This report presents the results of a questionnaire survey conducted in 2017 by a project team of the Japan Association for Interpreting and Translation Studies. The survey had two purposes: （1）to investigate how Japanese interpreters learn skills and become self-reliant professionals and（2）to extract data and information useful in providing guidance to people contemplating careers as professional interpreters. No full-fledged academic research has been conducted on the experiences of professional interpreters in Japan, making it difficult to offer effective career development guidance to prospective interpreters. The 199 survey respondents had received their primary training as interpreters in Japan and had provided paid interpretation services. The surveys covered their age, gender, motivation, length and content of training, work style, income, stress and satisfaction.
