Translation screens a godsend for overseas tourists in Japan

Toppan's real-time, multilingual systems find their way into stations, hotels

Toppan's translation devices are installed at Keikyu's two stations at Haneda Airport, and Shinagawa Station Station in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)

YUICHI SHIGA and NANCY ZHENG, Nikkei Staff Writers

April 27, 2024 18:03 JST

TOKYO -- Transparent displays made by Toppan Holdings that can translate spoken queries into Japanese are proving a godsend to overseas visitors.

The devices, which can instantaneously translate sentences spoken in a number of foreign languages into Japanese, are being installed at train stations, hotels, and retail counters in Japan, helping visitors better navigate their surroundings.