Seeking to encourage talented people to enter the translation field, JAT is pleased to announce its Thirteenth annual Japanese <> English translation contest for new and aspiring translators. The actual passage to be translated is a real-life text—the sort of thing a working commercial translator might well be called upon to do.

Open to: Anyone with less than three years’ experience as a professional translator. JAT membership not required. Previous entrants (except winners) are welcome to enter again.There are no restrictions on the number of applicants this year.

Entry fee: Free

Judges

Japanese-to-English:
Initial screening: George Bourdaniotis, Nora Stevens Heath, Ko Iwata
Final review: Ken Wagner, James Davis, Ruth McCreery

English-to-Japanese:
Initial screening: Kiyoshi Chimasu, Miyako Dubois, Naoko Uchida
Final review: Mayumi Adachi, Kiyoshi Fujimura, Yukari Ishihara

Prizes

All Finalists: One-year complimentary JAT membership + Feedback from the judges

2nd Place: One-year complimentary JAT membership + Feedback from the judges + free registration for the 28th International Japanese<>English Translation Conference (IJET-28) to be held on April 8-9, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.

1st Place: One-year complimentary JAT membership + Feedback from the judges + free registration for IJET-28 + transportation to and from IJET-28 + free accommodations during IJET-28 organized and funded by NPO Japan Association of Translators (JAT)


Contest Schedule

2016
October 1 (Sat.)
Source texts and Contest Guidelines available for download
October 31 (Mon.)
Submission deadline (24:00 JST)
Mid- to Late December
     Five finalists announced on the JAT website

2017
Late January
1st- and 2nd-place winners announced on the JAT website and by direct e-mail to the winners
April 8 (Sat.)
Award ceremony at IJET-28

All entries will be reviewed and judged by experienced professional translators.
All decisions are final. All entries become the property of JAT.
For further information, please check the JAT website after October 1 or contact the contest committee at [email protected]

References:
12th contest source text and guidelines
Translation of the 12th contest winners and finalists
Commentaries from the 12th contest judges