New Edition: Creating a Super Free Society 9 - Conclusion

■New Edition: Creating a Super Free Society 9 - Conclusion

　Part of my recent work, "New Edition: Creating a Super Free Society After COVID-19 - The Age of Cats" is revealed below. 

“Conclusion”

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　I live with two cats.

　They are gold and silver. The gold one is male, and the silver one is female. Their names are Amber and Silver.

　When I lived in Boston, as a present for my young sons, I bought Amber and Silver, which were very popular stuffed animals among children called Beanie Babies, and they loved them. After my sons became independent, I ended up taking care of actual cats of my own.

　Working from home during COVID-19 does not force you to just stay at home. It gives you the freedom to be wherever you want, whenever you want. We are in an era where people can live anywhere. We live in a highly mobile society. We are an active nomadic society.

　 In such cases, I just take another good look at at the sunshine at home, and sit face to face with my cats. That twitzed, mischievious side of me comes out. But they, who have been calmly settled at home since before COVID-19, are the masters of the house. I am their subordinate. It is the beginning of their era.

　”Good morning”. When I wake up, they follow me sluggishly. They don't frolic around, and they don't cry out. Sometimes they come as close as 5cm from me as if they are interested, and other times they look at me from a distance of about 5m.

　When I am typing on the computer, they slowly cross over the keyboard on purpose.

  " " : . Oh, 7 tsu tsu  c t x r ze w q 

Such characters end up getting typed in. I say "Hey hey", but they don't move out of the way. That being said, when they are away from me and I call them over in a friendly manner, they turn away more.

They neither respect me, nor look down on me. Whenever I get drunk and play around with Amber, he always bites down on me. I am a cat, he insists. I am usually drunk at night, and my arms are covered in scratches. 

　Silver runs away when I try to hold her. However, when I am being lazy, she asks me to play with her with sticks and balls. When she gets hungry, she will put her face slowly in front of my eyes and groan "meow" at me.

　I can't see them either under the bed or in the bathroom, and they don't come when I call them. However, when I talk in whispers about Amber and Silver with my family, they always appear calm and composed, as if they had heard.

　They are cute, but whenever a small bird comes up to the balcony, they run up to it as if they had morphed into rabbits, open their eyes and screech "Kakakakaka". If they catch sight of a grasshopper or an ant, they attack it. They are wild animals. I like that dual nature in them.

As well as being family, you are friends who are on the same page as me. So, I talk to you as if I were talking to a friend. What do you think? Will Hanshin be okay this year? Will there ever be a Japanese Yokozuna? Which is more legitimate - stir-fried liver and Chinese chives or stir-fried Chinese chives and liver? What do you think?

　I know. Sometimes you listen intently with your eyes wide open, and sometimes you lie down with a sullen look. You just walk away in a huff, as if to tell me what I'm saying is boring. I know. 

　They are masters of communication. They get your hopes up, and when you approach they pull away. When I pull away, they make their presence known. It makes them happy, it makes them angry. The exquisite timing is very useful. I would like to make use of that kind of power of communication after COVID-19. Please teach me.

　When they were at home purring, a startling thing took place.

It was a big shakeup at the government office where I used to spend time, and at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, that I created as the person in charge. Dinners with vendors caused a stir in the Diet and the media. The two top officials who resigned were allies of mine who I worked together with, and all of my junior colleagues who were connected are also close friends.

My life as a government official was a period of expanding the subjects of media policy. It was a small administration with a very small community, that is, the monopolies of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation and KDD, as well as NHK and commercial broadcasters. Liberalization and deregulation were movements to increase the number of new entrants in IT and content.

　My job was trading to increase the number of government office customers. I ran around. In terms of creating a culture of connection between the public and private sectors, I am not unrelated to this project, and I am partly responsible for it.

　What do you think? My seniors did their best. Maybe they did too much. They fought a war with NTT, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Finance, and were broken up by Hashimoto's reforms. I took responsibility and quit, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was formed.

　What do you think? My peers and juniors did their best. After I quit, its reputation improved, and a good digital infrastructure was established. Did I try too hard? The government offices that were broken up and reorganized are being rebuked again at the same time as losing the digital war.

　What shall we do? Amber, Silver, please think together with me.

　If people could be like cats, we would be less stressed. As long as you have food and a bed, you can go to sleep and wake up whenever you want, and move closer or further away as you please, without having to pay attention to the mood of those around you. That would be nice. In a super free society where there is AI and robots, living like a cat will be the model.

