For more than 30 years, the print publication Japan Echo provided Japanese views on their own country to an international readership—and provided work to many translators along the way. After the journal came to an end when the DPJ slashed MOFA’s budget to purchase copies of the magazine, Japan Echo Inc. re-created itself as a foundation publishing the website Nippon.com. Peter Durfee, with Japan Echo since 1996 and now a director of the new foundation, will talk about the process of moving to an all-web format. What has changed in the role of the translator, and what has stayed the same? What new skills have the Nippon.com in-house translators had to develop? What challenges are associated with publishing in seven languages instead of one? And perhaps most importantly, is there any freelance work available?
(This presentation will be in English.)
Speaker: Peter Durfee
Date: November 15, 2014
Time: 14:00-17:00
Doors open: 13:30
Venue: Forum 8, Shibuya (http://www.forum-8.co.jp/access/index.html)
Address: Dogenzaka 2-10-7, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043
Tel: 03-3780-0008 Cost: JAT members 1,000 yen; non-members 3,000 yen (advance registration is not necessary)
*Please note TAC fee structure as of April
(Details: http://jat.org/news/show/change_in_tac_seminar_attendance_fees/)
Koryukai: From 17:15 (advance registration is not necessary, register and pay at seminar reception)
Venue: The Aldgate (http://www.the-aldgate.com/
Address: Shin Iwasaki Bldg 3F, 30-4 Udagawacho, Shibuya
Tel: 03-3462-2983
Cost: 2,000 yen (food only/cash bar)
Inquiries: [email protected]
About the speaker:
Peter Durfee came to Japan in 1985, when he was dragged here against his will by parents who thought the international experience would do him good. After graduating from the American School in Tokyo and getting a degree in Japanese at UC Berkeley, he returned to live and work in Japan. In 1996 he joined Japan Echo Inc., where he worked on Japan Echo, the Japan Review of International Affairs, and other publications and projects. In 2005 Kodansha International published his translation of a biography of Noguchi Hideyo, Dr. Noguchi’s Journey. In 2011 Japan Echo Inc. gave way to the Nippon Communications Foundation, where he now serves as a director and as head of the English edition of Nippon.com.