Welcome!

I’m Khai, a professional Japanese–English translator and the founder of Studio Shiori, an independent translation studio based in Perth, Western Australia.

Studio Shiori offers NAATI-certified translations for official documents, including driver licences, birth and death certificates, academic certificates and transcripts, and more.

Please have a look around, meet our cheerful guide Shiorin, browse the FAQ, or just get in touch. I’d love to hear from you!

Our story

The word shiori (栞) means bookmark in Japanese—a small, thoughtful tool that marks where you are in your story. It’s a fitting symbol for this business: a place where language connects people and every detail matters.

I created Studio Shiori to offer high-quality Japanese–English translation with a human touch. After more than a decade working in Japan—from education and media to corporate communications—I returned to Australia and began formalising my translation skills through a Master of Translation Studies at the University of Western Australia and NAATI certification. Studio Shiori brings together that in-country experience with professional training and a love of language.

At its heart, Studio Shiori is about clarity, care, and connection. Thanks for being here—and if you have a story to share, I’m ready to help you tell it.

General

Studio Shiori

Services

A NAATI-certified translation is a translation completed by a translator who is certified by NAATI—the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters in Australia. Certified translators can work with complex but non-specialised content in most situations, and their work is recognised by government agencies, courts, universities, and other official bodies across the country.

The mascot character Shiorin is dressed in her kimono and striking a thinking pose with one hand on her hip and the other hand under her chin.

How do you become NAATI-certified?

To become NAATI-certified, translators must pass a rigorous assessment that evaluates both transfer and language competency in the target language.

Certification must be maintained through ongoing professional development and active translation practice, ensuring translators continue to meet current industry standards.

While you might hear the terms 'translator' and 'interpreter' used interchangeably in daily conversation, their roles are completely different.

Translators deal with the written word. They translate written documents from one language to another.

Interpreters deal with the spoken word or signed languages (such as Auslan). They interpret what each speaker is saying or signing into the other person’s language.

While AI translation tools can be useful for getting the gist of a text, they’re not necessarily reliable for accuracy or nuance—especially with complex or creative documents.

The mascot character Shiorin is dressed in her kimono and striking a shocked pose with her hands raised, eyes and mouth wide open, a sweat drop on her cheek.

I didn't realise that!

A professional translator doesn’t just swap words from one language to another—they understand context, tone, formatting, and cultural expectations. For example, some Japanese documents might contain indirect or implicit meanings that require careful interpretation. AI might miss these entirely or mistranslate them in ways that could cause confusion—or worse, lead to rejection by an authority.

At Studio Shiori, your translation is done by certified professional who is culturally fluent and committed to delivering clear, accurate work you can trust.

Welcome!

Our story

What is a NAATI-certified translation?

Are translators and interpreters the same?

Why do I need a professional translator? Isn't AI just as good?

Frequently Asked Questions