A job description for a Localization Production Specialist (Japanese) for Nintendo of America requires the employee to have “awareness of culturalization- and DE&I related topics.”
Mario (Chris Pratt) in Nintendo and Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.
On the Nintendo of America career page, a listing for a Localization Production Specialist (Japanese) located in Redmond, Washington notes that one of the duties of the position is to have “awareness of culturalization- and DE&I related topics.”
This duty is the ninth of 18 bullet points under the localization duties of the position. Most of the other bullet points do seem innocuous and related to the position such as “Translates game text, graphic assets, voice scripts, marketing materials, and supplementary development and testing-related documents and materials as required to support products and services through launch and beyond.”
Another bullet point reads, “Plays pre -production software in Japanese and communicates and clarifies developer intent through text translation and collaboration with other team members.”
Nintendo of America Localization Product Specialist (Japanese) job listing
Not only does this job listing have a localization portion of its duties, it also has a marketing section. Under the marketing duties it requires the the employee to leverage “understanding of game content and target market trends and culture in making recommendations and proposals related to market strategy and tactics.”
Furthermore, the listing also states that the employee will be able to “act as spokesperson for Nintendo by demonstrating games to media, participating in interviews, presenting on live streams, and supporting other promotional efforts.”
Nintendo of America Localization Product Specialist (Japanese) job listing
The position requiring the employee to have “awareness of culturalization- and DE&I related topics” is not unheard of. Nintendo of America has an entire page on their website dedicated to diversity, equity, & inclusion.
The page states, “We believe that our results are better when our teams represent our potential consumers and fans. We’re actively building a culture where employees contribute their knowledge, ideas, and perspectives so innovation and creativity thrive. We’re welcoming, approachable and respectful – we’re Nintendo. All characters welcome.”
The page then reveals all the various employee resource groups the company offers including B@ND: Black at Nintendo Dialogue, Rainbow, Nintendo Women and Allies, eNable, API, and ¡Hola!: Hispanic/Latino Network.
Nintendo of America Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion page
What do you make of Nintendo of America requiring their Localization Product Specialist (Japanese) maintain “awareness of culturalization- and DE&I-related topics, identifying issues and proposing solutions as needed”?
