Professional Japanese Translation Services UK

Japanese is spoken by over 125 million people, primarily in Japan. The UK has strong business, educational, and cultural ties with Japan, creating consistent demand for professional Japanese translation services — from visa applications to commercial contracts and academic credentials.

Japanese documents present unique challenges for translation. The language uses three writing systems: kanji (Chinese characters), hiragana, and katakana, often mixed within the same document. Japanese civil registry documents like the koseki tohon (family register) follow formats with no direct Western equivalent, requiring specialist knowledge to translate accurately for UK authorities.

Our Japanese translators are native speakers with expertise in Japanese administrative systems and UK official requirements. Whether you need koseki for UK visa applications, academic credentials for university admissions, or business contracts for cross-border trade, our certified translations are accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, UK universities, and all official bodies.

We translate all types of Japanese documents:

• Civil registry documents — Koseki tohon (戸籍謄本 family register), birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce records from Japanese municipal offices
• Identity documents — Japanese passports, driving licences (運転免許証), residence cards (在留カード), My Number cards
• Academic credentials — University degrees, graduation certificates (卒業証明書), transcripts (成績証明書) from Japanese educational institutions
• Legal documents — Court orders, contracts, notarised documents, powers of attorney (委任状), police clearance certificates (犯罪経歴証明書)
• Business documents — Company registration (登記事項証明書), articles of incorporation (定款), commercial contracts, financial statements
• Medical records — Hospital records, vaccination certificates, health examination certificates

All translations include certification accepted by UK authorities for immigration and official use.

Accurate Japanese translation requires specific expertise:

• Three writing systems — Japanese uses kanji, hiragana, and katakana (plus romaji). Our translators are fluent in all systems and accurately translate mixed-script documents
• Koseki complexity — The Japanese family register (koseki tohon) contains multi-generational family records with no Western equivalent. We provide clear explanations for UK authorities
• Name order conventions — Japanese names place family name first. We clarify the format for UK authorities while maintaining consistency with existing documents
• Seal stamps (inkan/hanko) — Japanese documents often feature personal seals instead of signatures. We accurately describe these for UK acceptance
• Date formats — Japanese documents may use the Japanese era system (e.g., Reiwa, Heisei) alongside Gregorian dates. We clarify both systems

Our translators understand both Japanese bureaucratic systems and UK official requirements, ensuring your documents meet all standards for acceptance.