　Amber, Silver, what do you think?

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Legacy of the Olympics

■ Legacy of the Olympics

I was interviewed by a certain newspaper about the significance and legacy of the Tokyo Olympics, which was set to be held, though without spectators.

I have served as a counselor for the Olympics and Paralympics in the Cabinet Secretariat, and while I am unwavering in my support for the Olympics and Paralympics, the situation has changed because of COVID-19, so I answered differently.

Whereas the previous Olympics was something to show the "Development and growth" from postwar reconstruction, the bid for this Olympics was to show "Maturity" in terms of coexistence with the aging population and the environment since reconstruction after the earthquake disaster.

It was also an Olympics to show AI for Society 5.0 after the Internet era since the last Olympics, which was broadcast on TV all over the world.

That has shouldered COVID-19; and the positioning of reconstruction, the meaning of maturity, and the importance of the digital world have all changed, and I believe that the importance of hosting the Olympics has become much more significant than before.

I was even afraid that a decision not to hold the Olympics would mean losing the courage to take responsibility for it, and so declare Japan's demise to the world.

Holding it is more important than anything.

Of course, I am assuming that the situation with COVID-19 in Japan will not prevent it from being held.

The number of deaths in Japan is low, and it is the only G7 country with a negative excess mortality rate. Medical care has also not collapsed.

There is no lockout, only a "request" for restraint. Riots have also not broken out.

Entertainment and sports are being held with supervision, and we don't hear problems about groups of people getting sick with COVID-19.

It can be held.

Although it was expected that the Olympics would be one that showed Japan's maturity and SDGs, in the end, the design for the Olympics that was carried forward was one using the commercial event colors from the 80s.

However, the commercial prospect was off the mark because of COVID-19.

Due to this, the tournament will be athlete-centered and more focused on sports.

It could be an opportunity for this tournament to break with policies of the past, and return to the original modern Olympics.

It may differ from what the IOC is asking for, but it would return the Olympics back to being the Olympics, and isn't that what its primary legacy is all about?

Recovery from the COVID-19 is the second legacy.

Last time it was civilization in the form of a major war, and this time it has been nature in the form of an epidemic.

Both are problems that humanity has struggled with for thousands of years, and both are times in which there was suffering on a global scale.

Last time, we showed recovery as the losers. This time, too, we have not yet won, but there is a light that is shining.

The experience of light that is universal and can be shared throughout the world is precious.

Japan is in a good position to send out a message for the first time in history.

Even without COVID-19, the politics of all the major powers, including the United States, Europe, China, and Russia, are in turmoil. Conflicts between the major powers are also on the rise.

Japan is almost the only country in the world where politics is stable; where there is peace without turmoil; and where dialogue can take place with any country without it becoming belligerent.

This is a historic opportunity to become the nexus of the earth.

We are not in a mighty enough situation where the leaders of our government can claim things like, "It is a symbol that we have overcome COVID-19."

However, if we can hold the event while taking the necessary measures, we can share with the world the joy of returning to normalcy.

I am relieved that we have not suffered such damage that we would give up on that opportunity.　

The third legacy is data.

Half a century has passed since the last Tokyo Games, which opened on TV. The streaming of all events online was realized in London 2012, and then for Tokyo 2020 with a comprehensive showcase for AI/IoT, VR/AR, 4K8K5G, robots and drones. 

In terms of media history, it should have been regarded as such.

However, it will be a non-spectator event, and the images that will be presented will be different from what's expected.

The technology used at the location, such as the smart stadiums that have been constructed, may also not have much of an opportunity to be used.

On the other hand, with the world staying at home because of COVID-19, digital technology has moved forward in a big way.

Technology may be used more to connect everyone, and get them to participate and show support..

We could have displays and robots covering the entire bleachers, and people from all over the world could have access, show up, and cheer loudly.

That can be done, if the sponsors are up for it!

This could be an opportunity to create a new way to watch the games.

Watch the real thing at the scene.

On the other hand, I hope that we will not have a legacy of this "Pressure", where even local events are held without spectators, whilst data and authority are unclear.

P.S.

I felt the division of this country through how people either approved or disapproved of holding the Olympics.

I am relieved that this did not turn into anything serious.

However, this division is deep.

Proactive and cautious: the attitudes and feelings that were divided on this occasion are likely to be repeated.

