I'm an Anime Collector. 3 AI Phone Features I Used While Visiting Tokyo
I love collecting Japanese anime merch. I'm also a tech creator and an educator who loves using technology to make my life easier. On a recent trip to Tokyo, I decided to use AI features on my phone to help me navigate the city.
I've visited Japan six times in recent years, and as an avid fan and consumer of Japanese anime and pop culture, I fully intend to visit many more times for general tourism, pop-up events, specialty museums and parks. But my earliest visits to Tokyo were overwhelming and confusing. I had a basic understanding of the language, but this was a time before AI and Street View in Google Maps. I carried a Japanese dictionary with me, downloaded offline walking directions and read tutorials online about how to buy a train ticket. It was… OK.
With the recent popularity of AI, I am allowing myself to visit countries with a little less pre-planning and a little more serendipity. Instead of planning my itinerary based on previous trips, I can use my phone as a personal assistant to help me discover new and less-touristy spots along the way, opening up an opportunity to experience my favorite city again for the first time and keep my trips refreshing and new. And since I'm a collector, AI has also given me the ability to learn about vintage goods I find in overseas stores without wasting time or cash.
I Used AI to Shop for Anime Merch in Tokyo I Used AI to Shop for Anime Merch in Tokyo
Click to unmute
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Next playlist item
Unmute
Current Time
0:01
/
Duration
0:30
Loaded :
100.00%
0:01
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:29
Share
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background
Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background
Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Close Modal Dialog
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
Close Modal Dialog
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
I Used AI to Shop for Anime Merch in Tokyo
Here are three handy AI features that I recently tested in a real-world scenario.
Meet industry creators, contributors and emerging thought leaders that have paired with CNET's award-winning editorial team to provide you with unique content from different perspectives.
Meet our contributors
Circle to Search
One of my favorite things to do in Tokyo is wander around all the small vintage toy shops. It's kind of like a treasure hunt, and whenever I find something I don't have in my collection, I get excited. The problem is that there are thousands of anime products, I don't have them all memorized, and there's a language barrier.
This happened to me in Akihabara, one of Tokyo's electronics and anime centers. I found this box that featured a character I recognized, but I didn't know what the product was. So, I opened the camera app on my Samsung Galaxy and held down on the bottom line to open Circle to Search.
The author drew a circle around the product to initiate an image search.
Shannon Morse
Circle to Search is an AI-powered tool built by Google that uses the image on your screen to find matching results. In my case, I circled a Sailor Moon R box. Google then searched for a match. The results showed me several images of the character, which would have been helpful if I didn't already know who she was.
I then wandered to another vintage anime retailer. This time, I used Circle to Search specifically to check the price. The item was priced around $300 after conversion, but was that a good deal? Circle to Search identified the product and pulled up matching listings from eBay. In general, the price at the shop was $200 to $300 less than the listings I found in the US.
Instant Translate
This was an awesome price for a vintage Sailor Moon toy. But since it's electronic, I wondered if anything was wrong with it. The condition is listed on the product label, but I'm not very good at translating by memory, so I used Google's Instant Translate feature within Circle to Search. The nice thing about using this tool for translations is that I don't even have to circle anything. I can just hit the translation button at the bottom of the screen, and it translates everything it sees for me.
The author used Instant Translate from their phone camera. AI detected the source language as Japanese, saving an input step.
Shannon Morse
I don't even have to tell Instant Translate what language I'm trying to translate. It detects the written language for me and automatically translates it. I learned that the toy had been opened and slightly damaged. While the translation was mostly correct, it wasn't perfect. And the label didn't give me all the information I wanted.
Conversation Mode
I wanted more context, so I asked a store associate for more information using Google Translate's Conversation Mode. Using AI, Google Translate automatically detects the spoken language and translates it into the opposite language.
In our conversation, I asked for help, then asked if the item worked. The store rep looked up the item number to confirm that it worked and had been tested. Previously, I'd have to translate each phrase separately by hitting a mic button every time someone spoke. But with these enhanced AI features, the mic stays open and uses live information to keep the conversation flowing.
When I use Conversation Mode, I try to keep my sentences very simple to prevent mistranslations, which can absolutely happen. Several words in the Japanese language sound very similar but can mean totally different things -- kowai and kawaii (scary and cute) are a good example. I studied the language, but I still have much to learn, so I didn't want to be misunderstood.
This live translation also detected my word "battery" as "batari," and luckily, the employee understood that I was talking about batteries that power the device. In normal conversations, this would usually be translated as "denchi" in Japanese.
Conversation Mode works in real time, without having to press another button every time you ask a question.
Shannon Morse
I thanked the employee for helping me and didn't buy this piece of merch either, choosing instead to buy a vintage but completely new item to add to my collection. By using Circle to Search, AI Overview and Conversation Mode, I saved myself money. I didn't make any purchasing decisions based just on a fear of missing out, and I was able to ask for more context.
