Living alone in the age of “everyone”

 It’s the era of “Everyone.”

 In 2006, TIME magazine’s person of the year was “You” and the cover included a computer with a mirror for a screen. The person reflected in the mirror used digital technology to play a leading role. This age was called Web 2.0.

 After that, social media exploded onto the scene. Everyone was connected, and everyone’s voice had the potential to directly influence society. It influenced presidential elections, shaped the Arab Spring, and played a part in demonstrations from London to New York. Japan also demonstrates the importance of “everyone’s power” and “social power.” According to a survey by Cisco, the mobile users of Japan produce 5 times the global average of data, making it the hands-down world leader. The “era of everyone” might be a great chance for Japan.

 On the other hand, it has been said that Japanese TV is no longer interesting. One large cause could be that it is no longer an environment in which individuals can operate freely.

  The other day, famous television producer Tsuchiya Toshio concluded that TV content requires “individual quirks.” It could be that the charms of TV content have been lost because the quirks of the individual have been diluted. The “individual” may have become embedded in the “all.” Some things cannot be accomplished by everyone. It takes the power of the individual to break through to new areas. Creators are inspired to create by the charms of the unknown.

 To raise the level of the general populace is the responsibility of the education system. But how does one promote the development of outstanding individuals? How does one create an environment in which such people are free to realize their creative potential? Maybe it’s possible through policy.

 As the government recites, “to create great content creators we must create a high level of education with facilities to teach content creation.” Can this really fulfil the needs of the genius creator? I don’t think so. It may increase the number of “individuals,” but the ones who really excel take a different route.

  I believe that those who create new genres of expression require a certain environment, a certain soil, and certain conditions in their environment. The emergence of impressionism in modern art; of Coco Chanel in the fashion industry; Jean-Luc Godard in the movie industry;  The Beatles and the Sex Pistols in the music industry; Osamu Tezuka, Yoshiharu Tsuge, and Katsuhiro Otomo in the manga industry; and Shigeru Miyamoto in the gaming industry.

　In all cases, a new form of expression was created by turning all that had been created up until that point on its head. The term for this is “punk.” I feel that there must be certain conditions under which these artists are created.

 The “punks” in the age of social media are innovators of Facebook, Twitter, and Line. I wonder where and how the next “individuals,” who will go on