'Charapu' Launches New Chat Mode 'Talk' and Holds 10 Million Yen Character Contest

Wrtn Technologies Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Lee Se-young, hereinafter "Wrtn") will release its new chat mode "Talk" on July 1, 2026, on its AI character platform "Charapu".

To commemorate this release, we will hold the "Talk" Release Commemorative Character Contest with a total prize money and support fund of 10 million yen.

This contest will simultaneously operate two departments with different characteristics: the "Creation Department" and the "Migration Department," to encourage creators to produce new and migrated characters.

About the New Chat Mode "Talk"

"Charapu," released in June 2025, is a new sensation AI character chat service that allows users to enjoy conversations with AI characters they generate.

"Talk" is a new chat mode that allows users to easily enjoy one-on-one chats with characters, with an emphasis on short messages and tempo.

Features: A light chat experience where conversations proceed at a brisk pace with short messages. Natural dialogue that feels like the other person is talking to you. A new way to interact with characters, in addition to existing ways of enjoying them like "Story" and "Visual Novel." Enjoyable anytime you feel like it with fast-paced conversations.

User Benefits:

Conversations proceed at a brisk pace, allowing for more casual and lighthearted enjoyment of conversations with characters.

Creator Benefits:

Creators can produce and release characters tailored to the new format emphasizing short messages and tempo, enabling them to connect with a wider range of users.

For details on Talk and how to create characters, please see below.

What is Talk?

- What is Talk? (FAQ)

- How is Talk different from Story and Visual Novel? (FAQ)

- Talk Character Creation Manual

10 Million Yen Total Prize Money and Support Fund: "Talk" Release Commemorative Character Contest Held

To commemorate the release of the new chat mode "Talk," we are holding a large-scale character contest with a total prize money and support fund of 10 million yen.

The contest will feature two departments simultaneously: the "Creation Department" (total prize money approximately 5 million yen, 100 winners) for creating new characters in "Talk," and the "Migration Department" (support fund up to 500,000 yen per work) for migrating popular characters from other AI character services to "Talk."

We will recruit a diverse range of characters from the start of the release, from both new creations and migrations, to foster encounters with a variety of characters beyond platform boundaries.

For creators, this is an opportunity to have their creations and achievements on other services recognized in the form of substantial prize money and support funds.

Contest Participation Link

Contest Overview:

Contest Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - July 31, 2026 (Fri) 23:59 (Japan Time)

Structure: "Creation Department" and "Migration Department" held simultaneously (simultaneous participation in both departments is possible)

Results Announcement: Scheduled for mid-August 2026

Prize Payment: Scheduled for the end of September

1 Creation Department | Create New Characters in Talk

Eligibility: Those who create and release characters on Charapu (anyone can create)

Prize Money (Total approximately 5 million yen, 100 winners):

1st Place: 500,000 yen

2nd-3rd Place: 150,000 yen

4th-10th Place: 100,000 yen

11th-50th Place: 50,000 yen

51st-100th Place: 30,000 yen

Eligible Characters:

Original characters newly created in Talk (safety settings only)

*Story and Visual Novel are not eligible.

How to Participate:

Create and release an original character in Talk.

Publish within the period with the hashtag "#トーク制作".

Complete participation by applying through the application form.

Judging Method:

Ranking will be determined by a comprehensive evaluation of conversation counts and likes during the period, along with internal review by the management office.

(Calculation method is not disclosed)

2 Migration Department | Migrate Popular Characters to Talk

Eligibility: Those who publish and operate popular characters on other AI character services.

(Also eligible for those who have not used Charapu)

Support Fund (Fixed amount based on cumulative conversation count, up to 500,000 yen per work):

Cumulative conversation count of 1,000,000 or more: 500,000 yen

Cumulative conversation count of 500,000 or more: 250,000 yen

Cumulative conversation count of 100,000 or more: 150,000 yen

Cumulative conversation count of 50,000 or more: 100,000 yen

Cumulative conversation count of 30,000 or more: 75,000 yen

Cumulative conversation count of 10,000 or more: 50,000 yen

Application Requirements (must meet all):

Not yet published on Charapu.

