Japanese Flag Attibuted To Okinawa

[HBT]

Chris-
You can find translation services listed online. Like most things, some are better than others. I find that many of the companies provide services such as taking your English website and translating it into Japanese. It is a great function, but sometimes you need someone who appreciates history and who will go the extra mile in giving you the additional meaning you need in order to make your flag or other item more meaningul once translated. If you have shrine hanko, many of the folks cannot read them. You often have to find someone else to do that for you. In additon, most companies have a $75-$100 minimum charge (that is pretty typical.) They usually will take an image of your flag and then tell you what the charge will be based on the content you choose to have translated. If you have only names (dry) as Nick says, you won't want to pay alot of money in most cases to have all of those translated.
I would always ask before I had my items translated whether there were names of cities present, poems, dates or military related names present. I always wanted those translated. Then I would ask about unusual slogans. As Nick said, there are many typical ones. Other typical ones might be "Victory," "Banzai," "Loyalty-Courage," "Destroy the United States, and Britain," "Death With Laughter Brings Joy," etc. If there was none of that, then I would simply have the dedication lines translated so that I could see who presented the flag and who might have received it.
If Nick is suggesting you get your flag translated, then it probably has some unusual messages. Hope this helps you further........Mike

Thanks Mike. I will take your advise when looking to have my flag translated. Did I read somewhere in a thread that you are putting together a book on flags?

I think it would be a great service to have specialists at larger shows like the Max or SOS that could translate (for a fee) German and Japanese items. It could be an effective promotional tool to advertise. I certainly would pay to have my Japanese flag translated. I also have Wehrpass's that would benefit from translation.

I attended a Japanese sword show in Minneapolis, MN last spring and they had Shinsa that were flown in from Japan to evaluate swords for a fee. It was great to watch them. The person I attended the show with brought a sword that he thought was mumei (false signature), but it ended up being real. He was very pleased.

---Chris

[MikeB]

Japanese Flag attributed to Okinawa

Chris-
Your idea for translation opportunities at the shows is a really good one. If something like this were advertised in advance, I would bet folks would come out of the woodwork to use it.
I have finished up a book on Good Luck Flags and One Thousand Stitch Belts that is due out (according to Barnes and Noble) April 28, 2008 and is being published by Schiffer Books. It will cover a number of Good Luck Flag types and various One Thousand Stitch items and show many examples with profuse translations. The book will have over 650 illustrations and be approximately 320 pages long. Mike

[HBT]

Chris-
Your idea for translation opportunities at the shows is a really good one. If something like this were advertised in advance, I would bet folks would come out of the woodwork to use it.
I have finished up a book on Good Luck Flags and One Thousand Stitch Belts that is due out (according to Barnes and Noble) April 28, 2008 and is being published by Schiffer Books. It will cover a number of Good Luck Flag types and various One Thousand Stitch items and show many examples with profuse translations. The book will have over 650 illustrations and be approximately 320 pages long. Mike

Mike,
Just a thought... You could organize and facilitate this translation service at major shows in conjunction with a book signing to promote your new Schiffer book! All at the same table even.

---Chris

[MikeB]

Japanese Flag attributed to Okinawa

Chris-
You have a great idea there! Now all I need is to line up a good translator to take with me on the road. Hopefully she is intelligent and good looking!!! Mike

[Josh Beckett]

Yeah, but technically there were at least two fools to drive the bid up like that!

---Chris

Yes, you are correct, this is what happens when you get two people who really really really, did I say really want something.