Shuar

What Shuar does

Shuar Group (シュアールグループ) is a Japan-based, privately held provider of IT-enabled sign language and accessibility services, operating through two entities: 株式会社ShuR (a stock corporation) and 特定非営利活動法人シュアール (a specified nonprofit corporation). The for-profit arm delivers remote sign language interpretation (モバイルサイン/Mobile Sign) via video link to certified Ministry of Health-recognised sign language interpreters, enabling real-time communication at customer service counters, call centers, and telephone relay calls without pre-booking. Service modules include face-to-face interpretation, call center interpretation, and a phone relay service. The for-profit arm also operates SLinto (スリンゴ), described as the world's first cloud-based sign language dictionary with crowdsourced registration and evaluation of Japanese Sign Language (JSL) expressions.

The NPO arm runs 手話TV (Shuwa TV), an online broadcasting platform delivering original sign-language entertainment content such as the GO!GO!しゅわーるど variety show featuring the デフW (Deaf-W) comedy duo, plus the Deaf Culture School (デフカルチャースクール) educational program and the 手話で楽しむ生きものずかん (Sign Language Animal Encyclopedia) project for deaf children. Customers span large enterprises in banking (Tomato Bank, Okayama Shinkin), transportation (JR East, JAL, Narita Airport), retail (AOKI/ORIHICA, Zoff), consumer goods (Kao, Kanebo), insurance (American Home Medical / Sompo Japan), energy (Tonen General), and technology (Microsoft Japan), alongside multiple Tokyo metropolitan ward offices, Yamaguchi City, Kakegawa City, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Consumer Affairs Center.

Revenue is generated primarily through negotiated B2B service contracts for remote sign language interpretation, supplemented by advertising-supported Shuwa TV content, a freemium SLinto dictionary product, and donations to the NPO (including Yahoo! Japan Fund support). Distribution combines direct enterprise sales with OEM/embedded partnerships through Terilogy Serviceware's Mieru Tsuyaku platform and IIJ Global Solutions' R sign language platform. Operating geographies are confined to Japan across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Shizuoka, and Yamaguchi, with 1-10 reported employees. Corporate partners include a 2018 joint venture (SI-COM) with ISEC Japan to extend services into text-based communication support for hearing-impaired non-sign-language users.

Name

Shuar

Legal name

株式会社シュアール

Website

https://shur.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shuar Group is a Japanese provider of remote sign language interpretation services via video, deploying certified interpreters to enterprises, government offices, transportation hubs, healthcare facilities, and retailers, complemented by the SLinto cloud sign language dictionary and the Shuwa TV deaf-culture broadcasting platform operated through its affiliate NPO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessibility Interpretation Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Remote sign language interpretation
• Sign language dictionary
• Video interpretation platform
• Accessibility compliance services
• Deaf community broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Remote Sign Language Interpretation Services (Mobile Sign): B2B service providing remote sign language interpretation to corporations, government offices, and healthcare facilities. Revenue generated through service contracts with enterprise and institutional clients.
2. SLinto Sign Language Dictionary: Cloud-based sign language dictionary with search, registration, and evaluation features for sign language learners.
3. ShuR TV Entertainment Platform: Online broadcasting platform delivering sign language entertainment content including variety shows and educational programming. Content supported by corporate CM sponsors.
4. NPO Activities and Public Interest Services: Non-profit activities including Deaf Culture School educational programs, film production, lectures, and community outreach funded partially through donations (e.g., Yahoo! Japan Fund donations for the Sign Language Living Creatures Encyclopedia project).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shuar provides remote sign language interpretation services (Mobile Sign) that connect deaf and hearing-impaired individuals with certified sign language interpreters via video call for real-time communication at government offices, banks, hospitals, retail stores, and corporate settings. The company also operates SLinto, a cloud-based sign language dictionary, and ShuR TV, an online broadcasting platform for sign language entertainment, delivered through both a corporate entity and a specified NPO.

