December 8, 2020
Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic
Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation

Multilingual Localization Forum to be Held

The Multilingual Localization Conference for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will hold the Multilingual Localization Forum as described below. During this fiscal year we are taking and sharing advanced initiatives in multilingual operations, which are necessary for the new normal, and further promoting multilingual support for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The forum will be held online to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Details including the content of the lecture will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

1 Date & time

Wednesday December 23, 2020
From 13:00 to 16:00

2 Form of the forum

Online (Zoom / YouTube)

• For details, please check the official website.
  If you wish to connect via Zoom, you’ll need to make an application. This will allow you to post questions, etc.
  There is no need to apply if you only wish to observe the forum on YouTube.
  Website of the Multilingual Localization Forum
• We will distribute the forum on-demand at a later date. Sessions from the Forum will be posted on the official website and the portal site of the Multilingual Localization Conference as they become available. Please watch them too.
  Portal site of Multilingual Localization Conference

3 Prospective audience

Persons who are interested in multilingual localization (Viewing access is freely available to all.)

4 Content (planned)

(1) Opening remarks of the organizers (videotaped in advance)

Koike Yuriko Governor of Tokyo
Hashimoto Seiko Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games

(2) Lectures/seminars

Keynote lecture (live streaming, 60 min)

(Lecture content being finalized)
Diane Kichijitsu, Bilingual Rakugo storyteller

Seminars (live streaming, 20 min each)

• Tourism
  Murayama Keisuke
  Representative Director, Yamatogokoro Inc.
• Medical care
  Cabrejos Cesar
  LanguageOne Corporation
• Retail
  Niitsu Kenichi
  Secretary General, Japan Shopping Tourism Organization
• Information transmission
  Teraoka Shingo
  Chief, Project Promotion Section, LIVE JAPAN Planning Division, Gurunabi, Inc.
• Simple Japanese
  Hagimoto Naoki
  Simple Japanese & multilingual voice translation promoter

(3) Introduction of real-time translation technology

In this forum, the discourse of presenters will be translated from Japanese to English in real time and English subtitles will be displayed on the screen. This will be made possible in cooperation with the following companies. (Please note that the translation provided for this forum may not be accurate because the technology is still in beta testing.)
In cooperation with Fujitsu Limited, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Yamaha Corporation, BRICK's Corporation

(4) Introduction of multilingual related technologies

The Exhibition of ICT Latest Technologies will not be held in its usual in-person format this fiscal year as the forum is held online. In place of the technology exhibition, we will introduce translation apps and portable translation devices, etc. on the page for introducing multilingual related technologies on the portal site of the Multilingual Localization Conference. Please take a look.
(Reference) Page to introduce multilingual related technologies

5 Other

(1) Meeting of the Multilingual Localization Conference

A meeting of the Multilingual Localization Conference (10th) for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held on the same day. (Only open to members of the conference.)
Date & time: Wednesday December 23, 2020  10:30 – 12:00
(Reference) Portal site of Multilingual Localization Conference

Multilingual Localization Conference for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The conference was set up with the aim that administrative organs of the nation, related local public bodies, related institutions, private organizations, and enterprises would cooperate and collaborate to strengthen and promote multilingual support for indications and signs, as these are essential to improve the capacity of the metropolis in view of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

This article is also available in other languages. (日本語／English／中文／한국어)

CONTACT & INQUIRIES (Assistance in Japanese only)

Liaison and Coordination, Planning and Coordination Section, General Affairs Division, Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation Phone: 03-5388-2867