Launch of a Major Incubation Plan in Aichi Prefecture

 ■Launch of a Major Incubation Plan in Aichi Prefecture

The “Station Ai Project Promotion Council” was held at the Aichi Prefectural Government.

A massive incubation facility will be created to kick off a community involving industry, academia, and the government to build a startup ecosystem of manufacturing x digital. This started through an initiative by Governor Hideaki Omura.

I am participating from the perspective of the CiP Council.

The objective of the “Station Ai” facility is to deliver innovation by combining manufacturing technologies, which are a strength of Aichi Prefecture, with startups. The long-term goal is to develop a rooted ecosystem by offering incentives that attract more startup companies.

Related parties, including companies, universities, and the government, align to form a package of policies that support the creation and attraction of startups. A particular focus is placed in areas that combine the manufacturing industry, which is a strong presence in Aichi Prefecture for automobiles, and digital elements.

Station Ai will be located in the 7,300 m2 former Aichi Kinro Kaikan site next to Tsurumai Park in Nagoya. It is scheduled to open in 2022.

It will be a multi-story space containing coworking space, offices, event space, seminar space, lodging facilities, cafes, and restaurants. It will be the greatest incubation facility in Japan or rather, one of the best in the world.

With Station Ai serving as the core, various other satellite support hubs in Aichi Prefecture, such as those for medicine, healthcare, content, sports, and food, to facilitate cooperation between hubs. There can also be cooperation with other cities, such as with CiP in Takeshiba, Tokyo.

Its overseas network will be notable. The governor has taken a lead in involving major players from overseas.

MOUs have already been concluded with the National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, and Institut Mines-Télécom in France. Discussions are also taking place with the University of Texas at Austin, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, and INSEAD in France.

Governor Omura states, “The winner-take-all system continues to be seen in the world. We would like to join manufacturing and digital to build an ecosystem that attracts startups, as accumulation leads to more accumulation. We will also work with the Station F incubation facility in Paris, which we draw inspiration from.”

I delivered a greeting also. “CiP is a plan involving industry, academia, and the government to create a special zone that accumulates tech and pop in CiP. We are working on this project through a community of 60 companies ahead of our opening next year. The focus of our project is IT and entertainment, which are the strengths of Tokyo, whereas Aichi Prefecture has many elements that are not available in Tokyo, such as automobiles, robots, and space. I hope we can serve a purpose.”

“Core players from industry, academia, and the government have aligned, a global network has been built, a location has been prepared, there is a public budget for encouragement, and the leader is extremely motivated. I have never seen a project that has put together all of these aspects. The issue is the activation of the community. This is where effort is needed.”

The model involves horizontal expansion of the Tokyo CiP Tech & Pop hub in Aichi Prefecture.

Major projects are lining up, with Tokyo in 2020, Nagoya in 2022, and the Osaka World Expo in 2025. There are also new plans for incubation in Kyoto and Fukuoka.

I would like to develop a national plan that links these locations.

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Launch of the Esports Activation Review Conference

 ■Launch of the Esports Activation Review Conference

The “Review Conference on Measures to Activate Esports” has begun.

It is hosted by the Japan Esports Union (JeSU) through a commission from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. I am serving as the chairperson.

While researching the market size and the conditions overseas, we will identify the purpose and issues of esports, and seek action by the industrial world, government, and municipalities.

Committee members include professional esports players, the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association, operators of teams, operators of tournaments and events, Intel, Nippon TV, Goldman Sachs, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, attorneys, hospitals, and municipalities. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry; the Cabinet Office Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters; the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications; the Consumer Affairs Agency; and the Japan Sports Agency are also participating.

I delivered a greeting.

“Esports are finally becoming serious.

　As JeSU reported at Tokyo Game Show, the environment is being prepared, as regulatory issues are being resolved.

　If last year was the first year for esports in Japan, the next objective is for Japan to become a major force in esports and eventually be the global center.

　5G also attracted attention at Tokyo Game Show, and this is an opportunity for a great leap in development, as esports and 5G started up simultaneously in Japan.

　Japan will be attracting attention from around the world ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

　This conference will also focus on what kind of strategy should be implemented with what timing.

