From the Desk of Consul General Osumi

2024/10/24
Essay Vol. 15
~AI Seminar and Disaster Prevention Forum ~
 
October 24, 2024
Yo Osumi
Consul General of Japan in San Franscicsco

 
     In the Essay Vol. 10 of this series, I pondered the following question: In an era of great technological innovation, what value can the Japanese Government and, in particular, we, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, add to the development of Japanese businesses and economy here in the Bay Area? I then touched on multiple issues to be addressed. Some concern the present, including (1) the need to nurture the ecosystem for Japanese innovation and startups, and (2) the urgency in the self-transformation and scaling-up of Japanese large and established corporations. Others are about the future: (3) the need for greater ambition among young Japanese people to think globally, and the resulting increase in the number of Japanese students studying abroad. That should also lead to (4) a growing number of Japanese researchers abroad (especially in STEM), and networking among those researchers. In this context, I introduced in the Essay our activities, such as:
 
  1. Startup and Innovation
    - Hosting receptions for Japanese women entrepreneurs (Jan 17).
    - Co-hosting Japan Biodesign Fellowship Program participants (Feb 14).
    - Addressing the Japan-US Innovation Award Symposium (Jul 18).

  2. Large and Established Companies
    - Co-hosting the Japan-California Hydrogen Webinar (Feb 7).

  3. Students
    - Speaking to many Japanese middle and high school students coming to the U.S. on various programs including through sister-city exchange programs. - Speaking to Japanese students at the “Japan Day” of Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education’s (SPICE) to congratulate students coming from local-specific online programs (Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Oita, Wakayama, Tottori, Kagoshima, Kawasaki, and Kobe) (August).

  4. Research and networking
    - Supporting a networking event of Japanese researchers (Jan 27).
    - Addressing the Japan-U.S. Research Collaboration Week (Jul 29).

     Now, as we gear up for a busy fall season, the Consulate has already organized various events involving Japanese businesses such as an informational AI event and our Bosai Forum Disaster Prevention Seminar, which I would like to introduce in this issue. We are also planning a Japan-Korea startup event, a mobility event, and others, which I will write about at a later date.


The Power of AI: Japanese Startups & Giants Shaping the Future
     On Monday, October 21, the Consulate held an informational AI event co-hosted by the Japan Society of Northern California and Digital Garage. The event aimed to shed light on California’s AI regulations as well as the ongoing AI initiatives at Japanese companies. At the beginning of the seminar, I showed four images made by ChatGPT, Gemini, Adobe, and a Japanese AI service called “Sakana AI” using the prompt “Halloween and Japan.” I asked the audience to vote for the best image – sadly, Sakana AI did not win first place!
 
AI generated Image 1
AI generated image 2
AI generated Image 3
AI generated image 4
Keynote Presentation by Sen. Becker
Presentations by major Japanese companies
     I then gave an overview of the current state of AI policy in Japan, and California Senator Josh Becker explained the status of legislation and debate surrounding AI in the State Legislature. Just as California’s emissions regulations in the 1970s were a major challenge and opportunity for Japanese automakers, California’s legislation and regulations are leading the debate in the U.S. and, along with similar discussions in the E.U., could have a major impact on AI and digital regulations worldwide. We greatly appreciate that Senator Becker is also very active in the California-Japan Legislative Forum, which was established earlier this year by state legislators. The audience listened to his remarks attentively.

     Then, in short sessions, ten groups of Japanese companies (Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC), startups (Fracta, Glasp, Omnesky, RevComm, Tieset), and researchers (NTT Research) gave presentations. Mr. Noriyuki Matsuda, president of SourceNext, the company that produces an AI pocket translator called Pocketalk and has sold more than half of all its products in the U.S. market, took the podium as well. These presentations were an enlightening look at where Japan is at now in terms of AI.

     Another fascinating presenter was Mr. Hidenobu Tanaka, a young researcher at NTT’s program here in Silicon Valley who is currently studying at Harvard University. Considering the differences in perception of AI in the West and Japan, he explains, NTT’s research goal is to ensure AI evolves with safety and ethics in mind, allowing the public to foster a positive perception of the technology as in Japan. In order to keep up with the evolution of AI, he said that we must not only focus on existing disciplines, but also on three key aspects:
 
  • The physics of AI: Attempting to understand the complex behavior of AI using mathematical principles; analyzing the creation and performance of AI from a physics perspective to develop more accurate models
  • The neuroscience of AI: A field that researches the similarities between a human brain and AI; understanding how AI’s artificial neurons function to help predict and control AI behavior
  • The psychology of AI: Since AI behaves as if it has emotions, which complicates its interactions with humans, it’s important to analyze AI’s emotional expressions from a psychological perspective to gain a deeper understanding of the ethics of AI and its relationship with humanity

     Mr. Tanaka spoke passionately about the need to create these new disciplines in AI research. I thought the idea of creating new academic disciplines was innovative—“zero to one,” unlike most Japanese ways of thinking. I thus asked how he came to this conclusion and Mr. Tanaka said that when he came to the U.S. from a Japanese university, he was surprised to see scholars at Harvard were trying to create new fields of study without being confined to conventional or traditional disciplines. Why, then, work at a corporate research institute? The answer is that true research and invention take place in laboratories funded by corporations over a long period of time, as was the case at Bell Labs, and that universities themselves are often beholden to established practices and vested interests, so new fields of study rarely emerge from universities. There was a lot of information to digest, but I am very grateful to all the talented and hardworking individuals who took the stage and shared their research with us. I was impressed by not only Mr. Tanaka, but also the ambitious and driven younger generation, which gave me hope for a brighter future for Japan.
Presentations by attendees
Group photo of all Seminar speakers
Bosai(防災)Forum: Disaster Prevention Seminar
     On Wednesday, October 23, the Consulate co-hosted a Disaster Prevention Seminar with the support of the Bay Area Council and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Northern California (JCCNC). San Francisco and California lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an earthquake-prone zone around the Pacific Rim. Because of its location, the Bay Area has experienced major earthquakes, including the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, on October 17, came just after my arrival at the Consulate last year. Disaster prevention (“bosai” in Japanese) is a pressing theme in Japan, and it took a year to develop the idea and coordinate this year’s Bosai Forum. I remember reading at the time a special issue of the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Survival Guide,” titled, “Are You Ready for the Next Big One?”

