Corporate Video Narration Rates | Masahiro Kobayashi

Planning a Budget for Corporate Video Narration

This guide is for producers and directors considering Japanese narration by Masahiro Kobayashi. A 3-minute script starts at ¥50,000. These are my starting rates, not an industry average; other providers and recording arrangements may differ.

A Worked Example of an Enquiry

This is an illustrative brief, not a real client project or an agreed quote.

• Use: a company introduction on the client's own website
• Duration and quantity: one video, approximately three minutes
• Script: first draft available; proper-name pronunciations still being checked
• Voice reference: the “Corporate VP / Trading House” sample, with a calm impression
• Recording: home studio; ask about online direction
• Usage: one year on the company website; advertising and other reuse undecided
• Deadline and budget: state the target date and budget limit

This gives us a starting point for checking the script, usage and recording arrangements against the ¥50,000 starting rate for three minutes. Write “undecided” where needed. The fee and recording date are confirmed only after reviewing the actual scope.

What Changes Between Three-Minute Projects?

The duration alone does not fix the price. The individual quote follows the agreed work and usage conditions.

Rates by Duration

The guideline is +¥10,000 per additional minute after the initial 3 minutes. The final quote depends on volume, media, usage period, territory and secondary use.

If you have a fixed budget, please ask what we can offer within it.

Scope, Delivery and Revisions

• Before recording: We agree on the vocal tone and delivery using your script and reference samples.
• Recording: Home-studio recording, Tokyo studio sessions and online direction are available. External studio costs and arrangements are discussed separately.
• Files: WAV/MP3 or your specified format. Please confirm splitting and naming requirements before recording.
• Turnaround: Usually 24–48 hours after script approval. Rush work is subject to availability.
• Revisions: One round of tonal revisions is included. Additional rounds start at ¥5,000; script changes start at ¥10,000. The actual scope is agreed case by case.

Recording narration and integrating it into video with music are different tasks. Confirm the intended deliverable so any additional work is clear from the outset.

What Affects the Quote?

Media, Period and Territory

Internal training and advertising have different usage conditions. Please specify publication channels, usage period and any planned reuse. The final quote, including any advertising usage fees, follows confirmation of those conditions.

Recording Arrangements

Home recording removes the need to book an external studio. For a studio session, we confirm the location, duration and engineer arrangements. Studio fees vary by facility and package.

Script Approval and Deadline

Normal turnaround is 24–48 hours after script approval. Rush availability and any extra charges depend on the amount of material and the schedule. We can discuss the plan before the video is finished, using a recording script and draft video.

Preparing Within Your Budget

1. Confirm the wording and pronunciations to reduce script changes after recording.
2. Share a reference and the desired tone so we can agree on the delivery before the session.
3. Discuss a series together with shared material and deadlines identified. Quotes reflect the actual scope; a bulk discount is not automatic.

Listen and Request an Estimate

Listen to narration samples or read about instructional-video scripts and costs.

An unfinished script is fine. Send the intended use, approximate duration, target date and any fixed budget through the narration enquiry form.