Theory of JIZAI Body

■Theory of JIZAI Body

“Theory of JIZAI Body” written by Masahiko Inami et al.

The “Inami JIZAI Body Project” is led by Professor Inami, our boss at the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Advanced Study and the co-chairman of the Superhuman Sports Society.

I was drawn in by the self-introductions by young scholars of brain, science, psychology, information engineering, mechanical engineering, information engineering, mechanical engineering, and media design, who gather under the umbrella of body informatics.

In the modern era, technologies of transportation, production, and information have developed. Dr. Inami calls it “de-embodiment” and “liberation” from drudgery.

Yes, and I believe that further development of technology will bring about a “super nothing-to-do society.”

Yet, Dr. Inami says the next step is realizing the “jizai (autonomized) body.”

He says that robots and avatars will be made self-reliant, and that the human body will be turned into a cyborg robot.

The term “autonomization” refers to “the ability of a person to freely handle the expanded capabilities of a machine.”

Those who have seen “MetaLimbs,” which attach a third or fourth arm to the body, will immediately get the idea.

The idea is to extend, distribute, and share such capabilities in both real and virtual space.

Dr. Inami’s project has five research themes.

1. Enhancement of the senses (extrasensory)

2. Enhancement of the physical body (super-body)

3. Design via the separation of body and mind (astral projection/transformation)

4. Alter ego

5. Union of the body

Dr. Inami’s previous books are full of references to science fiction and pop culture, and this publication is a genealogy of his work.

The goal of his project is to establish the basic technology to realize a “digital cyborg,” i.e., “a person who freely manipulates superhuman abilities by freely traversing across physical space and cyberspace.”

The MIT Negroponte “bit and atom combination” will be reincorporated into the body. This is the birth of a “new mankind.”

For this purpose, design via the separation of body and mind (astral projection/transformation) will take place.

The hardware and software of a person are separated and deconstructed layer by layer. 

Then, the outer body will control a robot or avatar as if it was its own; one can wear a machine and feel it as oneself. 

Letting a distant robot avatar take over your actions with automation technology.

Manipulating real robots and virtual avatars back and forth with one’s own self, switching between automatic and manual control.

You will have N bodies in N real + virtual locations.

Dr. Inami explains the “ubiquity of consciousness,” likening it to the ubiquity of machines advocated by Mark Weiser of Xerox, or ubiquitous computing.

The ubiquity of consciousness and the body, or the ubiquity of the self. It stirs the human desire to conquer the earth.

On the other hand, it also scrutinizes the domination and sharing of the self by others.

The “union” of many people into a portable shrine-like structure is also a theme of Dr. Inami’s research.

The possibility of sharing one’s body with others or AI is also being discussed. Experiments are underway in which others can control a robotic arm attached to one’s body.

Extending one’s possessions or body through the process of sharing is also mentioned.

Actions are digitized. Distributed and shares as data. Globally.

The masses could be guided or even controlled and managed by themselves.

Immeasurable impact.

The academic fields appearing this book are mechanical engineering, information engineering, control engineering, brain science, neuroscience, psychology, physiology, and emergency medicine, as well as the aesthetics, ethics, and cultural anthropology of Daisuke Uryu from the University of Tokyo.

Research is the “middle ground,” but additional factors are required. This assumes that social implementation includes the dispersion and sharing of the self, philosophy (what is the self?), economics (output, employment, distribution), and law (freedom of expression and public regulation).

Quite exciting to think about.

It was 20 years ago that I published “Digital Toy Box” after two years of study, research, and interviews at the MIT Media Lab to understand MIT Negroponte’s coupling of bits and atoms.

Dr. Inami’s book is an impactful one. It is sure to motivate you that much more to dive into his theory of the autonomized body.

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Introducing 2 books about AI and the body.

■ Introducing 2 books about AI and the body.

I will introduce two publications about AI and the human body.

“NEO HUMAN” by Peter Scott-Morgan.

The book follows the author, of a scientist diagnosed with motor neurone disease, who transformed himself into a cyborg by replacing his body with a machine while supplementing his brain with AI. He lives virtually through voice synthesis, gaze input, and his own avatar.

