World Digital Summit @ Nikkei Hall.

■World Digital Summit @ Nikkei Hall.

The first time I participated was 24 years ago.

This time, the final panel featured Taniwaki, Natsuno, Ishido, Suzukan, and myself.

I'll take notes on what was said.

◇Problem proposal

Japan has recognized that it has lost out in the digital era due to COVID-19, and has created a digital agency to push ahead with digital transformation. However, the next big wave, web3 and generative AI, is coming, and if we make a mistake, we could lose again.

iU, which was hit by COVID-19 when the school opened, say that COVID-19 is an opportunity. The challenge is how to entrust this generation with deciding their future career paths.

◇web3

I'm excited about the disruptive power of blockchain. The power of decentralization symbolized by the DAO. Just as the Internet has turned the media into a garbage dump, it may turn companies and governments into garbage dumps.

On the other hand, the spread of the Internet, which reduces communication costs to zero, was inevitable, but this is not yet evident for BC. Another issue is that energy-rich countries have an advantage.

◇The rise of GAFA

The economy and society have become more autonomous and decentralized. Giants have collapsed and dispersed in many fields, including media and finance. Individuals have also become more powerful. The nation vs. GAFA battle is also a decentralization phenomenon in which a power that rivals the nation has emerged.

Meanwhile, in the Internet itself, companies with business models that concentrate resources such as data have become powerful.

◇AI

The singularity has come. Things you think you can't do will eventually become possible.

People worry about losing their jobs, but production won't decrease. GDP won't decrease. There's nothing to worry about.

However, when that wealth is concentrated in certain countries or organizations, it leads to riots and war.

Distribution, rather than production, becomes the most important issue.

◇Government

I support the Digital Agency. It should be commended for making AI an important issue at the G7 Summit and playing a coordinating role.

However, it is questionable whether Web3 should be considered a growth strategy. Rather than increasing GDP, the Internet and SNS have brought about a convenient, comfortable and enjoyable social culture, and have increased consumer surplus. It would be better to position Web3 as a social and cultural strategy.

◇DX Human Resource Development

That's why I created iU . I take it personally and work hard.

The thing that will change the most with AI and web3 is universities. There is a theory that half of universities will disappear in 10 years because of the Internet and AI, but with the emergence of ZEN universities, it seems that this may happen even sooner. This is a chance to make a big change in education.

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NHK Cool Japan: "Swords" edition.

 ■ NHK Cool Japan: "Swords" edition.

The most common national treasure is the sword.

Japanese sword sections are also popular in art museums overseas.

Although there are swords overseas as well, Japanese blades are particularly popular.

There is a history boom in Japan as well, and the number of history-loving girls is on the rise.

His gaze towards the sword is heating up.

"Ginza"

The first sword specialty store opened in Ginza 40 years ago.

After that, the number of sword shops began to increase.

Ginza is a place where many people have money to spare.

During the peaceful Edo period, awareness of "what does it mean to be a samurai" grew, and the sword came to be said to be "the soul of the samurai."

Swords became gifts and beautiful works of art that expressed the soul of the samurai, and when a shogun took office or inherited the family headship, a valuable sword was presented to him. Shoguns also gave swords as rewards to daimyo when they returned to their home provinces on alternate attendance or when they made donations.

It's something that's been refined for a long time.

"Sword Girls"

The idea of becoming interested in history through games was also a hot topic when the Ninja chapter was released.

The program also discussed how Japan has created many different characters that don't exist overseas, such as mascot characters and monsters, but the personification of swords and fleets is particularly unique to Japan.

I don't feel strange about giving birth to living things and turning them into people, and I like it.

Moreover, Touken Ranbu is a game about raising characters, rather than fighting. Very Japanese.

"Impersonation sword"

Koshirae is a general term for the part of the sword that is held, the sheath that holds the blade, and the guard that connects them.

Since each sword has a different curvature and width, an original sheath is required.

The tsuba acts as a stopper to prevent the hand holding the tsuba from slipping onto the blade, and also serves to balance the weight of the blade and the tsuba.

These features, including both practical and decorative aspects, are important factors in determining the value of a Japanese sword.

When a sword changes hands, it is often remade to suit the new owner's preferences.

Since it deteriorates more easily than the blade, it is passed down through the generations while being frequently repaired.

"Higo Preparation"

In the techniques that artisans have passed down through the generations, every step and every material has meaning and is imbued with wisdom.

We create things with an understanding of that meaning, and find value in it.

Nowadays, it may be foreigners who can do that.

Foreigners will rediscover the value of cool and it will develop again in Japan.

Isn't this the formula for Cool Japan?

Whenever I arrive at London's Heathrow Airport wearing a kimono, I am always asked at immigration, "Are you carrying a sword?"

