Allyson Sigman

I began studying Japanese in the US when I was 16. I took classes during high school and did a homestay in Nakijin, Okinawa. When I entered the university to major in International Studies, I quickly progressed through all the language classes my school offered. So, I went to study at Kinjo Gakuin Univeristy in Nagoya.

After that, I got my MA in TESOL, during which I did a research trip to study teaching methodology at Chubu University, also in Aichi Prefecture. I had every intention of becoming an English professor in Japan. But then I got married to a man from Ohio.

When I moved to Columbus, Ohio, I started working as an office administrator / interpreter at a local Japanese company. I got some training in interpreting and it quickly became my forte. I moved on to another company, where I became the sole translator and interpreter to upper management. I handled everything from technical translation and interpreting during machine installation, to shareholders meetings and government liaison interpreting.

During my time working in-house, I also received training in medical interpreting so I could better assist the Japanese staff in my company. One of my great joys will always be the moment when I interpreted during the ultrasound that confirmed a coworker’s pregnancy. Naturally, I returned to the office and told no one, but it was wonderful to share that joy with her.

After seven years as an in-house interpreter in the automotive industry, I decided to branch out on my own. In 2017, I established Echo Japanese Interpreting LLC in Ohio. Over the years, I expanded my expertise across diverse conferences—from investor relations to cybersecurity. In 2023, family brought me back to Columbus, while maintaining strong ties to Tokyo. To further support clients on both sides of the Pacific, I launched Echo Global KK in 2025, building a structure that allows me to meet client needs flexibly from both the U.S. and Japan.