Translating

Okay, I'm going to start by saying I have no IDEA where to put this, so if I'm in the wrong spot (which I'm sure I am), would a kindly mod please move it for me? Thanks in advance.

Alright, so here's the deal. As some of us know, I live in Japan. I've been studying the language for six years with the intention of working in translation, with the goal of specifically doing book translations (though I could do manga as well, considering that's probably more of the market).

Aside from Del Rey, however, there is very little information I've found about how someone becomes a translator. I have the skills and have been putting together translation samples. The thing is, I have no idea if I'm doing the samples right in terms of formatting, length, subject, etc. I have a chapter from a manga, an entire historical short story, a critical essay, and am currently working on a section from the latest Murakami novel.

I used to work with another translator, but he no longer works in the business and I'm not sure if any of the help I used to do would count. I wouldn't count it anyway, because it was part of my learning process.

Are there any other translators out there? I've got my samples in at Dark Horse (have an unexpected connection to a worker there) and intend to send them the new ones as well, but I'm just not certain how to best go about any of this. Any suggestions?

I can handle translations on my own in terms of average writing level. I actually read novels in Japanese for fun. As long as I have a native speaker I can ask the occasional question to, I'm okay. I've done more than a few translations, the most difficult of which was a pair for a translation contest I entered. They were incredibly long, at such a high level even the Japanese people around me couldn't understand parts, and used very antiquated kanji that no one ever uses. I wouldn't choose to do something like this again without more experience, but in terms of "typical" work I'm okay. I'm also taking a course in translation at the moment, though finding it frustrating and far too easy and poorly organized.

Anyway, as long as I'm going from Japanese to English I'm good. That's my specialty. My writing in Japanese isn't nearly good enough for professional work. I actually find English less restrictive, as well. So many more synonyms, etc., compared to what is generally used in Japanese.

But yeah, long post meant to mean I'm confident I can handle it at this point, and that's why I'm now trying to get a foot in the door.