If you want to work as a Japanese translator, what certificates do you need to obtain? Is it necessary to take the Japanese Proficiency Language Level 1 exam?

Hello. I hope the answer below can help you.

I also graduated with a major in Japanese. Since graduation, I have been working as a full-time translator in a large Japanese company.

Based on my personal experience over the past few years, certificates are still indispensable in order to pry open the door of Japanese companies.

In fact, including the Japanese, they all know those certificates.

The most well-known among them is the Japanese Proficiency Test Level 1. They still think it's amazing that they can pass level 1, but many Japanese themselves don't have the information to pass level 1. There is also Jtest.

However, the number of certificates and scores are limited to the resume stage.

Being a translator basically requires Level 1. If not, there will be no chance of an interview.

Then it comes down to experience and interviews.

The interview depends on speaking and personal abilities.

No matter how many certificates or good grades you have, it will be useless if your interview oral skills are a mess.

So you must not lose your spoken English.

Hope you can succeed. If you want to practice speaking or have any questions about Japanese, you can ask me.

I am also a part-time Japanese language training teacher. O(∩_∩)O haha~