Need help with 際


In one of my Anki decks I found the following sentence:

> A氏は日本を訪問するに **際し** 、喜びを語った。

The sentence was translated as:

> Mr. A spoke of his joy of visiting Japan.

  1. I assume that the translation is correct, but why the sentence was translated like that and not as:

> _On the occasion of visiting Japan, Mr. A expressed (spoke) his joy._

  2. How should I say:

> _On the occasion of visiting Japan, Mr. A expressed (spoke) his joy._

Thanks




I would say that the translation in the Anki deck is inaccurate. Your
translation is much better.

The original Japanese sentence says nothing about what Mr. A's joy was about,
and only that it was expressed on the occasion of visiting Japan. The
translator probably assumed too much, or it was taken from a broader context.
In any case it is inappropriate for a learner.

To give a more obvious example:

> A氏は日本を訪問するに際し、スーツケースを買った。  
>  × Mr. A [bought a suitcase] **of** visiting Japan  
>  ○ **On the occasion of** visiting Japan, Mr. A [bought a suitcase].

This cannot work with the translation in your deck, while your's works
perfectly.




I would say that the translation in the Anki deck is inaccurate. Your
translation is much better.

The original Japanese sentence says nothing about what Mr. A's joy was about,
and only that it was expressed on the occasion of visiting Japan. The
translator probably assumed too much, or it was taken from a broader context.
In any case it is inappropriate for a learner.

To give a more obvious example:

> A氏は日本を訪問するに際し、スーツケースを買った。  
>  × Mr. A [bought a suitcase] **of** visiting Japan  
>  ○ **On the occasion of** visiting Japan, Mr. A [bought a suitcase].

This cannot work with the translation in your deck, while your's works
perfectly.