I think you wouldn't be able to get on a plane if you had it, and I don't know if they're serious or joking, but people ask me that all the time.

Swords are recognized as a fundamental part of Japanese culture.

We too would like to recognize the value of this.

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I went to the G7 Digital Ministers' Meeting.

■ I went to the G7 Digital Ministers' Meeting.

The G7 Digital Ministers' Meeting was held in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, where they discussed the development and regulation of generative AI.

The timing of the rampant AI threat sweeping the world is an important issue on which opinions differ between Japan, the US and Europe.

Japan will host this conference, which will serve as a link to the G7 Summit. This will have great significance.

(It seems to be Daruma, not Pigmon.)

I went to the venue.

Digital Policy Forum G7 Open Conference

"Achieving Global Collaboration in Digital Policy" was held.

Thank you to Docomo and au for your help.)

Greetings.

The Digital Policy Forum is a policy platform for industry, academia, and government launched in the fall of 2021 to coincide with the launch of the Digital Agency.

We have held various symposiums and made recommendations for a data-driven society and on the invasion of Ukraine.

We have also established an incorporated foundation called the Digital Policy Foundation to strengthen our activities.

In conjunction with the G7 Digital Ministers' Meeting, we will propose "Achieving global cooperation in digital policies," and will also liven up the ministers' meeting and send a message from the private sector to the leaders of each country.

https://www.digitalpolicyforum.jp/rgcidp_jp/

At the conference, I spoke at the first session, "The World and Digital."

Hirofumi Yoshida, Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, clarified the government's stance on "promoting the use of AI," he spoke with Gunma Prefecture Governor Ichita Yamamoto, House of Representatives member Takuya Hirai, and Keio University Professor Nanako Ishido.

It started with Governor Yamamoto introducing me as the "Producer of Shonen Knife" lol

The first Minister of Digital Affairs, Representative Hirai, has stated that he sees a winning strategy for Japan through the use of multiple AI technologies and is opposed to regulation.

Governor Yamamoto, a former Minister of IT, also takes the same stance.

On the other hand, Governor Yamamoto expressed concern about the delay in opening up data, and Councilman Hirai pointed out the power issues for AI and data, which are resources issues.

the former IT Minister and former Digital Minister are powerful and inspiring.

The ministerial meetings held in public tend to be low-resolution due to the exchange of official answers, but we would like to also convey the straightforward voices of politicians who are knowledgeable.

The national response to AI is a highly political issue. I felt that it was important for the government, industry, and academia to come together to tackle the issue.

Session 2: "Tech and Security"

Professor Esaki Hiroshi of the University of Tokyo, CSO Maeda Yoshihiro of Deloitte Tohmatsu, Professor Kokuryo Jiro of Keio University, Professor Sudo Osamu of Chuo University, Chairman of NICT Tokuda Hideyuki, Advisor to the Digital Policy Forum Taniwaki Yasuhiko, and Director of the Digital Policy Foundation Kikuchi Naoto.

Session 3: "Public and Future"

Professor Shishido Tsunehisa of the University of Tokyo, Professor Hayashi Hideya of Nagoya University, Professor Uchiyama Takashi of Aoyama Gakuin University, Sugawara Takehiro of SOKO LIFE TECHNOLOGY, Deputy Governor of Kyoto Prefecture Yamashita Akimasa, and Editorial Board Member of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Wakae Masako.

Closing remarks.

the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digital transformation around the world , digital has become the main battlefield in the war in Ukraine.

At the same time , AI is exploding and reshaping the world.

this moment to recognize the significance of Japan hosting the G7 Summit and use it as an opportunity.

I would be pleased if this symposium helps in that regard.

(An acquaintance from Rakuten and an acquaintance from NF)

The theories of civilization, publicness, and diversity. It was a big discussion.

The symposium also made us think about how we should approach solving global problems as the divide between democratic and authoritarian nations becomes more serious.

We would like to continue working together as a forum.

( Work I was previously involved in: NICT's automatic translation and Imagica's 4K8K transmission)

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President's Gachon . Mr.Kensaku Fukui

■President's Gachon . Mr.Kensaku Fukui

He is the head of an entertainment lawyer firm. He is also a New York State attorney, and is always there when we have big entertainment-related discussions, such as the copyright business related to Hollywood, and he is also in the foreground at government meetings and on TV news. I often work with him on issues such as copyright protection period extension, AI intellectual property issues, and anti-piracy measures.