Rather than confronting his disease, he uses it as an opportunity to be born again, a challenge that paves the way toward the future of humanity. 

Even if limb or organ function is impaired, life can be maintained as long as the brain can operate.

Rather, the brains direct connection with AI and robots will expand the body and give it freedom of activity.

The author is said to be active even now that his limbs are immobile and he has lost his voice.

The book does not paint a linear picture of the bright future of a fusion between the physical and IT, but rather juxtaposes the author’s difficult life, speaking of the fault lines between him and establishment, the pressures against living as a gay man, and his struggles in business.

The main subject of the book, the execution of his project, is also a harrowing one. In the end, the Seven Samurai finally break through.

This is a book about the way of life.

What we have given up on in the past may be turned around and be used to bring about a new future by embracing technology.

This requires a commitment to fight against the orthodox, to gather comrades, obtain funding, and to communicate.

I wonder if I would have the energy to do so if I think about the author’s situation as my own. That is my impression after reading this book.

The other book.

“Genius Weapons: Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Weaponry, and the Future of Warfare” by Louis Del Monte.

This book questions the development of AI weapons and their control and management by mankind.

Autonomous weapons, omnipotent weapons, autopiloting, AI-implanted soldiers, and the technological and political scenarios they conceive.

It is a looming reality and an endless thought experiment.

I thought about it vexingly.

AI and nanotechnology are too advanced.

A treaty prohibiting the development of autonomous weapons would require both major powers (the United States and China to see the benefits.

This would be when the possibility of small nations, ethnic minorities, and terrorists using the new weapons increases.

This points to a situation in which the democratization of technology would need to be curbed.

What will Japan do to control tech democratization?

The military will become system-engineered.

Operational units will be replaced by AI, and the majority of personnel will be allocated to AI development and maintenance.

Like investment banks.

The unemployment problem among military personnel will be troublesome.

The military may become the strongest force against AI evolution.

This book discusses whether soldiers will control AI or AI will control soldiers, assuming the mass emergence of soldiers with AI implanted in their brains after technological singularity.

There would be no military incentive except for AI to have control over the soldiers. 

The question is, who would want that?

What AI-implanted people upload into the AI system is not knowledge, but experience and emotion.

This would bring about new life support and regeneration, so there would be incentives for this.

Post-singularity. Live to see what technology awaits.

That’s a good goal.

At the end of the book, there is a commentary by Keiji Ono of the Ministry of Defense.

The debate on security should not be kept to the experts.

Hanshin fans in the Kansai region comment on everything from professionals to aunties and children.  Mr. Ono explains the utility of public opinion, “the psychology of Hanshin fan support,” in maintaining governance.

This section of the book hit closest to home for me.

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The Fight Against GAFA’s Expansion

■ The Fight Against GAFA’s Expansion

“The Fight Against GAFA’s Expansion,” written by Masako Wakae.

A business book on how telecommunications, manufacturers, and eC companies suffered defeat.

…which is what I misunderstood it to be, and was late in reading it.

Journalism, academia, and policy theory follows nationalists from industry, academia, and government, who confronted the struggle for data supremacy and questioned national strategy. 

A good book, and a must-read for IT professionals.

The secrecy of communications, freedom of expression, personal data protection, privacy, network neutrality, communications security, extraterritorial application, competition policy, and content policy.

IT Headquarters, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Consumer Affairs Agency, Fair Trade Commission, and the Personal Information Protection Commission.

I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of these organizations in tackling “cross-cutting problems that are difficult to solve in the traditional stove-piped matter.” 

Professor Tsunetoshi Shishido of the University of Tokyo, Attorney Ryoji Mori, President Kunihiro Tanaka of Sakura Internet, and bureaucrats from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Although I knew that many of the people who appeared in the book by their real names, I did not know many of their detailed backgrounds, which made my heart throb with excitement.

They’re distinguished citizens, I thought.

There were a few remarks about Yasuhiko Taniwaki, who left the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

“Taniwaki’s departure is a loss for Japan.”

“Taniwaki is a geek and a bit of an oddball, but he is an academic and plows through anything like a bulldozer, getting it done. I have seen him many a time in late-night discussions with young engineers and customer service representatives at an inexpensive izakaya bar, sharing wisdom about the realities of the industry.”

