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Doing business with Japan

Translating Japanese Patents and Technical Documents

By the Hanabuddies team · · 2 min read

Japanese patents and technical documents can be translated into English for reference, for example to understand a competitor’s patent, check prior art, or follow a Japanese supplier’s specification or test report. The key to a useful translation is consistent terminology, so share any glossary, product names and related documents, and tell the translator how the text will be used. A translation for filing a patent application is different: it is usually prepared or checked under the direction of a patent attorney, who is responsible for the filing. We provide uncertified translations for reference and business use; we aren’t patent attorneys and don’t file applications. This guide covers what to prepare and what to expect.

Common documents

  • Patents and patent applications: the specification (明細書), claims (特許請求の範囲), abstract (要約) and drawings (図面).
  • Specifications and drawings: 仕様書 and 図面 from suppliers or customers.
  • Datasheets and test reports: データシート, 試験成績書, 検査成績書.
  • Procedures and manuals: 作業手順書, 取扱説明書. See translating a user manual.
  • Research papers: see translating Japanese academic papers.

Reference or filing?

For reference, you need an accurate, readable translation that lets your engineers or legal team understand the content. For a filing, the wording of the claims matters legally, and the translation should be prepared or reviewed by a patent attorney in the relevant country. Tell us which you need. If it’s for filing, we can translate for your attorney to review, but the attorney decides what is filed. Nothing we provide is legal advice.

Why technical translation is different

  • Terminology. One Japanese term may have several possible English equivalents. Consistency across a document, and across a family of documents, matters more than style.
  • Claims. Japanese claims are often long, single sentences with nested clauses. Translations keep the structure so each element can be matched to the original.
  • Figures and reference numbers. Labels in drawings need to match the text.
  • Units and numbers. Check units, tolerances and decimal points carefully. Japanese documents usually use metric units.
  • Omitted subjects. Japanese often leaves out who does what. The translator may need to ask.

What to prepare

  • The final source files, ideally in an editable format, plus drawings.
  • A glossary or past translations, and product and part names.
  • How the translation will be used, and who will read it.
  • Any confidentiality requirements. We’re happy to sign an NDA.

See the translation checklist and machine translation for Japanese if you’re considering a machine draft.

How Hanabuddies can help

We translate patents and technical documents between Japanese and English for reference and business use, working from your glossary. Our translations are uncertified; we aren’t patent attorneys, don’t file applications and don’t give legal or regulatory advice. For technical meetings, we also provide consecutive English–Japanese interpreting online or in person in Japan and abroad (you cover the interpreter’s travel). It starts with a free consultation.