It has been a while since I translated a letter. Not the business letter about changes in terms and conditions or notifications, but a more informal and personal type. Well, it is still business-related, from one CEO to another CEO about his retirement, but on a more informal level. It made me feel a bit like Violet Evergarden, having to pick out what the writer is trying to say, and conveying its equivalent in English. Yes, it is easy to just translate everything literally. But some expressions in Japanese cannot be properly translated in such a direct manner. An expression that is acceptable between Japanese people may not be culturally appropriate outside Japan.
For example, "Thank you for your hard work over the years" may be fine in Japan, but given the relationship between the two companies this time, and the cultural difference, it may be taken with a condescending nuance and should thus be avoided. It is the small things like these that makes letter translation so challenging and fulfilling.
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