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Japan Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Translation apps help break language barriers at Chubu driving schools
Driving schools in the Chubu region have started using translation apps that recognize spoken words and automatically translate them into other languages. Amid an increase in traffic accidents involving foreign drivers, these apps are expected to help communicate Japanese traffic laws to students who are not fluent in Japanese. Homechigiru Driving School in Ise, Mie Prefecture, began using an app developed by a group company in April. The app supports English, Burmese, Chinese and Vietnamese, and it was first introduced to Vietnamese students on a trial basis. On a smartphone attached to the dashboard of a training vehicle, the Japanese words spoken by the instructor in the passenger seat are instantly translated on the app during driving lessons and tests. The translated speech is read aloud, so students don't need to look at the screen while driving. The app also simultaneously translates the student's speech into Japanese. Initially, there were some issues with accuracy, but updates have improved performance. A full-scale rollout is planned for this summer, with additional languages expected to be supported. Shingo Kato, 46, the school's assistant manager, said that the demand for foreign workers is growing amid labor shortages in the transportation industry. 'We want to eliminate language barriers' by using the app, he said. According to the school and other sources, some driving schools have refused enrollment of foreign nationals with limited Japanese skills, citing difficulties in providing practical driving instruction. Most foreign nationals at Homechigiru Driving School are either technical interns working in the Chubu region or international students, who typically obtain a driver's license through lessons offered in training camps. Around 200 Chinese and 100 Vietnamese people have been enrolling in the school annually, with those struggling with the Japanese language having been taught by instructors fluent in their native languages. Amid rising demand, however, the app was introduced so that any instructor could accurately convey traffic rules. As Japan's birthrate continues to fall, securing enough students has become a challenge for driving schools. Foreign nationals, who enroll year-round, help fill the gap during off-peak seasons when fewer high school students apply. 'Many of them want to properly learn Japan's traffic rules before getting a license,' Kato said. 'We hope to help prevent tragic accidents by conveying the rules.' A smartphone screen shows spoken Japanese translated into Vietnamese on a translation app used at Homechigiru Driving School in Ise, Mie Prefecture. | Chunichi Shimbun At Chubu Nippon Driver School in Nagoya, a collaboration with Tokyo-based printing firm Toppan led to the adoption of an upgraded version of the school's translation app last fall. The app now includes specialized terminology for driving schools in multiple languages and can be used during enrollment, classroom lessons and practical training. The app has been sold to more than 10 driving schools nationwide. 'We hope this will promote the acceptance of more foreign students,' a representative of the school said. Meanwhile, traffic accidents involving foreign drivers have been on the rise. In 2024, 7,286 such cases were reported, which was up by 342 from the previous year and accounted for 2.7% of all traffic accidents in the country. During a parliamentary committee session in May, National Police Agency Councilor Tatsuya Abe noted that differences in traffic rules — such as driving on the left side of the road in Japan as opposed to the right side in many other countries — may be contributing to the increase in accidents. Incidents involving driving in the wrong direction, as well as drunken driving have also drawn attention. In May, a foreign national drove the wrong way on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture, injuring four people. In the same month in Misato, Saitama Prefecture, a car driven by another foreign national plowed into a group of elementary school students, injuring four. In both cases, the drivers were reportedly driving under the influence of alcohol, and had obtained the Japanese licenses by converting those issued in other countries. According to NPA statistics, 75,905 people acquired Japanese licenses through the foreign license conversion system in 2024. The number has increased by 2.5 times over the past decade. While the link between the conversion system and a rise in traffic accidents involving foreign drivers is not clear, critics argue that the written test on Japanese traffic rules required for conversion is too easy, and the government is considering tightening the regulations. Yasumi Ito, professor at the University of Yamanashi's Graduate School and an expert on traffic science, noted that rental car accidents by foreign drivers often involve right-turn collisions or intersection crashes, possibly due to their unfamiliarity with Japan's rule to drive on the left side. Ito stressed the importance of having foreign drivers thoroughly learn Japanese traffic rules and manners. 'It's important to raise their awareness for safety under the guidance of experienced instructors,' he said. This section features topics and issues from the Chubu region covered by the Chunichi Shimbun. The original article was published June 8.
