iU President Gachon: Prof.Masaru Sugiyama

■iU President Gachon: Prof.Masaru Sugiyama

He is a professor at the University of Tokyo and the director of the RIKEN AIP Center. In other words, he is at the top of AI research in Japan.

It's amazing that he became the top leader at the age of 41, and the government that appointed him deserves credit for that .

◆ AI research in Japan

There are a certain number of brilliant people conducting world-class research. However, their numbers are small, and the pool of talent is thin.

The RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project will continue basic research for 10 years, but to do so, we need a solid team of talented people. Therefore, we invite researchers not only from within Japan but also from overseas.

◆Singularity

It cannot be said that the era when AI surpasses human capabilities will not come. Indeed, AI is already surpassing humans in various aspects. We are in the midst of the beginning of the singularity.

◆Gap between researchers and users

Researchers enjoy developing technology because they understand its inner workings. On the other hand, ordinary users worry that their data is being collected without their knowledge, that they are being monitored, or that they will be controlled by AI. This gap is difficult to bridge. I would like to explain this from the perspective of a researcher.

◆ Let's make use of our technology

I personally like working in isolation. I'm comfortable working alone from home. That's fine when I'm developing technology, but when it comes to actually getting people to use it, I need to communicate with various people around me. I want to convey the possibilities to many people and connect them to actual applications, even if only a little.

◆ Research Institutes and Universities

RIKEN is a research institute, so it's mainly staffed by postdoctoral researchers who have earned their doctorates. Universities, on the other hand, are mainly staffed by graduate and undergraduate students. The age range and the degree to which research is dominated by different groups are different. There is value in doing both. If you do it right, you can get the best of both worlds.

◆Today's students

They are always excellent. Today's students know a wide range of things. They possess knowledge that we don't have, so we can learn from them.

◆ Working with companies

It's fun. Universities have students, RIKEN has researchers from public institutions, and companies have lots of people with the drive to actually turn that into a business. When you go there, you're just a newbie in your first year. You get all sorts of stimulation. You learn from that and use it as the seed for basic research.

◆Time Management

It depends on the time. My main job is at a university and research institute, so I only act as a corporate advisor in my spare time.

◆Student days

I didn't have a particularly fulfilling student life. I didn't really like school. I studied in class to some extent, but nothing more, nothing less. I spent my time at home playing on computers and video games. I'm from the Famicom generation. Programming came naturally as a result of that.

◆The reason I decided to pursue a career as a researcher

Without any hesitation, I chose information engineering. However, once I entered university, programming suddenly became less enjoyable. I didn't study very hard during university.

In my fourth year, I joined a research lab studying mathematical theory. I had a great professor, and working with him there made me realize how interesting it all was. After entering graduate school, I started researching machine learning. That's when I finally understood the meaning of coming to university. As an undergraduate, I thought I was done with studying since I was just attending lectures, but as a graduate student, I realized that output is what's required. That's when I understood that I had been studying in order to produce output. In my first year of graduate school, I realized how necessary it was, so I started attending first and second-year undergraduate classes. That's when I first found it interesting.

◆Motivation to learn

I'm trying my best to convey to first and second graders that even the seemingly boring math lessons they'll be taking are actually useful, but it's difficult.

◆Japanese Education

We're always adding things, wanting to do this and that. We need to subtract. Time is limited. Let them find something they love and enjoy studying it. We can create new things, but we can never destroy them.

◆A message for you

There's no need to rush. Life is long. You might feel anxious when you see young people who are very successful, but you can start new things even at 22, 30, or 40. Don't get discouraged; just enjoy it at your own pace. The world is constantly changing, so trying to keep up will be exhausting. It's important to focus on doing things that don't change much.

★Postscript

He apparently didn't study much at university. Then something clicked, and he rose to the top of academia and management at a young age. But he doesn't seem to give off any sense of gravitas . I admire him. Though, even if I admire him, I could never imitate him!

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My number one recommendation for a Kyoto book: Ken Ariga's "Kyoto"

■My number one recommendation for a Kyoto book: Ken Ariga's "Kyoto"

I've read all sorts of books about Kyoto, from history and culture to the Kyoto School of Studies, long-established businesses, and people who love or hate Kyoto, but this is the Kyoto book I would recommend as number one.