　Numerous parties involved have come to this venue.

　Esports is a growing field that cannot be contained in a single industry.

　It is expressive culture, education, and social participation and contributes to regional revitalization.

　I would like to uncover and transmit its significance and potential.

　There may be negative views on games, but I would like to reverse these views and shine a light.

　I would like to turn this into action by the government and industrial world.”

1. As a sport, how will it incorporate the perspectives of players and fans?

2. As an industry, how will it see events, the media, business opportunities, and investments?

3. As a public service, how will it incorporate education, healthcare, welfare, administration, laws, and systems?

I shared that there are various angles.

I took on a robust and varied task that is difficult to organize.

This is the first serious esports strategic council in Japan after all.

By the way, this conference will be fully open.

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World’s First IoT Broadcast

 ■World’s First IoT Broadcast

Regarding the fusion of communication and broadcasting, I have promoted “IPDC,” in which communication protocol IPs are put on radio waves for broadcasting, since 10 years ago.

The “IPDC Forum” has received a special experimental station permit for this V-High band.

We will carry out IPDC experiments using this permit.

We will develop broadcasting use cases and explore a new business model for broadcasting companies.

I serve as the representative of the IPDC Forum, which is comprised of 38 member companies, including broadcast stations, manufacturers, advertisers, software companies, and communication companies.

V-High is a TV frequency band from the past that became unused when terrestrial digital broadcasting was prepared. NOTTV had been using it since then, but it had been unused due to their withdrawal of operations.

The experiments will take place in the Pop & Tech Special Zone CiP in Takeshiba, Minato, Tokyo. Takeshiba CiP cumulatively introduces the latest technology, such as AI and IoT, and advocates for a radio wave special zone. It will introduce IoT broadcasting through IPDC. This will be the first attempt in the world.

This system involves superimposing IP signals on broadcast waves and using the broadcast network that has been prepared all over the country to send various information and IoT control information to smartphones, computers, and IoT devices.

First, we envision usage in the field of preventing and reducing the effects of natural disasters. We will develop a use case to support broadcasting by delivering detailed information and specialized regional information that cannot be fully shared on the TV or radio to smartphones and IP devices using broadcast waves.

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Opening of iU and 10 Challenges

 ■Opening of iU and 10 Challenges

iU has received a decision by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology approving its establishment and will officially open.

We will create a university that does not exist anywhere else in the world. I will serve as the President.

https://www.i-u.ac.jp/

iU has the longest official name in Japan of “Information Management Innovation Professional University.”

We put innovation in the name of a university for the first time in the world, but the only “name” is iU.

Information management whatever is an “explanation” that we are a university that nurtures specialized professionals that will innovate in information ICT and business management.

Regardless, we will go with “iU” as the actual name.

This is similar to how everybody says MIT instead of the explanation of Massachusetts Institute of Technology or APU instead of Ristumeikan Asia Pacific University. We will work hard so that we are called iU.

Because you are here, I am here.

You & I　　iU

I am uploading the “10 challenges.”

1 Information x Management x Innovation

　The curriculum, which is based on ICT x Business x Projects and allows students to attain the ability to drive development using English, has an unmatched formation.

　We will nurture professionals who can thrive in any industry or field using a foundation of digital skills.

2 Learn with companies

　80% of professors have experience working at companies.

　The companies include NTT, IBM, Apple, Disney, SAP, NHK, Dwango, Fujitsu, DeNA, Nikkei, Coca Cola, Yoshimoto Kogyo, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. All students will do internships at companies for about half a year to sharpen their skills.

3 Create with companies

　We will also partner with over 200 companies. We will deepen the connection between industry and academia.

　The partners will include NTT, SoftBank, KDDI, CISCO, SAP, Panasonic, NEX, mixi, GREE, SEGA, Dwango, and TBS and will continue to grow.

4 Hub of worldly knowledge

　This will be a hub university that accumulates the knowledge of the world. Top visiting professors will assemble here. There will be over 200 visiting professors. This university will have more professors than students.

5 Tokyo x Tokyo

　The campus will be in Sumida near Tokyo Skytree and will be open.

