If an author wants to have his/her book translated into another language (such as Japanese), how is this done? Who does one contact? What is there agency called on the internet? Has anyone here used such a service?

Azel

It doesn't usually work like that. Your novel needs to be sold to a Japanese (or wherever) publisher, who will then arrange for and pay the translator, and publish the translation. Usually either your agent will sell the Japanese rights directly, or when s/he sells the book to a UK publisher it may include translation rights, in which case the publisher will sell those on your behalf.

Presumably you could contact a translator directly if you can find one (contact publishers in Japan?) but the cost to you would be many thousands of pounds.

Emma