◆Entertainment Lawyer

I was acting. I didn't want to get a job. It was hard to make a living from acting, so I wanted to have a side job as a freelancer. I thought being a lawyer was a good way to earn money as a freelancer. It would be a good way to continue acting.

of university . I went to a training center for two years. When I graduated, the theater company disbanded, about half of the members were replaced, and we co-hosted a new theater company. While I was at the training center, I performed about 100 times. During the training, I was on the scene. I interrogated suspects, drafted verdicts, and negotiated settlements. I saw firsthand how tough it is to do both. At the same time, I realized that being a lawyer is interesting. I quit acting when I registered as a lawyer.

I wanted to work hard as a lawyer, but I had regrets. My friends had become professionals. I felt lonely. At that time, I heard that many executives of movie and record companies were lawyers, and that there were many entertainment lawyers in the United States who supported artists, so I thought I would become one of them.

◆Study Abroad

There was not a single book on entertainment lawyers in Japan. I knew that America was flourishing, so I had been thinking about studying abroad from the beginning. The classes I took at Sundai when I was a repeater and at Columbia University were the most interesting classes I have ever taken in my life. I had been studying abroad for 4 and a half years, so I was craving knowledge. I was able to learn everything I wanted to know.

◆School as a place

I didn't really appreciate the classes at Japanese universities. They didn't suit me at the time. But the university environment was amazing. The Komaba campus was really interesting.

Elementary school was the most boring. It's not interesting to have to sit at a desk and listen to lectures all the time. In junior high school, I had a little more freedom, but it was still boring. In high school, it got more interesting. In college, I could do whatever I wanted. Every day was interesting. Everything I experienced there shaped me more than any class ever could.

Humans retain knowledge when their minds are working. When you are tied to a desk and thinking it's boring, but you're taking classes, your mind isn't working. It's better to make that time as short as possible. Some kids concentrate on reading manga, while others concentrate on soccer. It may be true that you can't appreciate the fun of something without basic knowledge, so I don't have the courage to say that primary and secondary education should be eliminated, but we need to increase the time when our minds are working at full speed. It's fine to go to college after working, but since we have become an affluent society, is n't it okay to have a few years of time to do what you like, whether it's high school or college? Also, if you start working and want to learn something, it will be good if there is a place where there are teachers who can give you the knowledge you want.

◆Message for you guys

For me, college was the most interesting time of my life. I want you to treasure that. Rather than focusing on grades, I want you to spend those four years in a way that you can say at graduation that you had the most fun. The winner is the one who has fun in college and in life.

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Cool Japan: Nakano Koenji

■Cool Japan: Nakano Koenji 

NHK Cool Japan "Nakano Koenji" edition.

"Live House"

Young musicians and artists choose cities with low rent and low living costs.

At the same time, I don't want to move away from the city center, where information is sourced.

Nakano and Koenji are perfect places.

When people of these kinds of races come together, individuality and culture are born, and they begin to attract many different kinds of people.

This creates a virtuous cycle as it attracts foreigners and the number of accommodations catering to them increases.

Hostels are wall-less, sharing economy-like places, and they also serve as a receptacle for such new values.

"Secondhand clothing store"

There is probably no other town in the world with 150 stores gathered together.

I usually wear second-hand kimonos and I love second-hand clothing, so I thoroughly search for cheap, high-quality items.

The charm of second-hand clothing is the unique items you find there, making them a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Koenji is a town of individuality where mass production doesn't suit it.

You can search there and find a unique item that you like. It's fascinating.

"Restaurants"

I like the friendliness of the many shopping streets.

It's not a chain store, but rather a tightly packed collection of independent shops.

It's full of individuality. This is also the charm of being a one-of-a-kind item.

They offer a wide variety of cuisines from around the world, including Japanese, Western, Chinese and Asian cuisine, and the quality is very high.

We make it even more delicious than the original.

The great thing about Japan is that there are no bad stores, even if they are cheap.

"Broadway"

I'm interested in plastic models. I want to go.

The reason why Nakano and Koenji have such a strong affinity with subculture is because they are close to the city center and have low land prices.

This is largely due to the fact that there are many anime production companies and many young comedians, musicians and other people who are sensitive to subculture live there.

With this in mind, a secondhand bookstore specializing in manga opened in Nakano Broadway in 1980, and at the time it was just a six-story store.

It gradually expanded, and then specialty shops aimed at enthusiasts began to open one after another around the store, until it came to be known as a mecca for subculture.

Its geographical conditions and accumulated history have nurtured this miraculous city.

There are also plans to turn the former Nakano Sun Plaza site into an even larger Otaku City.

The number of inbound otaku will continue to increase.

Just right.

It's not too big a city, but it's not too rural either, and it's compact.

The food, music and art are all high quality,

The warmth of people still remains.

A lovely town with just the right amount of charm.

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Intellectual Property Planning Content Strategy Working Group

■ Intellectual Property Planning Content Strategy Working Group

I served as chair of the Content Strategy Working Group for Intellectual Property Planning .

