Recently,
I was interviewed by NHK about sharing services.
Q1
What is the background of the spread and expansion of sharing services?
Changes
in the lifestyles of young people, and the spread of IT. These two points.
The
generation now in their teens and twenties do not know economic growth.
Their
desire to buy things, to own, and their desire to differentiate accordingly is
low, and they are good at enjoying themselves together without cost.
Smartphones
and social media make this lifestyle possible.
People
can share what they possess in the palm of their hands, and everyone shares on
a social basis. An infrastructure for everyone to join and enjoy together is in
place.
Q2
Do sharing services broaden the industry?
Expansion
is expected.
In
the government’s white paper, the world market size is listed at $15 billion in
2013, and $335 billion in 2025.
Services
like Uber and Airbnb are drawing attention with their sharing of “big things”
like cars and houses.
Although
it does deprive professional work such as taxis and hotels, I think that the
amount of new business created as these services fill in the gap is bigger.
However,
which services will be established depends upon local circumstances.
Uber
was born because the traffic situation on the west coast of the US is bad, and
you can’t catch a taxi.
In
convenient places such as cities in Japan, the services required will be
different.
For
example in the case of the problems facing Japan, there is a strong need for
nursing care, support for the elderly, and child rearing support, and local
government services that respond to those needs are possible. Sharing services
have a strong regionality. I think that services suitable for each community
will be developed.
And
it isn’t only things that can be shared.
I
don’t have many things, but I do have time. This can be shared. I think that
the range of services will expand if structures are builtLED to allow time and abilities, two things that
everyone has, to be shared.
Q3
What is the issue?
It
is to eliminate “anxiety.”
In
the government’s white paper, Japan is less likely than other countries to use
these services. Private residences that take lodgers are at 84% in China, 55%
in the US, and 32% in Japan. Private car ownership is at 86% in China, 54% in
the US, and 31% in Japan.
Among
reasons why these services are not used, “I’m concerned about support in case
of accidents or trouble” is especially common.
Up
until now, Japanese services have been provided by “professionals,” and the
government has secured their standards and safety by laws and such, but sharing
services are provided by “amateurs,” and the system is held together not from
above but by the trust and reputation of the user and provider. The user side
has to be smart.
People
became familiar with “reputation” sharing system through things like restaurant
star ratings and internet auctions. In the same way, with sharing services
everyone’s evaluation becomes a lifeline.
Q4
How about regulation and institutions?
Instead
of the vertical method of regulating professionals that we’ve seen in the past,
everyone is creating a variety of services, and it is necessary to have a
system that can be used with confidence.
The
government plans to promote “co-regulation” that places emphasis on private
independence and prepares the environment through public-private partnerships.
The
private sector establishes voluntary rules and “visualizes” service content and
subjects accordingly.
We
will also establish a mechanism to certify those standards by private sector
initiatives. A system with which the government will help.
And
then it is being said that the government will recommend services and
municipalities that are shown to be making good efforts.
Rather
than the way it has scolded and humiliated up until now, it is administration
by “praising and reaching out.”
Sharing
is a new service brought about by IT.
It
is a suitable technique for smoothly smooth expansion.
Sharing
services are a new social system based on IT.
If there
is anxiety, trouble will also occur.
To
spread it, everyone’s “familiarity” is needed, and that takes time.
So,
let’s take the time and grow this thing together.
