PROFILE

Alexander O. Smith is founder of Kajiya Productions. He has been translating video games, novels, manga, and lyrics from Japanese to English professionally since graduating from Harvard University with a M.A. in classical Japanese literature in 1998. After working at Square Enix’s Tokyo offices for four years, he went freelance and is now based in the hills of Kamakura, Japan with occasional stints in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Alex has given talks and workshops on translation for groups, including the Tokyo branch of SCBWI (Society for Children’s Books Writers and Editors), several universities including Dartmouth College and the University of Vermont, and conventions, including PAX Prime and PAX East.

AWARDS

Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel, 2012 (Devotion of Suspect X, Keigo Higashino)
Phillip K. Dick Special Citation, 2011 (Harmony, Project Itoh)
Eisner Award Nominee, 2009 (COWA!, Akira Toriyama)
American Library Association Batchelder Award, 2008 (Brave Story, Miyuki Miyabe)
Edge Magazine “Best Game,” 2006 (Final Fantasy XII, Square Enix)
RPGamer “Best Localization.” 2001 (Final Fantasy X, Square Enix)

GAME LOCALIZATION

Level 5

Crimson Shroud TRANSLATOR

SQUARE ENIX

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together TRANSLATOR
Gyromancer EDITOR
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 TRANSLATOR
Final Fantasy XII TRANSLATOR, Adr writer, voice producer
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance TRANSLATOR
Final Fantasy X-2 script editor, adr writer, voice producer
Final Fantasy XI TRANSLATOR
Final Fantasy X TRANSLATOR, voice producer
Vagrant Story TRANSLATOR
Parasite Eve II TRANSLATOR
Front Mission 3 TRANSLATOR
Final Fantasy VIII TRANSLATOR

PLATINUM GAMES

Madworld translator

SEGA

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure TRANSLATOR
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games CONTRIBUTING TRANSLATOR
Valkyria Chronicles adr writer
Tokyo Highway Battle TRANSLATOR
Last Bronx TRANSLATOR

CAPCOM

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney translator
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney TRANSLATOR
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time editor
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter Translator
Everblue 2 editor
Megaman Battle Network 2 translator
Megaman Battle Network translator
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne Editor

Activision
Bloody Roar 3 translator

NINTENDO
Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword translator

sacnoth
Koudelka editoR

NOvel translation

PROJECT ITOH
Harmony VIZ MEDIA

Keigo Higashino
Salvation of a Saint ST. MARTIN’S pRESS
The Devotion of Suspect X ST. MARTIN’S PRESS

Hiroshi sakurazaka
Slum Online viz media
All You Need Is Kill viz media

Housuke Nojiri
Rocket Girls viz media
Rocket Girls 2: The Last Planet VIZ MEDIA

natsuhiko kyogoku
The Summer of the Ubume vertical, inc

miyuki miyabe
ICO: Castle in the Mist viz media
The Book of Heroes viz media
Brave Story viz media

Fuyumi Ono
Twelve Kingdoms, Vol. 1: The Sea of Shadow Tokyopop
Twelve Kingdoms, Vol. 2: The Sea of Wind Tokyopop
Twelve Kingdoms, Vol. 3: The Vast Spread of the Seas Tokyopop
Twelve Kingdoms, Vol. 4: Skies of Dawn Tokyopop

Kaoru kurimoto
The Guin Saga - Book One: The Leopard Mask vertical, inc
The Guin Saga - Book Two: Warrior in the Wilderness vertical, inc
The Guin Saga - Book Three: The Battle of Nospherus vertical, inc
The Guin Saga - Book Four: The Prisoner of the Lagon vertical, inc
The Guin Saga - Book Five: The Marches King vertical, inc

Makoto Inoue
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1: The Land of Sand viz media
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 2: The Abducted Alchemist viz media
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3: The Valley of White Petals viz media
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4: Under the Faraway Sky viz media
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 5: To Each Their Own Bonds viz media

manga translation

akira toriyama
Cowa! viz media
Dr. Slump (The complete series, vols. 1-18) viz media

TOSHIYUKI NISHI
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (The complete series, vols. 1-18) viz media

Narumi Kakinouchi
Shaolin Sisters (vol. 1-5) tokyopop

akimine kamijo
Samurai Deeper Kyo (vol. 6-21) viz mediA

anime translation

studio 4c
Genius Party pr materials
Batman: Gotham Knight storyboards
Batman: Gotham Knight subtitles

writing

wizards of the coast
Magic 2010 japanese language edition proofing
Shards of Alara Block japanese language edition proofing
Shadowmoor Block japanese language edition proofing
Lorwyn Block japanese language edition proofing
Time Spiral Block japanese language edition proofing
“The Dragon’s Errand” online short story : Kamigawa
“The Sound of Crickets” online short story : Kamigawa
“The Meeting” online short story : Kamigawa
Grand Prix Kitakyushu online coverage
Ravnica Block cardnames / flavortext
10th Edition cardnames / flavortext
Kamigawa Block world design / cardnames / flavortext

Shueisha
Adventures in Translation monthly in subaru, apr 2002 - Apr 2003
The Final Word subaru, DEC 2001

song writing and adaptation

mistwalker
Blue Dragon Theme Song “Eternity” English adaptation

color filter
“For We Love You” original lyrics

square enix
“World Fantasista” Opening and Ending original lyrics
“Otherworld” Final Fantasy X Opening Theme original lyrics
“Show Me Your Love” performed by Elva original lyrics
“Melodies of Life” Final Fantasy 9 Theme english adaptation
Legend of Mana Ending Theme english adaptation

KI-cell
“The World In My Window” English adaptation for office miyazaki / takashi murakami
“Enola Gay” English adaptation for office miyazaki / takashi murakami

MISSILE
“Go My Way” English adaptation for office miyazaki

subtitling

jn productions
“Soko ga Shiritai” news series
“Say You Love Me” (12 episodes) home drama
“The Battling Bride to Be” (10 episodes) home drama

Academic Translation

Yukio ohyama
“Mt. Fuji” assorted poems office miyazaki

takashi murakami
“Little Boy” office miyazaki
“Summon Monster? Open the Door? Heal? or Die?” office miyazaki
“Superflat” office miyazaki

Atsushi suwa
“Collected Paintings” Essays & Titles office miyazaki

naoya fujiwara
“Birth of a New Japan” and related articles office miyazaki