who are freelance editors interact with the Japanese tantōsha, person... more
March 1, 2004
A Post-Industrial SWETer at Work
by Hugh Ashton
Hugh Ashton originally came to Japan to write audio equipment manuals. Fifteen years later, after a few detours, he's still doing the same thing, aided and abetted by his wife and more technology than is healthy for two people.
Most of my work is done from my home office. Although I can set my own... more
February 9, 2004
Reading Japanese Advertising: Print to TV
John L. McCreery
In his second article about Japanese advertising, John McCreery turns to the medium of television, which has unique possibilities not found in print advertising.
In the last issue of the SWET Newsletter, I talked generally about [url=https://www.swet.jp/articles/list/100_0_7_10_C/]how to read Japanese ads[/url] and illustrated the approach I advocate by looking at the print ads for the... more
May 2, 2003
Reading Japanese Advertising
by John L. McCreery
What does it mean to understand an ad? And what specifically does it mean to understand a Japanese ad? The ads we examine are more than an opportunity to learn about Japanese advertising; they are also an opportunity to learn something about the society in which those ads were produced.
When asked if I... more
March 1, 2000
Kim Schuefftan and the Heyday of Culture Books
by Lynne E. Riggs
Kim Schuefftan’s claim that he has been in Japan from Jōmon 3 is easily betrayed by his youthful smile and ruddy complexion. A few gray hairs and stories of books now considered classics in the world of publishing on Japan advise us that he is a senpai par excellence. Actually, he came to Japan in 1963. Starting... more
December 10, 1996
How Splitting Wood With an Axe is a Lot Like Translating
by Richard Sadowsky (professional translator living on Awaji Island)
Thin pieces don't have to be hit hard, just in the right spot. You get thirsty after doing it for a while. Some wood is soft, some is hard. It helps to know which is which. A piece has to be stood up and positioned for each swing. If you've never done it before, you'll swing and... more