Because Vissel Kobe has players whose native languages are Portuguese, English, and Spanish, the club employs multiple interpreters. An interpreter's role goes beyond simply facilitating conversation between players; it also involves understanding and being there for each individual player, understanding players in different positions with different personalities and different backgrounds. To learn about the importance of authentic connection across language barriers, we spoke with Eiji Kumon, Vissel Kobe’s Portuguese-language interpreter, and Norikazu Murakami, the English-language interpreter.

Kumon and Murakami both say that they focus on conveying things accurately, and to develop a real understanding of the players.

“In order to convey the meaning of what someone has said so that there isn’t any misunderstanding, I have to judge whether a direct translation of the speaker’s words is appropriate, or whether something adapted a little to feel more natural in Japanese would be better. To make that judgment in an instant, I need to have a deep understanding of the player’s background, which means daily communication is essential.” (Kumon)

“Knowing their personality, their habits in using words, and which region they come from is also important. Even people from the same country who speak the same language are influenced in their speech by the regional characteristics of where they lived. You really need to start by getting to know the player well, and I sometimes ask them why they chose a particular word or expression. I feel that it’s easier to translate when you’ve already communicated with players beforehand.” (Murakami)

The work of an interpreter goes beyond the role of connecting conversations between teammates. It also calls for supporting players’ private lives so they don’t feel lonely in a foreign country.

“Whether a player’s private life is fulfilling has an impact on their play,” Murakami says. Life in a foreign country brings stress to even daily tasks like shopping or eating out. To reduce that stress, Murakami will sometimes always be by a player’s side right after they join the team. He also notes that players are most likely to get homesick when they can’t speak their native language. He tries to alleviate their loneliness by proactively talking to them in their mother tongue.

Murakami also says: “I feel like the role of communicator is a big part of being an interpreter. When the emotions of the two people having the conversation are running high, I try to understand what they are trying to say and then choose simple words instead of directly translating the words. The reason I’m here is to facilitate smooth communication. I think having a human mediate conversations is what makes that possible, as opposed to just using a translating machine.”

Kumon also says he’s conscious of not becoming “a loudspeaker.” Especially when emotions are running high, people can get careless about the kind of words they use. By placing himself in the middle, he tries to soften harsh words and create time for players to compose themselves. “The culture and way of thinking between foreign players and Japanese people are completely different. If I think that saying a particular word will just result in the same word bouncing right back, I’ll talk with the player before I translate. We’re a family. Because I don’t want to break up the team, there are many cases where I have to be careful to not just blindly translate and be a yes-man.” (Kumon)

The presence of interpreters with strong communication skills is indispensable for the ideal performance of foreign players. Of course, Vissel Kobe also has many players who have experience playing for overseas teams, and you will often see players communicating directly with each other. “There are many scenes where Portuguese, Spanish, English, and Japanese all fly around at once. I hear them talking not just about soccer but also chatting about personal things to get to know each other.” (Kumon)

It might feel daunting to someone not used to speaking another language, but Kumon says, “It’s okay to make mistakes. What matters is stringing together words you know, digging through your memory of the grammar you know, and just trying to speak another language so you can reach out to someone―that’s what the other person will be happiest to receive, and they’ll understand. It’s all about making that effort.”

The work of an interpreter can be likened to building a bridge over the barriers created by differences in language. But it seemed that what was essential to make communication work was not merely using a common language, but wanting to understand what the other person is saying. Kumon and Murakami describe their team as a “family,” and they work hard not just to convey words, but to share feelings beyond words. Their presence is undoubtedly one of the pillars that supports the team.

Eiji Kumon, the Portuguese-language interpreter.

Norikazu Murakami, the English-language interpreter.

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Chiharu Abe