Today, we held a meeting of the City&Tech Committee, which aims to realize a city that serves as a hub for cutting-edge technology. Committee members toured Smart City Takeshiba, and we discussed the next steps.

Professor Toshiya Watanabe of the University of Tokyo; Professors Hiroshi Nakagawa, Koichi Hashida, and Osamu Sakura of RIKEN and the University of Tokyo; Masafumi Yonezu of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Koji Sugiyama and Takafumi Ochiai of DTA; Mr. Umeda of 1→10; Ryosuke Yamamura of Mercari;Hiroyuki Yano of NICT; Akira Yoshizawa of the Organization for Advanced Video Distribution; Professor Inakage of KMD; Mr. Nezu, Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Hanano, and Mr. Watanabe of Tokyu Land Corporation; Mr. Seki of SoftBank; Mr. Komatsu of Kajima Corporation; and Mr. Nakamura and Mr. Kikuchi of CiP.

https://citytech.jp/member/

Initially, the project began with the goal of exploring how to implement the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ TECH Strategy in Takeshiba—a National Strategic Special Zone—and then expand it nationwide.

https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000562473.pdf

Subsequently, we aimed to realize eight key areas: “Smart Mobility (Autonomous Driving),” “Robotics (Tele-Ig and others),”“wireless power transmission,” “public viewings,” “digital signage (disaster prevention),” “drones (Uminote Line),” “citywide digital art,” and “data distribution platform.” Given that we were able to establish the framework for virtually all of these initiatives by the time of the city’s grand opening, I think it’s fair to say we’re off to a smooth start.

Today, Professor Watanabe from the University of Tokyo spoke about the collaboration with the University of Tokyo × SoftBank Beyond AI Research Institute; Mr. Sugiyama and Mr. Ochiai from DTA discussed data collaboration across cities and sectors;Mr. Umeda of 1→10 on the Haneda Innovation City partnership; Mr. Yamamura of Mercari on the social implementation of personal mobility; and Mr. Yoshizawa of the Advanced Video Distribution Organization on a disaster prevention hub demonstration using drones equipped with 8K cameras and 5G transmission, as well as 4K/8K live streaming;and Mr. Yano from NICT on matching NICT technologies with urban areas. Since we received these specific proposals, I would like to work through them one by one.

In addition, Professors Nakagawa, Hashida, and Sakura from RIKEN and the University of Tokyo provided the following topics for discussion:Professor Nakagawa emphasized the need to build interfaces for inter-city collaboration, explore methods for connecting the digital and physical spaces, and utilize personal AI agents to achieve these goals. Professor Hashida argued that, to promote the primary use of personal data and “optimize each individual’s life,” personal AI agents—rather than a city OS—should handle information matching.Professor Sakura pointed out the need to develop a theoretical framework—including legal systems and ethics—for the utilization of personal information, as well as the need to utilize robots that do not replace humans. Professor Inakage from KMD urged us to create a medium- to long-term vision! Mr. Yonezu from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government also gave us the assignment to “become a world-leading area!”

There's still a mountain of stuff to do, isn't there?

Just a quick note for now.

Today, I was given a tour of SoftBank’s office space—a place I’m normally never allowed to enter.

I hear that even Professor Watanabe from the University of Tokyo was turned down, so it seems I must have unconsciously made a rather pushy request, Oyama (*^^*)