IJET-31 in Fukuoka

Join JAT and your translator colleagues in Fukuoka for IJET-31!

Where will you be on June 5 to 7, 2020? If you’re a translator, interpreter, language-oriented company employee, or otherwise involved in the translation and interpreting professions, we hope you’ll join the Japan Association of Translators (JAT) to learn, network, build your skillset, and exchange ideas at the 31st International Japanese-English Translation (IJET) Conference in Fukuoka, Japan. IJET will take place in Elgala Hall in the Tenjin area of central Fukuoka. This year’s theme is Crossroads in Kyushu (世界から九州に、九州から世界へ).

Early-bird registration is now open for IJET-31. A limited venue capacity means we can offer only 300 tickets, so read the important information below and then click the REGISTRATION button to get your ticket today. Early-bird registration ends on March 31 if tickets don’t sell out before then.

Schedule

Friday, June 5 will feature casual pre-IJET translation workshops focused on different specializations. IJET-31 opens on Saturday, June 6 with an opening ceremony and keynote speech by highly influential video game localizer and localization director Richard Honeywood of LEVEL 5 titled “Localization of LEVEL-5 Video Games—It’s Not all Fun and Games.” A long lunch break for networking and an afternoon full of sessions on translation and interpreting will follow. A Fukuoka-accented Saturday evening networking banquet (included with registration) will conclude the day. Sunday will feature a whole day of educational sessions on translation, interpreting, and other relevant topics. Click the SESSIONS tab for a list of the sessions we will offer.

Hotels

If you require lodging, consider making a reservation soon. Conveniently located and affordable rooms are expected to fill up fast because there are several large events taking place in Fukuoka on the weekend of IJET-31. When deciding where to say, keep in mind that the conference venue—Elgala Hall—is near Tenjin and Tenjin-Minami Stations and the Saturday night banquet is at Takakura Hotel Fukuoka, near Yakuin Station. Nakasu also has many hotels and is within walking distance of the venue. A limited block of single-occupancy, no-smoking rooms at 6 Hotel New Gaea locations near the venue is available to attendees. Click here for locations. To reserve a room, call the number listed and tell them you are attending IJET. (Mention "IJET参加" when you reserve a room.) This offer expires on April 30 or when the block fills up, so act soon.

Friday zenyasai

First time in Fukuoka? The IJET committee has a list of activities on the Friday evening before IJET-31 to give you a taste of the city. Consider a ramen restaurant tour, yatai crawl, sake and American food pairing event, or a geocaching stroll. And you’re welcome to set up your own mini-zenyasai. We are gathering details from the organizers of the Friday evening events; details to follow.

Bentos and lunch

The lunch breaks at IJET are scheduled to last 2 hours (Saturday) and 90 minutes (Sunday). This will give you enough time to eat with colleagues at one of the many nearby restaurants. Many attendees will probably choose to eat at the venue. If you'll be staying in Elgala Hall for lunch, bring your own bento or purchase a bento ticket for one or both days when you register. As at previous IJETs, we'll offer themed lunch events for newcomers and translators of different specialties, and IJET sponsors may offer mid-day seminars to highlight their services and products.

Friday workshops

We have five Friday pre-IJET special-interest-group (SIG) events scheduled. Registration will open in early to mid-February. The events (and tentative times) are:

- KITG Interpreting Sessions and Guide Interpreting Demonstration - 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

- JATENT Entertainment Translation Workshop - 12:45 to 5:40 p.m.

- JATPATENT Patent Translation Workshop - 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

- Machine Translation Workshop  - Afternoon, times TBD

- JATPHARMA Pharma Translation Workshop - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Access

Fukuoka is a quick trip from most places in and even outside Japan. Once you’ve de-planed or de-trained, you’ll find getting to the IJET venue in Tenjin a cakewalk. Tenjin is just three subway stops from Hakata Station and five subway stops from the airport.

Enjoy your trip

Fukuoka is Kyushu’s largest and most happening city. Foodies and shoppers will love the many eating, drinking, and shopping opportunities provided by Fukuoka’s two central business districts (Tenjin and Hakata). Walkers and hikers will love Fukuoka’s many parks, beaches, green spaces, and temple areas, all easily reached via Fukuoka’s extensive public transportation system. Participants with an extra day or two will love journeying to one of Kyushu’s many crown jewels, which include Mt. Aso, Yakushima, Beppu/Yufuin, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima.

See you soon,

Benjamin Tompkins

Chair, IJET-31 Organizing Committee

AND

Tony Atkinson

President, Japan Association of Translators