These AI-powered tools are fairly new, and they aren't without their faults. But when it comes to breaking down a language barrier or helping me be smarter with my personal hobbies, I can truly take advantage of them. It's an exciting time to be an anime collector, a worldwide traveler or both.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Photo highlights from the first week of the Club World Cup
Photo highlights from the first week of the Club World Cup. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Caves near China's ‘Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash
Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 15 videos Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN 50 years of 'Jaws' and shark attacks As Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster 'Jaws' turns 50, CNN's Harry Enten figures out how likely it is to be attacked by a shark and whether we should fear the waters. 01:57 - Source: CNN Erupting volcano puts Indonesians on high alert Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted Tuesday, sending an ash cloud high into the air. The country's volcanology agency has raised the alert level to the highest. 00:59 - Source: CNN The NHL Stanley Cup's perfect imperfections The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports, but one of the reasons the NHL's championship trophy is so lionized is its perfect imperfections. CNN's Coy Wire spoke to The Keeper of the Cup Howie Borrow for a tour of some of the trophy's character-building bloopers. 01:02 - Source: CNN Storm chaser captures 'unprecedented' view of monster hailstones falling from sky Storm chaser and research scientist Sean Waugh has documented softball sized (or greater) hailstones in freefall with an ultra-high-tech camera mounted on a retrofitted research vehicle. The goal – to study and better understand what makes gigantic hail form, and how to better detect it and ultimately improve severe weather warnings. Sean speaks with CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam while on the road, capturing imagery of this very impactful and expensive natural phenomenon. (edited) 01:47 - Source: CNN Flash flood destroys apartment building An apartment building in West Virginia partially collapsed as flash floods hit the area. The governor's office said at least five people are dead and four people remain missing following the floods. 00:31 - Source: CNN After talking to hundreds of dads, this podcaster shares his two biggest lessons Dr. John Delony speaks to millions of listeners on his popular podcast about mental health, family and relationships. As a therapist, he's used to offering advice to struggling fathers, but we asked him about the biggest lessons he's learned as a dad. 01:32 - Source: CNN Rare deep-sea squid filmed alive for first time Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of the elusive Gonatus antarcticus squid alive in its deep-sea habitat. CNN's Jeremy Roth describes the rare encounter. For more on this story, visit 01:12 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN The many adventures of the Stanley Cup Winner's of the NHL's Stanley Cup each get to take the cup for a day and do whatever they want with it. CNN's Coy Wire recounts some of the Cup's wildest days out. 00:43 - Source: CNN BTS members discharged from South Korean military One of the world's biggest boybands could soon be making a comeback with six out of seven members of K-Pop supergroup BTS now discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The band plans to reunite at some point later this year. 00:47 - Source: CNN Combs requests mistrial for a second time CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister explains that Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense team requested a mistrial for a second time, which was denied. Combs' team accused the prosecution of presenting false testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura's, who testified that Combs dangled her over a balcony. 01:26 - Source: CNN Tennessee sheriff's office airlifts escaped zebra to safety DEK: A zebra, that escaped from its owner in Christiana, Tennessee was captured on Sunday and airlifted to safety by the local sheriff's office. The animal, named Ed, had been reported missing just a day after he was acquired by its owners in Rutherford County. They have since been reunited. 00:35 - Source: CNN Jamie Foxx breaks down during BET Awards acceptance speech Jamie Foxx was overcome with emotion while accepting the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards. He reflected on his 2023 health scare. 00:45 - Source: CNN See what's coming to your iPhone and other Apple devices Apple announced major software updates at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Most of the new features won't reach users' devices for a few months when OS 26 releases this fall. 01:49 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Warner Bros. Pictures Unveils Release Date For Chinese Co-Production ‘Tom And Jerry: Forbidden Compass'
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. Pictures will release Chinese co-produced animated feature Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass on August 9 in China. The film is set to make its world premiere at the ongoing Shanghai International Film Festival. More from Deadline 'Legend of Mecha Scholars' Gets Global Distribution In Ad Astra, DRock Cultural Exchange Initiative Bruce Lee & Jackie Chan Films Among Kung Fu Classics Set For AI Restorations Donald Trump Extends Deadline For TikTok Divestiture Again - Update Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass follows the iconic cat-and-mouse duo as they accidentally travel through time in a museum. Along their journey, they meet a group of intriguing new companions and become involved in a final showdown with mysterious forces. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures in China, Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass will be distributed in the country by Wu Zhou Film Distribution Co. Ltd. Chinese director Zhang Gang helmed the project, after previously co-directing Kuiba 3. Zhang also worked on the animation for No.7 Cherry Lane, which won the Best Screenplay Award in the main competition section at the Venice International Film Festival in 2019. This is not the first time that Warner Bros. has adapted the Tom and Jerry IP into a localized version for an Asian market. In 2023, WBD made its first-ever localized version of Tom and Jerry, set in Singapore. This premiered as a series of shorts on Cartoon Network and HBO Go across various Asian territories, before a global rollout. Another series of Tom and Jerry shorts was also made for Japanese audiences. This year marks the 85th anniversary of Tom and Jerry, after the duo was first created in 1940 as an animated cartoon series by William Hanna and Joseph of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg
