Hugh Wilson Nettelbeck
I am a Japanese to English translator, born in Australia and currently living in Tokyo. I specialise in film and television subtitling, although I am well qualified to provide translation of screenplays, promotional materials, stage plays and academic articles in fields relating to Film Studies. I am also currently a full-time lecturer in Translation Studies and Academic English at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University’s School of Arts and Sciences. Please contact me if you require subtitling or other translation services.
In addition to my translation and academic work, I am an amateur filmmaker and have written, directed, produced, edited, and translated several short films featuring both Japanese and English dialogue.
Qualifications
- JLPT N1 level Japanese (passed 2017)
- Certificate of Translation Training (Rikkyo University, 2020)
- Master in Translation Studies (Rikkyo University, 2020)
- PhD in Translation Studies (Monash University, 2024)
Academic Background
I completed a Master’s in Translation Studies at Rikkyo University (Tokyo), and a PhD in translation studies at Monash University (Melbourne). My research for both degrees explored challenges in the subtitling process, including how to best convey the nuance of characters’ speech styles when translating Japanese films into English.
I also have a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences and a Bachelor of Languages (Major: Japanese, Minor: Linguistics) from Adelaide University (2016). During my undergraduate studies I completed a year of exchange at Sophia University (2015), where I took intensive Japanese classes. Following graduation, I completed a year as a research student at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (2017), researching the translation of dialogue in subtitles.
Currently, I am employed at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University’s School of Arts and Sciences, where I am conducting research investigating the international distribution of Japanese films.
Professional Background in Translation
I completed an internship at DeanShimauchi Translations, a subtitling company in Tokyo, between 2019 and 2020. During this time, I participated in many projects including the translation and subtitling of feature films and documentaries, translation of screenplays, editing of English subtitles and production of PR materials.
Since 2020 I have worked on various freelance projects, including translation and editing of short and feature films, websites, academic theses and a stage play.