Accuracy and cultural understanding vital as demand grows for Nagasaki police interpreters

NAGASAKI -- The demand for in-house interpreters at Nagasaki Prefectural Police has surged in recent years, with the workload roughly tripling over the past five years. The seriousness of police interpreting for human rights has left little room for mistakes. One 30-year-old sergeant, who recently became an interpreter, shared his perspective.

His interest in the role began during his work at a police box in a Nagasaki tourist area, where he helped foreign visitors seeking assistance. The experience led him to study Vietnamese at the National Police Academy in Tokyo and earn his Vietnamese-language police interpreter certification in February.

Interpreters must possess a deep understanding of the foreign national's culture and national characteristics to help the individual open up. The sergeant recounted assisting a Vietnamese man arrested for using a forged residence card, emphasizing the importance of precise interpretation. He explained that he had mainly studied the northern dialect while at the police academy, making it challenging to understand the suspect, who spoke a central dialect.

To overcome this, he repeatedly asked the suspect to clarify his statements, eventually gaining a full understanding of his words.

The sergeant dedicates himself to continuous learning, listening to Vietnamese-language news during his commute and studying vocabulary daily. During his time off, he visits Vietnamese restaurants and engages in conversations to practice the language. As one of 86 officers registered as in-house interpreters, he emphasizes the neutrality required in his role, stating that he cannot afford to mistranslate anything.

The number of interpreting assignments increased from 110 in 2021 to 322 in 2025. The interpreters, drawn from officers with the rank of inspector or below, cover seven languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai. New interpreters undergo annual training to fill vacancies when existing interpreters move up or retire.

Each year, the prefectural police select officers and send them to the Research and Training Center for International Criminal Investigation and Police Cooperation at the National Police Academy for two years of study. This year, trainees are also being sent to police departments in other prefectures to gain practical experience.

Looking ahead, the prefectural police aim to enhance their interpreter system and provide ongoing support to improve the skills of their interpreters. Deputy head of the organized crime control division, Masahiro Kanda, highlighted the ongoing efforts to develop and strengthen the interpreter program.