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Video series “Ask the Future”

We ask Moonshot researchers about their unique visions of the future and the steps they are taking each day to make that future closer to reality.

[Goal 8] Typhoon Control Research Aiming for a Safe and Prosperous Society / FUDEYASU Hironori

[Goal 8] "Typhoon Control Research Aiming for a Safe and Prosperous Society" FUDEYASU Hironori (English subtitles available)

Project Manager Fudeyasu Hironori’s project aims to construct weather control theory and research weather control technology from four research and development agendas: meteorological approach, engineering approach, impact assessment, and ELSI.

[Goal 9] A comparative utility expression of primate nervous systems / YAMADA Hiroshi

[Goal 9] "A comparative utility expression of primate nervous systems" YAMADA Hiroshi (English subtitles available)

Professor Yamada is a project promoter who considers the mind to be the activity of brain neurons and is researching the brain mechanism that produces joy and happiness from a neuroeconomic perspective.

[Goal 1] Liberation from Limitations via Physical, Cognitive, Perceptual Augmentation / KOMATSU Misako (English subtitles available)

[Goal 1] "Liberation from Limitations via Physical, Cognitive, Perceptual Augmentation" KOMATSU Misako (English subtitles available)

We talked to Professor Komatsu Misako, who uses animal models to measure, collect, and analyze neural data with the aim of achieving practical use of BMI, about Core Technology.

[Goal 6] Scalable and Robust Integrated Quantum Communication System / NAGAYAMA Shota

[Goal 6] "Scalable and Robust Integrated Quantum Communication System" NAGAYAMA Shota (English subtitles available)

“Scalable and Robust Integrated Quantum Communication System” project manager Nagayama Shota talks about communication networks that connect various kinds of hardware.

[Goal 1] Future Lifestyle Beyond the Impossible / YOSHIFUJI Kentaro

[Goal 1] "Future Lifestyle Beyond the Impossible" YOSHIFUJI Kentaro (English subtitles available)

We interviewed Yoshifuji Kentraro, a pioneer grappling with this issue, who has been working on the Minamizawa project "Cybernetic Avatar Technology and Social System Design for Harmonious Co-experience and Collective Ability" as a project performer, about the implementation of cybernetic avatar technology in society.

[Goal 3] Aim to realize partner AI that mutually enhances humans and each other / BABA Yukino

[Goal 3] "Aim to realize partner AI that mutually enhances humans and each other" BABA Yukino (English subtitles available)

We interviewed Dr. Baba Yukino of the University of Tokyo, who has been working on "Knowledge Inquiry by Interaction AI with Researchers" as the project performer, about the current AI issues and challenges, her vision for AI in 2050, and her vision for the future society.

[Goal 2] Changing society through the fusion of mathematics and medicine / KAWAKAMI Eiryo

[Goal 2] "Changing society through the fusion of mathematics and medicine" KAWAKAMI Eiryo (English subtitles available)

We interviewed Dr. Kawakami Eiryo of Chiba University and RIKEN, who is engaged in challenging research as the project performer by integrating mathematics and medicine, about his vision for predicting diseases, his approach, and the preventive society he is aiming for in 2050 in today's aging society.

Dialogue series “× -KAKERU-”

Moonshot researchers and experts from a variety of fields discuss the exciting possibilities emerging from Moonshot projects and how the research outcomes may impact future society.

Thinking about science and technology to assist a “Maemuki” mindset with the head of Euglena, the “Professor of Adversity” : YAMADA MAKIKO × IZUMO MITSURU

Thinking about science and technology to assist a “Maemuki” mindset with the head of Euglena, the “Professor of Adversity” : YAMADA MAKIKO × IZUMO MITSURU

A special talk between Yamada Makiko, Project Manager of Goal 9 and Izumo Mitsuru Izumo, President of Euglena Co., Ltd., is available. They discuss the nature of the “Maemuki” mind that future generations will need and how this will change Japan.

When skillful and clever “AI robot scientists” become partners to humans: HARADA KANAKO × IKEGAMI AKIRA

Ikegami Akira, a journalist with a strong interest in science and technology, who is well known for explaining current affairs in an accessible way from a unique perspective, probes the topic with PM Harada.

Achieving Vibrant Aging Societies: Coexisting with Adaptable AI-enabled Robots. A Dialogue between Yasuhisa Hirata x Yoichi Ochiai.

We sat down to talk with Professor and Moonshot Project Manager Yasuhisa Hirata, and Yoichi Ochiai, a Moonshot ambassador who established xDiversity, a general incorporated association to research usability for a diverse spectrum of people, including elderly and disabled individuals.

Making Weather Control a Reliable Part of “City Infrastructure”: A Tag Team of Technology and Social Systems - Yohei Sawada x Rui Izumiyama.

In this article, we had Yohei Sawada, a project manager (PM) involved in one of the selected research projects, sit down with Rui Izumiyama, who specializes in urban planning and design, to discuss how weather control could one day become a reliable part of a city’s infrastructure.

[Part 2] Ryota Kanai x Michiaki Matsushima Moonshot Dialogue: Toward a Future of Better Mutual Understanding — The Potential of BMI-CA.

In this second part, they share their unique perspectives on the role BMI-CA can play in connecting diverse "environmental worlds" (or "Umwelt") of people and the potential for changing a media-centered society itself, including AI collaboration.

[Part 1] Ryota Kanai x Michiaki Matsushima Moonshot Dialogue: Expanding The Relationship Between Brain and Body via BMI-CA.

As a milestone towards the ultimate BMI-CA that can be operated in accordance with human intentions by 2050, we had Kanai sit down with Wired Japan's editor-in-chief, Michiaki Matsushima to discuss the potential for BMI-CA to become a media service that surpasses the limits of the modern day internet.

From Okinawa to the World – Two Researchers go for a moonshot at OIST: Hiroki Takahashi x Katsuhiko Miyazaki

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has two research projects that have been adopted under this system. For this article, we sat down with Hiroki Takahashi, the project manager (PM) of one of the university’s projects, and Katsuhiko Miyazaki, the PM of the other.

Publications

Moonshot R&D Program Overview (2023.Jan)

Introducing the nine goals and each project of the Moonshot Research & Development Program

“Science Beyond Limits”

Here we invite Moonshot researchers to describe their ambitious research goals and how they are attempting to overcome scientific and technological limits.

You can listen to the episodes from the service below.

Science Beyond Limits: Weather prediction and control

Science Beyond Limits Ep3: Weather prediction and control

Dr. Le Duc talks about his work at the University of Tokyo where through data assimilation and high powered modelling he and his team are attempting to make the dream of weather control a reality.

Science Beyond Limits Ep2: Tech for empathy and accessibility

Dr. Yun Suen Pai and Dr. Giulia Barbareschi, researchers in Project Cybernetic Being at the Keio School of Media Design in Japan, talk about technology they are working on to enhance empathy and accessibility in our societies.

Science Beyond Limits Ep1: Can technology make us happy?

Seiji is Program Director for Goal 9 of the Moonshot R&D Program, implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Please contact us to learn more about research cooperation opportunities.