"Linguistic barrier" is one of major challenges in increasing the number of foreign visitors to Japan. The technology of voice-activated translator through mobile phones is currently developed in cooperation between the government and private sector, edging closer to practical use. This report covers the front line of the technology.

According to "Report on Travel impression of Japan, and Travel Behavior of Foreign Independent Travelers in Japan who visited Tourist Information Center of the Japan National Tourism Organization" compiled by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), respondents answered that the most disappointing or inconvenient things they experienced in Japan include; difficulty in communication, a lack of signs and information in foreign languages and insufficient maps that resulted in losing their ways. (211cases out of 521valid responses)

Another survey about foreign visitor satisfaction conducted by JNTO shows that the ratio of people who regard language as a barrier in Japan is higher after their visiting the country than before arrival. Solving issues of language barriers in Japan represents a big challenge in enhancing visitor satisfaction.

Recently the Japanese government is promoting a project for practical application of the spoken language communication technology in order to leap language barrier with a view to building an open society to the world. The initiative is being carried out through combining technology in various areas and experimental studies under the cooperation between the public and private sectors. Its members are not only officials of ministries but also professors of universities and experts of the private sector.

Project members have come up with a road map to the goal which they should attain in five years. Experimental studies of speech translation system are conducted by Japanese overseas travelers and foreign visitors to Japan while they are sightseeing and shopping.

As a part of the scheme, a test was carried out during the Olympic Games in Beijing in August 2008 using cellular phones. Mobile communication technology was employed to translate voice message into other languages. A user says "Hello" into the cellular phone and then touch the translate button. Then a Chinese greeting "Ni hao" comes out from the mobile. The system adopts new technologies which enable users to register the data of voice characteristics, select dictionaries and ascertain whether the translated phrase is correct by changing it into original language again. I participated in the test and actually used the translator. Plain Japanese expressions, "Where is the nearest station from here?" and "Where is the post office?" can be translated into Chinese. The translator was very helpful in the streets of Beijing, where it is almost impossible to communicate in Japanese.

Mobile-phone providers have already put the translation system into commercial service. NTT Docomo, a major cell-phone company in Japan, provides service that offers a so-called "talking translator". In terms of translation between Japanese and English, 75,000 words related to travel are reportedly registered in the translation server.

More and more Chinese and South Korean are expected to visit Japan in the foreseeable future. However, it will be difficult to fully satisfy demand for interpreters and translators since there are a limited number of Japanese who speak those languages. A lack of Chinese or Korean-language service poses an urgent challenge to the expansion of inbound tourism to Japan. Voice-activated translator is expected to play an active role in providing language service at tourist information center or in an emergency.

The Beijing test shows some technical issues including translation speed and voice-recognition system amid the traffic nose. Nevertheless, for the majority of international visitors to Japan who are trouble with language barrier, the use of voice-activated translator will be a great help in communication while in Japan.

Incidentally, according to the JNTO survey, lots of respondents say that the most delightful thing they experienced in Japan is an encounter with Japanese people. Some comment that the Japanese were kind enough to help them when they are lost at the station or on the street. It is gratifying that people visiting Japan welcome the hospitality of the Japanese people.