AI Creates Everyone's School Songs!

■ AI Creates Everyone's School Songs!

The “Super School Song” project, a joint research endeavor between BLab and RIKEN AIP, has launched. 

AI will develop models for school song, which can be adopted as official school anthems from the elementary to university levels or used to arrange existing school songs. 

https://lp.blaboratory.org/choukouka

School songs have successfully grown to be a unique aspect of Japanese school culture. Their origin is said to be part of the educational reforms of the Meiji government, introduced to unify values and ideologies, and later spread as “songs of the locals.” 

In the Reiwa era (2019 onward), a century later, we explore the variety of school songs we want to hear and sing.

iU will adopt AI-generated music as its school song. 

Although there are already school songs like, “Let's Go iU" by Shōnen Knife, this will serve as the new school anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwe_zUKU4Yg

The project will also study the issue of copyright related to AI-generated works. 

The government and the Intellectual Property Headquarters previously debated the rights to AI-generated works for two years, getting ahead of the rest of the world in this discussion, but it was postponed without conclusion. 

With the reality of AI now emerging, it's time to raise these issues.

RIKEN AIP is responsible for development of the AI music generation and a comprehensive school song mapping and arrangement system.

BLab will be coordinating the research concept and public awareness to involve schools nationwide, including joint examination of copyright for AI-generated content.

RIKEN AIP, headed by Professor Masashi Sugiyama at the University of Tokyo, is a leading center for AI research in Japan, and I serve as the coordinator. 

The project is led by Team Leader Masatoshi Hamanaka, who studies the “Generative Theory of Tonal Music (GTTM)." 

It was also recently announced that Tetsuya Komuro will be taking up the post as visiting principal researcher.

BLab is iU's research institute, directed by Nanako Ishido. 

Beyond, Borderless, Breakthrough.

This is a participatory platform that connects universities, research institutes, regions, and talent worldwide, leveraging everyone's knowledge and skills to create technology, services, content, business, and society.

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Addressing the Theme of "Culture × Economy"

■ Addressing the Theme of "Culture × Economy"

A new Cultural Economy Subcommittee has been established within the Agency for Cultural Affair’s Council for Cultural Affairs, aiming for a harmonious cycle between culture and the economy. The integration of economic principles into cultural policy introduces fresh perspectives into the cultural and artistic community.

The globalization of museums and art galleries is a hot topic. 

While it is common for cities like Paris, London, and New York to feature museums as main tourist attractions, how many tourists are actually coming to Japan with the goal of visiting art museums.

In terms of cultural policy, France and South Korea stand out. Both countries lead with government-driven initiatives and significant funding. 

Japan should also prioritize its policies more highly and invest accordingly. 

However, while France focuses on high culture and inbound ventures, South Korea emphasizes pop culture and outbound strategies. 

The strategies may differ, Japan would likely benefit from adopting a South Korea-like approach.

I strongly advocate for expanding the scope of cultural arts, moving from the conventional thought of art = high culture to encompassing pop culture and digital user-generated content (UGC) within the political realm. Although approaches to these political measures may vary, policy aims should be developed while considering the overall portfolio at large which align with national objectives.

Japan's global cultural footprint is overwhelmingly dominated by anime and games,  with Japanese culture being known through these. 

One of the most renowned artists is Hatsune Miku, born from digital UGC, targeting not the affluent but a broader audience. 

This reality must have an influence on decided political measures.

From the West and Asia to the Islamic world and Africa, and excluding Disney, Japanese anime and games are common topics among the global youth in respect to their cultural impact. 

If you ask for names of known Japanese artists, the answers are likely to be anime and game creators and video game composers. 

Policies should be drafted with this recognition in mind.

Researchers around the world, particularly those studying otaku (nerd) cultures, have noted that Japanese pop culture have transcended racial, religious, and political boundaries, fostering global harmony. 

We should recognize and value this asset.

This claim was accepted, broadening the scope to cover cultural policy and discussing it in the context of soft power and solving global issues.

The report highlights talent development and retention as key challenges. 

The issue isn't in production, as people are being trained, but there's a lack of individuals who can produce, manage, and promote these cultural products.

This has been a longstanding concern noted by the Intellectual Property Headquarters and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, indicating a need for harmonious policy efforts.

Thus, the challenge has evolved beyond merely enhancing art and film schools, to how departments of economics and MBA courses can engage with the cultural industry. Strategic consideration must be given to identifying the intended audience of this report.

Design thinking has now become widely recognized among those at the management level.

Moreover, "art thinking" and "art management" have emerged as buzzwords in the business world. 

Magazines are even featuring articles on why global business leaders should study art. The goal is to refine these policies to the point of gaining agreement and endorsement from those in the management field.

This also emphasizes the importance of improved understanding and enhanced response by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, foreign embassies, and related organizations.

 Consequently, this leads to discussions on how law and economics departments can integrate design and art into their curricula, or the extent to how many designers and artists should be employed.

This area requires a shift in policy thinking.

The policy of "Cultural Economy" is still nascent and just about to take off. 

These thoughts shared by cultural and arts experts alone lacks the reach needed. It is vital that those outside these circles recognize its importance. 

The biggest challenge will be the promotion of these policies.

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Book Review: Human Rights and the State

■ Book Review: Human Rights and the State

Written by Kiyoteru Tsutsui, Professor at the Stanford University Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC), "Human Rights and the State" delves into the paradox of international politics that allowed the development of a human rights system constraining state power.

● During World War II, out of the 50 to 80 million casualties, 40 to 50 million were civilians.

● At that time, while the U.S. (Japanese internment), Britain (colonial response), and the USSR (Stalinist oppression) were involved, China was the most committed to human rights.

→ The cruelty towards civilians and the position from which state powers stood shows that neither the West nor the East has been consistent, and even today, there is no firm doctrine.

● After 9/11, the U.S. invasion of Iraq proceeded without a UN resolution.

● The U.S. justified the abuses at Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons in Iraq.

→ My frustration stems from still not being able to digest this.

Twenty years ago, Japan, which supported America, now questions the legitimacy of condemning Russia.

Russia faces sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

Iraq bore the brunt of America's invasion of Iraq.

Syria was blamed for Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war.

Palestine bore the consequences of Israel's invasion.

Iraq was responsible for its 1991 invasion of Kuwait.

How can we properly explain the justice and legitimacy of each situation?

It's beyond my capacity.

Looking forward, if Japan were invaded, depending on its positions and power relations, it might also end up being blamed without being saved.

This makes me inclined to listen to the criticisms by the Middle Eastern that the West's attitude in this matter is a double standard.

● Russia has experience and know-how in top-down oppression, but the backlash against human rights and divisiveness from the grassroots in America are challenging to address.

→ What concerns me is grassroots oppression in Japan. A state prevails where intolerance hangs in the air, and oppression of others is seen as justice.

It was brought to my attention that in previous wars, there were citizens who wished for war and were enthusiastic about invasions, along with surveillance and oppression among the people.

To understand this current conflict, we must ask ourselves if we have improved at all?

What should we be learning from this situation?

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