Tokyo University Co-Creation Platform Development invests ¥50 million in Mantra Corp, focusing on AI translation technology for the manga industry.

Target Company Information

Mantra Corporation, based in Minato, Tokyo, specializes in developing AI translation technologies specifically aimed at the manga industry. Founded in January 2020, the company has successfully implemented its cloud translation tool, the "Mantra Engine," across more than ten partners, including publishers and translation firms. This tool has significantly contributed to the multilingual adaptation of over 20,000 pages per month, equating to about 100 volumes of manga. Additionally, their English learning app, "Langaku," launched in collaboration with Shueisha, achieved the top rank in the App Store's education category on its release day, showcasing the effectiveness of their innovative approaches to language learning.

Mantra faces unique challenges in translation due to the distinct layout of manga, colloquial language, and complex narrative contexts. To address these issues, the company has developed a highly accurate manga translation system that integrates image recognition with machine translation. This groundbreaking achievement has been recognized internationally, including acceptance at the prestigious AAAI conference and receiving the AAMT Nagao Award from the Asia-Pacific Machine Translation Association. Furthermore, their advances in AI technology are being applied beyond translation, such as in adapting educational materials for language proficiency.

Industry Overview in Japan

The manga industry in Japan is a vibrant and significant sector, contributing greatly to the economy and cultural export. With a rich history and a dedicated fan base, Japanese manga has become a global phen