Sample report · Japan Readiness Check (free)

Why do visitors from Japan stop before they sign up?

Quellwick (fictional) · time tracking & invoicing SaaS for agencies · 6 Japanese pages read · report in English

The short answer

The Japanese pages read smoothly, and that is the problem: in several places they say something different from your English. The pricing and signup pages leave out the two sentences a Japanese buyer looks for first, and the security page adds a guarantee your English never makes.

Fix the 22 items in the first three sections before touching style. They change what a buyer thinks they are agreeing to.

3,120

of 18,400 Japanese characters need to be corrected

About 17% of the Japanese text on the 6 pages we read. Fictional figures.

14sentences in your English that are missing in Japanese

3promises or conditions the Japanese adds

5conditions or limits that were rewritten

38spots where the Japanese itself reads wrong

In your English, missing in Japanese

14 sentences, 1,050 characters. Most sit next to a price or a button, where a Japanese buyer slows down and reads carefully.

Pricing page: nothing about what happens to your data after you cancel

English (source)

Cancel anytime. Your data stays exportable for 90 days after you cancel.

Japanese (live)

いつでも解約できます。

How a Japanese reader takes it

The page says I can cancel. It says nothing about my data, so I assume it is gone the day I cancel.

Fix

Add: 解約後も90日間は、データを書き出せます。

Signup page: the “no credit card” line was dropped

English (source)

Start your 14-day trial. No credit card required.

Japanese (live)

14日間の無料トライアルを始める

How a Japanese reader takes it

I expect to be asked for a card and billed automatically when the trial ends, so I leave to check with finance first.

Fix

Add under the button: クレジットカードの登録は不要です。

Promises and conditions the Japanese adds

3 items, 280 characters. None of them appear in your English. A Japanese buyer, and their legal team, will read them as commitments.

Security page: a guarantee your English does not make

English (source)

Quellwick is built with security in mind.

Japanese (live)

Quellwickは、お客様のデータを100%安全に保護します。

How a Japanese reader takes it

“Quellwick protects your data 100% safely.” A procurement reviewer will ask you to put that in the contract.

Fix

セキュリティを前提に設計しています。 (Designed with security as a premise.)

Homepage: “most teams” became a promise

English (source)

Most teams are set up within a day.

Japanese (live)

導入は1日で完了します。

How a Japanese reader takes it

“Setup is completed in one day.” If mine takes three, you missed a promise.

Fix

多くのチームが、1日以内に使い始めています。

Conditions and limits that were rewritten

5 items, 370 characters. The words look right; the limit points the other way, or disappears.

Plans page: “up to 10” became “10 or more”

English (source)

Up to 10 users on the Starter plan.

Japanese (live)

スタータープランでは10名以上ご利用いただけます。

How a Japanese reader takes it

“The Starter plan is for 10 users or more.” A team of four thinks the plan is too big for them.

Fix

スタータープランは、最大10名までご利用いただけます。

FAQ: the refund condition lost “annual plans”

English (source)

Refunds are available within 30 days for annual plans.

Japanese (live)

30日以内であれば返金いたします。

How a Japanese reader takes it

“We refund within 30 days.” Monthly customers will ask for refunds you do not offer.

Fix

年間プランは、ご契約から30日以内であれば返金いたします。

The Japanese itself

38 spots, 1,420 characters to rewrite. These do not change the meaning of an offer, but they make the site feel translated.

Hero headline: reads like an order, and like surveillance

English (source)

Track time. Bill faster.

Japanese (live)

時間を追跡せよ。より速く請求せよ。

How a Japanese reader takes it

“Pursue the time! Bill faster!” The command form is harsh, and 追跡 is the word for tracking a suspect.

Fix

工数をつけるだけで、請求書まで。 (Log your hours, and the invoice follows.)

One feature, three names

English (source)

workspace

Japanese (live)

ワークスペース / 作業場 / 作業空間 (on different pages)

How a Japanese reader takes it

Three different words, so I assume three different things and look for the difference.

Fix

Use ワークスペース everywhere and add it to your glossary for the vendor.

Want this for your own Japanese pages?

Send your site. A native Japanese reviewer reads your live Japanese pages and sends a report like this, in English, within 2–3 business days. Free, no obligation.

🇯🇵 Get a free check of your Japanese pages