A senior alumnus of the Faculty of Economics at Kyoto University re-examines Kyoto's industry, culture, society, and infrastructure from the perspective of its modern development, based on applied economics.

This is a dense and insightful book.

There are stereotypes in books about Kyoto.

A town that is both old and new, represented by Nishijin weaving and companies like Nintendo and Kyocera.

The coexistence of conservatism and innovation. The contrast between closed-off, conservative societies and radical student movements/punk.

And then there's the sense of chosenness among the people of Kyoto and the disconnect from those outside the city.

This book will unravel its secrets. So that's how it is.

The conclusion, as stated in the final chapter, is that "Kyoto failed to achieve what Tokyo and Osaka did" because "the city and society of Kyoto could not completely break away from the cities and societies of the early modern period."

low mobility .

First, there's the outdated and closed-off nature of the heart of Kyoto.

The "rice field" district in central Kyoto is home to traditional industries such as Nishijin weaving.

The "townspeople," who are small and medium-sized self-employed individuals involved in handicrafts such as silk weaving, are the ones who hold society together.

This shows that while the culture is preserved, the economy is stagnant and hollowed out.

The area known as "田の字," or the district that supports the Gion Festival, is called the "former school district" of the Bancho Elementary School, which was established after the Meiji era.

The exclusive system of self-governance among the townspeople is depicted.

I live in the former school district of "Honnō Elementary School," where the burnt-down Honnō-ji Temple once stood.

I participated in the Gion Festival's "Kamakiri-yama" float procession as a former member of the Honno school district.

Until the Meiji era, Kami-Kyo, Naka-Kyo, and Shimo-Kyo wards were part of the city. Sakyo, Ukyo, Higashiyama, Kita, and Fushimi were outside the city, and low-income residents migrated to these areas.

Population trends since the modern era and the perception of regional divisions have also been analyzed.

The author's impression of the Shirakawa area around 1970 as a rural town inhabited by shabby old people resonates with me, as I spent my childhood in that region.

Meanwhile, industry grew in the suburbs and southwest.

High-tech companies such as Nintendo, Kyocera, Murata, Omron, and Nidec are located in the southwest and experienced rapid growth in the latter half of the Showa era.

These isolated companies, primarily B2B parts manufacturers with limited business relationships with other companies, have ventured into the global market.

Its location, due to its proximity to the Hanshin Industrial Zone and excellent transportation access, meant it was separated from central Kyoto.

In central Kyoto, people were cautious about market transactions, and the financial industry did not develop.

Kyoto Bank is the only bank headquartered in Kyoto. This is a difference from Osaka.

There is also a lack of venture capital firms, securities companies, and other entities that act as "guides to the market."

The city also has a weak incubation function, which the author calls a "cradle city."

Another characteristic is the lack of urban infrastructure.

It has particular peculiarities in its railway network.

While the city's streetcar system was abolished and subways were built to the east and west, the Keifuku and Eizan Electric Railway lines are essentially dead ends.

From Kyoto towards Osaka, there are the Keihan, Hankyu, Kintetsu, and JR lines, but the coordination between them is poor.

The city center is practically empty, while there's a lot of waste in the outward-facing areas.

We will also touch upon Japanese cuisine, particularly Kyoto cuisine, which has now become a central part of tourism.

Originally, Kyoto was known for its extravagant clothing and Osaka's extravagant food, but it wasn't a city of food.

A town with no fish and food that's too expensive for ordinary people.

I wonder if the emergence of restaurants like Osho and Tenkaippin was a reaction to that?

There's an interesting analysis using web data from sites like Tabelog that shows the majority of popular restaurants were founded this century.

The comparative analysis of Boston and Paris is also interesting.

Boston was an old industrial city centered on the textile industry, with universities such as MIT and Harvard concentrated there.

After its decline, it revived in the 1990s and beyond through strengthened incubation programs and urban redevelopment.

The finance and consulting industries, as well as the IT industry, are strong, and venture businesses are also thriving.

Insightful.

And Kyoto aims to be the city that comes closest to its ideal, which is Paris.

"A city of culture, art, and cutting-edge industry."

However, Paris's prosperity is also a mirror image of France's extreme centralization, and some argue that Kyoto has no chance of occupying a similar position.

