The Origin of a Sports Interpreter Who Jumped In Without Speaking English

Yes, I am a sports interpreter. Although sports interpreting covers a wide range of scenarios, my original experience was working for a professional basketball team, interpreting for foreign players and coaches. After gaining experience as a team interpreter, I am now a freelancer. As a freelancer, for example, when an international tournament is held in Japan, I interpret at press conferences for teams from other countries. Additionally, I stay close to overseas players during their stay in Japan to guide them, ensuring they don't face any difficulties. If they need something, I communicate it to the tournament organizers to make their stay in Japan smooth. For instance, I often accompany them to the hospital if they get injured. It's not just about interpreting; it's about using English to truly support the players and coaches.

Initially, I worked with a team for about five years. However, that working style meant no rest days during the season due to numerous away games, and pre-season training camps. Even on off days, if a foreign player wanted to go shopping at Costco or needed someone to accompany their child to the hospital, I would support them. This led to years of having no days off. After experiencing this, I realized that while staying in this industry and deepening my involvement was an option, I wanted more. The sports industry is very niche, with each sport having its own closed world, valuing long-standing cultures and relationships. However, this also made it feel very closed off. To grow as a professional and gain experience in various fields, I became a freelancer.

I entered the sports industry at the age of 26. Before that, after graduating and starting work, I wanted an English-related job but wasn't sure what. I started in sales at an English conversation school, where I excelled and felt a sense of accomplishment, but eventually burned out. Considering what I wanted to do next, I remembered my love for sports from playing lacrosse in college and my passion for English. This led me to recall the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the coach, Philippe Troussier, had a French-Japanese interpreter named Mr. Dabadie, who became very famous for his work. This reminded me of the interpreting job and inspired me to challenge myself in the sports industry.

I somehow passed the interview, mainly due to my enthusiasm. During the interview, my English proficiency was checked, of course, since I was applying for an interpreting position. However, at that time, I couldn't speak English well. After the English check, I was told my English might not be sufficient, which was disheartening. But the interviewer, impressed by my enthusiasm, invited me to watch a game that weekend in Kansai. I bought a ticket at Lawson and went to the game. At that time, waiting outside for players was common, so I joined the fans in waiting. When the interviewer appeared, I introduced myself, surprising him. He asked how the game was, and although I didn't know much about basketball, I said it was very interesting. He then invited me to the next practice, and from there, I started helping out, eventually getting officially hired.

I started with no English proficiency, so I was given simple tasks at first, like conveying messages to foreign players or interpreting interviews. Even that was challenging. I vividly remember my first time interpreting a hero interview. The foreign player, chosen as the day's hero, stood in the center of the court, and when I was handed the microphone to translate, my body shook. Despite the simple message to the fans, I managed to convey it without stumbling over my words. It was my first time interpreting in front of an audience, and I remember the intense nervousness clearly.

If there are no incidents, practices might end in the evening or midday. However, the season is long, and players may get injured or struggle to find things in a new country. If a player says they want to buy something not available locally but found two hours away, I would go and buy it for them to help them settle in. This support indirectly affects their performance, so providing continuous support throughout the season is demanding for the staff.

When I was a team interpreter, translating practice content was challenging because I wasn't used to it. I always wondered if I was conveying everything correctly, fearing miscommunications. Before translating for players, I would confirm with coaches, but during practice, especially on bad days with harsh words flying around, I constantly thought about how I could improve my communication to make things smoother. Translating practice and competition-related content required a lot of attention.

As the season progresses, the schedule becomes tight, leaving little rest time, which can lead to frustration over not being able to translate well, affecting both physical and mental health. Since becoming a freelancer, the main challenge has been the physical toll of frequent flights. Rather than finding the work itself tough, it's the travel time that's exhausting. For example, flying to Hawaii overnight and arriving in the morning, while the players are energetic, I'm tired and want to sleep, making the time difference and travel very tiring.

Balancing work and life is challenging. As a freelancer, managing workload and working hours is difficult. When requests come in, even when already busy, there's a desire to take them on, leading to overwork. I've experienced this myself, finding it hard to balance. Freelancers often struggle to intentionally maintain balance, making it a challenging way to work.

After experiencing interpreting roles, such as team or event interpreter, I realized that interpreters are called to the stage prepared by others. This made me curious about how preparations are made. Now, I'm involved in operational roles, sometimes hiring interpreters. Understanding the efforts behind the scenes changes my approach when called to interpret. Knowing the preparations involved, I feel a greater responsibility to make the event successful. I don't want interpreting to be just about the surface-level work.

I'm interested in creating something, like organizing sports events or building communities. Instead of just interpreting on-site, I want to rent venues, invite people, and create stages. I'm more interested in the process of making things happen.

Five years ago, I couldn't have imagined my current situation. In the past five years, as a freelancer, I've managed the women's basketball team and worked with the rugby national team. Five years ago, I never thought I'd work with national teams. I can't predict exactly where I'll be in five years, but I believe in the rewards of consistent, honest effort. Even without grand goals, I think staying true to myself and working diligently will lead me to a good place.

Many people express interest but also mention their anxiety about whether they can do it. I understand this feeling, as I still feel anxious when taking on new jobs or entering new environments. This anxiety never truly goes away. However, taking that first step can change your life. I was anxious when I joined a basketball team as an interpreter without fluent English, yet taking that step led me to where I am now. I hope others won't let their anxiety hold them back from taking that first step.