December 22, 2025 The 9th Automatic Translation Symposium: Bringing Japan to the World through AI Translation

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), in cooperation with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and the Global Communication Development Promotion Council, is researching and developing multilingual translation technology and its implementation in society. This effort aims to eliminate all language barriers worldwide and enable global and free exchange.
　This year, the 9th Automatic Translation Symposium will be held at Shinagawa Intercity Hall under the theme of Bringing Japan to the World through AI Translation. In the symposium, a panel discussion will be conducted by experts on the use of AI translation in the fields of entertainment and culture, and future expectations for automated translation and interpretation to convey Japanese values. The latest automated translation products and services from companies and organizations will be also be exhibited.

1. Time and date

12:45 pm to 5:00 pm on Friday, February 20, 2026
(Doors open at 12:45, lectures take place from 13:30 to 16:00 and exhibitions are open from 12:45 to 17:00)

2. Venue

Shinagawa Intercity Hall (approximately five minutes on foot from the Konan Exit of JR Shinagawa Station)
Shinagawa Intercity Hall Building, 2-15-4 Konan, Minato-City, Tokyo

3. Program (tentative, speaker names listed without honorifics)

Theme: Bringing Japan to the World through AI Translation

• (1) Opening remarks
  　SUDO Osamu, Chair of the Global Communications Development Promotion Council (Professor at the Faculty of Global Informatics, Chuo University and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo)
• (2) Greetings from the organizers
  　The MIC
• (3) Lectures

  　Keynote Speech: "Current State of Automated Manga Translation
  　　ISHIWATARI Shonosuke, Representative Director, Mantra Inc.

  　Lecture 1: Current Status and Potential of Automated Interpretation Implementation and Application
  　　SUGAYA Fumiaki, CEO, MINDWORD , Inc.

  　Lecture 2: Automatic Translation Leveraging the Benefits of Generative AI
  　　SUMITA Eiichiro, Fellow, NICT

  　Panel Discussion: Expectations for Automatic Translation and Interpretation to Convey Japanese Values (Content, Culture, Nature)
  　　Facilitator:
  　　　SETO Yuki, General Manager, SoundUD Office, Yamaha Corporation
  　　Panelist:
  　　　ISHIWATARI Shonosuke, Representative Director, Mantra Inc.
  　　　SUGAYA Fumiaki, CEO, MINDWORD , Inc.
  　　　SUMITA Eiichiro, Fellow, NICT

• (4) Closing remarks
  　TOKUDA Hideyuki, President, NICT

Note: An exhibition of the latest simultaneous interpretation and automatic translation systems will also be held.

4. Organizers

The MIC, the NICT, and the Global Communications Development and Promotion Council

5. Application for participation

• (1) Participation fee
  　Free
• (2) Capacity
  　400 persons (tentative; pre-registration required on a first-come, first-served basis)
• (3) Application deadline
  　Wednesday, February 18, 2026
• (4) How to apply for participation
  　Please make an application through the 9th Automatic Translation Symposium website.
  　https://gcp.nict.go.jp/dai9-jido-hon-yaku/