Besides Kyoto and Tokyo, I've also lived in Boston and Paris.

Both cities are sister cities of Kyoto. Let's learn from our sister city.

Now, the two policy recommendations stand out.

First, the "rice field" district will be redeveloped to have two lanes.

Destroy the city center. It's reminiscent of Haussmann's redevelopment of Paris.

In addition to the circular subway system, the plan includes extending the expressway into the city and converting it to an underground expressway.

It's reminiscent of the redevelopment of Boston.

Bold.

It has also been pointed out that Kyoto lacked power within the central political system.

Finally, the topic of digital defeat will also be mentioned.

The loss of international competitiveness in the ICT sector is attributed to a failure of central government policy.

My ears hurt.

Furthermore, they are placing their hopes on creating a cluster of ICT companies that can rival Tokyo.

I too closed the book, feeling a sense of hope.

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Cool Japan: Motorcycles

■Cool Japan: Motorcycles

NHK Cool Japan: The "Motorcycle" episode.

All four of the world's major motorcycle manufacturers are Japanese.

Recognized for its high quality, it has achieved a global market share of 50%.

While the motorcycle itself is appealing, there's also a whole range of related cultures that can be called motorcycle culture.

"Various Motorcycles"

Motorcycles have developed in Japan because they are well-suited to the Japanese environment.

Due to the narrowness of the roads, it has been highly valued for practical purposes such as transportation and delivery.

In rural areas with limited public transportation, some universities and even some high schools allow students to commute by motorcycle.

Securing a parking space for a car is difficult, but a motorcycle doesn't take up much space.

This is likely why there's been an increase in the variety of motorcycles available to suit a wide range of uses and age groups.

Furthermore, this has given rise to a unique culture, which could be described as a form of "Galapagos syndrome," particularly in fashion.

Classic cars

When I was young, the epitome of cool things were electric guitars and motorcycles.

The motorcycle, in particular, was an integral part of the hero's character.

Moonlight Mask and Kamen Rider. I admire them.

However, things that made such loud noises were also symbols of delinquency. Biker gangs.

Even though I longed for it, it was expensive, and adults weren't allowed to do it, so I missed my chance.

Having grown up and let go of his children, the uncle rekindled his old dream and once again embraced motorcycles.

"Police motorcycle"

In Japan, where roads are narrow and winding, police motorcycles are effective for enforcing speed limits.

In Japan, where there are many mountain roads and fallen trees during disasters, the role of off-road units is highly anticipated.

A cool vehicle that zooms along at high speed.

On the other hand, the image of police motorcycles these days is that of people leading marathons and ekiden (long-distance relay races).

It runs slowly and steadily, ensuring safety. A gentle presence.

Recently, the number of female members has increased and they are playing an active role.

They're cool and kind. The role of motorcycle police officers is also expanding.

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Arizona State University, making its first appearance.

■Arizona State University, making its first appearance.

Low and sparsely covered with cacti, Arizona's Phoenix is a place for that.

Sunday morning, quiet. Lots of homeless people .

The Diamondbacks must be disappointed after losing to the Rangers 4-1 in the World Series.

growing city that's ranked 5th in the US .

TSMC is apparently setting up a factory there. I wonder if everyone will become rich like in Hsinchu City.

The whole town is filled with Arizona State University (ASU) buildings.

It has six campuses and 50,000 students. It is considered a world leader in online learning.

Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, and Kate Spade all grew up there.

They filled the area with universities, which improved public safety and even reduced the number of homeless people.

So, it's a city development project centered around a university.

Thunderbird School of Global Management.

It maintains its No. 1 ranking in the US for international management, innovation, and other areas.

It's advertised everywhere as being superior to MIT and Stanford.

It is a prestigious MBA program with a 75-year history, which was merged into ASU in 2014.

I had an in-depth conversation with President Sajeev Khagram.

Global, digital, and innovation are our guiding principles.

We are developing and implementing a digital environment that could be called the "school of the future."

're making it themselves . Amazing.

LED 360-degree immersive video classroom, VR learning, and digital tables for action learning.

There are no traditional classes; instead, we use video-on-demand (VOD) and workshops.

Right?

They've also created a digital twin, and it's capable of metaverse learning.

You can learn just as much, if not more, than you would on campus, no matter where you are.

Right?

