Real-time Multi-language Translation “kotozna chat”
Adds new service “Kotozna Group Chat”
Tokyo, Japan – Kotozna, Inc (formerly known as Jaqool, Inc) adds group conversation capabilities with its new service “Kotozna Group Chat” to its roster of tools for kotozna chat, a multi-lingual real-time translation service for inbound travelers using social media platforms.
Kotozna, Inc. has launched “Kotozna Group Chat” today, a new service that uses our current one-on-one service “kotozna chat” for group conversations. The service is a part of kotozna chat and allows texting to a preset group in your own language, resulting in recipients reading messages in their own language. Kotozna Group Chat can translate 104 languages including English, Chinese, Korean, French and Spanish. Photos can also be uploaded.
< Kotozna Group Chat Service Application >
(1)As a tool to communicate with foreign tourists as well as a medium to broadcast tourist information in multiple languages
(2)As a tool in commercial venues for staff to communicate with non-Japanese and Japanese speakers regarding their information
(3)As a business tool for companies for Japanese employees to communicate with foreign employees
(4)As a translation tool to use at international exhibits or forums
Kotozna, Inc. is working to expand its application to all scenarios by March 2019.
< Kotozna Group Chat Track Records >
Kotozna, Inc. launched initial test runs in Kyushu district with success. Examples of the “Kotozna Group Chat” test in each city can be seen here:
Fukuoka city, Fukuoka Prefecture https://kotozna.chat/gr/ja/jpn0401307/fukuoka
Yufuin, Oita Prefecture https://kotozna.chat/gr/ja/jpn1440001/yufuin
Usuki city, Oita Prefecture https://kotozna.chat/gr/ja/jpn0442062/usuki
Saiki city, Oita Prefecture https://kotozna.chat/gr/ja/jpn0442054/saiki
Takeo city, Oita Prefecture https://kotozna.chat/gr/ja/jpn0412066/takeo
< Latest Application Project >
Event : “Citizen and Students Grand Reunion”
Location : Beppu city
Date : March 23, 2019 (Sat)
Usage : Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) hosts many international students. Beppu city, where APU is located, has begun hosting a Grand Reunion for alumni of APU from around the globe. For the inauguration year, they are introducing “Kotozna Group Chat” as a tool for attending alumni to communicate with each other.
□ To register for a test version of “Kotozna Group Chat”
(1) Scan below QR code
(2) Select language and preferred social network platform (platform should already be installed on your device), then agree to terms.
(3)Once your messaging app opens, it will say “making a new post to @-event”, and you will be able to type in a message.
(4)Once you send your text, kotozna will give you a selection to choose from. If you choose “web view” you will be able to see the group conversation on the web.
□ About kotozna chat
“kotozna chat” is a service launched in September 2018 by Kotozna, Inc. It is a multi-lingual, real-time translation, cross-platform service, serving inbound travelers.
Japan is seeing a growing influx of visitors from all around the world and is predicted to have 40 million annual visitors by 2020. However, Japan still struggles from language barriers and the top complaint from foreign visitors is the “inability to communicate with local staff” (Japan Tourism Agency 2016 survey).
“kotozna chat” was developed to combat that language barrier. The company focused on a number of popular messaging apps as platforms, and added 2 features. One to bridge different messaging apps so they can communicate with each other, another to have messages run through AI based machine translation. Hence, a French Facebook Messenger user can send texts in French to a Korean Kakao Talk user who will receive the text in Korean. We serve 104 languages.
A conversation starts with reading the counterpart’s QR code. No download is necessary and the service is free. Kotozna, Inc. estimates it will have 500,000 users by the end of 2019, and 5 million users around the world by 2020.
< Press Contact >
Kotozna PR Office Ms. Goto
[email protected]
+81-50-5236-6045
fax : +81-50-3383‐4676
For all written correspondence :
Kotozna PR Office c/o La creta Inc.
Sakuragaokacho 31-14, Okasan Sakuragaoka Building, Slack Shibuya 7F
Shibuyaku, Tokyo 150-0031 Japan
< About Kotozna, Inc. >
Formerly known as Jaqool, Inc. until September 2018, Kotozna, Inc. has been providing multi-language translation services with QR codes since 2016. It has supplied QR codes to over 3000 restaurants, hotels and tourist spots in and around Kyushu region through “Trip’nScan”, a service that allows visitors use their smartphones to understand Japanese signage and documents. Kotozna, Inc. is a member of the “QR code multi-language translation project” which was selected as the “2017 Oita Prefecture IoT Promotional Project”. Kotozna, Inc was found by Genri Goto, founder and former CEO of Kenko.com, and Takaaki Kamio, founder of Mindpallet, which was known for Snapee, a photography social network.
Kotozna, Inc.
TOKYO OFFICE
Moto-Akasaka 1-7-20, KIZUNA WEST 1F,
Minatoku, Tokyo 107-0051, Japan
FUKUOKA OFFICE
Daimyo 2-12-12, Akasaka Sangyo Building 4F,
Chuoku, Fukuokashi 810-0041, Japan
< About Genri Goto, CEO >
Goto co-found Jaqool, Inc. (now Kotozna, Inc.) in October 2016 and was appointed CEO. He simultaneously assumed the role of Representative Director of TagFIT, a general incorporated association. Prior to this Goto was the founder of Healthy Net, Inc. (Now Kenko.com, Inc.) spanning 2 decades as CEO. Goto listed the company in 2004. In 2013, he won a Supreme Court ruling against the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, paving the way to sell general medicine online. Goto has served as the chairman of Japan Online Drug Association, and has been a World Economic Forum member and member of numerous commissions at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as well as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. He has worked at Accenture after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Tokyo University. Goto holds a Master of Public Management degree from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