“At least in his dealings with NTT, Taniwaki did not appear to be corrupt in protecting his interests. Rather, he was feared by them for his willingness to argue about things on their merits.”

I was also thoroughly impressed that, as a reporter taking a hard look at Kasumigaseki, Ms. Wakae has commented on what I would like to testify to.

This book does not tell a narrow story of the Japanese industry’s defeat against American IT companies. Rather, it is a telling of the failure of the Japanese industry and government’s maintenance of monozukuri (production) and in addressing intellectual property and software strategy, as indicated by the 1983 Young Report. she further addressed the lack of sensitivity of society as a whole through data-driven technology.

The author, Ms. Wakae, has interviewed me several times three years ago in the fight against piracy. She was the journalist who most acutely delved into the crosscutting digital constitution issue of the secrecy of communications vs. protection of intellectual property. That, too, has yet to be resolved. 

In the digital field, “cross-cutting problems that are difficult to solve in the traditional stove-piped matter” will still arise.

We strongly hope that the Digital Agency will confront these cross-cutting issues, but if it is not done properly, a new stove-pipe may be created.

We want to create a zagumi (performer’s organization), a community, to confront these challenges.

That is why we created the Digital Policy Forum, a discussion platform consisting of key players in the digital policy industry, academia, and government.

I have asked Ms. Wakae, the author, and other people who appear in this book to join us.

Mr. Taniwaki will serve as the secretariat.

Ms. Wakae’s book has inspired me to take action.

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The Century of Communication

■ The Century of Communication

I read through “The Century of Communication: 150 Years of Information Technology and National Strategies” by Tetsuya Ohno. 

The attack and defense of communication sovereignty and infrastructure development since the Meiji era.

Fierce political and military struggles between nations and dark conflicts between the political, public, and private sectors regarding the domestic telecommunications industry.

Reading this makes the current GAFA measures seem childish.

Teruo Ariyama’s “Information Hegemony and Imperial Japan,” published in 2013, describes the fact that information and communications have been important political matters of the state since the modern era. Furthermore, Japan, too, has seen a series of high-level political decisions by the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.

Both publications are must-reads for telecommunications geeks.

I became a telecommunications bureaucrat during the monopoly era of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (NTT) in Japan and Kokusai Denshin Denwa (KDD) internationally.

In the midst of the technological epoch of telephone automation, the KDD scandal occurred, and the company advanced headfirst toward telecommunications liberalization.

This was followed by the battle with the U.S. and the U.K. over the liberalization of telecommunications, the reorganization of NTT, and finally, deregulation.

It is quite nostalgic as my own work history.

Mr. Ohno takes the harsh view that the restructuring and deregulation of NTT at the end of the 1990s was “a failure of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications,” which lacked the ability to take part in technological progress and market changes.

I, as a middleman, took it as a purely administrative evolution. Though, when considering the correlation between the subsequent reorganization of ministries and agencies with the dismantling of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, I wonder if Mr. Ohno’s view is the legitimate one.

However, the offensive and defensive battleground that continued on for 100 years was drastically changed by the Internet.

Japanese carriers became truly domestic, while AT&T, BT, and Vodafone withdrew.

Yet, the leading role in telecommunications shifted to the upper layers, led by GAFA.

Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are also trying to get their hands on submarine cables.

It was only last year that the Telecommunications Business Law finally accommodated foreign services such as Gmail. As someone who knows the international offensive pre-Internet, it was like watching the Qing Dynasty under imperialism.

Let the EU lead the way and live with the US—is this the way to handle the next few decades?

“I think I would have gone into telecommunications bureaucracy even if I was born a hundred years ago.”

I wrote this seven years ago at the end of my book-reviewing blog on “Information Hegemony and Imperial Japan.”

It is no different now. I would like to enter that field and become a policy entrepreneur.

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The establishment of an industry-academia-government forum on digital policy.

■ The establishment of an industry-academia-government forum on digital policy.

The Digital Policy Forum, a discussion platform for digital policy among industry, academia, and the government, has been launched.

The forum is a community for open online and offline discussion and proposal of cross-cutting themes related to social, economic, and digital issues such as technology.

