Japanese ↔ English real-time voice translation for Google Meet and Teams
Short answer: Yes. SottMeet translates Google Meet and Microsoft Teams (web) calls between Japanese and English in real time, by voice and in both directions, with live subtitles for both sides. Only you install it, and it works with free Gmail.
For Japanese professionals in meetings with English-speaking partners, and for English speakers working with Japanese teams. You speak Japanese and the other side hears natural English about a second later, and you hear their English in Japanese, with subtitles for both sides. It works in Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on the web, and only you install it.
What Google Meet and Teams offer for Japanese ↔ English
Google Meet can't speak Japanese: its speech translation doesn't include it, so Meet only offers text captions on Workspace plans. Teams Interpreter covers Japanese ↔ English with a Microsoft Copilot license.
| Option | Japanese ↔ English? | Details | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Meet speech translation | No | Japanese isn't one of the six languages Meet pairs with English. | Google AI Pro or Ultra, or Workspace Business Standard and above. One pair per meeting, up to 90 minutes. |
| Google Meet translated captions | Text only | Japanese captions, shown as text. | Workspace Business Standard and above. Not on free Gmail. |
| Teams Interpreter agent | Yes, voice | Japanese and English are both supported. | Microsoft Copilot license; listeners need a Microsoft 365 license. Not in Teams free. |
| Teams live translated captions | Text only | Japanese speech and translation. | Teams Premium or Microsoft Copilot (the organizer's license covers everyone). |
| SottMeet | Yes, voice + subtitles | Two-way voice about a second after each phrase, plus live subtitles for both sides. Google Meet and Teams on the web; not Zoom or the Teams desktop app. | Any Google account in Chrome. Only you install it; pay per minute. |
Tips for Japanese ↔ English meetings
- The verb comes last. Japanese puts the verb and any negation at the end of the sentence, so the translation has to wait for it. Keep sentences short, and for key yes/no answers say it plainly (はい、大丈夫です / いいえ、難しいです).
- Aizuchi are not “yes”. Frequent はい and ええ while listening mean “I'm following”, but they can be translated as “yes”. Let your partner know, or nod instead of speaking while they talk.
- Keigo and -san. Politeness levels don't map one-to-one to English; the meaning comes through but some nuance is flattened. “Tanaka-san” may become Mr. or Ms. Tanaka, so introduce yourself with your full name.
- 万 and 億. Japanese counts in 10,000s (3万 = 30,000) and 100 millions (2億 = 200 million). Repeat large figures or put them in the chat.
Example: what each side hears
A Japanese manufacturer updates a US engineering team on a prototype. An illustrative exchange. Each bubble shows what was said and, below it, what the other side hears and reads.
試作品の納期ですが、来月の第二週になる見込みです。
As for the prototype, we expect delivery in the second week of next month.
Okay. Could you also send the updated drawings?
わかりました。更新した図面も送っていただけますか？
はい、今週中にお送りします。
Yes, we'll send them by the end of this week.
Set it up in four steps
Add SottMeet to Chrome
Install it from the Chrome Web Store and sign in with your Google account. Only you install it; the other side joins as usual.
Join the call in Chrome
Open your Google Meet call, or Microsoft Teams on the web. On Teams, click “Allow on Teams” in the SottMeet popup once before you join.
Pick the two languages
Click the SottMeet icon and set “I speak” to English and “They speak” to Japanese.
Press “Enable Translation” and talk
About a second after each phrase, they hear you in Japanese and you hear them in English, with subtitles for both sides.
Price: start with 5 free minutes, up to 30 free minutes in total, then from US$10 for about 65 minutes. No subscription; you pay only while translation is on.
FAQ
Can Google Meet translate Japanese by voice?
No. Meet's speech translation only pairs English with French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish. Meet can show Japanese translated captions as text on Workspace Business Standard and above.
Does Teams Interpreter support Japanese?
Yes, with a Microsoft Copilot license, and listeners need a Microsoft 365 license. SottMeet works on Teams for the web with no Microsoft license.
How does it handle keigo?
The meaning of polite Japanese comes through in natural English. When English is translated into Japanese, the level of politeness is chosen from context, so fine distinctions of keigo can be lost. Keep important requests explicit.
Can I translate Japanese to Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese directly?
Yes. Any two of SottMeet's 19 spoken languages work directly, without English in between.
Try it in your next Japanese ↔ English call
Add SottMeet to Chrome. 5 free minutes, no card needed.
Add to ChromeYou're using Microsoft EdgeBraveOperaFirefoxSafari. SottMeet works in Google Chrome only for now — open this page in Chrome to install it.