4 Practical Tips for Japanese Software Localization

For software and SaaS vendors looking to broaden their worldwide reach in a new region, Japan is a profitable market. However, if you want to introduce your business in this country, professional Japanese software localization is a must.

This article will introduce 4 handy tips for you to successfully localize your software in this prosperous market.

The Software Market in Japan

One of the biggest segments of the Japanese information and communications technology (ICT) business is the software sector. The importance of software development and associated goods has increased in this country.

The software industry’s revenues have increased significantly in recent years and will total almost 16.7 trillion Japanese yen in the 2020 fiscal year. More than 837.6 thousand individuals are employed by software firms, creating a huge employment sector.

Japan is a desirable investment location for many businesses on the path to global expansion because of its sophisticated technology, passion for innovation, and catch-up with digitalization.

4 Tips to Promote Your Japanese Software Localization

Localizing your product to Japan may be a successful marketing tactic because many Japanese individuals are not fluent in English and favor domestic applications over “international” apps. Therefore, to assist you, GTE Localize has outlined 5 helpful practices that might help you a lot while localizing your software into Japanese.

#1. Pay Attention to The Metadata

The first thing to do when adapting your Japanese software localization is to separate each term with a space in a title or subtitle. This action will improve keyword indexation and reduce the likelihood that your work will be rejected for keyword stuffing.

Also, it is advised to have relevant, properly written keywords in the title and subtitle regardless of how popular they are in searches. In a few instances, you may be able to employ common phrases that users are more likely to use while searching, depending on how you want your brand to be seen and the demographic you are trying to reach.

Moreover, to optimize visibility, you should divide each keyword in the keyword field by a comma. And with English-language brands, it might be helpful to include the various Japanese character sets (alphabet, hiragana, and katakana), as well as any potential spelling errors, incorrect pronunciations of terms, or informal and high-volume keywords in the keyword box.

#2. Creativeness in Japanese Software Localization

The native customer’s aesthetic for Japanese software localization, which refers to a manga style that is very well-liked in Japan, is what the Japanese like when it comes to creative materials like icons, screenshots, and videos.

L10n managers should localize their software’s user interfaces and model languages. Your creatives will appeal to Japanese viewers more if they have manga-related motifs or Asian models in their Japanese game software localization.

Icon

In Japan, the text is typically placed on icons to signify important updates, milestones, and special occasions. Localizing your symbol to reflect particular seasonal occasions (Cherry Blossoms, Golden Week, White Day) is an excellent method to increase the perceived relevance of your app among Japanese customers.

Understanding seasonal events and utilizing them to your advantage by modifying your symbol to identify certain seasonal events is preferable.

Screenshot

Compared to Western app stores, Japanese ones frequently include screenshots that are more text-heavy and packed. Native publishers add emotive and distinctive effects to their app store images by incorporating several little components.

At the same time, the general colors for screenshots are carefully chosen for the Japanese software localization. Since Japanese people enjoy complex and dense images, in contrast to Western users who prefer a simple design style, the RGB bright color scheme providing visual excitement is preferable.

#3. Font Style & Font Color

The choice of font style is essential to the content of Japanese software localization since the fonts may serve a variety of functions. Most often used typefaces fall into one of three categories: Gothic, Mincho-styled, and Handwritten or Textured.

• For everyday statements, Gothic Font is advised. And for emphasis, you can use the bigger font of this style.
• The Mincho-styled Font can be used to accentuate a surreal, historical, or fantastical context as well as to convey emotion.
• Short, quick words or exclamations as well as the expression of perplexing circumstances are typically written in a Handwritten or Textured Font.

The font color choice is also important since different colors are utilized based on the speaker, the message, and the emotions being communicated. In general, Japanese software localizations prefer to employ vibrant hues, particularly yellow and orange.

#4. Social Proof and Sensitive Topics in Japan

In Japan, social proofing has shown to be highly powerful. Arguments based on social proofing are effective in persuading Japanese people to download an app or game. Therefore, you should actively consider social proofing when creating your screenshots and while composing the first three sentences of your extended description.

However, in Japanese culture, certain subjects are not well welcomed. It is advised to avoid endorsing any religion, cigarette product imagery, or drug imagery. Additionally, it’s crucial to incorporate Japanese cultural components rather than Chinese ones while using them since Japanese users won’t accept the confusion.

You might also want to read:

• Useful Tips For Localization Into The Japanese Market
• Boost Up Your Business With A Professional Japanese Translation Partner

Work With Professional Localization Agency

Japan is a nation with a vibrant culture, a challenging language, and a lucrative technology market. It is advisable for you to create a savvy Japanese software localization plan with an experienced translation agency that brings qualified personnel to the table.

And one of the top options is GTE Localize, a reputable translation and localization firm with talented translators and PMs who are well-versed in Japanese tech tools and have management strength. We can provide you with quick, precise, affordable Japanese software localization services, and pave your path for dominating the Japanese market.

Book a free consultation with our expert to get the best quote and practical solutions for your projects.

You can download our White Paper for helpful localization advice into 10 Asian countries if you intend to translate your material into other Asian languages.