DeepL to Provide Multilingual Communication Support Following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake

Tokyo, JP – September 1, 2026 - We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. We also express our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the disaster.

DeepL will provide its speech translation solution, DeepL Voice for Conversations, free of charge to local governments, international exchange associations, and non-profit organizations supporting disaster relief efforts in areas covered by Japan's Disaster Relief Act.

This initiative is being offered in cooperation with MACNICA, Inc., DeepL's distributor in Japan, and is intended to support multilingual communication in affected communities.

Support Overview

Note: For details on areas covered by the Disaster Relief Act and the latest information, please refer to the Cabinet Office of Japan website: Disaster Management in Japan Note: Availability and the number of licenses will be confirmed individually following consultation on the intended usage environment. Note: Translation data is stored locally on the user's device and is deleted when DeepL Voice for Conversations is closed. Customer data is not used to train DeepL's language models. See DeepL's Privacy Policy and Trust Center for details. Note: This is a temporary provision for disaster relief purposes and differs from standard commercial terms. Requests for continued use after the offer closes will be handled separately.

Background

Kumamoto Prefecture is home to approximately 31,000 foreign residents, including many individuals residing in Japan under the Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker programs, who speak a wide variety of languages.

In disaster response settings, important communications frequently arise that cannot be fully addressed through pre-prepared multilingual materials alone. Changes to water distribution and bathing schedules, conversations about residents' health conditions, and explanations of administrative procedures are among the many situations that require communication tailored to evolving circumstances. Such information is often difficult to convey through written materials alone and depends on direct, real-time interaction.

More than a month has passed since the earthquake, and support efforts are gradually shifting from shelter operations to procedures related to disaster victim certificates and longer-term recovery assistance. While these needs are expected to continue over an extended period, securing sufficient interpretation support on an ongoing basis remains challenging.

DeepL Voice for Conversations is a speech translation solution that enables real-time, face-to-face communication between people who speak different languages. Through the provision of this solution, DeepL aims to support communication in affected communities, helping relief workers deliver critical information to those who need it without being hindered by language barriers.

DeepL will continue working with relevant organizations to help ensure that language differences do not prevent foreign residents and other members of affected communities from accessing the support and information they need.

About DeepL

DeepL is a global AI company building the language infrastructure that powers global business. More than 200,000 business teams and millions of individuals use DeepL’s Language AI platform to communicate globally, collaborate and operate across languages in real time. By combining breakthrough AI models with enterprise-grade security and privacy, DeepL enables organizations to work seamlessly across markets and cultures. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL now has more than 900 employees and is backed by leading investors including Benchmark, IVP and Index Ventures. Learn more at www.deepl.com.