In reality, we have offices in Moscow and Geneva.

So, they want to open an Asian school in Tokyo.

President Khagram suggested, "Why don't we do that at iU ?"

Thank you for choosing me.

Let me show you another good thing.

I was then taken to the Media Immersive eXperience (MIX) Centre at the Sydney-Poitiers Film School of ASU.

This film school utilizes cutting-edge Hollywood studio environments, such as theater-like classrooms where 8K projections are shown while editing, and 360-degree immersive labs .

Video production, media technology, game development, and incubation.

It opened in the fall of 2022 and has 1,000 students.

Learn and create in a cutting-edge environment, then go out into Hollywood/the world.

I was blown away by the scale of it.

The director who guided us, Cheryl Isaacs, was a former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

That's the person who decided on the Academy Awards , right ?

This is a university that makes students envious.

"Let's do it together," I said, shaking hands, and my whirlwind inspection came to an end.

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NHK, NTT, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Johnny's, and commercial broadcasters

■NHK, NTT, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Johnny's, and commercial broadcasters

I made two comments at the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan meeting.

1. NHK, NTT, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The direction of discussions within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications regarding NHK's internet services and subscription fees has become clearer.

I do have some points to make, such as the fact that the discussion is still stuck in a dichotomy between commercial broadcasters and NHK, and that there's not enough attention to global internet trends or data-driven approaches. However, the question of where to draw the line regarding deregulation of NHK is more of a political issue than a policy one.

Once this is finalized, broadcasting administration will be completed, and the government will have no further work to do for a while.

At that same time, the topic of abolishing the NTT Law came up. For broadcasters, this would mean NTT's investment in broadcasting would become more unrestricted. This, too, is more of a political issue than a policy issue, concerning where to draw the line regarding deregulation of NTT.

If this is resolved, then the government's telecommunications administration will be completed, and for a while, there will be no government work other than deciding what to do with Rakuten.

This reminds me of something that happened 25 years ago. At that time, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which had just finished the NTT reorganization that had been underway for 12 years since the privatization of NTT, and was eager to tackle the NHK problem next, was hit with the Hashimoto administrative reform plan to dismantle the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. This time, too, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which has just finished its major work, may be hit with a reorganization of government ministries.

2. The Broadcasting Industry and the Economy

Another issue currently gripping broadcasting is the Johnny's scandal. The agency is maintaining its structure without change, and the broadcasting industry has accepted this. At least, no stations have called for the termination of their business relationship. However, this has drawn objections from the industrial sector and economic organizations that act as sponsors, leaving the situation once again at a crossroads.

When I was in charge of the broadcasting industry at the government office, I thought the biggest problem was that the broadcasting industry (including advertising and entertainment) was isolated from the industrial sector and not integrated into the economic value chain.

Advertising spending is dependent on GDP, making it secure during periods of growth regardless of the state of the industry. However, even if the economy declines, it is unrelated to industrial policy and will not receive any assistance.

No one listened to my arguments. In fact, it seemed more like, "Perhaps it's better that way, that is, that broadcasting should be independent . "

Around that time, the internet emerged, and the industrial sector shifted its focus to it, but broadcasting rejected convergence and remained secure for a quarter of a century. Now, however, that situation is becoming precarious, and recently, broadcasters have been increasingly pushing towards the internet.

And now we have this case. Compliance standards in the industrial sector are becoming internationalized and are striving to be integrated into global chains. However, broadcasting is unaware of this and intends to get by with its old ways. In response to this, Mr. Niinami of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and other members of the industrial sector have sounded the alarm about this disconnect.

How will the broadcasting industry perceive this? How will the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which previously considered this someone else's problem, be affected by political pressure? These concerns remain.

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Cool Japan: Made in Japan

■Cool Japan: Made in Japan

NHK Cool Japan: The "Domestically Produced" episode.

The value of Japanese products is being re-evaluated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, they received a flood of inquiries from various countries asking if they had masks, thermometers, and protective clothing.

Japanese people themselves are re-evaluating domestically produced goods for their peace of mind.

However, I think that right now, people around the world are probably re-evaluating domestically produced goods.

With people moving less, trade volume has decreased.

In the midst of a global crisis, there is also a desire to protect one's country and prioritize one's own nation.

In this context, how does the image of Japanese people cherishing domestically produced goods appear?

