CREATIVE KIDS TOP Blab B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 18

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2023.12.15
B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 18

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Vol. 18 (December Issue)

◆ Featured Project: 

“B Lab Miyagi” has been established as a research hub to propose regional revitalization, disaster prevention, and a new way of life in Japan—from Miyagi to the world!
B Lab Miyagi actively promotes regional revitalization by connecting communities across Japan and around the world. It does this by hosting events to make disaster preparedness fun and accessible—like entertainment—to raise awareness among as many people as possible, and by utilizing a mascot that symbolizes recovery.
◆ A Message
from the B Lab Secretariat

We Held the “B Lab Ambassador Kickoff Event”!
On Monday, December 11, we held a kickoff event centered on the “B Lab Ambassadors,” who will help energize the B Lab community.Thank you to everyone who participated! We will continue to accelerate our activities as we work toward creating a space where we can build a new society by blending the insights and unique skills of a diverse range of people!
◆ Introducing
a B Lab Researcher

Yusaku Matsui / Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant; Representative, Forest Consulting Management & HR Forum
Our B Lab researchers are active on the front lines of various industries. This month, we spoke with Yusaku Matsui, a Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant, Representative of the Forest Consulting Management and Human Resources Forum, and a project member of the B Lab Human Capital Entrepreneurship Lab.
Click here for details
◆ What’s New! for Each Project

Under the theme “How do you build a company where great people naturally gather?”, participants posed several questions and engaged in lively discussions. Toward the end, we held a brief lecture on “Human Capital Management” based on real-world case studies! We gained a new insight: by approaching the topic as a personal matter, we can arrive at quite deep reflections even on subjects like organizational structure and systems.

On Thursday, December 7, we hosted Douglas Rushkoff, a professor at the City University of New York and media theorist, as a special guest for our children’s workshop, “Programming with Generative AI! Let’s Make a Glowing Product!”The children expressed the scenes they envisioned—such as “the light as cherry blossoms transition to green leaves”—by controlling the colors, speeds, and sequences of the lights.

On Monday, November 27, we held the “iU Accela TAKE-OFF Pitch,” a pitch event for angel investors and seed VCs featuring students who had completed “iU Accela”—a program designed to help Generation Z aspiring entrepreneurs develop their ideas into viable businesses!

This is a project led by iU students, UDC Sumida, and the Sumida Ward Division of Welfare for Persons with Disabilities. At the “UDC Sumida Super Bunka Festival” held on Sunday, December 3, we conducted a children’s workshop titled “Let’s Solve Yuki-chan’s ‘Problems’ in the Neighborhood!” where participants watched an original video and worked together to come up with solutions!

Sumida Ward Bunka Junior High School Community Festival Project
This is a project in which iU students collaborated with Bunka Junior High School students and members of the neighborhood association to plan and organize the festival held on Sunday, November 19.We served as advisors to the junior high school students’ booths, providing support from planning through execution. Additionally, WhiteRabbit (a mystery-solving club) set up a “Mystery-Solving Café,” which was a huge hit with participants and drew a lively crowd!


◆ B Lab Hub News: B Lab hubs are spreading across the globe, both virtually and in person. This month, we’re bringing you updates from three hubs: B Lab Aogashima, B Lab Tanegashima, and B Lab Ghana♪
On Aogashima, we run a relocation experience program for people considering moving to the island. Mihoko Arase, a B Lab researcher and iU student, participated in this program for about a week in December 2023. Here’s her account of the experience♪

On Friday, December 1, three B Lab Tanegashima researchers traveled from Tanegashima to Tokyo to introduce Tanegashima’s specialty products at the “JAL Kagoshima Marche in Tennozu”! Click here to see photos from the event. B Lab Tanegashima will continue to work on regional revitalization and environmental issues on Tanegashima!

[ Report Published!] On Wednesday, November 8, the “i Museum” project—which transforms an entire university campus into an art museum—held its grand opening! The first installment is a permanent exhibition of works by Shingo Nagasaka, a collaborative project between B Lab Ghana and MediAlpha.Here’s a look at the talk session between President Ichiya Nakamura and Shingo Nagasaka held during the opening ceremony.

◆ Announcements
from Participating Organizations and Researchers
● Create a New “Model”! The Pioneer of “Proactive Insurance” That Continuously Produces Innovative Products
(Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance)
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance creates one unprecedented insurance product after another, such as dedicated NFT art insurance for businesses and coverage for Bitcoin theft. Kenji Fujita, the mastermind behind these initiatives, continues to breathe new life into the industry by utilizing three distinct “models” of thinking.What lies behind the shift of insurance companies—which were previously seen as defensive—toward a proactive stance that supports businesses such as startups?
⇒ Click

here for details ● We Hosted the VR Art Exhibition “ARTLINK”!
(Steins Co., Ltd. / Taisho Saito)
We held “ARTLINK,” a comprehensive VR art exhibition featuring multiple artists connecting Japan and the rest of the world, on VRChat!
⇒ Click here for details

● The Digitalization of Life: About the xLife Service
(xLife Inc.)
We have begun a pilot program for “xLife,” an all-in-one Life DX service that allows users to digitally document the lifetimes of people, pets, and all living things to improve quality of life and create a bridge to the future. Please give it a try.We also welcome your new service proposals by adding icons to xLife.
⇒ For details, click here

● [December 14 at 1:00 PM] The Metaverse Winter Festival “Meta World Fest 2023 Winter” is coming!
(Vma plus Co., Ltd.) Showcasing
Japan’s charm to the world through the metaverse! At “Vma plus Station,” a browser-based metaverse you can enter with a single click, a collection of carefully selected items available exclusively here will be on display for three days from December 14 to 16! There will also be plenty of shopping opportunities and fun live events! Please come and join us.
⇒ For details, click here

● Online Symposium to Be Held
(Learning of Tomorrow)
An online symposium will be held during lunch time (12:00 PM – 12:55 PM). We look forward to your participation.
・December 20 (Wed) “ Fostering Leaders for a Mutual Aid Society! The Challenge of FC Imabari High School”
Shota Tsuji, Head of the FC Imabari High School Launch Preparation Office (scheduled to become Principal of the Satoyama Campus in April 2024) and Representative Director
of Machinaka Campus Co., Ltd.
◆ Handling of Personal Information
We will handle the personal information we have collected (such as your name and contact information) appropriately in accordance with our Privacy Policy. This information will be used to deliver this Newsletter and to communicate with you. We appreciate your understanding regarding our handling of personal information.

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December 2023, Vol. 18
Publisher: Nanako Ishido
Editor: Chika Masuda
Address: 1-18-13 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
         info@blaboratory.org

　

Profile


  • Digital Picture Book Author

    Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
    Director, B Lab
    Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
    Chairperson, CANVAS

    After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
    He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
    His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”