How to Say "Made By" in Japanese

作

saku

The Japanese phrase for "made by" is 作 (saku).

作 is used to indicate the person who created a piece of art or a literary work. It functions as a formal way to credit an author, artist or creator.

Which one should you use?

作 is used specifically for providing credit to an author or artist in formal contexts.

saku

Japanese distinguishes between things 'made' by an artist using 作 and things 'produced' by a factory or company, which often use different terms like 製 'sei'.
The term 作 is often paired with a 'hanko', a red ink seal. In the Japanese art world, this seal acts as a formal signature that carries much more official and legal weight than simply writing one's name with a pen.
The character 作 shares its origins with Middle Chinese, meaning 'to do' or 'to work', which connects the concept of 'making' an art piece to the general idea of labor.

この箱は、トニーが作ったんだよ。
This box was made by Tony.
This sentence shows the use of 作 to indicate who made a box.
Tatoeba #11686139 by small_snow, translation #57503 by Dejo
これはメアリーが自分で作った服です。
This is a dress that Mary made by herself.
This sentence uses 作 to describe clothing made by a specific person.
Tatoeba #218514 by bunbuku, translation #1358403 by CK
つい最近まで、私たちが必要とするものの大半は、手で作られていました。
Until quite recently, most of the things we needed were made by hand.
This sentence demonstrates the use of 作 in the context of things being made by hand.
Tatoeba #3416622 by arnab, translation #63612 by Eldad
このケーキは私が作った。
I made this cake.
このブレスレットは彼が作りました。
He made this bracelet.
この木製のテーブルは自分で作ってみた。
I tried making this wooden table myself.
この絵本の制作は著名なイラストレーターによるものです。
The production of this picture book was done by a renowned illustrator.
この料理はレストランのシェフが作りました。
This dish was prepared by the chef at the restaurant.
5 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yota and Himari are looking at a painting in a gallery.

陽太 Yota

この絵は誰の作ですか？
Kono e wa dare no saku desu ka?
Who is this painting made by?
陽葵 Himari

有名な画家の作ですよ。
Yūmei na gaka no saku desu yo.
It is made by a famous painter.
陽太 Yota

とても美しい作品ですね。
Totemo utsukushii sakuhin desu ne.
It is a very beautiful piece of work.
陽葵 Himari

ええ、本当に素晴らしいです。
Ee, hontō ni subarashii desu.
Yes, it is truly wonderful.

Sources

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