Shogakukan announced the launch of an app in North America called Novelous that uses AI to translate light novels from Japanese to English. The company claims that this technology will allow it to increase production and reduce costs.
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Among the initial titles available is the Sousou no Frieren “Frieren: Beyond Journey's End”. The company's goal is to expand the library to 400 works in two years. As with some ebook services, readers will be able to leave comments and impressions about the works. Additionally, the app will feature speech bubbles with character icons to make it easier to follow Japanese names, which is a response to feedback received.
Mantra translation system , the same one used by Bushiroad for “The Ancient Magus' Bride” in December 2023. However, the Japanese Association of Translators (JAT) and many readers are against the use of AI , as it cannot handle “high-context, story-centric” narratives well.
Shogakukan expects to reach one million users by the end of fiscal 2027 and achieve billions of yen in sales. It's worth noting that fan translation groups often provide translations for free, and it's possible to use services like Google Translate or DeepL free of charge.
Finally, Novelous will be launched in North America sometime in 2024. Furthermore, in Brazil we had no information about expansion.
Source: Nikkei (西岡杏)