Beyond ideology, beliefs, and organizations, I feel that this difference defines where people stand.

And I will probably work with the proactive people for the rest of my life.

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Constantly Keeping Our Eyes on New Developments in Content Policy

■Constantly Keeping Our Eyes on New Developments in Content Policy

Government meetings on content and copyright continue to be held.

The Digital Copyright Task Force of the Intellectual Property Headquarters has issued an interim report, and in response, a copyright study group for the Digital transformation era at the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and a content subcommittee meeting about content at the Intellectual Property Headquarters were held.

At the time of the Diet deliberating on the revision of the Copyright Act for the integration of telecommunications and broadcasting, comes the next step in the discussion of digital strategy.

I made a report on the Intellectual Property Task Force. --

The government's internal coordination had not been settled, and the interim report brought things to an end for the time being. 

This was because there was difficulty coordinating over the options and specifics in relation to the handling of rights, such as extended centralized licensing and rights restrictions with compensation.

However, this was also a result of the fact that the committee members were allowed to discuss matters freely, making the discussions worthwhile.

Copyright administration has achieved significant results in the past few years.

Flexible rights restrictions and online education in 2018; anti-piracy measures in 2020; and broadcasting online streaming, which is currently being introduced.

I believe that the major issues for digitization have been largely dealt with. We should recognize that work.

This task force is now chatting about what is the next challenge.

The first half of the task force report is about the changing environment.

Digitization has drastically changed the environment for content distribution, consumption, and creation, and platforms dominate the market.

Furthermore, content is the source of data and becomes intermediate goods; and content is the center of economic value.

We recognized that policies that focus only on content will fail.

For the latter half of the measures, centralized handling of rights, such as extended centralized licensing, etc., were the most controversial, and so intra-governmental coordination was also difficult.

Other items were even more important.

UGC guidelines, rights databases, improvement of transactions for productions, and problem solving through methods other than law, such as an emphasis on soft law, are becoming more important as copyright policy.

Furthermore, what I felt through the discussion this time is that, in the midst of major environmental changes, seeking partial solutions within the framework of copyright law is no longer enough to reach the optimal solution.

The time has come to think again within the framework of larger media and information policies, that include IT policy and telecommunications and broadcasting policy, and both software and hardware.

(The above is the report.)

I would like to introduce the subcommittee's discussion on contents.

Mr. Hori of HoriPro expressed his sense of impending crisis that entertainment during COVID-19 is being treated as unnecessary and nonurgent, even though the situation is that Japan has lost out to South Korea.

Mr. Ota of TV Tokyo also expressed his sense of crisis that the handling of rights is complicated, and profits cannot be gotten amidst the diversification of media such as with streaming etc.

A great sense of urgency was also shared regarding piracy.

Although this style of downloading has declined due to the revision of the Copyright Act and campaigns, the damage has increased during the year of COVID-19.

The amount of reading that is done for free is on par with the former “Manga-Mura”, to be the worst in history.

Now they all come from Vietnam, and even if they are dealt with, it doesn't lead to them being shut down.

This was the report. 

In addition to the revision of the Copyright Act, the government is taking a firm hand in strengthening international cooperation and enforcement; considering an access warning system; and establishing a legal system for the disclosure of identification information of the sender, etc.

The private sector has also been putting effort into measures to address the situation, with the establishment of the incorporated association ABJ by the publishing industry.

Even so, the worsening of the situation is a serious matter.

This is where the discussion of blocking arose once again.

Committee member Hayashi, pointed out the importance of the fact that blocking has been adopted almost everywhere overseas, and that in Europe, in addition to the UK, Spain and Italy, Germany has also started a system.

Committee member Kawakami, also put right perceptions about whether the government is aware of the seriousness of the current situation, and whether it thinks piracy can be deterred by means other than blocking.

The government decision on blocking was made just two years ago. Since then, after heated debate, comprehensive measures have been established, and steady steps have been taken. However, there is now a new situation, given demand due to staying at home during COVID-19.

Blocking is to be "Examined whilst watching the effects of other measures and how much damage there is, etc.", so the possibility remains that it may be reconsidered.

Based on all of this, the 2021 IP plan was recently decided upon. It is now moving on to the next phase of policy implementation.

I will constantly keep my eyes on new developments in content policy.

