JAPANESE ENGLISH TRANSLATION JOBS, HIRING A STUDENT IN TOKYO: LOOKING FOR AN INTERN! WRITING & NONPROFIT WORK.
Mecha-sized news! Sebastiano Serafini and La Carmina are HIRING. Who’s ready to enter the inner echelon of our spooky-cute universe?
We have earth-shaking creative and non-profit projects planned in 2011 — involving TV, music, travel, and major media. We’re looking for someone native in Japanese and English, to assist us with translation and writing. Read on for job details and how to submit your resume… as well as cute photos.
REQUIREMENTS:
† The applicant MUST have perfect spoken/written knowledge of Japanese and English. Ideally a native speaker, beyond JLPT 1 fluency. You’ll be translating important documents, so knowing Japanese business language is essential.
† You MUST be consistently reachable by email, and able to do FAST turnarounds (such as translating emails within a day). We email and IM constantly; you must be able to match our madcap pace.
† We PREFER someone based in Tokyo, Japan. But we’ll consider applicants from any location, as long as you are always email/IM accessible. Applicants can be of ANY age, nationality, etc.
† The time commitment varies but should not take more than 1-2 hours a day. We’ll typically require a few short translations or help with making calls/scheduling.
BENEFITS:
† You’ll be an important team member of our major, top-secret projects. That means insider access into our world (high fashion, celebs, TV projects) in Tokyo, LA, NYC and worldwide.
† Much of the work is for a high-profile non-profit organization, so you’ll be helping out a wonderful cause.
† There’s no pay to start, but you’ll be showered in freebies: Goth Lolita Punk clothing, Visual Kei concert passes and CDS, meetings with your favorite Jrock celebrities and Evil Queens… We’re also happy to assign college credit and write you a glowing work recommendation.
Are you ready to board the pirate ship? Or can you think of a friend who might be a great fit? Email us ASAP – gothiccarmina {at} gmail {dotcom} – telling us how you fit the requirements and why you want to be part of Spookyville. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment in this post.
Sebastiano is wearing…
Hat: gifted from BlaBlaHospital (he is the main model for the punk brand)
Cat jacket: Yellow House. He stole it from me.
Spine silver necklace and ring: gifted from Like Atmosphere (Japanese jewelry designer he models for — he’s shooting a catalog for them today!)
Shoes: Marui
La Carmina is wearing…
T-shirt: Stand Up! The Fragile (Seba models for this designer)
Skirt: Prada, gifted from 365 Hangars
Bow headband: gifted from And Devour)
Floral Japanese knee highs: gifted from Artisan Socks
Fuzzy cat scarf: from a stall in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
Goth crochet purse: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Harajuku (got it for 500 yen!)
Shiny ankle boots: Alice and the Pirates, from Closet Child Harajuku
A gazillion more photos to come from our Los Angeles Invasion. Here’s a teaser from our decadent New Year’s Eve (photo by La Madre is Watching; knit bow headband gifted from CamdenLock Clothing).
PS: Thank you to Tina for the cute fanart drawing, and to Haruko-sama for interviewing me and Naomi about our coolhunting business, La Carmina & The Pirates. Read it on her blog and after the jump.
Do you like our homeless-punk fashion? Can you think of anyone who might be a good English-Japanese translator for us? We’d appreciate if you spread the word about our hiring gig!
Japanese Word of the Day: Saiyou = Hiring
Song of the Day: Kuroyume 黒夢 – Beams
La Carmina & the Pirates
By SIMONE | Published: JANUARY 3, 2011
Three months ago, blogger/author/journalist/TV host La Carmina and Japanese-English translator Naomi Rubin launched a new business: La Carmina and the Pirates, which is configured not only to provide cool hunting and trend spotting services, but also TV and film fixing, on-camera hosting, social media assistance, translating, and travel-guiding. Right as the company launched, La Carmina and Naomi graciously took the time to give some extra background on their business. The result: a fascinating interview, which you can read below!
CE: The first time we had an interview, you did not intend to do much coolhunting work- what brought you down this path?
La Carmina: In fact, our interview was an impetus, since I never thought of my work from a coolhunter perspective until then! I’ve built up a readership for my musings on Japan Goth fashion/nightlife/pop culture (on my La Carmina blog). Companies found me via my site, and asked me to host TV shows, arrange and consult. To date, these experiences have included CNN, NHK, Travel Channel, Canal Plus, Sony Australia and Dutch Pepsi. My First Mate, Naomi, is invaluable as a translator and scheduler on Tokyo TV shoots. As our work offers increased, it made sense to start our own coolhunting company: La Carmina & The Pirates.
How does La Carmina & The Pirates differentiate itself from other trend spotters and trend spotting firms?
