Translator’s Profile

Satomi Arai
Craft Communications

《Profile》

Born in 1975 in Saitama, Japan.
I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies in 1999.

I moved to the United States alone to pursue college degree after graduating from high school in Japan. After graduation and briefly at working at translation agency, I worked at Los Angeles newsroom of NHK Japan Broadcasting as a field producer, traveling across the US; then, served as sales manager and consultant in the Japanese sake business evangelizing the artisanal products.

After returning to Japan, I worked at Pernod Ricard Japan as brand manager, marketing craft wines and spirits, then as corporate communications manager, with focus on sustainability messaging; then at IKEA Japan as PR leader, publicizing opening of new Tokyo shops and sustainable life at home; and most recently, at Salesforce Japan as employee engagement manager for Japan and Korea, then as product PR manager, promoting cloud products.

In 2024, I decided to go freelance as a translator as well as part-time Japanese language instructor.

*Please see my LinkedIn page for the career milestones in details

《Credentials》

  • TOEIC 990
  • STEP English 1
  • Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test - Pass
  • National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter - Pass
  • Introductory Sommelier Course and Exam (Court of Master Sommeliers)
  • Sake Sommelier and Sake Instructor Certificates (Sake Service Institute)
  • Certified PR Planner (Public Relations Society of Japan)

《Translation School Experience》

Fellow Academy (Self-Study Course)

  • Commercial translation

Fellow Academy (Live Streaming Course)

  • Subtitling / Dubbing - Basic
  • Subtitling - Intermediate
  • Literary - Basic
  • Literary - Intermediate

《Volunteer》

Toda International Friendship Association (TIFA) - Japanese Language Support Volunteer