Congratulations to all the Platinum Grand Prize winners.

http://www.platinum-network.jp/

The Platinum Grand Prize and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award went to Global Mobility Service for its “Financial Inclusion FinTech Service to Help 1.7 Billion People Living in Poverty or on Low Incomes Around the World.” There are 1.7 billion people who cannot purchase a car because they lack access to loans.This service established a system to provide loans to people who, despite working hard and having the ability to repay, are denied credit. Specifically, it involves installing an IoT device in vehicles that allows remote control of the engine. If loan payments fall behind, the system can remotely shut off the vehicle’s engine to prompt payment.As a result, drivers in sectors such as taxi and logistics—who previously belonged to poor or low-income groups unable to secure loans—are now able to earn an income through their work, enabling them to lift themselves out of poverty on their own. Furthermore, by making their work performance visible, the service builds new creditworthiness and creates opportunities for new forms of financing, such as education loans.The company is already operating in the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Japan, and reportedly, within three years of launching the service, the cumulative distance traveled has reached 180 million kilometers (equivalent to 4,500 laps around the Earth). It reminds me of Grameen Bank, and I think services like this that contribute to sustainable SDGs are truly wonderful. The phrase “changing the lives of those who work hard” really resonated with me.

The Platinum Grand Prize (Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award) went to Kanagawa Prefecture’s COVID-19 response. Governor Kuroiwa gave the presentation. Because the prefecture had a stark, firsthand understanding of the threat posed by the novel coronavirus following the Diamond Princess incident, it launched a personalized COVID-19 support service using LINE in March.Approximately 950,000 people have used this service, which sends messages via LINE when an infection is confirmed and provides automated responses via AI. It is said that having signed a comprehensive agreement with LINE in 2018 contributed to the smooth implementation of this response.Subsequently, following a proposal made at the National Governors’ Association, the system was adopted by 33 prefectures nationwide. Because data makes problems visible, it enables data-driven responses and allows for an understanding of the situation in each region. Going forward, they plan to collaborate with DeNA to test holding professional baseball games at full capacity at Yokohama Stadium.They plan to implement the “Full House Project” by utilizing cutting-edge technology: using LINE to track the movements of all 30,000 stadium attendees and sending messages to each individual encouraging appropriate behavior, while also using facial recognition cameras to monitor mask compliance. They expressed their enthusiasm, stating that this marks a step toward the Olympics.The Deputy Governor remarked, “This was the first initiative to use IT to protect the lives of the nation’s and the prefecture’s citizens.” “Previous infectious disease countermeasures took an approach focused on the healthcare provider side, such as vaccine production, but this time, autonomous action from citizens was required. Going forward, the government will also need to formulate policies utilizing data provided by citizens.”“Rather than addressing complex social issues through siloed solutions based on macro-level data, we want to frame them as individual concerns and use that understanding to inform policy.” While some suggested this should simply be standard practice for local governments, the initiative was highly praised as a case study that was implemented with speed and certainty, ultimately influencing the entire country.

Although it narrowly missed winning the grand prize, here are a few cases that caught my attention. The “Full Support for Bereaved Families Program” in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture. For those using the bereavement support desk, it is extremely difficult to accurately understand the necessary procedures, and many end up visiting city hall multiple times.On average, they must complete 10 procedures across 5 departments—and in the most complex cases, 16 procedures across 10 departments! The report points out that this reflects the drawbacks of siloed organizational structures. Each department requires the same steps—explaining the situation, filling out application forms, and verifying identity—which creates a significant burden and inefficiency for both the bereaved families and the government.Therefore, in a move befitting Miyakonojo City—which boasts the highest My Number Card issuance rate—the city utilized the My Number Card to break down internal departmental silos and streamline and centralize procedures. As a result, the time spent at city hall was reportedly reduced by more than 30%. Furthermore, the number of repeat visits decreased, and in practical terms, the effort required was reduced by more than 50%.Next, the city is moving to eliminate not only vertical silos within the municipal government but also those throughout the community. By collaborating with banks, electric utilities, mobile phone carriers, gas companies, agricultural cooperatives, and other entities, the city is centralizing all bereavement-related procedures.As a result, this will help resolve various social issues arising from death, such as dormant accounts, vacant homes, and the disposal of bulky waste. Going forward, through public-private partnerships, the city plans to utilize an “information bank” function to enable individuals to organize the information their bereaved families will need upon their passing while they are still alive. This is a fascinating initiative aimed at “breaking down societal silos.”