Naomi: Our sea-faring name comes from the way we immerse ourselves in the topics we cover. Here’s an example: Let’s say you’re interested in writing an exposé on Gothic Lolita fashion, but you have no idea where to start. We’ll give you the big names to follow, hook you up with a fashion show to cover, take care of all the translations including jargon specific to that industry, and make sure you are cleared for any of the footage you need. This is not something your typical translation/film-fixing service will do!
La Carmina: The pirates imagery is apt. We actively take part in and identify with young Goth/alternative/Japan subcultures. So we’ve got the personal connections and insider insight. We tap into our social networks, work fast and deliver hard.
You allude to a team of ‘Pirates’ with whom you work on trend research. Are these coolhunters? Production experts? Personal friends? How might they differ from more traditional groups of trend scouts?
Naomi: The pirates who man our full-rigged ship are professionals and academics within the subcultures we cover. We work with business owners, PR experts, as well as the event organizers, artists, and performers who shape some of the very trends we cover.
La Carmina: No fat-cat overhead, jargon and focus groups here. We have a huge social network of friends and associates — innovative designers, musicians, entrepreneurs — that help us provide access and information, depending on the company’s needs. Everyone’s part of the same underground family, so we trust each other and help each other out.
Can you tell me some of your favorite experiences so far from your TV fixing, hosting and coolhunting work?
Naomi: I have a favorite home-style restaurant and bar called “Kagaya” in downtown Shinbashi that anyone covering wacky Japan should visit. The Japanese owner, who calls himself “Mark” has been running the place for over twenty years. Without giving too much away, a trip there will result in a multi-course meal of traditional vegetables and tofu, several costumed puppet-shows, interactive performance art, and if you’re lucky, some fun vintage parting gifts!
La Carmina: At the Dutch Pepsi shoot, the fun included playing shooting games at the Sega center, eating Cheshire Cat sundaes at the Alice in Wonderland café, and crooning Alanis songs at karaoke. I took Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods (for Travel Channel) to a jail-themed horror restaurant, which was an unforgettable experience. It’s hard to top brain matter martinis and bedpans of beer!
[Thanks, Naomi & La Carmina!]
La Carmina & the Pirates poses as yet another example of a trend spotting company morphing into something more of a full-service agency, as the consultancy positions itself as a one-stop shop for Japanese pop culture and subculture research, guidance, and coverage. What makes La Carmina and the Pirates particularly interesting is its co-founders’ unique backgrounds and niche focus. While other consultancies present themselves as experts in design, fashion, technology, or formal academic research, La Carmina & The Pirates’ presents itself as the ultimate authority in cutting-edge Japanese culture. This gives them a distinct advantage, since many other trend spotting companies cannot lay claim to the social leverage that true insiders such as Naomi and La Carmina are able to exercise when it comes to research and presentation.
In short, La Carmina & The Pirates is a fascinating new project, presenting both a model and a new endeavor that is definitely worth watching.
SHARE & COMMENT
LA CARMINA
55 Comments
good luck everyone!!!
<3 Thanks for the support!
you’re welcome!! I’d love to work by your side but I just know basic Janapese so I’m not the person you’re looking for even if I know business Spanish and English
I just forget to say that both of you are amazing in these pics *_*
Oooh we have worldwide plans so… we may definitely be needing help for Spanish!! <3 Will keep you posted!
I’ll be waiting for that day!! <3333
I’m not quite fluent enough to take on important documents like that XD Alas, more studying for me! But I will definitely pass on the information.
Best of luck! <3
Thank you for thinking of us!! <3
Man…this is why I need to take Japanese lessons…
I hope there will be future positions open as well! Working with you would be great!
Absolutely!!! I’m sure we’ll have more pirate missions in the future ;)
Will said missions be available to all ages, too? I really love your work, but as a young minor there isn’t much I’m able to do. I have a lot of friends who fit the profile, but arent that into Lolita. <.< Maybe I could take their clothes… But, yes. I really wish that you make lots of kids clothes in the future!
How exciting! If I can help in any way I definitely will! Hope you get plenty of spooky lovelies to choose from <3
If only I had JLPT1 or above!! I would do a lot for a job like this!!^^
*passes along link to pal that has Japanese-English online singles hub*
Looks like a very sweet gig.(I’ll see if any of my japanese fluent friends will apply to this) This is why all you kiddies should study hard when your in a language class. :)
Thanks for the referrals!
私はどのような方法私もできるのお手伝いを致します！幸運海賊狩り！
This definitely makes me want to do well in Japanese since it is my minor. I hope I can work with you soon!
I hope so too!
Oh, man! I wish I were fluent enough! Good luck! I’d pass it on, but the only person I know already works in the industry…
Thank you dear!
i don’t know the japanese language and i’m not from japan.T___T
i bet whoever gets hired will definitely have so much fun. /envy
good luck to all. hehe
Thanks so much!! <3
Oh…..I really really want to sign up but I’m neither native in Japanese nor English and not even location in Tokyo. And my Japaneses is not very well since I’m now focous on my double majors( I choose Spanish as my second foreign language so no advance Japanese classes now:(). Could I just sign up as a little back-up.