It is a place where wisdoms are connected and discussed, from which action can be taken.

https://www.digitalpolicyforum.jp/

Purpose: “In recent years, issues such as security measures, cyber-terrorism countermeasures and intellectual property protection have expanded. At the same time, technological innovations such as AI, Big Data, IoT and 5G have advanced and a new international policy agenda has emerged. We will form a community to discuss and make suggestions to further digital policy.”

In addition to myself, the promoters of the Digital Policy Forum include Masaru Kitsuregawa, Director of the National Institute of Informatics, Ken Sakamura, Professor of Toyo University, Hideyuki Tokuda, President of NICT, Masao Horibe, Professor Emeritus of Hitotsubashi University, and Jun Murai, Professor of Keio University. 

The forum’s inaugural meeting was attended by researchers from universities and other institutions, ministries, and agencies including the Digital Agency, the Intellectual Property Headquarters, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Agency of Cultural Affairs.

The central figures discussing digital policy have gathered. More will join. 

As an initial agenda, we presented five items.

Data-driven society: Data distribution market and platform measures

Borderless market: international rules for data transactions

Market structure change: layer structure and competitive environment, especially in the telecommunications sector

IP policy: strategy for digital content

The state of the rules: frameworks for hard law and soft law, co-regulation, etc. 

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Symposium to celebrate the founding of the Digital Agency.

 ■ Symposium to celebrate the founding of the Digital Agency.

“Digital Risk Forum” @ Takeshiba. Celebrating the founding of the Digital Agency.

It has been exactly one year since the opening of the world’s first smart building in Takeshiba. We once again invited Mr. Takuya Hirai, a member of the House of Representatives, who was appointed as the first Minister of Digital Affairs shortly after his arrival at the event. 

https://newmediarisk.org/draforum2021

I addressed the audience as the organizer of the event.

“It was 10 years ago that the widespread use of smartphones and social media led to a number of flaming incidents.

The following year, we established the New Media Risk Association, known colloquially as the ‘Flaming Association.’

Since then, the environment has changed with AI, IoT, and big data, “digital” has become the most important theme for the social economy.

At the same time, COVID-19 has ravaged the world, making digitality all the more important. It was a reminder that Japan was indeed losing the digital fight. It became clear that the Japanese government, healthcare, and business were lagging behind. 

In 1989, Japan’s international competitiveness, which has been the highest in the world, had dropped to 34th place, a clear downfall. The 30 years since have been a period of digital inaction for Japan. 

This is Japan’s last chance for digital transformation (DX). The country has maintained its world-class capabilities in manufacturing, design, education, and public safety. We believe is fully possible to digitally revitalized Japan post-COVID.

However, digital transformation that manifests as a sudden surge will also lead to increased digital risks. Therefore, last year, our association changed its name to the Digital Risk Association and put in place a new structure.

We welcome the inauguration of the Digital Agency, who shares a similar approach. I am pleased that the importance of digital administration has finally been recognized by the agency, and that they have set sail under a worthy first minister. 

In on year, they have developed many relevant laws and gathered human resources to inaugurate the Agency. The sheer horsepower of their work, the likes of which were not seen in the Heisei era, has given me hope. 

The agency’s base here in Takeshiba is a smart city designed to be in full swing in time for the Olympics. 

It was designed as a special zone abundant with digital technology such as 5G, robotics, IoT, and data. We hope to work digitally with the Digital Agency and other government agencies.”

Ms. Yoko Ishikura, who was appointed as Digital Supervisor, gave a comment as well.

Ms. Ishikura was a college of mine at Keio and our rooms were next to each other.

She said she never allowed teachers in. This was the same as when she was at iU. Though, simply calling her “Ms. Ishikura” would have been uninspiring. Ishikura-kan, Digi-kan, Yoko-chan—not sure which fits best.

Minister Hirai remarked,

“Ten years from now, the word ‘digital’ will no longer be used. We won’t even have to think to be digital.”

Great attitude. The digital will merge with our society. Everything will become digital. Consumed as such. This is truly “being digital.”

If their work is successful, the Digital Agency will be gone. This is the goal.

