Your partner for life in Japan —
not just a translator.
I'm Sora Kaneko, founder of Velanidi Interpretation. Since 2023, I've helped U.S. military families around Camp Zama, NAF Atsugi, Yokota, and Yokosuka make Japan feel like home.
Prepared before.·Beside you during.·Done after.
What brings you here today?
Hospitals, banks, city hall, housing, cars — I prepare before, interpret beside you, and follow through after.
Before 9AM or after 6PM: +$20/hr
Interpretation & Life Support →1-on-1 lessons that teach the exact Japanese my clients need in real life — taught by the community's interpreter.
Japanese Lessons →
Every oak starts as an acorn.
Velanidi is Greek for the oak tree. An acorn is small, easy to overlook, full of potential — and that's what your life in Japan looks like on day one: new words, new rules, new everything.
My job is to help it take root. Sometimes that means standing beside you at a hospital counter. Sometimes it means teaching you the Japanese to do it yourself. Either way, I stay until it's done.
Sora Kaneko — Velanidi Interpretation, Yamato, Kanagawa
Sometimes the best moments have nothing to do with translation at all.
A client's daughter once made me this card. It says “Kaneko-san, thank you!!!” I keep it in my car — and its yellow became the color you see on this page.
“Sora-san was an absolute life saver… I couldn't have done it without you!”— Garrett family
“Over the past two years, he has been there through nearly every major milestone of my daughter’s and my life in Japan.”
From the omiyamairi ceremony to nursery school, a bank account, a new home, and a student visa approved the same day — two years of milestones, side by side.
“…researching hospitals that take TRICARE at one in the morning… he consistently went above and beyond.”
“If you are looking for someone you can truly trust during life’s biggest milestones in Japan, I wholeheartedly recommend Sora Kaneko.”— Sakura Gibson
Interpreter for Camp Zama, NAF Atsugi, Yokota & Yokosuka families
From bank counters to kindergarten ceremonies to animal hospitals.
“He translated during our family gathering between Japanese and US family members who had not seen one another in 50 years. Having Sora there helped everyone connect.”— O'Brion family