Make Your Global Brand Sound Local with Japan's Leading Audio Ad Agency
With over 3,500 Japanese audio ads planned, Otonal now turns your English audio ads into native-sounding Japanese spots that fit real 15s/30s timings and local media formats, from Spotify and radiko (Japanese radio station streaming) to podcasts and radio.
OUR CLIENTS
AT A GLANCE
01. Service
English-to-Japanese audio ad localization (script, casting, recording, delivery-ready files)
02. Who it’s for
Global / APAC teams with existing English audio creative for Japan
03. What you get
Native-sounding Japanese spots ready to run across major Japanese audio platforms
Why global audio campaigns struggle in Japan
Even strong global creative can underperform if it’s localized literally.
01. Timing breaks
Word-for-word translations overrun 15s/30s slots or lose impact when cut down.
02. Tone breaks
What sounds friendly in English can feel rude, childish, or overly formal in Japanese.
03. CTA breaks
Translated taglines and URLs can become awkward or hard to remember.
If no one on your team speaks Japanese,
it’s difficult to know whether a script is truly on-brand,
or just “technically correct.”
Otonal’s role
Otonal sits between your global strategy and the Japanese listener’s ear, making sure your audio:
- Sounds like it was written for Japan from the start, and
- Still feels unmistakably like your brand.
Ready to Make Your Japanese Commercial Shine?
Share your English scripts and timing for entering Japan’s market.
We’ll review them and come back with a
proposed localization plan and timeline.
What you get with Otonal Japanese Audio Ad Localization
01
Audio-ready Japanese scripts
Transcreated from your English originals, timed for 15s/30s/60s and tuned to appropriate Japanese tone and politeness levels so they’re ready to record and actually fit the slot.
02
Brand-aligned Japanese voiceovers
Native Japanese voice actors cast and directed to match your global brand personality (calm and premium, energetic and youthful, friendly and conversational), not generic “radio voices.”
03
Platform-ready audio files
Studio-quality recordings mixed and mastered for major Japanese audio environments, delivered in the exact formats your media partners need. No extra conversion or rework on your side.
04
Optional one-stop campaign support
If needed, Otonal can also plan, buy, and optimize your Japan audio campaign using these localized assets, so creative and media work as one.
Who this service is (and isn’t) for
A Good Fit
- Already have English audio creative and want to add Japan without reinventing your campaign.
- Run Japan from an APAC or global hub and don’t have in-house Japanese speakers.
- Care about how your brand sounds in Japan, not just that the script is translated.
Not the best fit
- Only need translation for documents, websites, or non-audio materials.
- Don’t yet have any audio creative or concept to start from.
Why Otonal, not just a translation vendor or general agency?
Otonal is a Tokyo-based company specializing in the applications of audio and technology, while focusing on digital audio advertising and marketing.
-
Experience:
3,500+ audio ad campaigns planned, 1,000+ advertisers supported in Japan.
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Coverage:
One-stop digital audio marketing across 100+ media, from streaming audio and podcasts to radio.
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Credibility:
Certified Spotify Advertising Partner in Japan.
How we complement your existing partners
01. Versus translation vendors:
They ensure linguistic correctness. We ensure scripts sound natural and perform in real Japanese audio placements. A line that looks fine in a document can fall flat, or not even fit, once it’s recorded.
02. Versus general creative agencies:
They cover many channels. We go deep on digital audio and radio in Japan.
03. Together:
We can use your existing translations and global creative as input, then turn them into audio-ready Japanese spots and, if needed, Japan-specific media plans.
How this works when no one on your team speaks Japanese
This service is designed for non-Japanese-speaking teams.
English-first communication:
All day-to-day communication, questions, and summaries happen in English.
Transparent wording choices:
On request, we provide short back-translations or comments on key lines (taglines, CTAs, sensitive phrases) so global stakeholders understand the nuance.
Clear approval points:
We agree approval checkpoints up front, so you never have to sign off on Japanese copy “blind.”
You stay in control of your brand voice, even without reading the Japanese script.
Ready to make your brand sound local in Japan?
If you already have English audio ads and are planning to reach Japanese listeners, now is the moment to adapt your message with a partner who understands both audio and Japan.
Share your English scripts and Japan plans,
and we’ll come back with a recommended localization approach, scope, and rough timeline.
Let’s make sure your brand sounds as strong in Japanese as it does in English.
Three moments when this service pays for itself
01
Extending a global audio campaign to Japan
You already have global 30s and 15s English spots. For Japan, you need versions that keep the core idea, fit local timings, and stay within brand and legal guidelines.
Otonal transcreates the scripts, casts Japanese voice talent, and delivers ready-to-run files aligned with your global framework.
02
Running Japan from an APAC or global hub
Your regional team owns multiple markets and Japan is the hardest to handle. You need someone who can quickly say “this works for Japan” (or not), suggest specific changes, and work smoothly in English across time zones.
Otonal gives you a predictable, repeatable flow so Japan stops being a special-case exception in your audio plan.
03
Sponsoring Japanese podcasts or radio
You’re sponsoring Japanese podcasts or radio shows and only have English host-read copy. Otonal creates Japanese host-read scripts tailored to each show’s style, aligned with your global guidance and flexible enough for hosts to sound natural on-air.
Our process: from English script to Japanese on-air
Brief & materials
You share your English scripts, any existing audio, brand guidelines, campaign goals, planned placements in Japan, and timing. We confirm scope, budget, and schedule.
Localization plan
We propose localization direction (tone, formality, key phrasing), the number and length of versions, and a casting/production approach that matches your objectives.
Script transcreation
We rebuild your scripts in Japanese so they fit the required durations and context. For key lines, we can include brief notes or back-translations for review by your global and legal teams.
Recording & production
We cast native Japanese voice talent, record, mix, and master the audio. Variations (durations, CTAs, offers) are produced according to the agreed scope.
Delivery & optional campaign support
We deliver platform-ready audio files with a simple version list (which file for which placement). If you wish, we can then use those assets in a full Japan audio plan and provide performance reporting and learnings for future flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
We already work with a translation vendor. Why involve Otonal?
Your translation vendor is ideal for documents, websites, and multi-language materials. Audio spots, however, live in seconds, not pages. They require tight timing, spoken rhythm, and media-specific know-how. We can use your translation vendor’s text as a base, then turn it into audio-ready Japanese scripts and finished recordings that work in real Japanese audio environments.
How do we know the Japanese is on-brand if we can’t read it?
We align on tone and brand guidelines in English first. For important lines (taglines, CTAs, sensitive wording), we can provide short back-translations or commentary so you understand how they “feel” in Japanese. You stay involved in each major decision without needing to read the Japanese text.
Can you provide script-only localization without recording?
Yes. If you already have studios or production partners, we can deliver script-only Japanese versions that are structured and timed for audio. Many clients later ask us to handle recording as well, to keep script, performance, and timing fully aligned.
What is a realistic launch timeline?
Timelines depend on the number of spots, lengths, and review cycles. As a rough guide, a small set of spots can often be localized and produced within a few weeks. If you have a fixed launch date, contact us early so we can propose a schedule that fits.
Ready to make your brand sound local in Japan?
If you already have English audio ads and are planning to reach Japanese listeners, now is the moment to adapt your message with a partner who understands both audio and Japan.
Share your English scripts and Japan plans,
and we’ll come back with a recommended localization approach, scope, and rough timeline.
Let’s make sure your brand sounds as strong in Japanese as it does in English.