Kabukiza Theatre launches English Captioning Service by "G-marc"

Shochiku Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshihiro Takahashi; Securities Code: 9601; hereafter, "Shochiku"), Earphoneguide Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Takashi Kumon; hereafter, "Earphoneguide") and Evixar Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsushi Takigawa; Securities Code: 4257; hereafter, "Evixar") announced that they will launch an English Caption Service using the "G-marc" application at the Kabukiza Theatre (4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), operated by Shochiku. This service will be available to foreign audiences at the July Grand Kabuki Performance, which will open on July 1, 2024.This service is a captioning service in which the "G-marc" application is installed on a tablet terminal for rental, and captions are delivered and played back in sync with the performance content within the application. Earphoneguide will operate the application and back-end system, while Evixar will develop and provide the "Another Track(R)"* acoustic communication technology.

◆Outline of "G-marc" application

Official page URL: http://www.g-marcapp.com/

English Captioning Service

by "G-marc" started at Kabukiza Theatre

Background and Aim of Introduction

Kabukiza Theatre has provided the "subtitle guide" service, a Radio-wave-controlled subtitling system exclusively for the theater, since its opening in 2013, and it has been well received. However, due to the effects of the Corona disaster and the deterioration of that equipment over time, we have been unable to provide the subtitling service after 2020.The new "G-marc" application service to be introduced in July will start with English subtitles only, but the system was designed with the premise of a multi-channel system capable of displaying multiple languages. We will work to expand the service step by step, with a view to gradually expanding it to other languages.In the future, however, we may develop a system in which customers can use this service by downloading the application to their own smartphones or other devices without renting a tablet device. We have developed a system that allows customers to use the service by downloading the application to their own smartphones or other devices without renting tablets or other equipment.* A unique acoustic communication solution developed by Evixar. Devices such as smartphones, smart glasses, and robot terminals automatically recognize "characteristic points (fingerprints)" of "special sounds embedded with encrypted data (watermarked sounds)" and sounds (sound sources) stored in a database, and control the devices in real time. Using this technology, the service can display subtitles to an unlimited number of people and with no time lag.

◆Company Profile

Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Location ： 4-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Establishment : November 1920

URL : https://www.shochiku.co.jp/global/

Business : Theatrical business, film and video business, real estate business, and related and new business fields

Earphoneguide Co., Ltd.

Location : 3-14-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Establishment : August 1976

URL： https://www.eg-gm.jp/

Business: Planning, production, and operation of earphone guides and subtitles for simultaneous commentary of performing arts and athletic events

Evixar Inc.

Location : 1-17-22 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Establishment : March 2004

URL : https://www.evixar.com/overview/en

Business : Research and development of software based on sound signal processing