An association of interpreters is, in fact, an organization of a rare kind by the very nature of interpreters. Freelance interpreters tend to see each other as rivals and act independently; therefore, they tend to be uncomfortable with being a part of an organization. That is why The Japan Association of Russian Language Interpreters is a unique entity and there is probably not a group of the same kind among interpreters of other languages. 

Despite such tendencies of interpreters, we managed to form an association 30 years ago (in August, 1980), aiming to improve members’ translation skills and exchange professional information and experience. Many fellow interpreters supported the founders’ idea of raising the overall level of Russian language interpreters in Japan, not only their personal level, by stimulating positive well-spirited competition, throwing off the typical interpreters’ inclination of setting up a barrier around themselves. We are now an association of approximately 150 members, which includes most freelance Japanese-Russian interpreters in Japan.

For the past 30 years the association has organized a number of activities of various kinds to achieve its goal. One of the major activities is a series of “Symposiums on key issues of translation”. Throughout past twenty five symposiums we have dealt with problems such as the education of Russian language, training methods and techniques of simultaneous translation, current political and social issues, the Japanese-Russian relationship, and issues related to various fields in which interpreters are often called on to work. The symposiums have generated meaningful discussion with participation of a wide range of presenters varying from experienced interpreters (including ones of different languages) to professors, specialists in various fields, and Russian (USSR) Embassy officials.

We also organize study groups, film-viewings, and know-how exchange get-togethers several times a year for the purpose of brushing up precision of translation technique and acquiring in-depth knowledge in various fields. The most recent examples are study groups on finance and securities, and correspondence courses of Japanese-Russian written translation correction. Additionally, we have published a variety of useful professional tools such as glossaries in specific fields compiled by our member-interpreters with rich experience in those fields, tapes of tour guiding in practice and transcripts of simultaneous translation seminars. Compilation of such useful info-packets is made possible only by a group of professionals such as ours. We take pride in our achievement, to a certain extent, of the original goal of enhancing our professional skills along with cultivating members’ friendship. 

People who are related to Russian language are diverse; those who have some relation with Russia and Russian language in their business, those who are learning the language, those who do not wish to completely cut off ties with the language after many years of learning it, those who wish to become interpreters, and so forth. We have a correspondent membership in order to reach out to those people. Newsletters and notices about our activities/events are sent out to our correspondent members. 

Our first office space was opened in Shibuya city of Tokyo in 1997 and was transferred to Chuo city in 2004. Our office is open in the afternoon of Mon-Fri and is pleased to offer any assistance you need.