Last Updated: March 2026

1. Services & Definitions

These terms apply to all linguistic, editorial, and localization services provided by Shintaro Takagi (National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter), hereafter referred to as "the Translator." By purchasing a "Translation Unit" via this website, the Client agrees to these terms.

2. Unit-Based Pricing & Billing

• Unit Calculation: Services are billed per "Unit." 1 Unit = Up to 320 English words or 700 Japanese characters.

• Source Text Basis: Fees are calculated based on the original source text provided at the time of order.

• Rounding: Projects are billed by the full unit. Partial units are rounded up to the next full unit (e.g., a 400-word document requires 2 units).

• Intended Use Declaration: The Client must accurately declare the intended use of the translation (Business, Media, or Publication) via the checkout form.

• Under-Ordering: If the uploaded source text exceeds the units purchased, the Translator will pause work and issue a supplemental invoice. Work will resume only once the balance is paid.

3. Intellectual Property & Licensing

All work is delivered under a Standard Professional License based on the intended use selected at checkout:

• Business & Commercial Use: For menus, PR, brochures, and internal documents, the fee includes a license for up to 10,000 physical or digital copies.

• Media & Broadcast: For use in Film, TV, websites, or professional blogs, the license is granted for a single production/instance.

• Major Publications (Books/E-books): For retail publications, a 10% royalty applies to all sales exceeding 10,000 copies.

• Professional Attribution: For all public-facing media, literary works, and websites, the credit "Japanese Translation by Shintaro Takagi" must be clearly visible.

• Full Copyright Buyout: Permanent transfer of all Intellectual Property rights is not included in the standard unit price. Such transfers require Custom Negotiation and a separate written agreement. Please contact the Translator directly for a buyout quote.

4. Delivery & Rush Fees

• Standard Turnaround: 7 business days from receipt of final source files and payment.

• Rush Services: Delivery within 3-4 business days is subject to a 50% Rush Surcharge, selected at checkout.

• Force Majeure: The Translator is not liable for delays caused by natural disasters, technical failure, or illness, but will communicate timeline shifts immediately.

5. Cancellation & Refunds

• Pre-Work: A full refund (minus transaction fees) is available if cancelled within 2 hours of booking.

• In-Progress: If cancelled after work has begun, the Client is liable for a 50% cancellation fee or the pro-rata cost of work completed, whichever is greater.

• Post-Delivery: No refunds will be issued once final files have been delivered.

6. Revisions & Quality Assurance

• Interpretive Nature: Translation is an interpretive process. The Translator is not responsible for errors stemming from ambiguities in the Source Text.

• Included Revisions: Includes one (1) round of minor stylistic adjustments requested within 7 days of delivery.

• Scope Creep: Major rewrites resulting from changes to the source text after work has begun will be billed as a new project.

7. Confidentiality

The Translator maintains strict professional confidentiality. For highly sensitive projects, a Standard NDA is available upon request at no additional charge.