A traditional arts experience facility in Hakata, Fukuoka, has introduced a real-time translation system that allows staff to hold face-to-face conversations with international visitors — without needing to speak English or any other foreign language.
The venue, "Hakata Maiko Chaya Wanokagei no Omote" (operated by Hakata Geidokoro Wanokagei), began using VUEVO Display — a transparent display system developed by Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc. (PxDT) — to enable natural, uninterrupted communication during cultural experiences. In roughly three months since launch (from February 2026), visitors from 17 countries including Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Denmark, Indonesia, and China have experienced the technology firsthand.
The Challenge: Communication, Not Just Translation
As the number of overseas visitors to Japan continues to reach record highs, demand for traditional cultural experiences such as Japanese dance, tea ceremony, and maiko (apprentice geisha) encounters has grown rapidly. However, many of these experience-focused venues are run by small teams, making it difficult to have multilingual staff on hand at all times.
Conventional tablet translation devices and smartphone apps require the screen to be passed back and forth or held up for both parties to read — an awkward dynamic that disrupts the flow of conversation, particularly in settings like dance performances, tea ceremony, and ozashiki banquet-style gatherings where the performer's movements and expressions are central to the experience.
At Wanokagei no Omote, the team was down to just one English-speaking staff member, while the number of international visitors from increasingly diverse countries continued to grow.
A Transparent Display for Face-to-Face Hospitality
VUEVO Display translates spoken words in real time and shows subtitles on both sides of a transparent panel. Staff and visitors can face each other directly — seeing each other's expressions and gestures — while reading the subtitles that appear in their own language on the display between them.
At the Hakata venue, the system is used during welcoming greetings, menu explanations, and commentary on traditional arts. Staff can now convey nuances that typical translation apps struggle with — the highlights of a Japanese dance performance, the etiquette of tea ceremony, or the cultural background of Hakata's traditions — all while maintaining direct eye contact and a natural conversational atmosphere.
Results: 17 Countries, Greater Staff Confidence
Within about three months of installation, the venue has hosted visitors from across Europe, Asia, North America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, handling each interaction without any special preparation in advance.
Staff have noted that the experience has changed how they feel about greeting international guests. Rather than feeling anxious about language barriers, team members now describe enjoying genuine conversations with visitors. This shift has also contributed to improved customer reviews for the venue.
Staff at Hakata Geidokoro Wanokagei commented:
"When we were left with just one English-speaking staff member, we were wondering what to do about translation. We found VUEVO Display through an Instagram ad and applied to try it right away. After introducing it, all of our staff are now able to serve guests from any country without hesitation. The enjoyment of being able to hold a proper conversation is something you can only experience with this system. Being able to communicate properly with guests has also contributed to the venue's positive reviews. Since February, visitors from Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Denmark, Indonesia, and China have all used it. We feel that we are now able to share Hakata's hospitality across language differences."
About Wanokagei no Omote
Hakata Maiko Chaya Wanokagei no Omote is a cultural experience facility where visitors can enjoy Hakata's traditional arts — Japanese dance, shamisen, tea ceremony, and ozashiki games — together with Japanese cuisine in a single visit. Operating under the concept of "a place to watch, taste, and carry on traditions," the venue aims to create a stage for those involved in traditional culture and to nurture the next generation of successors and fans. It is particularly popular among international visitors seeking an authentic Japanese cultural experience.
Official website: https://wanokageidokoro.jp/
