Choose by who is on the other end

OptionUse it whenWhat to check
HanashiYou want to meet a Japanese host and choose them by a shared interest.Hanashi is built for caption and translation support in a hosted call. Learner signup is open in early access. Check current host and booking availability before making plans.
FaceTimeYou already know the person and can both join a FaceTime call.Supported Apple Intelligence device and Japanese and English language options.
Google Meet, Zoom or TeamsYou know whom to invite and want a link people can join on different devices.Organizer plan, guest controls and each language direction. Google Meet, Zoom and Teams document separate audio translation options.

Why choose Hanashi?

The starting point is different when you’re meeting someone new. Rather than sending a video link cold, choose the person whose profile makes you curious. If they mention cooking, ask what they make when they want something comforting. The topic and their answer give you a reason to keep talking.

Hanashi is designed to keep the real conversation going with live captions and translation when your Japanese runs out. Practice one opening line or bring a 15-minute Japanese conversation plan. For a call with a particular friend or colleague, the setup guide below helps check the actual tools you can both access.

Choose the setup for your call

For a one-to-one call on suitable Apple devices, FaceTime’s Live Translation can show translated captions while you listen to the other person’s real voice. Apple lists Japanese and English (UK and US). On a supported iPhone, enable Apple Intelligence and start the FaceTime call. Apple’s current instructions say to open More, then Live Translation, choose the language to translate from, and start translation. The language may need to download first. Apple FaceTime instructions.

For a meeting with people on different devices, Google Meet, Zoom and Teams list Japanese among their translated caption languages. Start with the meeting tool your organizer can enable and check the guest experience. Google Meet’s separate Speech Translation documentation also lists Japanese, but first verify that the actual accounts and devices offer translated audio for your call. Google Meet speech translation. Zoom lists Japanese and English for its separate Voice translator on supported desktop setups. Teams Copilot Interpreter also lists Japanese and English. It is separate from translated captions and supports eligible meetings and one-to-one Teams calls.

Google announced its expanded speech translation rollout on October 22, 2026. It listed a November 2 start for scheduled-release Workspace domains and noted that availability varies with account, region and age.

Run a 90-second English–Japanese test

TestAsk the reader or listener to verify
A simple question from each sideBoth people recognize the topic and can answer in their preferred language.
A name with its spelling in chatEveryone can distinguish the person or place with the written name as a reference.
A time such as “19:30 Japan time”Both people repeat back the same time and time zone.
An affirmative and a negative sentenceThe translation preserves the difference between “I can go” and “I can’t go”.

Give the system a clear subject

If you hear 行きます (ikimasu, “go” or “will go”), the Japanese verb alone doesn’t tell you who’s going. Context may make that obvious to the people talking, but a translation can supply the wrong subject. Say who’s going, or ask “Do you mean you’re going, or we’re going together?”

A long English question with three options can also be hard to follow. Ask one question at a time, pause for the translation, and put the options in chat if either of you needs to refer back to them.

Sources