　I want something exciting to happen with everybody in the region every day, whether it is through a project, event, or the food hall.

　The first satellite campus will be in Takeshiba, the Pop & Tech Special District near the bay, to become a protruding island of industry and academia connection.

6 Virtual x Real

　There will not be (many) lectures. Of course, smartphones and online functions will be used heavily. Studying can be done in the palms of students’ hands.

　Real studying will also be focused on being hands-on. Students will move their hands and feet to create.

　We will use virtual and real elements to their fullest extent.

7 Employment for everybody

We will establish “i Co., Ltd.” so that all student faculty members can join the company to earn a wage.

　Faculty members and students will actually experience business through connections with the industrial world. Let’s earn our own tuition.

8 Entrepreneurship for everybody

　We will make all students take on the challenge of starting a business. We will provide every student with funding and units for 1 opportunity to start a business. It is OK to fail.

Of course, we will aim for success and exiting. Let’s go for a “0% employment rate.”

9 Education special zone

We would like to establish a “campus education special zone.”

　Since the Takeshiba satellite campus has already been approved as a National Strategic Special Zone, we would like to apply for this also.

　We are thinking of a robot/drone special zone, mobility special zone, radio wave special zone, entrepreneurship special zone, and exchange student visa special zone, among other measures.

10 Learning of tomorrow

　We will cooperate with universities around the world and aim for credit transfers and usage passports for overseas campuses.

　Furthermore, we will work with other universities, high schools, and middle schools to introduce “learning of tomorrow” by creating learning courses that go beyond the framework of school and enabling super-grade skipping.

What is important is the school song.

We had Shonen Knife make “Let’s Go iU.”

It has to be the most rock and roll school song in the world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwe_zUKU4Yg&feature=youtu.be

We transmit various things on the YouTube “iU Channel.”

This is a short movie with a preview of a class in iU.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDZ5aAZ_TuGz058tdYNQizg

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My Desire to Change the Gloomy Atmosphere

 ■My Desire to Change the Gloomy Atmosphere

It was reported that Japan was selected as 2nd overall in the international ranking of “Best Countries.” It appears that stability and the future outlook were rated highly.

1st was Switzerland.

It appears to have been recognized as a “stable, open country” with a mature society and developed financial system.

3rd was Canada, 4th was Germany, and 5th was the United Kingdom.

The United States slumped at 27th due to a loss of reliability and leadership as a result of the Trump effect.

China rose due to its power and future outlook but came in at 16th.

Japan is rated very well.

However, there is bad information as usual.

In most countries, the impression held by its own citizens outperforms the impression held by foreigners. On the contrary, the results suggest that other countries think well of Japan, but Japan does not think that it is wonderful.

This is an issue of self-esteem.

Although international research concludes that “Japan is the most creative country,” Japan finished last by a wide margin in the question of “are you creative?”

The youth of Japan believe that they are not creative, do not demonstrate any will or potential to create, do not emphasize the power of the internet, and believe that the customary form of education involving memorization.

I don’t know when self-esteem became so low, but maybe it wasn’t so gloomy in the past. I believe this is an issue with the atmosphere that has continued for 30 years since the price bubble burst.

The following is a quote from “The Third Man” by Orson Welles.

“In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace – and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab, once muttered that Switzerland is a “finished country.” It was an inadvertent comment, but it left a strong impression.

It could be that by calling it a “finished country,” Negroponte meant that Switzerland has matured through its long history but does not have any significant innovation in the modern age, so it has lost its luster, although it has not sunk.

Since he attended a school in Switzerland when he was young, I believe this was an emotional comment.

In studies by the World Economic Forum, Switzerland was 1st in competitive ability for 9 consecutive years until last year.

Therefore, it is not close to being finished.

He could be pointing to its decreased presence overall when considering politics, society, and culture in addition to the economy by saying that it is finished.

However, it sounded like he was criticizing Japan to me. He has told me this in person.

Japan fell behind in digitalization and is on a path toward being finished. It is stagnating and sinking.

Even Negroponte, who relied on a lot of funding from Japan when founding Media Lab in 1985, is seeing Japan in that manner.

