Introduction
Japanese cuisine is a food culture that Japan is proud of and has attracted attention from all over the world, including being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In recent years, with the increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan, the demand for Japanese restaurants has also increased. However, there are many ingredients and cooking methods that are unfamiliar to foreigners, making it difficult to make menus multilingual.
This time, we will introduce five points for effective translation tailored to the target audience, which are particularly important when translating standard Japanese menus into multiple languages.
Clarify your target audience
Before you start translating, it is important to first clarify your target audience. The amount of information required and the method of presentation vary greatly depending on the target group.
- For tourists: Convey basic knowledge of Japanese cuisine in easy-to-understand and concise expressions. Make active use of photos and illustrations.
- For foreigners living in Japan: Provide more detailed information and convey the culture and depth of Japanese cuisine.
- For experts: Accurately convey specialized knowledge such as cooking methods and where ingredients are produced.
Indication of ingredients
Japanese cuisine uses many ingredients that are unfamiliar to foreigners. It is important to not only translate the name of the ingredient, but also to add a simple explanation.
- example:
- Tofu: Tofu (soft, white bean curd)
- Natto (fermented soybeans)
- Soba: Soba (buckwheat noodles)
Recipe description
Japanese food has a variety of cooking methods, including boiling, grilling, and frying. It is important to accurately translate these recipes. Also, depending on the cooking method, there may be specific terminology, so be careful.
- example:
- Simmer, Boil
- Grill: Grill, Broil
- Deep fry: Deep-fry
- Steam: Steam
Seasoning description
Japanese food is seasoned with a variety of seasonings, including soy sauce, miso, mirin, and sake. It is important to accurately translate these seasonings. Also, depending on the combination of seasonings, there may be special expressions, so please be careful.
- example:
- Soy sauce: Soy sauce
- Miso (fermented soybean paste)
- Mirin (sweet rice wine)
- Sake: Sake (rice wine)
Consideration of cultural background
Japanese food has a unique cultural background. For example, “Tempura” is a dish that was eaten by common people during the Edo period. It is important to consider this cultural background and reflect it in the translation.
- example:
- Tempura (deep-fried seafood or vegetables) (a dish eaten by common people during the Edo period)
design and layout
It is important to have a multilingual menu design that is easy to read and understand. You can make it easier to understand visually by displaying the Japanese and translated sentences side by side and using icons.
Translation by experts
In order to provide high-quality translations, we recommend that you request translations by professionals. Our experts not only have knowledge of food culture and cooking methods, but also expertise in translation.
summary
By referring to these points and performing effective translations tailored to your target audience, you will be able to convey the appeal of Japanese food to more people.
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