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New Edition: Creating a Super Free Society 8 - Super Free-Time Killing Strategies

■New Edition: Creating a Super Free Society 8 - Super Free-Time Killing Strategies

　Part of my recent work, "New Edition: Creating a Super Free Society After COVID-19 - The Age of Cats" is revealed below. 

　From Chapter 4, "Super Free-Time Killing Strategies".

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○ No more school.

　Here's the exam question.

　What, you haven't heard of it? No, because this is my class. Chico will scold you if you sleep through life. 

　Question: What is your strategy for killing super-free time?

　I'll give you a little hint.

　COVID-19 is gone. Perhaps you are allowed to live with others. You settle into a hybrid, new-normal life. The world will look different than it did before COVID-19. The humans that survive should have evolved. We have learned that the unexpected can overtake the earth. We have learned that no amount of power, no amount of knowledge, no amount of open-mindedness can solve or save us just like that. And we have realized that these kinds of things can happen again. And so, we live.

　Those who can survive in the future are those who can enjoy change. You never know what might happen. With the tech revolution of AI and robotics advancing at the same time, continuous change has also become built into the social economy. When the waves come at us, destroying in an instant everything which we have taken great pains to accumulate and prepare for, as they do, only those who can ride out those waves will be able to survive.

　Those who will survive are those who continue to learn. We will face unexpected situations. Problems that cannot be solved at all will arise. What you have learned, what you know, what you have figured out, will be uprooted and rejected. It happens! As such, only those who seek will survive.

　It is not a matter of ability. It is a matter of resolve.

You'll be free. Commuting to and from school and work will become much less necessary. We will no longer feel reluctant to get together. Living in cramped cities will become much less necessary. Life planning will become easier. You won't have to be tied down to one company. We can wear many hats (i.e. do many different things).

　I have been a nomad for a long time since leaving the government office 20 years ago. Since I moved to the United States with my first-generation VAIO and excellent PowerBook 2400c, I have been living on a laptop and the Internet. Deep in the mountains of Canada, at the edge of Argentina, in the hustle and bustle of Morocco, on a boat in the Mediterranean, on top of a mountain in Nepal. Wherever I have been, I have done my best to secure internet and a power source, and get by with a presence as though I were in Tokyo.

　The only thing that has changed through COVID-19 is that everyone around me has gone the same way (as me). Even now, I am writing this on my MacBook in the precincts of Shokoku-ji Temple in Kyoto, whilst connected to different meetings in Tokyo on both my iPhone and iPad. Everyone at the meeting is in a similar situation. 

　

　I have been involved with digital tech, and was in charge of telecommunications liberalization, and launching CATV and satellites. I promoted the government's AI projects, and created research laboratories. I was first in charge of Internet policy in Japan, and was involved in IoT and robotics development at MIT. I returned to Japan and took the initiative with digital signage, 4K8K, and open data.

I have also been involved with pop music. I originally wanted to be a musician and so have always been in the J-Pop industry. I promote the development of human resources and overseas expansion of manga and anime. I help develop video game consoles and smartphone games, and industrialize e-Sports. I use comedy as a teaching tool.

　A super free society is coming. The next mission is to integrate tech and pop and create a place where everyone can be free. Let's create a place where everyone can act boldly. One of the pillars is to create sports: e-Sports and superhuman sports. Another pillar is to create a place to enjoy them, train, and create. The city and the school.

　The city and the school. CiP and iU. We opened these two in 2020. We've finally managed to do it. We have just begun. We still have only the bones of them. It is from now that we have to put flesh and blood into them. We must eat, run, and train.

　After "Building" the bodies, the next step is "Connecting" them. Both CiP and iU can be connected. They will proliferate in Tokyo, nationally and internationally. We want to be a hub. iUs will likewise move out sideways like the way crabs move.

We have created an organization called "Learning of Tomorrow". It is an organization that promotes the integration of education and technology, chaired by Nanako Ishido, with Hiroshi Komiyama, former president of the University of Tokyo, as its president, and myself as its managing director. It is an all-star group of over 30 digital industry organizations in IT, software, content, etc., with affiliated enterprises reaching 8,000 companies. It is a new movement that aims to move into the next dimension of tech with things like AI, IoT, and data, having achieved its 10-year goal of institutionalizing digital textbooks, and having one PC per student at schools.

　iU will be a mighty participant and player here, and we want to spread the iU spirit. A small venture university is only a dot. We need to connect the dots to make them into lines, and connect the lines to make them into surfaces. There are many fashionable schools in Japan, with Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Oita, being known for its high international standing.