Right now, the conversation is focused on how to move forward with government DX, but what was discussed was a major posture to rewrite analog civilization: how to develop cities and live, how to develop cities and live, how to produce communities, families, and meals. It would be exciting if we could move toward such a policy. 

Let us hope that happens.

“A congressman should not seek happiness. If you do this for long enough, you become a horrible person.”

The minister murmured.

Hmm…

As was the case year ago, the timing of the cabinet change occurred right before the presidential election.

They must be carrying a heavy load.

Great work.

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The Media Content Market Today

■ The Media Content Market Today

The 2021 edition of the "Japan and Global Media Contents Market Database" has been published by HUMANMEDIA.

It estimates that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the size of the media content market in Japan has become ¥13,107.6 billion, which is a decrease of ¥661.2 billion (-4.8%) from the previous year.

Let's read more.

In 2020, "Entertainment and facilities," including movies and karaoke, etc., fell 43.3% from the previous year due to the impact of COVID-19. "Broadcasting" fell 12.2%, and "Software packages" fell 6.4%.

On the other hand, "Online content", with its large growth in streaming and increased advertising, rose by a total of 5.3%, accounting for 41.4% overall. The total for all segments remained in the ¥13 trillion range despite a 4.8% decrease.

In the 2010s, the content market shrank 5% year-on-year in 2009 following the Lehman Shock in 2008, and remained leveled off until 2012, the year after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The market began to expand in 2013, and in 2016 recovered to the size it was in 2008. It has continued to expand since then, and in 2019 reached its largest level since 2008.

In 2020, there was a dip due to COVID-19. The question is whether this will continue or reverse in 2021.

In terms of media categories, "Online content" such as streaming, etc., accounted for only 13.4% of the total in 2011, but in 2019 it accounted for as much as 34.8%.

Its size was about three times larger in 2019 than it was in 2011, and the amount increased by ¥3,184.9 billion. This sector was responsible for most of the recovery and expansion of the market in the 2010s.

On the other hand, the "Package content", consisting of video, music, game software, newspapers, printing and publishing, etc., accounted for 43.5% of the total in 2011, but shrank to 27.4% in 2019. Its size declined 27.4% from 2011 to 2019, and the amount declined by ¥1,424.3 billion. "Broadcasting" maintained the ¥3.7 to 3.8 trillion level, but the overall market shrank from 29.5% in 2011 to 28.0% in 2019.

The results of survey of the media content market size in 20 countries and regions around the world showed that on a yen basis for 2019, the United States, China, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, will be in that same order as they were in the previous year.

The market size in the United States, which is the world's largest, is about four times the size of the Japanese market, with China in second place being about twice as large as Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom in fourth and fifth place being about half the size of Japan, and France being about one-third of the size.

The overseas market for Japanese content will be about ¥2 trillion in 2019. This is a 16.3% year-on-year increase, nearly tripling since 2012. By sector, anime, followed by online gaming for smartphones is the largest.

The largest field was animation, which exceeded ¥1.2 trillion in 2019. Online games came next, with ¥368.9 billion, followed by publishing, mainly consisting of manga, which has also continued to expand.

In 2019, the total market size of domestic media content and related industries in the 5 sectors was ¥56.5 trillion, accounting for 9.9% of the ¥554 trillion GDP. It exceeded food service that was at ¥26 trillion, clothing which was at ¥10 trillion, and has reached a size where it is closing in on the ¥63 trillion in construction investment.

(5 areas: communications including telecommunications, etc.; advertising; characters; media hardware including TV and game consoles, etc.; and live performances)

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The content market had dipped at the beginning of the transition from analog to digital, but has since been on a trend of growth.

Although also having dipped due to COVID-19, digital expansion will accelerate and live shows will return sooner or later. Overseas markets will also grow.

It is an industry with high expectations. Market expansion revolving around digital content and internationalism, which the government's intellectual property strategy is aiming for, will be in full swing after COVID-19.

Even more than that, we should focus on a market that combines related industries. The total market size of hardware and software is a pillar of industry on par with food, clothing, and construction.

Furthermore, it will have a large ripple effect on markets around it. The viewpoint of expanding the scale of investment in these fields is required in anticipation of the ripple effects.

I recommend that this database, which is compiled on an annual basis, be used as a text for policymaking.

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