Question 1

Does Captio AI handle the keigo register used in Japanese restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI captures formal service Japanese including keigo verb forms and standard restaurant phrases like 'Irasshaimase' and 'Gochisousama deshita'.

Question 2

Can it follow Kansai Japanese or Osaka dialect?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI handles Japanese regional varieties including Kansai, Osaka, and Kyoto dialects — which have different pitch patterns from Standard Tokyo Japanese.

Question 3

Does it work in a loud izakaya with background music?

Accepted Answer

Captio AI performs best when placed close to the speaker. At an izakaya, placing the phone on the table facing your conversation partner keeps accuracy high even with background noise.

Question 4

Can Captio AI keep up with fast Japanese moraic speech?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI processes speech at natural pace, including the rapid moraic rhythm of everyday Japanese. Specials recited quickly at a counter are transcribed in real time.

Question 5

Does it display Japanese characters correctly?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI displays Japanese output in standard Japanese text — hiragana, katakana, and kanji as appropriate.

Question 6

Is it useful for multigenerational family dinners where older relatives speak a regional variety?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI handles regional Japanese, and older speakers in rural areas often use local dialect more heavily. The app captions whatever variety is spoken.

Question 7

Does it work offline in a restaurant with no Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

Captio AI requires an internet connection. Mobile data is widely available in Japan and works reliably in most restaurant settings.

Question 8

Can it caption the menu explanation during an omakase or kaiseki dinner?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI captures the server's full explanation in real time — including dish names, ingredients, and preparation notes — so you read each description as it is spoken.

Question 9

Does Captio AI work in noisy restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Captio AI handles typical restaurant-level background noise well. It focuses on the nearest speaker — the person across the table — and captions through ambient noise. Very loud environments may reduce accuracy slightly, but typical restaurant settings are handled accurately.

Question 10

How do I position the phone at a restaurant table?

Accepted Answer

Place it between you and the person you are talking to, microphone facing them. A small phone stand keeps it stable and angled for easy reading. You can glance at the screen naturally without making the setup conspicuous.

Question 11

Does it work when talking to waitstaff?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hold or place the phone near whoever is speaking — the waiter explaining specials, a barista taking your order. Captions appear in real time so you follow the exchange without asking for repeats.

Question 12

What about ordering from menus or asking questions?

Accepted Answer

The same setup works. Hold the phone toward the server as they describe dishes or answer questions. If you want to confirm an order or clarify an allergy, you can read exactly what they said before responding.

Question 13

What if the restaurant is abroad and people speak another language?

Accepted Answer

Use Live Translator. The waiter or companion speaks their language — you read the translation in real time. Works across 60+ languages with no manual setup or switching.

Question 14

Does it work for a date or a one-on-one meal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Place the phone on the table between you and the other person. It runs quietly and most people adapt naturally. You do not need to explain it unless you want to — a phone on a restaurant table draws little attention.

Question 15

What about group meals with multiple people at the table?

Accepted Answer

For a group meal, place the phone in the centre of the table. Captio AI follows whoever is loudest in the microphone's direction — in a seated group this tracks whoever is speaking most actively. For a one-on-one, point it directly toward the other person.

Question 16

Does it work for outdoor dining?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Outdoor patios and terraces are handled well. Wind noise at high levels may reduce accuracy, but typical outdoor dining settings work accurately — often better than loud indoor restaurants.

Question 17

Does it affect the dining experience for the other person?

Accepted Answer

Minimally. A phone on the table is unremarkable. Most companions adapt naturally once they see what Captio AI does — many find it interesting. It does not require the other person to change how they speak.

Question 18

What about cafe settings with background music?

Accepted Answer

Background music at typical cafe volumes is handled well. Very loud music close to the speaker may reduce accuracy slightly, but standard cafe ambient noise — espresso machines, other conversations, moderate music — does not prevent accurate captions.

Japanese live captions and productivity tool for restaurants & cafes

Everything you need to follow Japanese restaurants & cafes

Follow the conversation through the noise

Restaurants abroad or with foreign speakers

Transcribe any recorded conversation

Key points from any conversation

Every situation covered

Most accurate and fastest models

Built for the table — however noisy the room

Follows the person across the table

Works through restaurant noise

Place it and forget it

No asking for repeats during the meal

Any language

Discreet

Why Japanese is hard to understand

Pitch accent invisible

Fast moraic rhythm

Keigo register shift

Kansai vs Tokyo split

Connected speech compression

Hearing loss in Japan: dining behind the silence

What you hear stays with you.

Gone the moment it ends

Not a product

Not used to train anything

Captio AI supports 60+ languages

People love Captio AI

Frequently asked questions

Have a real conversation through the noise in Japanese.