Skift
29-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Choice Hotels Adds 9,500 High-End Rooms in China
Maybank Securities said Thai tourism sector earnings should hit rock bottom in 2Q25 due to a drastic fall in short-haul visitors. They noted the impact of the Myanmar earthquake in late March and the continued fallout from the abduction of a Chinese actor, as things discouraging people from visiting the country, especially tourists from China. Maybank expects government stimulus in 3Q to help limit the sector's earnings downside. Marriott Hotels announced the opening celebration of Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa. This marks the debut of the Marriott Hotels brand in the beachfront destination and the third Marriott Hotels property in Southern Thailand. Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa is a low-rise retreat set along the Bang-Lut Beach on Thailand's southwest coast. The resort features 283 rooms, suites and villas, many with private balconies and direct pool access. Dining options, the Greatroom, pool, fitness center and the 531 square meter Andaman Grand Ballroom are some of the amenities offered for guests. Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a Hyatt affiliate entered into a management agreement with Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd for a new Andaz hotel planned to open after 2034 at the Meitetsu Nagoya Station in Japan's Chubu region. Andaz Nagoya will be the first Andaz hotel in the city, part of a multi-use urban complex integrated with the new railway station, set to have a dedicated entrance on the ground floor that will provide access to the 150 guest rooms and suites on the 25th to 29th floors. Amenities will include a rooftop bar, restaurants, lounges, extensive meeting and event spaces, a fitness center, an indoor pool, and a spa. IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of the world's first voco resort, with voco Quang Binh Resort – By IHG in Vietnam. The all-suite-and-villa resort also marks the second voco hotels property to open in Vietnam, alongside voco Ma Belle Danang – By IHG, which opened in 2023. The voco Quang Binh Resort is located in Dong Hoi, the capital city of the Quang Binh province in central Vietnam. It offers 68 suites and beachfront villas, with the suites and villas ranging from 43 square meters to 300 square meters. The resort has a spa, Yen Spa & Wellness, comprising 17 treatment rooms, a foot spa, rejuvenating hydrotherapy pool, sauna room and salon as well as an indoor and outdoor pool and 24 hour gym. The Flamingo Restaurant and Oasis Pool Bar are the food and beverage options for guests. IHG also announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow, its 50th operational hotel in the country. The hotel is located along the Lucknow-Sultanpur Road in Lucknow, India. The hotel features 110 rooms, expansive meeting and event spaces spanning 40,000 square feet, an all-day dining restaurant, a bar, club lounge, gym and an outdoor pool. Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida announced the unveiling of its newly renovated rooms. The renovation introduces a fresh, modern aesthetic paired with eco-conscious design principles and advanced in-room technologies in New Delhi, India. The renovations included contemporary interiors, smart in-room features, upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure and more. ITC Hotels Limited announced more expansion with the signing of a new Welcomhotel in Bodhgaya, Bihar, in collaboration with Kumar Infratrade Enterprises Private Limited. The move reinforces the presence of the Welcomhotel brand in a key pilgrim destination within India. The property covers 18 acres and will offer 98 guest rooms, substantial event facilities, an all-day dining venue, a specialty restaurant, and a comprehensive suite of leisure amenities. Accor Group's Grand Mercure brand has expanded its presence in Indonesia with the opening of Grand Mercure Batam Centre, marking the first Grand Mercure hotel in the city. The property offers 230 rooms and suites designed with regional cultural elements, including the Batik Gonggon motif, reflected in the attire of the hotel staff. Leisure amenities include a fitness center, swimming pool, spa and a kids club. Spaces for business and social events include the Rarantira Grand Ballroom and other meeting rooms. The new hotel is located five minutes from the Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal, adjacent to the One Batam Mall. SM Prime Holdings Inc. said it's considering introducing a hotel in Laoag City in the Philippines to complement the mall it will be opening on May 30th. The firm is opening SM City Laoag, its 88th shopping mall in the Philippines, adding 51,000 square meters of gross leasable space to its portfolio. SM Prime said it is also studying a complementary hotel development in Laoag to tap into the area's growing tourism and MICE potential, expanding its footprint beyond retail in Northern Luzon. Choice Hotels International is expanding in China, announcing a distribution and franchise agreement with SSAW Hotels & Resorts Group. Through the agreement, 68 upscale properties with 9,500 hotel rooms currently managed by SSAW will be added to Choice Hotels' Ascend Collection. The Washington Business Journal said Choice previously had a presence in six destinations in China. SSAW is getting exclusive development rights to Choice's Comfort Inn and Quality Inn brands across mainland China.
