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Luck and Effort: The True Relationship Behind Success

by eiji704 / 0 Comment

Many successful people often look back and attribute their achievements to “good luck.” This is especially true for those who thrive in fast-changing business environments or highly competitive industries, where success sometimes feels like a stroke of chance. However, I believe that what we often call “luck” is actually the inevitable result of effort and preparation.

Everyone will encounter moments when “luck” appears to be on their side. However, whether you can truly feel fortunate in that moment depends on how well prepared you are at that time. We sometimes overlook the fact that behind our success lies a series of efforts, and instead, we attribute it solely to good luck. But in reality, it’s the cumulative effort we’ve put in that sets the stage for such opportunities.

For instance, imagine receiving an important job offer unexpectedly. If you haven’t prepared yourself for such an opportunity, you might miss it. On the other hand, if you are well-prepared, you can seize that chance and make the most of it. This, in turn, will lead you to feel that “luck” played a role in your success. In other words, luck is not just a random occurrence-it’s something that is attracted by the efforts you’ve made in the past.

In fact, I believe that luck is available to everyone. Even if opportunities arise at the same time in the same industry, how you leverage those opportunities depends on how much effort and preparation you’ve put in. Without the necessary skills or knowledge, it will be difficult to grasp the chances that come your way. So, whether you feel lucky or not really comes down to how prepared you are.

Ultimately, attracting luck requires continuous effort and preparation. Luck does not just appear out of nowhere-it’s about being ready to capitalize on the moment when it does arrive. The more prepared you are, the more you can make the most of that opportunity. With this mindset in mind, I am committed to ensuring that when luck does come knocking, I am fully equipped to seize it and make the most of it.

Translation-related

Power of Context: What Truly Defines Quality Translation

by eiji704 / 0 Comment

One thing I’ve come to realize through my work as a translator is just how crucial it is to grasp context accurately. Even if each sentence is technically translated correctly, if the flow of the surrounding text is ignored, the final translation can end up feeling disjointed and difficult to read. In some cases, the result may be a sentence that, although written in natural-sounding Japanese, leaves the reader confused after just one read.

A good translation requires more than just replacing words from one language to another-it demands a thorough understanding of the surrounding context and factual relationships. Translators need to grasp the meaning and intent behind the original text, and carefully consider how each part fits into the bigger picture.

Human logical thinking involves abilities such as:
1) Intentionally constructing logical flow,
2) Structuring problems in an organized way,
3) Supporting ideas with clear reasoning,
4) Recognizing and correcting mistakes.

In contrast, generative AI-despite appearing to “think” like a human-works in a fundamentally different way:
1) Predicts the statistically most likely words to follow,
2) Learns patterns from vast amounts of structured example sentences,
3) Reproduces forms that sound like reasoning based on past data,
4) Attempts to avoid contradictions, though not always successfully.

When you understand this distinction, it becomes clear why translations done by humans and those by AI are naturally different. If a human translator can only produce translations that are indistinguishable from AI-generated ones, that’s a sign they may only be working at the same level as the AI.

I believe in the value of human logical thinking-the ability to connect ideas with intention and clarity. That’s what I strive to bring to every project I take on.

Translator's Retreat

A Little Escape

by eiji704 / 0 Comment

As a freelance industrial translator, I spend my days wrestling with complex technical texts. One of my ways to unwind is driving my car, though modern technology sometimes adds unexpected twists to the experience, especially my car’s voice assistant.

Take navigation, for example. When I tell it, “Take me to XX Building,” it coldly replies, “I don’t know that place.” After searching for the official name online and trying again, it finally recognizes the destination. I can’t help but wish it had a bit more intuition and could suggest possible matches instead.

But the real mystery happens when I say, “Take me home.” Instead of guiding me to my registered address, it confidently declares, “Navigating to Sagamiya,” in an inexplicably Kansai-accented tone. Wait… what is Sagamiya?

The only Sagamiya I can think of is a merchant’s trade name from old Japanese samurai dramas, where shopkeepers often meet unfortunate fates at the hands of villains. Could it be that my car’s assisstant is a fan of historical dramas? Or worse, is it trying to send me into one? Amused yet baffled, I end up manually setting my home destination as usual.

As a translator, my job requires me to read between the lines and infer meaning from context. Naturally, I wish my voice assistant could do the same, but it seems we’re not quite there yet. Still, these little moments of absurdity make for amusing breaks in my busy days. And so, I continue my drives, curious about what bizarre response my car’s voice assistant will come up with next.

Translation-related

Observations from My Recent Experience with Overseas Clients

by eiji704 / 0 Comment

Until recently, I had not had many opportunities to work with overseas clients. However, as I began engaging with them more frequently, I noticed a key difference between the domestic and international translation processes. Unlike in Japan, where translators are expected to ensure a certain level of quality, overseas clients tend to seek Linguists rather than traditional Translators. As a result, I have been receiving more requests for translation reviews and other language-related tasks.

In industrial translation, specialized knowledge and accuracy are essential. During translation reviews, I often encounter incorrect use of technical terminology, which made me realize the difference in approaches. In Japan, translators are generally responsible for maintaining high quality with specialized expertise. In contrast, in overseas markets, reviewers seem to play a crucial role in ensuring quality.

It is not that the translation industry itself has changed, but rather that my own experience has expanded, allowing me to recognize these differences. As the required skills continue to evolve, I remain committed to improving my expertise and delivering high-quality translations that meet industry expectations.

Translation-related

Challenge

by eiji704 / 0 Comment

Today, I took the Honyaku Kentei exam organized by the Japan Translation Federation.

In previous years, the exam has often featured questions based on editorials from scientific journals. However, this year, the material was taken directly from research papers. It brought back memories of the time I used to write academic papers myself. I focused on crafting translations that were concise, unambiguous, and flowed logically, staying true to the original text while ensuring clarity.

I have no way of knowing how it will be evaluated, but I believe I submitted the best work I could at this point in time. From here, all I can do is leave the rest to fate.

Translator's Retreat

Chatting with Fellow Translators

by eiji704

In a community of fellow translators I joined last year, I had the chance to exchange various ideas and insights. Since translation work often involves staying cooped up in a room, there are days when I barely talk to anyone outside of my family. That’s why simply having conversations within this community brings me so much joy.

On top of that, listening to other members’ experiences and stories inspires me to push myself harder. In fact, it was the encouragement and inspiration I received from this community that motivated me to start this website.

It’s not every day you find a community that is not only enjoyable but also stimulating. I feel truly grateful to have joined such an amazing group of translators who constantly inspire me to grow.