Toda Natsuko is a name widely recognized among Japanese movie enthusiasts. Her work has been integral to their enjoyment of some of the biggest cinematic hits of the past half century. In that time, the 88-year-old subtitler has written Japanese translations for more than 1,500 English-language films, including classics such as “E.T.” and “Titanic,” and more recently the latest installment of the “Mission: Impossible” series.

NEWSLINE anchor Kawasaki Rika asked Toda how she stays motivated.

Lifelong love affair with film

Kawasaki: Two recent hits that you subtitled are “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Mission: Impossible ― Dead Reckoning Part One.” You’re also working on a new project. What keeps you going?

Toda: It’s simply a love for movies. I started as a professional translator when I was 40, but even before that I was a huge movie fan. I was born during World War Two, when there was little food and no entertainment. We had air raids all the time. After the defeat, Japan was occupied by the United States, and that’s when Western culture started coming in. I’d watch movies depicting affluent American families and think, “That is heaven.” As an elementary school girl looking up at the big screen, I became obsessed with the fascinating world of English-language movies. And that’s how I ended up here. Age hasn’t stopped me from enjoying my dream job.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

Full article: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/3479/