Product overview

Shuar Group provides IT-enabled sign language services for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals through two main entities: 株式会社ShuR (corporate) and 特定非営利活動法人シュアール (NPO). The core products include モバイルサイン (remote sign language interpretation) covering face-to-face interpretation, call center services, and phone relay, and SLinto (cloud-based sign language dictionary) for searching and registering sign language expressions. The NPO arm operates 手話TV as an online broadcasting platform delivering sign language entertainment, including the GO!GO!しゅわーるど variety show and content featuring the デフW comedy duo. Additional offerings include the デフカルチャースクール educational program and the 手話で楽しむ生きものずかん online encyclopedia for deaf children. The portfolio spans accessibility services (interpretation), educational content, and entertainment—all centered on sign language and deaf culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Sign (モバイルサイン) Remote sign language interpretation service delivering real-time communication between deaf/hearing-impaired individuals and interpreters via mobile video for service counters, call centers, telephone relay, and internal workplace communication. Available at over 20 government offices, corporations, healthcare facilities, and retail chains in Japan.
• SLinto (スリント) World's first cloud-based sign language dictionary allowing users to search, register, and collaboratively evaluate Japanese sign language expressions with crowdsourced contribution model.
• ShuR TV (手話TV) Online broadcasting platform delivering sign language entertainment and variety programming including shows like GO!GO!しゅわーるど (GO!GO! Shu-ward) and Deaf-W comedy content, supported by corporate CM advertising sponsors.
• Deaf Culture School (デフカルチャースクール) Educational programs offering workshops and classes such as camera and yoga conducted in sign language, where deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals learn alongside hearing students.
• Sign Language Animal Encyclopedia (手話で楽しむ生きものずかん) Online encyclopedia project featuring sign language videos about animals aimed at deaf children (ろう児), created to provide rich learning environments about wildlife through sign language.

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 株式会社IIJグローバルソリューションズ (IIJ Global Solutions)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 May 2018ShuR's sign language interpretation services made available through IIJ Global Solutions' 'R sign language' remote sign language interpretation platform, enabling ShuR's interpreters to be accessed via this technology platform.
• 合同会社シーコミュニ (合同会社シーコミュニ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2018Joint venture established by Kabushiki Kaisha ShuR and Isec Japan on April 24, 2018. The purpose is to establish communication support systems providing both sign language and text-based information access for hearing-impaired individuals, further expanding accessibility services.
• 株式会社テリロジーサービスウェア (Terilogy Serviceware Corporation)coreTechnology or Integration · 7 March 2018Partnership to integrate ShuR's sign language interpretation service into Terilogy Serviceware's multi-language video interpretation platform 'みえる不通訳'. This platform is deployed at hotels, leisure facilities, and commercial establishments, expanding sign language access to any location withみえる不通訳 installed. Under this partnership, Zoff eyewear stores and AOKI/ORIHICA suit stores nationwide provide ShuR sign language interpretation through theみえる不通訳 platform.
• 全日本ろうあ連盟 (Japan National Association of the Deaf)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapan National Association of the Deaf (全日本ろうあ連盟) served as consultant for sign language expressions in the Otsuka Shokai IT terminology sign language video project developed by ShuR NPO.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Convo Communications: Provider of on-demand sign language interpretation via video for deaf consumers and businesses. Closely matches ShuR's on-demand, B2B-enabled model, though operating in North America.
• Purple Communications (ZP Better Together): Video relay and interpreting service provider serving deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Directly comparable to ShuR in core service (remote sign language interpretation), though U.S.-focused and serving a different sign language.
• Sorenson Communications: U.S.-based provider of video relay services (VRS) and on-demand sign language interpretation for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals via video. Closest direct functional peer to ShuR's Mobile Sign remote interpretation, though operating at significantly larger scale in the U.S. regulatory environment.
• CSD (Communication Service for the Deaf): Non-profit organization providing interpreting, advocacy, and community services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in the U.S. Analogous structure to ShuR's combined corporate + NPO model, though at much larger scale and in a different linguistic market.
• SignVideo (by Sign Solutions): U.K.-based provider of remote BSL interpretation services for public sector and enterprise clients. Functionally analogous to ShuR's Mobile Sign service model for BSL-speaking users.

Others

• Terilogy Serviceware (みえる通訳): Multi-language video interpretation platform provider that integrates ShuR's sign language service as an embedded capability. Partner-distributor relationship — Terilogy's platform growth directly drives ShuR's distribution reach in hospitality and retail.
• IIJ Global Solutions (R手話): Technology partner that distributes ShuR's interpretation services through its R sign language platform. Comparable ecosystem partner to Terilogy, providing ShuR with alternative distribution channels into enterprise accounts.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft Accessibility: Microsoft Japan is already a ShuR supporter and partner. Microsoft's accessibility portfolio (including live captions and AI translation features) represents both a partnership channel and a long-term competitive threat if native platform features replace paid interpretation services.

Emerging players

• SIGNALL (formerly SmartSign): Technology-focused sign language interpretation company developing automated translation tools and interpreter services. Adjacent competitor to ShuR combining human interpretation with emerging AI capabilities.

Regional players

• 手話ドットネット (Sign Language Dot Net): Japanese sign language services platform and content provider. Operates in the same JSL market as ShuR but with a different mix of content, education, and information services rather than remote interpretation infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shur_group
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShuRGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shur-co.-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shuar