We introduced the discussions that were considered by the Keidanren Creative Economy Committee.

Keidanren commissioned Human Media, led by his ally Ono Uchie, to conduct a survey that has compiled an overview of the current state of the content industry.

the past 11 years, China has shown outstanding growth of over 20%, while the US, UK and South Korea have all grown by 6%, while Japan has grown by 2%.

Japan's growth forecast is also the lowest among 53 countries.

On the other hand, in terms of IP revenue, 12 out of the top 25 in the world, or half, are from Japanese content.

1st place is Pokemon, 2nd place is Hello Kitty. Anpanman, Mario, Gundam, Dragon Ball, One Piece, etc.

It is an IP powerhouse, but it is not making the most of it.

Keidanren is said to be placing emphasis on manga, anime, games, music, and movies, and is considering taking measures to promote 1. production capabilities, 2. overseas expansion, and 3. inbound tourism.

This should be in line with the intellectual property plan we put together.

it suggests establishing a comprehensive government organization similar to the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA).

The Japan Business Federation once proposed a "Ministry of Information Economy and Society," and this is the same idea. I agree.

However, since the intellectual property plan is a government document, there will be no consensus. We will not make any proposals to the government.

During the discussion, Committee Member Fukui Kensaku made the fundamental point that in addition to the fragmentation of government ministries and agencies being a hindrance, the budget is small and fragmented, and tax measures are weak.

This is due to the weakness of the policy compared to South Korea, which has a government budget, and the United States, which has a private donation-based system.

, added that the government budget is 8 billion yen, which is on par with that of mid-sized European countries, while South Korea and Germany have 30 billion yen and the UK has 10 billion yen. Is this sufficient or insufficient?

since the content policy was launched , but how do you evaluate the government's stance?

WG should not only plan policies but also evaluate and verify them.

Additionally, Commissioner Uchiyama pointed out that the situation and discussions are the same as they were 10 years ago.

It may be that Japan's policies are now playing catch-up.

It may be worthwhile to use the Korean state-led model and the American private sector-led model as benchmarks. I will abandon the "Japanese model" dream I once had.

The main points of discussion are

1. The impact of AI-generated explosion

2. Platform orientation

3. Building a creator-driven economy

was emphasized.

1. Regarding AI, the Intellectual Property Headquarters led the world in extensive discussions and amended the law, making it OK to train AI without permission, but it is now prohibited if it unfairly infringes on rights.

The reality has finally emerged and the situation has changed. How to operate it is an important issue.

2. Platforms have the power to decide the life or death of content. While there are growing calls to return profits to content and creators, they are also important in terms of providing production opportunities and securing sales channels to the world. We need to be prepared for how to deal with this issue from a policy perspective.

3. Regarding the creator-led economy, compensation as a means of returning compensation is no longer functioning properly, and the key point is how new technologies such as Web3 will function.

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Cool Japan: Udon

■ Cool Japan: Udon 

NHK Cool Japan: "Udon" edition.

Following ramen, the era of udon has come.

It's healthy and has more toppings and soup options than soba.

And in Japan there are many different kinds of udon, from hard to soft, hot to cold.

"Local udon"

Cold noodles are a unique Japanese culture in that they can be made with plenty of water.

There are many different types of udon, including hot and cold noodles.

I'm from Kyoto and I love tanuki.

In Tokyo, tanuki means fried tempura bits, while in Kyoto it means chopped fried tofu and ginger on top of thickened udon noodles. In Osaka, tanuki means kitsune soba.

There is that much diversity within just the tanuki.

Tokyo has a strong soba culture, and udon was just one of the dishes on the menu at soba restaurants. However, about 20 years ago, Sanuki udon became a hit, and udon specialty stores began to appear in Tokyo, and then spread throughout the country.

"world"

Unlike soba or ramen, udon is more like rice or bread and does not have a strong noodle flavor.

This means it can accommodate a variety of flavors and soups.

As people come to understand the appeal of udon, it is now expanding into the world.

I was also surprised by the extremely long lines when I tried to go into an American store of this VTR chain.

in Vietnam, the home of pho , and 50 stores in Indonesia, and the restaurant is expanding throughout Asia.

Since it can be incorporated into the food culture of any country, it is likely to become more and more popular.

"Frozen"

The craftsmanship and relentless pursuit of technology are typical of Cool Japan.

The best thing about it is that you can just thaw it and eat it.

It seems more suitable for freezing than ramen or soba.

Easy and delicious.

It may even spread to the rest of the world.

This program often deals with food, and many of the items featured are imported or foreign products that were developed in Japan, such as ramen, gyoza, curry, and sandwiches.

In comparison, udon is a purely Japanese dish. I'm glad that it's being recognized as such.

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