Kate Spade Japanese–English Translator / Interpreter
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Department
- Human Resources, People & Culture
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- May 12, 2026
About Kate Spade
Kate Spade New York is a global lifestyle fashion brand celebrated for its colorful, optimistic design DNA across handbags, ready‑to‑wear, jewelry, footwear and home décor. The brand is part of the Tapestry portfolio, a global house of brands that emphasizes creativity, inclusivity and cross‑border collaboration.
Kate Spade — Tokyo: Japanese–English Translator / Interpreter (full‑time) providing interpretation and translation support for Japan HQ.
Role & Responsibilities
- Provide Japanese↔English interpretation for business and team meetings, 1:1 discussions, and store visits, ensuring accurate and contextually appropriate delivery.
- Translate and proofread English materials into Japanese, with emphasis on post‑editing AI‑generated drafts to meet brand tone and accuracy.
- Facilitate smooth communication between Japan‑based teams and non‑Japanese business leaders, including pre‑meeting briefings and follow‑up summaries.
- Maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive or talent‑related information discussed in meetings or private conversations.
- Prepare glossaries, meeting notes, and basic localized reference materials to ensure consistency across internal communications.
Qualifications
- Business‑level proficiency in Japanese and English (oral and written).
- Proven experience as an in‑house interpreter or equivalent corporate language support role; career breaks are acceptable for motivated candidates.
- Familiarity with simultaneous and consecutive interpreting techniques; simultaneous interpreting ability is a plus.
- Experience proofreading and post‑editing AI translation outputs to ensure natural, brand‑appropriate Japanese.
- Proficient with Microsoft Outlook (scheduling, email), PowerPoint and Word.
- Demonstrated discretion and professional handling of confidential information; strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder awareness.
Skills
Experience
Experience working as an in‑house interpreter or translator is required; candidates who have completed interpretation training programs and seek on‑site professional growth are encouraged to apply. Prior simultaneous interpreting experience is advantageous.
Education
Diploma or degree in translation/interpretation, linguistics, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience and interpretation training are acceptable.
Workplace
The role is situated in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Culture
Kate Spade fosters a creative, optimistic workplace rooted in playful design and customer focus. As part of Tapestry, the organisation promotes inclusivity, cross‑functional collaboration and professional development across global teams.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Kate Spade, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Bilingual Interpreter (Japanese/English)», «Japanese–English Corporate Translator», «In‑House Translator / Interpreter», «Localization & Interpretation Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.