We are discussing collaboration measures with President Haruaki Deguchi. We will also collaborate with other cutting edge high schools, such as DWANGO's N High School led by Takeshi Natsuno, and Zero High School started by Takafumi Horie and others. We want to create a community of outstanding schools and turn it into a platform for super-education.

Projects are also underway. There is entrepreneurship support. The action is called "Super Start Up School". In addition to iU, where everyone starts a business, there are of course many other schools that are enthusiastic about entrepreneurship. Ritsumeikan APU and N High School both have entrepreneurship clubs. Some schools, such as Tokyo University, Waseda-Keio, and technical colleges, etc., are integrating it into their education. We will create a school community, bringing together 100 schools. Then, match entrepreneurs, consultants, and VCs. We will advance with curriculums for education, and exit strategies, etc.

　e-Sports. "Super e-Sports School" was also launched. We are collaborating with JeSU, the Japan e-Sports Union. We will create a school community that includes schools from universities to elementary schools to bring together 100 schools. We will match competition organizers, professional players, and researchers, etc. We will advance with curriculums for education, and exit strategies, etc.

　Takuya Hirai, the first Digital Minister requested, "Please work with the Digital Agency and iU to develop the digital transformation of human resources." - You got it! We will jointly develop curriculums for working adults with the Digital Agency, and make them available to everyone. We have also received requests from local governments, such as Sumida Ward and Kyotango City, and we entered into an agreement to work on local human resource development.

iU is driving things forward. We are now envisioning a "School of the future" and an "i-research laboratory".

The "School of the Future" will be developed by mobilizing next-generation digital technologies such as 5G/6G, IoT, robots/drones, AI/data, 8K/VR/AR, etc., and implementing them on the campus. We will also connect this testbed model with other schools and other organizations and collaborate with them. We will connect multiple locations via 5G, and share images in 8K and VR whilst learning through the utilization of AI and robots. We will carry out mutual authentication of units between schools using blockchain.

Then the "i-research laboratory" will be established. It will be a lab where "Everyone will create an interesting future together", while focusing mainly on the digital field. It will be regarded as a participatory platform that connects universities, research institutes, local communities, and human resources from around the world. Focusing on the digital field, it will create a fusion of technology, design, business, and policy.

Rather than the enclosed, high-end academic research that universities have aimed for up until now, it will be an unprecedented research institution that is grounded on the characteristics of digital networks - ”Openness, decentralization, and participation". We will collaborate with 100 research laboratories from around the world, and set up labs around the world, whether they be virtual or real. The goal is to have 1 million researchers. Anyone from grandmothers to children can be a researcher. 

　We will overcome the boundaries of universities, and integrate with other schools to develop human resources. From kindergarten to graduate school, they will be jumbled together, and nurtured while playing. Professor Resnick of the MIT Media Lab, who developed "Scratch", advocates a "Lifelong Kindergarten". We want to implement this concept.

　Professor Noriyuki Yanagawa of the University of Tokyo proposes a system in which students do not wait to graduate from university, but instead start working, acquire a degree within 10 years, and then graduate. Yes, yes. Even if you go from high school to university, there is no reality in what you study, and you will instead realize what you need to study when you enter the workforce. If that is the case, it is better to get a job early and re-learn slowly. If you live for 100 years, you will live for more than 30 years after retirement, so you can study for 5 years and be active for 25 years. Such a university would be a good place for everyone to come.

　If you just want to study, you don't need school anymore. Everything is available all over the Internet. Advanced courses from all over the world are available, as are lessons for children. They can teach you games, sports, and even cooking. If all you want to do is teach, you don't need a university anymore. Schools need to be able to offer value that only schools can provide, or they will collapse.

Online learning materials and blockchain certification will be proof of your background of learning. Stanford computers, Harvard entrepreneurship, Oxford philosophy, Tsinghua AI, English from charismatic teachers at prep schools, and Fender guitar lessons. A list of having completed such courses is more valuable than a diploma from Keio University. Such a time is approaching.

My long-term goal is to eliminate schools. I want to smash the schools we don't need into pieces, and I want to be able to learn the way I want to learn. Toward this end, iU is working on bringing them down. That said, we want to be an important school that remains. Let's break it, let's make it. [Gakuen Tengoku] (Finger 5)

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