A Community for Japan-Related Writing Professionals
Based in Tokyo, Japan, SWET comprises people engaged not only in the three professions of writing, editing, and translating, but also in teaching, research, rewriting, design and production, copywriting, and other areas related to the written word in Japan.
Japan Style Sheet
A cross-professional guide
The SWET Guide for Writers, Editors and Translators
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IJET-32: International Japan-English Translators Conference
Dates: May 25–26, 2024 Location: Toronto, Canada
IJET-32 will be held in Toronto, Canada, on May 25–26, 2024. The theme is “Who knit ’ya? Who are we in the age of Chat-GPT?” Goals are to strengthen the connections within our translation/interpreting community and explore the impact that AI, such as Chat-GPT, has on our industry. More details about the venue, speakers, and registration at https://ijet.jat.org/ Also visit the Japan Association of Translators website for information on a wide... more
Swet Columns View all
Highlights of 2023
While we have been busy crafting with words, learning about ChatGPT and the Japanese government’s new invoice system, keeping our equipment up to date, meeting deadlines, and keeping abreast of our email, now we find that another year is upon us. SWET started 2023 in its usual laid-back fashion, but the questions arising and alarms sounding over large language models got our adrenalin going for some months, setting off much discussion and experimenting. Subsequently, as we have returned to work as usual,... more
Articles View all
If, for J-E Translators
If you can render prose in real English idiom While all about you Cling rigidly to translation word-for-word; If you can stand by natural wording Though clients claim they know better, But respect their sensibilities as far as conscience can; If you can grapple with obscurantism And articulate it in clear expository style; Or, being left with ambiguity, not perpetuate ambiguity, Or, given insider codes, not let cryptic phrases win the day. And yet not fear small expedients, Nor over-rate the laws of English logic.
If you can empathize—but not let passion... more
SWET Spotlight View all
Entering into the World I Created: Interview with Karen Hill Anton, author of “A Thousand Graces”
Karen Hill Anton is well known for her columns in the Japan Times, which she described in an article for SWET’s series on English-language newspaper columnists. Her memoir, The View From Breast Pocket Mountain, beloved by a wide readership, has earned three literary awards. She spoke to SWET about her memoir at length for a SWET Talk Shop in August 2021, available on YouTube, and again in October 2022 about the craft of memoir writing. Now... more