By Janine Dumaguin
Artificial Intelligence (AI) research graduates from the University of Tokyo introduced the Mantra Engine, a system that easily translates Japanese manga into English.
The AI-powered system aims to help bring a wide range of manga titles worldwide that are immediately available, preventing pirated translations.
Ishiwatari Shonosuke, Mantra’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said that more than 10 companies, both in Japan and abroad, have already adopted the innovation.
“If we heighten the efficiency and release translated versions without any time lag, we can prevent pirated manga translations from emerging,” Shonosuke added.
Founded in 2022, the machine can quickly identify text placed and proper order in the manga and translates the words into English that considers the situation and the personalities of the characters.
“In addition to being a technological pursuit, we originally launched Mantra because we also wanted to use AI to go beyond national borders and deliver a wonderful culture across the globe,” Shonosuke continued.
Meanwhile, in 2021, the system was used to translate a well-known manga series of a major Japanese publisher.
The company also plans to focus on translating manga from countries other than Japan. – gb