Bridging cultures

Bonmot was founded in Tokyo in 2013 with the expressive mission of making Japan more accessible. We do so by trying to excel in the following two fields: film & video production for commercial and/or journalistic projects and translation and interpreting between the languages English, Japanese and German.

What we do

Translation & interpreting

  • written translations between English, Japanese and German on a standard of high quality
  • specialized on literary formats, such as short stories, articles etc.
  • translation and overall handling of written communication between English, Japanese and German, e.g. for interaction with clients, negotiations, business contracts etc.
  • transliteration of recordings & translation of contents (English, Japanese, German)
  • subtitling of video material, including extensive timing & comprehension check
  • interpreting between the languages English, Japanese and German during meetings, interviews etc.

Film & video production

  • complete production and delivery of high-quality products with local or international crew
  • research during pre-production stages
  • local production support from pre-production stage to final product, including
    • reliable organisation of any necessary permits
    • location scouting throughout Japan, including necessary permits and detailed information
    • reliable transport and accommodation
    • gear and staff (camera, sound, photography, editing, mastering etc.)
    • cultural guidance (vital for e.g. correct approach of interviewees, business partners)
  • casting of local actors, interviewees, protagonists, characters, models for your project
  • post-production support (transcription & subtitling, reviewing audio & cuts, rights & distribution etc.)

Budget

We are happy to offer you great service at a price that suits your budget. For inquiries, please contact us via the e-mail address listed below.

What we’ve done

Some of our previous and current clients & projects


Complete production (incl. conceptual meetings, pre-production, on-location shoot, post-production etc.) of documentary series Walking in Oregon: Season 3 - Portland Life for Japanese TV channel TV Tokyo & Columbia Sportswear

 

Various translation works for public broadcasting station NHK,
including script translation (Japanese→German) of wartime drama Yuriko’s Picture Book (2016) and month-long (successful) pronounciation training with lead actor and Japan Academy Prize winner Teruyuki Kagawa


Scene & dialogue script translation (Japanese→German) for 2016 Japanese blockbuster Godzilla Resurgence

 

Continued interpreting (Japanese, English, German), additional research and subtitling works for Japanese TV hit show SMAStation for more than 2 years

 

Local production support (pre-production communication, interpreting, cultural advice, subtitling, rights acquisation of additional footage) for a documentary about rare sporting event Bo-Taoshi, shot at the National Defense Academy of Japan

Numerous translations of photo book descriptions, critical texts and quotes, as well as production of weekly newsletter at Asian photobook distributor shashasha.co

 

Why bonmot?

We believe a deep and respectful understanding of the cultures involved to be critical for the success of cultural endeavours, be it a literary translation, production of a documentary or news item, or communicating with business partners.

Bonmot has access to a unique wealth of experiences within Japan’s media and society, and it is the combination of both that makes us such a good choice for any projects of a cultural nature. Whether it is the rich history of Japanese traditional crafts, the revered sensibility of the Japanese movie and photography world, latest pop and fashion from the deeper corners of Shibuya – we live and love the finer sides of Japanese culture and have made it our mission to act as your bridge to Japan’s cultural sphere.

Thanks to years spent working in Japanese cinema and television production, we are deeply familiar with the methods and idiosyncracies of the Japanese media world. We would love for you to profit from our experience and access Japan on a native level.


Contact

The easiest way to contact us is via e-mail. For inquiries and commissions, please kindly send an e-mail to the following address:

hello@bonmot.jp

Of couse, we are happy to discuss more urgent projects via phone:

☎︎ 0081 90 9103 1540

 


Address

bonmot, Ltd.
Edogawa-ku Hirai 1-14-3 203
132-0035 Tokyo, Japan