Freelance Interpretation:

Megurun Inc.

Translation/ Interpretation/ offering general advice on Yamabushi culture for BBC Travel, STORIED magazine, GQ France, Wondertrunk Magazine (Tokyo), Suitcase Magazine (London), Fritz Schumann (Germany), VJTM sales, Telegraph, A/R France, Lonely Planet, Maison Du Voyage, Inside Japan Tours etc. (see a list here).

2017: Became Certified Yamabushi, Yamabushi name: Ryosen

Project-sub leader for multiple Yamabushido Experiences:

Sendatsu Joshu: Master's Assistant on multiple trainings:

2017: May, August.

2018: July, August, September, November

2019: April, July, August, September, November

Yamagata Prefecture Spiritual Culture Promotion in Paris, 2018

Sakata Beika Rice Cracker Factory - Two days interpreting for an international supermarket looking to expand their range of rice crackers.

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Genuine Education Network Cultural Bridge Connector (CBC):

May 2017: interpreting and leading a food culture study trip in Tsuruoka including interpretation for Dainichibo Ryusuiji Temple, Sasamaki making, stay at Tamugiso Ryokan, and Mt. Haguro

Jan-Feb 2018: interpreting and leading a food culture study trip in Tsuruoka and Mie Prefectures

Nov-Dec 2018: Interpreting for Shojin Ryori Cuisine at Saikan on Mt. Haguro

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Sakata City Host Town Advisor:

October 2016 onwards: As the Sakata City Host Town Advisor I have translated and interpreted communication including meetings and emails between Triathlon NZ and Sakata City.

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Freelance Translation:

Language and culture are so hard to separate that they are sometimes considered the same thing, and the role of a translator is not to simply translate the language, but also the culture behind it. With such a unique and at times quirky culture, Japan is often considered to still be cut off from the outside world, and it takes decades of experience completely immersed in the culture to even have a small chance of successfully translating it into another language.

My extensive experience learning and living the Japanese language and culture, and that in an area as unique as the rural Shonai Region of Yamagata, has put me in an excellent position to be able to translate into English. Combine this with my experience as a writer, such as in gaining my M.A. in Applied Linguistics, or more recently researching and piecing together articles of interest, and the work speaks for itself.

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Books:

 Abe Toshiyuki: In Search of Calm Light partial translation

I'm currently translating Master Hoshino's first book Kanjiru mama ni ikinasai.

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Booklets / Pamphlets:

Yura Fish Booklet

Dewa Sanzan Japan Heritage Booklet

Tsuruoka food map

Shonai Story Book

Guide to living in Shonai

Hanabusa Soy Sauce Factory

Cherry Picking at Suzuki Farms

Somaro Maiko Teahouse and Hina Doll Gallery pamphlet

Sokushinbutsu: Self-mummified monks’ pamphlet native check

Matsuo Basho pamphlet

Kiyokawa Pamphlet

Taxi guide pamphlet for Shonai Kotsu

Shiroshozoku Yamabushi garments pamphlet

Sendai Bus Pamphlet for Shonai Kotsu

Seseragi no Noh event pamphlet

Buratan: Walk around Sakata event pamphlet

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Websites:

Suiden Terrasse Hotel: Whole site translation

Samurai Silk: Whole site translation

Dewa Sanzan Japan Heritage: Whole site translation

Shonaibase.com (out of action)

Abe Toshiyuki Watercolour Artist: English Page

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Videos:

Intangible cultural properties in the Shonai Region, multiple videos

Dewa Sanzan:

Shojin Ryori Short version, long version

Dewa Sanzan Journey of Rebirth: Short version, long version

Dewa Sanzan Autumn/ Winter: Short version, long version

Shonai Create

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Plays:

Prince Hachiko: The Play

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Other:

Letters between the Mayor of Sakata City and the Mayor of Delaware

Naa Farmer's Restaurant Sign

Atsumi Onsen signs

Mt. Haguro signs

Nezugaseki explanation

Legend of Yoshitsune Story

Dewa Sanzan App Privacy Policy translation

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Presentations:

2015: Forum 21

2016: JALT on Pronunciation

2017: Moshieno Daigaku (Japanese)

2017: How similar are NZ and Japan

2020: New Zealand's response to the Coronavirus

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Publications

Bunting, T. S. G., & Sultonov, M. (2020). Effective Implementation of Content-Based Language Teaching in the Japanese Context. Tohoku University of Community Service and Science General Research Collection 38. pp. 3-11.

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Promotional Videos I appear in:

Sakata City Promotional Video

Tsuruoka City Promotional Video

Dewa Sanzan Promotional Video

Yamagata Prefecture Promotional Video (Japanese)

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Articles I appear in:

Shonai Zukan (Japanese)

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Writing / Website Design:

Dewasanzan.com multiple articles (I made the whole website, from setting up all the pages and doing the SEO, to writing all the articles, however about 10% of the photos were not taken by me).

I helped set up a company called TheHiddenJapan a few years back, helping make the website and do the SEO, and I wrote quite a few articles for them, however some of them have since been edited. Here are the articles I wrote:

Somaro Maiko Teahouse and Hina Doll Gallery	Spots for viewing Sakura in Shonai	Dewa Sanzan	Sakata City on foot
The Sanno Club	Mt. Gassan	Shoreisei Festival	The 16 Arhats of Yuza (Juroku Rakan)
The Abumiya Residence	Mt. Haguro	Ken Domon Photography Museum	Gyokusenji Temple
The Historical Residence of the Honma Family	Mt. Yudono	Sakata City	Mt. Chokai
The Waterfalls of Mt. Chokai	The Honma Museum

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Social Media

You've probably seen my personal Instagram account with over 6,500 followers. I've also built the Facebook and Instagram accounts for Yamabushido and The Dewa Sanzan, each with over 2500 followers.

I recently hit 500 subscribers on YouTube too.