Translating Investor Relations (IR) Materials into English
Japanese companies translate investor relations (IR) materials into English so that overseas investors can read their results and plans at the same time as Japanese investors. The usual documents are the earnings summary (決算短信, kessan tanshin), earnings presentation slides, timely disclosures, the notice of the shareholders’ meeting, and the integrated or sustainability report. Good IR translation needs consistent financial terminology, numbers that match the Japanese original exactly, and English that reads naturally to analysts, delivered on a tight schedule around each results announcement. The Tokyo Stock Exchange now requires Prime Market companies to publish key disclosures in English, so many companies are looking for reliable translation support.
Which documents companies translate
| Japanese | English name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 決算短信 | Earnings summary (Kessan Tanshin) | Quarterly and full-year; the most time-sensitive document |
| 決算説明資料 | Earnings presentation | Slides for analyst briefings, often with speaker notes |
| 適時開示 | Timely disclosure | Announcements such as forecasts, dividends or M&A |
| 株主総会招集通知 | Notice of convocation of the AGM | Agenda, proposals and reference documents |
| 統合報告書 | Integrated report | Strategy, ESG and long-term value creation |
| 有価証券報告書 | Annual securities report | Long and technical; some companies translate selected parts |
Rules change, so check the current Tokyo Stock Exchange requirements for your market segment. This guide isn’t legal, accounting or disclosure advice.
What makes IR translation tricky
- Japan-specific terms. 経常利益 (keijō rieki) is usually “ordinary profit”, a figure that doesn’t exist under many other accounting standards. 売上高 may be “net sales” or “revenue” depending on the company’s convention, and 親会社株主に帰属する当期純利益 is “profit attributable to owners of parent”.
- Fiscal year labels. A year ending March 2026 might be called “FY2025” or “FY2026” depending on the company. Pick one convention and use it everywhere.
- Consistency across quarters. Investors compare documents side by side, so the same term must be translated the same way every time. A glossary and previous translations are essential.
- Numbers and units. 百万円 (millions of yen) and 億円 (hundreds of millions of yen) must be converted correctly, and negative figures (△ in Japanese) shown in the English convention.
- Tone. Management messages in Japanese can be modest and indirect; the English should stay faithful while reading clearly to an international investor.
Planning around results day
- Agree the schedule early. Share the results calendar so translators are ready when the Japanese text is final.
- Send drafts as early as possible, then mark changes clearly in the final version.
- Provide a glossary and past English documents so terms stay consistent.
- Build in a review step by someone at the company who knows the numbers. The Japanese original is the official version; the translator doesn’t audit or verify the figures.
See translating presentation slides and translating market research and reports.
Beyond documents
IR also means meetings: analyst calls, one-on-ones with overseas investors and roadshows. For these, an interpreter who has read your materials and glossary makes a real difference. See interpreters for investor calls.
How Hanabuddies can help
We translate IR materials between Japanese and English, working from your glossary and past documents, and can help build a glossary if you don’t have one. Our translations are uncertified, and we aren’t IR, legal or accounting advisers. We also provide consecutive English–Japanese interpreting for investor meetings online or in person in Japan and abroad (you cover the interpreter’s travel). It starts with a free consultation.