With that said, these 2 countries finished 1st and 2nd in this study.

They demonstrate maturation rather than growth. They are stable rather than dynamic.

Perhaps the world sees the future in “finished countries.”

Despite that, it will be gloomy unless we can increase our self-esteem.

IoT and AI have brought another chance to demonstrate manufacturing capabilities, and there are chances as an advanced nation that is troubled with an aging population and natural disasters, but there are few opportunities for innovation through science and technology.

There is little intention to chase the United States, advance together with Asia, or be cunning like France or the Netherlands.

On the other hand, leaders in the United States and Europe say that they can work with Japan and have not been at odds with China and India lately.

Our position as being stable, not doing bad things, and exporting Pikachu and Doraemon means that we are probably a good friend to the world.

Let’s not be gloomy. Let’s change the atmosphere and face the world with a smile.

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Super-Filtering as an Online Safety Measure for the Youth!?

 ■Super-Filtering as an Online Safety Measure for the Youth!?

I will serve as the chief investigator for the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications Task Force for Preparing an Environment for Safe and Secure Internet Use by the Youth.

According to a study by the Cabinet Office, internet usage by the youth is 93%, which is almost all of them. Smartphone usage is 63%.

In the group of youth aged 9 and under, internet usage is 57%, and smartphone usage is 33%.

99% of high school students have their own smartphone. 36% of elementary school students have their own smartphone, and 57% share a smartphone with their parents.

For the youth aged 11-12, smartphone ownership jumped by 25%, with smartphone ownership now exceeding shared usage.

98% of guardians of youth aged 9 and under manage their children’s internet usage.

93% allow for smartphone usage only in places where an adult can see. 58% have designated a time and place for usage.

On the other hand, only 9% use filtering.

Safety and security measures are progressing.

The logo is the same for filtering provided by each communication company. “High School Plus,” which allows usage of social networking services, was added. Settings can be customized easily. The operating system features of iOS and Android can be used now. Measures are stacking on top of each other.

Since filtering is also effective as an antipiracy measure, public needs for dissemination are growing.

Relevant parties continue to put in touching effort. However, dissemination of filtering has dropped below 40% and is trending down. This is the issue.

The following measures have been put in place to support the activity of all relevant parties.

・Publication of actual data regarding filtering usage by mobile phone businesses and solicitation to distributors

・Promotion of efforts by OS businesses (Apple, Google), MVNO, and social networking service providers

・Educational promotion, dissemination of services that are easy to use, and information transmission

Important data was presented by the Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association (JISPA).

While “smartphone dependency” is a concern for over 80% of guardians regarding their children’s smartphone use, illicit access to harmful information, which is the main purpose of filtering, is only a concern for over 30%.

The top 3 concerns of smartphone dependency, the effect on education and grades, and the effect on the body and health are by far the most commonly recognized by guardians as risks of smartphone usage. They see “use for long periods of time” as an issue.

Perhaps filtering is not spreading well because the thoughts of the providers do not line up with the concerns of the users.

Since filtering has features that restrict and control usage time, the promotion of filtering matches the needs of users (parents).

However, it is possible that both providers and users are hesitant because filtering of inappropriate information prohibits use of apps and social networking services, resulting in inconvenience.

Since filtering has various roles, JISPA proposes a different term for filtering that blocks harmful information.

That is “super-filtering!”

Filtering provides good health and makes people smarter.

There may be a need to switch over to a positive route.

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Takeoff of the Artist Commons for Numbering Artist IDs!

 ■Takeoff of the Artist Commons for Numbering Artist IDs!

Artist Commons Corporation was started up.

It will assign a unique ID for each artist for smooth linkage between media and content services.

This project that was being advanced based on the CiP Council is becoming independent and turning into a company.

Artist Commons (AC) was formed jointly by 8 organizations and 2 companies in music and entertainment, including the Japan Association of Music Enterprises, the Federation of Music Producers Japan, and the All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (ACPC).

In the media environment focused on smartphones, users tend to fall into a small world called the filter bubble, decreasing the number of opportunities for them to encounter various content produced by artists.

