Honyakuma Translations

Hi! My name is Daniel Björnström, and I'm a freelance translator. If you're wondering what a Honyakuma is and what that has to do with bears, then read along.

My family name "Björnström" is a Swedish name that means "bear stream," or in Japanese, "Kuma Kawa." The Japanese word for "translation" is "honyaku," so by combining "honyaku" with "kuma" you get "honyakuma." A translating bear. It's a silly play on words, but many translators (myself included) are into that sort of thing.

​

Born to a Japanese mother and a Swedish father in the Netherlands, and then growing up in the United States, translation and interpretation have always been a part of my everyday life. Since entering the workforce, I have consistently occupied roles in which I function as a bridge between nationalities, languages and cultures, whether in major corporations or diplomatic institutions. As a freelance translator, I now seek to use my talents to support my clients in their international endeavors.

​

Not only am I skilled at languages, I also have many years of real-world experience working in both business and government in a wide array of fields including diplomacy, video games, software development, consulting, tech, and even local government. These experiences inform my work as a translator so I can produce accurate and natural translations.