“Leapfrogging to AI Superpower: Leapfrog Potential and Japan’s Future”
The CEOs of AI companies have been making a series of visits to the Japanese government. Behind this is the characteristic that Japanese culture is tolerant of robots, and the culture we have nurtured, such as “Doraemon,” is proof of this. In addition, the world is watching Japan today as a nation whose copyright laws are more permissive than those in Europe and the U.S., and where the spread of AI is most feasible among developed nations.
However, one important fact must be recognized here. According to the 2022 IMD survey, Japan is ranked 29th in the world, a position that should not be celebrated.
One of the reasons for Japan’s lagging behind in DX is that the organizational structure of existing industries is too old-fashioned. However, there is a shot in the arm to break out of this difficult situation, and that is the possibility of a turnaround through the full-scale introduction of AI. This is precisely the point where Japan has the potential to achieve leapfrog status (rapid development through the introduction of advanced technology) and become the world’s most advanced AI powerhouse.
This is because Japan has a world-class supply chain built on the strength of its existing manufacturing industry. By leveraging this strength and taking the initiative to fully introduce AI, Japan has the potential to once again become the world’s most advanced science and technology powerhouse as a super-optimized manufacturing and service-producing nation.
What will be important in this process is Japan’s traditional spirituality and values nurtured by Shintoism and Buddhism. When these three elements are combined, we have the potential to become the world’s most advanced nation as Japan 3.0. This comprehensive strength is the true essence of Japan.
In fact, Japan has already experienced this leapfrog potential once before. It was during the Meiji Restoration. Japan, which had lagged behind the progress of science and technology in the West, introduced the world’s most advanced technology with the Meiji Restoration. As a result, Japan grew to become the most advanced industrial nation in Asia just 30 years later.
And now, we in Japan have the potential to once again become such a leapfrog. That is the full-scale introduction of AI, i.e., a nation-wide introduction of AI. This has the potential to bring about rapid development similar to that of the Meiji Restoration.
However, we must remember that past success does not guarantee future success. However, we have powerful weapons in our arsenal: our past experience, our strong commitment to manufacturing, and our spirituality. By making the best use of these weapons and successfully introducing AI, Japan can once again take the lead in the world.
This is Japan 3.0, the new Japan, and each and every one of us is expected to work toward its realization. With this responsibility and expectation in our hearts, we must move forward toward the realization of a new Japan. Now is the time to do our utmost and take a new step toward the future.
The path to take a new step forward requires the lessons of history we once experienced through the Meiji Restoration and the insight to foresee the future. Our future goal should be not only to pursue scientific and technological advances, but also to utilize them to improve people’s lives and society as a whole. To this end, it is essential not only to have AI technology, but also the spirituality and values we have inherited from ancient times, and a strong commitment to manufacturing.
Furthermore, we must not only adopt advanced science and technology, but also integrate it with Japanese traditions to create new value. This is the key to solving the challenges we face as a nation, as a society, and as individuals.
By fully embracing AI and making the most of it, we can once again become the most advanced nation in the world. And in the process, we can create a new Japan, Japan 3.0. A new nation that combines advanced technology and tradition, and a nation that improves the quality of life of the people who support it.
Our goal should not be merely to introduce AI technology. The question is how to utilize it and how to spread it throughout society. This is an important step toward creating a new Japan.
We should do our utmost to take that step. That step will be the road map to a new Japan, Japan 3.0. By taking that step, we can pave the way to the future. That is the future we should aim for, and the new nation we should build, Japan 3.0.
Kouji Miki
Write with ChatGPT Ver. 4.0