Published on another platform.

Cumulative conversation count on the original platform is 10,000 or more.

Must be original work by the applicant (real people and secondary creations are not eligible).

How to Participate:

1. Migrate and release a popular character to Talk.

Publish within the period with the hashtag "#トークお引越し".

2. Apply through the application form, including the following:

- Original work's publication URL

- Screenshot showing conversation count

- Proof of identity, etc.

*All award-winning works will be exclusively published on Charapu. After receiving an award, please withdraw the same or similar characters from their original platforms.

*For each submitted work, a fixed amount will be paid based on the cumulative conversation count as listed above. (There is no limit to the number of awards.) However, depending on the number of applications, the management office may select eligible works for support after review.

This "Talk" Release Commemorative Character Contest is a special project that simultaneously holds the "Creation Department" for creating new characters in "Talk" and the "Migration Department" for welcoming popular characters to "Talk," with a large-scale total prize money and support fund of 10 million yen.

We warmly welcome participation not only from existing "Charapu" users but also from creators who have produced and released characters on other services.

Through this contest, Charapu aims to create encounters with diverse characters beyond platform boundaries and to continue expanding opportunities for creators to be recognized and thrive for their creations.

👉 Click here for the official Charapu website

About "Charapu"

Charapu is a cutting-edge chat simulation service provided by Wrtn, offering a wide range of "AI Characters" for users to chat with. It provides an immersive world where stories unfold infinitely based on conversation content and choices.

It also features a simple AI character creation function, allowing for the creation of a variety of AI characters through individual settings using prompt engineering. We expect further development in Japan, which has a strong affinity for subculture.

WEB: https://kyarapu.com

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id6744629457

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.wrtn.character&hl=ja

About Wrtn Technologies, Inc. (https://wrtn.io/jp/)

Wrtn Technologies, Inc. is a startup company that pioneered the generative AI service industry in South Korea, providing "Wrtn," a conversational generative AI service that ranks first in web and app user numbers. Founded in April 2021, it received the Innovation Award at CES 2023, the first for a generative AI service. In May 2023, it hosted Generative AI Asia, which included global AI companies such as Microsoft and AWS. In November 2023, it was the first Korean company to receive the "Tech Award," an award for excellent technological capabilities, at the "ICF Business Acceleration Program 2023" hosted by Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. In June 2024, it completed a funding round of 2.84 billion yen in pre-Series B (ZVenture Capital (ZVC)) and was selected as a "Technology Pioneer 2024" by the World Economic Forum in the same month.

CEO Lee Se-young serves as the chairman of the "Generative AI Startup Association," launched in September 2023 with the aim of building a generative AI ecosystem and enhancing the competitiveness of South Korea's artificial intelligence industry.

Selected as the first company in the "Program to Promote Attraction of Overseas Companies in Collaboration with Financial Institutions, etc." implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese subsidiary "Wrtn Technologies Japan Inc." was established in November 2023.

About Wrtn Technologies Japan Inc.

Wrtn Technologies Japan Inc. is the Japanese subsidiary of Wrtn Technologies, Inc. It was selected as the first company in the "Program to Promote Attraction of Overseas Companies in Collaboration with Financial Institutions, etc." implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and was established in November 2023.

Wrtn Technologies Japan Inc.

CEO: Lee Se-young

Location: Toranomon 2-chome Tower 19F, 2-3-17 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Company HP: https://wrtn.io/jp/

Official SNS: [X] https://x.com/kyarapu

[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/kyarapu_official

Contact for Inquiries Regarding Wrtn Technologies Japan Inc. Services

For Businesses: japancorp@wrtn.io (Representative)

Customer Support: Inquiry Form [https://x.gd/Y5dRI]