Koharu is an open-source, ML-powered manga translation tool that automates the process of translating manga pages while preserving visual integrity.
Source: README View on GitHub →Koharu is gaining attention due to its innovative approach to manga translation, addressing the need for accurate and visually consistent translations. Its use of local ML models ensures privacy and performance, and its Rust-based architecture highlights its focus on safety and speed.
Source: Synthesis of README and project traitsKoharu automatically detects text regions, speech bubbles, and cleanup masks, using object detection and OCR to ensure accurate translation without manual intervention.
Source: READMEThe tool employs inpainting to remove source lettering and translates text using local or remote LLM backends, providing a seamless translation experience.
Source: READMEKoharu supports vertical CJK and RTL text rendering, ensuring that translated text appears natural within speech bubbles and captions.
Source: READMEUsers can export translated pages as layered PSD files, preserving helper layers and editable text layers for further refinement.
Source: READMEKoharu includes a local HTTP API and MCP server for automation and integration with other tools.
Source: READMEKoharu's architecture is modular, with separate components for vision and language processing. It uses Rust for safety and performance, leveraging Tauri for the desktop app and candle and llama.cpp for ML inference. The project employs a staged stack of models for different stages of the translation process.
Source: Code tree + dependency filesCenter: project; inner ring: core feature modules; outer ring: key dependencies. Auto-generated from core_features and tech_stack.key_deps.
candlellama.cppTauricandle-transformerscandle-corecandle-nncandle-flash-attnhf-hubimageanyhowasync-traitimageprocclapserdeserde_bytesserde_jsontokiotracingtracing-subscriberconsoleopenrfdpostcardthiserrortauritauri-buildKoharu is suitable for manga enthusiasts, translators, and developers looking to automate the translation of manga pages. It can be used for personal projects, educational purposes, or to create professional translations.
Source: READMEVersion 0.58.0, released on 2026-05-01. This release includes bug fixes and new features such as Chinese segmentation jieba and improved text rendering.
Source: GitHub ReleasesKoharu is a promising open-source project for manga translation, offering a unique combination of privacy, performance, and ease of use. It is particularly suitable for individuals and teams interested in exploring the intersection of machine learning and manga translation.
Source: Synthesis