Have a great day<3
Thanks so much — keep it up!!!
Happy 2011!
Love the FB updates.
Happy for you!!!
XOXO
very very cute waaaa..! i like so much n_n
What about Yukiro?
I really want to be part of ur world!!!!
Yea I know what you mean Vanessa…. I have been following La Carmina since she added my best friend on myspace like omg years ago lol before facebook was invented
yea, I been following her a long time too. is do anything to network with her. i made a jrock fashion show line, would be honored if she saw it :) hope to work with her someday
well Im just a Lolita and jrock obsessed american girl lol. and Im a nerd…. Im kinda shy too so even if I did get it Id be so nervous haha. that and im flat broke and cant move anywhere at the moment lmao
OMG
>_<
let me know if you need someone native in Mandarin and English
(I so need a fun job like this)
OMG! Actually, we MIGHT need exactly that… we’d LOVE to work with you!! I have your email and Facebook… I’ll write to you soon! xoxo
I would like to live in USA and be the intern for u
I’m jealous of the intern already! Lol
Omg~! If only I could speak Japanese!
Well, I guess this came only four years to soon! D:
<3 <3
Hii (: I have a question, although not about the Job Offer. I would apply the first sec. I heard about it if I could speak Japanese. haha Anways, I was wondering if you know where to get an earchain? Preferably from a place that ships internationally? I live in the U.S. but can’t seem to find them. By earchains I mean that they connect to your cartilage peircing and entends to the lobe piercings. Do you know of any place? Thankss!<3
Hmmm I’m afraid I don’t… I don’t have any piercings myself haha. Perhaps you can try some Gothic / Industrial piercing stores online?
もううううううう！！！！なんであね！
I’m only beginning to learn Japanese. I do have 1 friend in Tokyo, and a friend’s brother who lives in Tokyo…but they, well…they can’t really “speak” English that well. As far as writing it, it’s pretty easy for them and you can understand most of it…but I guess they need some work with spelling and grammar here and there.
I’m pretty sure nearly 99% of the readers would want to do this. Like them though…I’m only beginning to learn Japanese and don’t live in Tokyo. Plus the other thing is that I’m SO DAMN BUSY WITH THIS SEMESTER. DAMN IT!!! I’m thankful that I got this day off because of MLK day, but other than that I’m still pretty screwed.
So I e-mailed my friend about it anyway, but then I realized that she doesn’t get back to e-mails until a week after (so she’s kind of not a good fit haha…she does have a lot going on), and then I asked my friend whether he could ask his brother of whether or not he’s interested. So we’ll see. I’m sure someone will turn up though.
Keep it up with the rocking and fashion v.v, I’ll just have to get back to doing my math.
I hope I can have many people involved in our projects… it’ll be a big year!! <3
Thanks so much for your referral! Good luck with your work ;)
I might have taken up this offer had it come along a year ago. XD Do not underestimate my ability to learn a lot very quickly! Finding someone fluent in both languages will be a toughie, but I’m going to pass this along. =]
<3 <3 Thank you!
Dayum. If only I were still in Tokyo and still had access to my language practice. D; I could’ve been golden at speaking/writing/translating by now…
<3 <3
Cry* T_T I am only in my second semester of Japanese! What an awesome job opportunity! I will definitely suggest this to my friend Amanda, though, she’s just finishing up her bachelor’s degree in Japanese Language, spent 5 months living in Ousaka and is actually looking for a translation position right now! ^_^
Thanks for referring us!
I’m learning Japanese in school, I wish I could fast-forward my learning. It would be such a dream to work with you. I’m sorry for not being able to help!! > -<
I’m sure we’ll work together soon!
I’m in pre-advanced Japanese courses, and currently taking a Japanese translation course. I would gladly do small projects for free (well in exchange for recommendations). I really want to do work in translation geared towards fashion, so this would be ideal for me to start this type of wrok. Email me at lenamarie0485@gmail.com if you’re interested in the free labor XD
-Lena
I LIKE IT ,VERY MUCH!
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Amazing write-up! This could aid plenty of people find out more about this particular issue. Are you keen to integrate video clips coupled with these? It would absolutely help out. Your conclusion was spot on and thanks to you; I probably won’t have to describe everything to my pals. I can simply direct them here!
I’m a year late to this and I’m not at that level quite yet but I would love to do something like this once I graduate… any future prospects?
Of course, please keep in touch!
ahh i heard about this when it first came up! too bad i haven’t learned Japanese. YET. But if you ever need a Spanish translator I’m here! :D