Translation Advancement Manifesto

“Knowledge is power. Translation is the key that unlocks that power.” — Yukichi Fukuzawa (modernized)

An Astonishing Lesson from History

In just 17 years, Meiji-era Japan transformed itself into a world-leading technological powerhouse.

What was the key to this transformation? Translating Western knowledge into Japanese and disseminating it widely.

Today, Japan is reviving this strategy for the modern era, embarking on a new challenge to reclaim its position as a global leader.

Groundbreaking New Research Reveals Japan’s Potential

Shocking Facts

1. 1870: 84% of the world’s technical books were monopolized by just four languages

   • 🇬🇧 English, 🇫🇷 French, 🇩🇪 German, 🇮🇹 Italian
   • Other countries were effectively cut off from access to the latest technology

2. The Japanese government’s revolutionary response:

   • Launched a large-scale emergency translation project
   • Goal: Translate Western knowledge into Japanese and disseminate it to the entire population

3. Astounding results:

   • In just 17 years, the number of technical books in 🇯🇵 Japanese reached the same level as 🇩🇪 Germany in 1870
   • In terms of technical knowledge, Japan rapidly caught up with the world’s advanced nations

These research findings clearly demonstrate Japan’s potential for technological innovation and economic growth.

The time has come to learn from history and embark on a new challenge.

Remarkable Achievements

The changes brought about by this knowledge revolution in Japan were dramatic.

Furthermore, between 1885 and 1899:

• Japan’s labor productivity growth rate: 2.7% annual average
• This was more than double the per capita GDP growth rate during the same period!

🚀 Five Key Benefits of a Translation Leap

1. Accelerated Economic Growth 💹
2. Promotion of Innovation 💡
3. Enhanced Global Competitiveness 🌍
4. Improved Quality of Education 📚
5. Expanded Cultural Influence 🎭

Application to the Modern Era: A New Challenge

Today, we are living in a new era of knowledge revolution.

• AI smart_toy
• Big Data data_object
• Quantum Computing memory
• Open Source code

These innovative technologies are changing the world.
However, much of the cutting-edge information is in 🇺🇸 English.

We are once again facing a knowledge barrier.

A “Translation Leap” for a New Era

This manifesto aims to revive the spirit of the great translation project of the Meiji era for the modern age. Using the latest technology, we aim to translate knowledge from around the world into Japanese and disseminate it widely.

1. Democratization of Knowledge menu_book
   • Bringing cutting-edge technical information to all Japanese people
2. Leveraging AI smart_toy
   • Revolutionizing translation quality and speed with the latest AI technology
3. Open Collaboration handshake
   • Uniting the strengths of industry, academia, government, and the public
4. Global Perspective public
   • Harnessing global knowledge for Japan’s development
5. Promoting Innovation lightbulb
   • Driving innovation from Japan with new knowledge

Strategic Implementation Plan

1. Building a Community of Translation Volunteers
   • Establishing a platform and cooperation system for experts and general participants
2. Development and Improvement of AI Translation Tools
   • Building a specialized terminology database using the latest NLP technology
3. Creating a Priority List of Important Technical Documents
   • Gathering opinions from industry and academia and establishing a regular update mechanism
4. Strengthening Partnerships with Universities and Research Institutions
   • Conducting joint research projects and promoting academic exchange

Vision for the Future

This “Translation Leap Manifesto” is not just a proposal for translation activities. It is a national initiative that will lay the foundation for Japan’s future.

“The new knowledge revolution that began in 2024 ushered in Japan’s second golden age”

— From a future history book

Each individual’s participation has the power to change Japan’s future. Let’s build a new era of prosperity for Japan together.