Patent Translation FAQ — Pricing, Turnaround, Security
What languages do you cover?
English to Japanese only. Focusing on a single language pair helps me maintain consistency and quality.
Which translation tool do you use?
Translation toolI work best in my own translation system, where terminology locking and consistency checks run on every project. MateCat can be used optionally, with turnaround quoted per project. Projects that require other CAT tools, such as Trados, are not accepted.
What’s your rate?
Rate: USD 0.13 per source word, depending on technical complexity and document type. Full pricing context on the Services page.
How do I get a quote?
Send your document (or word count and subject matter) to contact@soma-patent-translator-jp.com. Include your target deadline with timezone. Reply within 24 hours with a detailed quote. Pricing and terms are flexible based on project specifics.
What payment methods do you accept?
Wise, PayPal, and bank transfer.
What is your turnaround time?
- Under 5,000 words: 1.5 business days
- 5,000–12,000 words: 3 business days
- Over 12,000 words: custom timeline
- Rush delivery available on request
What types of documents do you translate?
Patent specifications (descriptions, claims, abstracts, drawings text) and standalone patent abstracts, for both Paris route and PCT national-phase Japan filings.
Fields: mechanical engineering, including industrial equipment (strongest area: medical devices) and electrical and electronics (including semiconductors, telecommunications, software, AI, optical, and lighting technologies).
Out of scope: chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, clinical and diagnostic inventions, and formulations. The test: the claims are defined by chemical composition, chemical structure, or biological material.
Is my document kept confidential?
Yes. Processed through AWS Bedrock in Japan only (Tokyo region, ap-northeast-1), with no data retention or training use by the AI model. NDA available on request — I sign yours, or use mine. Full security details →
How does your AI-assisted workflow affect quality?
AI accelerates the first draft, but quality comes from human review. I check every sentence for accuracy, nuance, and patent-specific conventions. The system also enforces terminology consistency across your filings, so quality compounds project to project. More on my workflow →
How do you handle non-native English source documents?
7+ years of patent work (10 million+ words reviewed, 3 million+ translated) have built both technical fluency and a reviewer’s eye for non-native English — commonly translated from German, Chinese, or French before reaching me. I read past the structural irregularities to the underlying technical meaning and render it in clean Japanese.
Do you work with translation agencies?
Yes, when the agency allows me to use my own translation system.
I’m not a fit for agencies requiring specific CAT (computer-assisted translation) tool mandates, such as Trados. MateCat can be used optionally, with turnaround quoted per project.
Where are you based?
Kyoto, Japan (JST / UTC+9). Clients worldwide.
What if you’re unavailable?
I work solo — there’s no backup translator behind me if I’m unavailable. Tell me your deadline upfront (time-sensitive or not) and I’ll flag any capacity conflict before accepting the project, not after.
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