T-ICU, Inc. is focused on remote ICU care. Japan faces a shortage of ICUs and intensive care physicians. The number of ICU beds per 100,000 people is one-third that of the United States. Intensive care specialists account for only 0.5% of all physicians. Furthermore, these specialists are concentrated in major cities, and 70% of hospitals do not have any specialists on staff.To address this, the company is developing a remote ICU system in which specialists are on standby at a support center to remotely advise and assist on-site doctors and nurses. This is a “Doctor-to-Doctor” (DtoD) business model in which specialists support general practitioners. Reportedly, this system was launched in the United States 20 years ago. The expansion of remote ICUs will lead to more efficient medical care and reduced healthcare costs.Going forward, the company plans to apply this model to the fields of remote emergency care and remote anesthesia, while also promoting Japan’s advanced medical technologies globally. I look forward to seeing progress in the healthcare sector—an area where, alongside education and public administration, the lag in digitalization has been particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. “There are lives we can save.” Everyone, that’s a great tagline, isn’t it?

The “N-NOSE” nematode cancer test utilizes nematodes’ ability to detect specific odors to screen for the presence of cancer. The test requires only a single drop of urine. It is low-cost, simple, painless, and highly accurate, leading to early detection.Through this groundbreaking innovation at the intersection of biology and medicine, we have successfully implemented the world’s first cancer primary screening program on a societal scale.

Saitama Prefecture. To break the cycle of poverty, the prefecture is promoting the creation of safe spaces for children, such as children’s cafeterias and tutoring centers.With a goal of establishing 800 such safe spaces across the prefecture, the prefecture has built a system to match individuals who want to create these spaces with companies willing to provide support. During the state of emergency, the system facilitated the distribution of approximately 37 metric tons of surplus school lunch ingredients resulting from school closures, and it is reported that 388 locations have already been established. We hope this prefecture-wide initiative will be replicated elsewhere as a model of success.

Wakayama Prefecture’s “Substitute Buddha Statues.” Thefts of cultural properties such as Buddhist statues continue unabated. One contributing factor is that, due to depopulation and an aging population in rural communities, villagers are no longer able to maintain and manage these statues.This case study highlights how local residents worked to establish a system to foster interest in and protect their community’s cultural properties. Specifically, college and high school students used 3D printers to create substitute Buddha statues, which they then dedicated to local shrines, while the originals are kept in a museum. To date, they have installed 29 substitute Buddha statues at 15 different shrines.This initiative—in which the local community, including students, works together to preserve its history and culture—has been highly praised. I was amazed that the substitute Buddha statues created by the students were virtually indistinguishable from the originals.

The Shodoshima Town Enhancement Project was announced via a remote presentation. Shodoshima, where the population has halved compared to its peak and depopulation continues to advance, places emphasis not on “town revitalization” but on “town enhancement,” and not on “tourism” but on “welcoming visitors.”They’re revitalizing the entire town—which, with its many alleys, resembles a maze—using “yokai” and “origami cranes.” I’ve heard that the number of tourists has increased fivefold in five years. It’s a unique initiative that tackles sustainable problem-solving with a focus on Japanese culture, and I’d like to visit there sometime.

Kawasaki City, working to realize a “Platinum Society” through the transition to hydrogen energy. Takahama City in Aichi Prefecture, dedicated to nurturing children who will take flight on the world stage. The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), proposing efficient agricultural methods that harness the cold of winter. Taisei Corporation, committed to environmental sustainability in construction projects and workplace reform.Kamihoro Town in Hokkaido, which has been comprehensively engaged in community development across diverse fields—including environmental energy, industrial promotion, and mobility—for over 10 years. Minamimachi Machida Granberry Park, where local government and a railway operator collaborated to revitalize the area around the station. And there were many other wonderful examples as well. I, too, am learning from the Platinum initiative.