     Just as the AI Seminar was the work of Consul Arimura, who focuses on tech at our office, the Disaster Prevention Forum was a result of the collaboration between Consuls Yokoyama and Nishiyama, who focus on infrastructure and security, respectively. In preparation for the Forum, Deputy Consul General Kishimori led discussions during the summer that set the stage for the Disaster Prevention Forum and accompanied a delegation of the California Assembly Emergency Management Committee on a trip to Japan at the end of September. The Disaster Prevention Forum included a wide range of representatives from aforementioned Committee, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), UC Berkeley Seismology Lab, Obayashi Corporation, GEO SEARCH Inc., the U.S. Department of State Office of Foreign Missions, Airbnb.org, members of the San Francisco Consular Corps (including France, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia, Peru, Italy, Switzerland, Georgia, Canada, Ukraine, and the Philippines), and members of the Japanese language school community.
 
  • Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula gave remarks in which he shared his thoughts on his visit to Japan and his strong expectations for a growing relationship with Japan, making specific reference to the California-Japan Legislative Forum.
  • Cal OES encouraged people to prepare a “go bag”—a backpack containing essential items in case of emergency—and a “stay box,” a box of essential items if you are forced to shelter at home during an emergency.
  • Additional resources include SFFD’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT), a free disaster skills training program for SF residents, and UC Berkeley Seismology Lab’s “MyShake” Earthquake Notification App.
  • Obayashi Corporation shared information about building reinforcement and technology.
  • Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit supported by Airbnb that was established more than 10 years ago in response to Hurricane Sandy, gave a presentation on its work. In New York, many hosts wanted to help those devastated by the hurricane, and thus Airbnb.org allowed hosts to offer their rentals for reduced prices or for free to displaced people. This January, after the Noto Earthquake in Japan, as many as 50 to 60 families with elderly people, young children, and pets had difficulty staying in temporary shelters and were allowed to move into homes free of charge. The audience was surprised to hear of such a recent example of this work in Japan.
  • Following the Office of Foreign Missions’ presentation, the Deputy Consul General of France in San Francisco, Mr. Paul Salvaire, introduced advanced initiatives by France and the EU.
Mr. Hiroshi Tomita, the founder and chairman of GEO SEARCH Inc
Mr. Hiroshi Tomita, the founder and chairman of GEO SEARCH Inc
     Mr. Hiroshi Tomita, the founder and chairman of GEO SEARCH Inc., took the podium and introduced the company’s technology for creating cross-sectional underground maps to find cracks in pipes, water lines, and cavities in danger of collapse. He explained that the company is still working on reconstruction efforts following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Mr. Tomita worked as a volunteer in Cambodia for 12 years about 30 years ago when landmine damage was a major problem in the wake of the country’s devastating civil war. Through that experience, he learned and developed the technology to create a visualization of the underground.

     I believe this story of a man who started out by volunteering for the public good, then established his own company to make a difference in the world, and now has made it his life’s goal to expand his technology in the U.S. is exactly the kind of story that would resonate with Americans. As a young man, Mr. Tomita worked hard for the benefit of Cambodia, and now Cambodia is able to teach landmine and UXO (unexploded ordnance) countermeasures and has provided training for more than 500 government officials from the Middle East, Africa, and other countries on mine countermeasures. In August, Japan provided training on the operation and maintenance of landmine clearance machines to personnel from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) at the Cambodia Mine Action Center. This is why, when I gave a speech at the reception on the evening of the 23rd, I mentioned this story while introducing the Deputy Consul General of Ukraine, who was attending the reception. I hope these connections add to the depth and beauty of Mr. Tomita’s impactful story. Stephen Nakajo, the Commissioner of the San Francisco Fire Department and an advocate for the needs of Japanese American seniors in the Japantown area, brought to the event many of his firefighters, the unsung heroes of San Francisco. They applauded enthusiastically upon hearing Mr. Tomita’s account, in true appreciation of their shared commitment to bettering the world.
     In the coming fall and winter months, the Consulate will continue to collaborate with such organizations to highlight inspiring stories and promote business relations with Japan. We would like to resort to our strength and collaborate with a wide range of our partners to convene a variety of people including legislators from the California-Japan Legislative Forum like Senator Becker and Assemblymember Arambula.

     As I quoted in Essay Vol. 13 in this series, Kosuke Kuji, the fifth-generation head brewer of the famous Nanbu Bijin sake brewery, once said, “Taste transcends national borders. However, in order for people to feel the value of drinking the sake in the first place, there must be a ‘philosophy;’ in other words, something that is consistent and speaks for itself.” People are drawn to stories. It is as true for researchers and entrepreneurs as sake brewers. We hope to continue to provide a platform to introduce more human stories such as Mr. Tanaka’s and Mr. Tomita’s in the months to come.