This is why you should never use automated translation software in a professional setting.
Google Translate
Always be mindful of what you write or let others write for you. You never know when it will be scrutinized by thousands upon thousands of Japanese people.
Media in Japan, us included, have been all over Taco Bell’s return to the country this week, but talk hasn’t been entirely of tacos. The Taco Bell Japan website was also making news when Japanese speakers noticed it had some pretty terrible and funny English-to-Japanese translations.
Google Translate, the tech giant’s online language translation service, is not always perfect (for example, translating “twenty” from English to Japanese gives us “20”), but it’s a nice, not to mention free, tool that’s available to anyone with an internet connection. Aside from being very useful, the site is also entertaining with plenty of funny tricks to be found, like how to make Google Translate beatbox.
Here’s another trick to add to the list! Just translate a bunch of dots into Japanese and you’ll be treated to a hilarious, and somewhat melodic, interpretation of those little round symbols that perch at the end of our sentences.




Häagen-Dazs releases new Green Tea sandwich in Japan for a limited time
New 7-Eleven sandwich goes viral in Japan, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
Family Mart unveils new Japanese bread that elevates convenience store food to mocchiri levels
New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success
Japanese manhole lid raises eyebrows with fertility god symbol that looks like… well, you know
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Does a long line mean a sweeter deal? We compare two sweets from a Hokkaido food fair【Taste test】
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Manga artist Kenya Suzuki convicted of child pornography charges, given suspended prison sentence
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Does a long line mean a sweeter deal? We compare two sweets from a Hokkaido food fair【Taste test】
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Manga artist Kenya Suzuki convicted of child pornography charges, given suspended prison sentence
The Big Bomb Onigiri Japanese rice ball helps us conquer mountain race but conquers us in the end
Japan now has stricter requirements for foreigners applying for citizenship
I had no idea you could win crane game prizes in Japan the way my friend won this Dragon Quest Slime
Foreign man arrested for walking on Shinkansen tracks, claims he was on the run from yakuza
Is the all-you-can-eat KFC buffet in Tokyo really as good as they say it is?
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The first written test
Famous koi ponds overwhelmed with tourists throwing thousands of coins in them
New service lets you turn manga pages into T-shirt designs, over 200 titles to choose from