Insufficient linkage between services, such as online transmission, tickets, news, ranking, and broadcasting, and the difficulty of obtaining authorization for rights are considered to be the causes.

Under these circumstances, music and entertainment organizations and academic research institutes have repeated research and experiments since 2016 in an attempt to jointly develop and produce the “AC-ID” common artist ID and the “AC-API” linkage program in order to build out information infrastructure to increase added value of artists by making it easier to link services.

In addition to linkage with services such as for tracks on the air on the radio and for concert tickets, the “AC-ID” artist ID is expected to be useful in various scenarios, such as simultaneous transmission of TV, accurately grasping usage situations in catch-up options, and the improvement of user convenience.

Numbering has already begun, with musical artists coming first, and subjects will be expanded to celebrities, actors, athletes, intellectual and others moving forward.

Users can jump to songs and videos from artist names.

Users can also easily access concerts, tickets, social networking accounts, and merchandise.

Businesses can grasp performers in video transmission and the usage of music easily.

It provides a foundation that easily links various services, such as for concerts, subscriptions, news, charts, social networking sites, broadcasting, and video transmission.

We have run tests with radiko, Ticket PIA, E Plus, Lawson Tickets, and others to make it possible to jump directly to ticket agency websites from tracks on the air and purchase tickets.

We have become a company to finally complete implementation and begin our services.

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Stepping Down as Chairperson of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters Committee - Part 2

 ■Stepping Down as Chairperson of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters Committee - Part 2

From 2015, entering the second half of my 10 years, the stage following the internet and smartphones became an important theme.

Distribution has transitioned to 5G and the cloud, and there are varied environments in terms of devices and usage, such as IoT and VR.

AI- and data-driven advertising and sales strategies became mainstream in the content business.

AI + data became the central theme.

The Next-Generation Intellectual Property System Evaluation Committee was established in 2016, and the New Information Goods Committee was established in 2017. I served as Chairperson for both committees.

This involved AI, 3D printing, and databases. Then, the topic of discussions changed from AI intellectual property to data. I was proud that this was a discussion that led the world.

However, the world actually took the lead, as major companies like GAFA and BAT, as well as powerful nations like the United States, the EU, and China, fought each other over hegemony. Japan is making an effort, such as by pointing to the G20 as a place to work on this issue, but its presence is weak.

On the policy side, there is data utilization based on the Basic Act to Promote the Utilization of Public and Private Data and the promotion of open data.

There is also the preparation of PDS (personal data stores), information banks, and data exchange markets.

The IT headquarters are the main force behind these agenda points, and the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters is taking a support role.

This is a link between intellectual property policy and IT policy.

In 2018, antipiracy measures attracted attention. This is also a field that brings intellectual property and IT together.

Discussions regarding the government policy for blocking heated up in April, and a countermeasure council was established. Although I served as a Joint Chairperson, talks became complicated. The countermeasure council was postponed indefinitely in October, as a law for blocking could not be established.

In terms of pirated versions, there is a clash between intellectual property strategy (copyrights) and IT strategy (secrecy of communication), which are both rights that are guaranteed by the Law of Japan, and adjustments on both ends are a major issue.

This was an issue that spanned multiple government agencies, such as the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters; the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications; and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

At the same time, it is expected for the number of policies related to intellectual property, content, IT, and technology to increase.

In 2019, I formulated the 2nd Intellectual Property Strategy Vision, following from the ’13 edition.

The previous version faced the transition from digital to smart, but the principal objective for this version was Society 5.0, AI, and IoT. Social issues, such as SDGs, the declining birth rate and aging population, and environmental energy, also exist in the background.

After 10 years in charge, we are advancing into another stage.

The reason I began to wear Japanese clothes was also the Intellectual Property Headquarters.

On the topic of “Cool Japan,” the discussion involved bringing together different genres, such as fashion, food, and sightseeing, into content. The words “but everybody here is wearing Western clothes” slipped out of my mouth.

Multiple members of the committee said, “Then you should lead us in Japanese clothes.” 10 years have passed since then.

I will continue to wear Japanese clothes as I participate as a member of the committee.

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