"Food labeling"

When you go to the supermarket, you'll find that some products display not only the place of origin but also the producer's face and name.

The information about when, where, and by whom something was made is becoming increasingly precise.

The emphasis on food safety—the idea that food is safe to eat—is unique to Japan, and manufacturers have always strived to meet this expectation.

If we don't provide products that are 100% free of defects, we will lose credibility. A customer-first culture.

Rather than focusing solely on domestically produced goods, we pursue a more localized approach, seeking trust and reliability based on personal connections.

This level of dedication seems likely to continue for a while.

"Used agricultural machinery"

Apparently, not only used agricultural machinery, but also heavy machinery, construction equipment, and medical equipment are very popular overseas.

Durable, long-lasting, and affordable – the quality of Japanese products is recognized worldwide.

Even more importantly, the key selling point of second-hand goods in Japan is that they have been carefully used by Japanese people.

Japanese people, on the other hand, like new things, but they take good care of them and maintain them well , so even when they sell used, they can be worth almost as much as new.

it's often said that the apartment is cleaner when the tenant leaves than when they rented it out .

lies in the fact that it was used by Japanese people .

"whiskey"

Anime, games, ramen, and curry—they all originated from foreign countries.

When something is made into a Japanese product, domestically produced, and then surpasses the original to go out into the world, that's what we call Cool Japan. Whiskey is a good example of this.

it's sushi , sake , or kimono , there's still nothing about Japanese culture that has been surpassed by overseas countries in its country of origin, Japan. Japanese whiskey is amazing, though .

During the Meiji era, under the banner of "Japanese spirit, Western learning," Japan adopted Western civilization with a Japanese spirit. And we're still working on that, a process that will take another 100 years.

In the past, people longed for imported goods, but as Japan's national power grew, the value of domestic products increased, and they gained recognition worldwide, and Japanese people also came to love domestic products.

I think it's truly wonderful that we can enjoy delicious domestically produced whiskey.

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Kyoto International Film Festival 2023: Art and more.

■ Kyoto International Film Festival 2023: Art and more.

Otaku Summit Satellite @ Kyoto Seika University.

The guests included Hatsune Miku's Mr.Hiroyuki Ito, Dr. Kang Hanna, Professor Mariko Koizumi of Kyoto Seika University, Mr.Kazuki Sato, representative of the International Otaku Event Association, entertainment sociologist Professor.Atsuo Nakayama , Mr.Hirotaka Yoshida of Toranoana, and otaku comedian Mr.Kicchomu Yoshikawa .

A luxurious group of people discuss the present and future of otaku culture, pop culture, and content.

I want to translate this into action.

How about we do it in Tokyo next time?

Events include a live ikebana competition at Ikenobo and an exhibition by Mr.KAORUKO and Mrs.Kishimoto Mai at Gion Kagetsu.

Thank you very much.

Professor Naoko Tosa of Kyoto University gave a presentation at the "NY Fashion Week Participation Report Meeting" at Kyoto University.

I also walked (or ran) down the runway for Sound of Ikebana, and we had a discussion about it.

This is a joint research project conducted by the Disaster Prevention Research Institute in collaboration with Epson as part of an industry-academia partnership.

Instead of presenting research findings in papers or at academic conferences, I want to express them as art on an international stage. That's it.

The clothes I designed are now being sold in a boutique in New York. I'm turning it into a business. This is it.

I will learn from you.

Eirakuya x COOKIE New Product Launch Event @ Hosotsuji Ihei Museum

Ihei XIV and Okakenta.

The title is "Earth CEO Goes Overseas".

this into a product tenugui (Japanese hand towel ).

"This is the first time something like this has happened in 400 years," said the 14th generation.

Art @ Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art

Tomoko Sawada's "Ripples".

Your own face will spread like ripples.

Apparently, this is the first time a work of art has been created that allows viewers to view this space from above.

The advancements in printing technology were also a factor in making this work possible.

Creators Factory.

An exhibition of works and a workshop by Miwa Ichiko and Takada Yuhei.

"Let's make masks out of cardboard!"

"Let's make a giant rising dragon out of newspaper!"

Higashi artwork by Mrs.Saeko Hirano @ Kagizenyoshifusa

Thank you very much. 2000 yen.

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