New offering turns English audio creative into native-sounding Japanese spots that fit real 15s/30s timing, local tone, and platform specs, from Spotify and radiko (radio streaming) to podcasts and radio. Audio content within video can also be localized with this service.
Tokyo, Japan – February 17, 2026 – Otonal Inc., a Tokyo-based digital audio advertising company specializing in applications of audio and technology, today announced the launch of its English-to-Japanese Audio Ad Localization service. The offering is designed for global and APAC marketing teams that already have English audio creative and need to adapt it for the Japanese market without compromising brand integrity or on-air performance. Audio content within video can also be localized with this service.
As digital audio becomes a core element of global media strategies, many campaigns still struggle when they reach Japan. Word-for-word translations can easily overrun 15- or 30-second slots, shift the tone in unintended ways, or result in awkward taglines and calls to action that are difficult for Japanese listeners to remember. Japanese is also a high-context language, meaning the fine-tuning of phrasing is critical to the success of your brand’s messaging in Japan.
“A line that looks fine on a page can fall apart once it’s recorded for a Japanese audience,” said Taisuke Yagi, CEO at Otonal Inc. “We built this service so global and regional teams don’t have to guess. You bring the English scripts and strategy; we deliver native-sounding Japanese spots that respect your brand and actually fit local timing, tone, and platforms.”
What the Service Delivers
Audio-ready Japanese scripts (transcreation)
Rebuilds English scripts into natural Japanese timed for 15s/30s (and 60s where needed), tuned to appropriate tone and politeness levels.
Brand-aligned Japanese voiceovers
Casts and directs native Japanese voice talent to match each brand’s personality—calm and premium, energetic and youthful, or friendly and conversational.
Platform-ready audio files
Delivers mixed and mastered audio files in formats aligned with major Japanese audio environments, including streaming audio, radiko, podcasts, and radio-related digital inventory.
Optional one-stop campaign support
Extends from creative localization into planning, buying, and optimizing audio campaigns in Japan.
For non-Japanese-speaking teams, Otonal provides English-first communication, pre-agreed approval checkpoints, and, on request, short back-translations or rationale notes on key Japanese lines (such as taglines and calls to action), so stakeholders can review nuance without signing off “blind.”
Who the Service Is For
The service is targeted at:
- Global and APAC marketing teams that manage multi-market audio campaigns and want to add Japan without reinventing their entire creative platform.
- Agencies and in-house teams that already work with translation vendors but need a specialist for audio timing, spoken rhythm, and media-specific constraints.
- Brands sponsoring Japanese podcasts or radio programs using host-read formats, who need show-appropriate Japanese scripts aligned with global guidelines.
“For many regional hubs, Japan is the market that always needs special handling,” Taisuke Yagi added. “Our goal is to make Japan feel like a natural extension of your audio strategy, not a risky exception that slows campaigns down.”
Availability and How to Get Started
The English-to-Japanese Audio Ad Localization service is available immediately to advertisers, agencies, and publishers supporting international sponsors.
Global and APAC teams can start by sharing their English scripts, planned timing for Japan, and an overview of intended placements. Otonal will review the materials and respond with a proposed localization approach, scope, and indicative timeline.
Built on Deep Experience in Japanese Digital Audio
Otonal has planned more than 3,500 audio ad campaigns and supported over 1,000 advertisers in Japan across digital audio and radio. The company offers one-stop digital audio marketing, from strategy and creative development to buying and optimization across more than 100 media properties, and is a certified Spotify Advertising Partner in Japan.
By productizing its localization know-how into a dedicated English-facing service, Otonal aims to make it easier for international marketers to treat Japan as a natural part of their audio mix, rather than a high-risk outlier, and to unlock more of the growing opportunities in digital audio in Japan.
About Otonal Inc.
Otonal Inc. is a digital audio advertising company and agency based in Tokyo, Japan. Specializing in applications of audio and technology, Otonal develops and operates solutions around digital audio advertising, including planning, creative production, media buying, and measurement. The company supports advertisers and media owners across streaming audio, podcasts, in-game audio, data-driven radio, and more, and operates AUDIO MARKETING INSIGHTS, a content hub dedicated to audio marketing. Otonal is involved with production of Advertising Week Asia’s official Japanese podcast. The company conducts a yearly podcast survey with The Asahi Shimbun Company regarding the usage of podcasts and growth of the Japanese market. The company is also a member of JIAA (Japan Interactive Advertising Association)’s Audio Advertising Subcommittee.
Contact Information
Otonal Inc., Global Production Manager
