e-ShortNews

Volunteers Contributing Their Time to “English Short News”

In 1999, the English version of our newsletter made a fresh start after a period of suspension. Thanks to many people performing voluntary and unremunerated work, we can now celebrate its 10th anniversary. Ms. Hiroko Minowa and Ms. Keiko Matsuura have been our translators since 2000, and Ms. Ikuko Imamura since 2002. They are all busy women, playing an active part in society. In 2007 our translating staff became even more competent with Ms. Matsushita participating. This year Ms. Mami Kawaguchi joined us as a young and powerful member.

In retrospect, I cannot help being overwhelmed by so many people’s generosity and goodwill that has supported our activity. Mr. Tokio Inoue took upon himself the job of translating the foreword (now taken over by Ms. Minowa) for many years since the first issue of the newly-resumed English Short News, to ensure its regular publication. Ms. Tomomi Saeki was a fast worker, whose translation flew back to me like a boomerang as soon as I sent her an article. The American-raised Ms. Mariko Doioka enhanced the quality of our newsletter with her fluent English. Ms. Sachiko Ito supported us greatly with her sophisticated layout of the pages as well as translation and proofreading. In recent years, Ms. Liko Kanno, a young director of our Association, has been doing the page layout, willing to stay up all night if necessary.

What is indispensable in such translation process is native proofreading. Since 2000, Mr. John Cochrane and Mr. Robert York, who once studied in a Japanese class of our Association, have been sacrificing their precious time to support us. The English version is now published four times a year, but in the first several years it was issued more than ten times a year. Even in those hectic days they proofread all the articles so willingly and kindly. I really admire their volunteer spirit.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of English Short News, the PR committee decided to “include in each article its translator’s name” and to introduce the translating staff in the April 2009 issue of the Japanese version. We also sent a copy of the latest English version (No. 252-3) to all Meguro UNESCO members. It is our sincere hope to improve our English newsletter so that it can help promote international understanding. We earnestly await readers’ frank opinions and comments.

-written and translated by Michiko Miyamoto