MIT Media Lab is well known throughout the world and in Japan as a quite “obstinate” existence in that it aims to “Build the Future”. The existence of this Lab is well recognized by the world for this unique character.
It was last year that Mr. Joi Ito (Ref.1), a Japanese, but rather more popular as a “global citizen”, was appointed to be the director of the Media Lab, and this attracted people’s attentions in Japan through the coverage by various medias.
I, too, introduced this topic on my web site.
On January 17th, the “MIT Media Lab@Tokyo 2012” was held in Tokyo. Dr. Negroponte, the founder of the Media Lab in 1985, also joined in this event to tell us the history of how the Japanese companies supported Media Lab. Dr. Negroponte is also well known for the project “One Laptop Per Child” (Ref.1), an aid to Africa, and this time he showed me a new “Tablet” .
A prestigious university working on “outrageous, unprecedented” projects. Such universities are, I think, the drive force for developing human capital that will transform the world. Those universities are the producers of the “Out of the Box” talent, the “Change Makers”.
Dr. Ishii, the associate director, also joined with us in this event.
All speakers very passionately delivered their speech and presented their demonstrations. I participated in the dialogue with Joi. Then, I went back to my work at the Congressional Investigation Committee on Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident, and returned again in the evening to join in the reception of the Media Lab which I enjoyed very much.
This whole event is uploaded on Ustream (Ref.1).
The video starts with the Opening by Joi (the approximate time in the Ustream is “00:00:00–”), followed by the presentations of Dr. Hilgado “00:23:20–” Dr. Ishii “00:45:55–”, dialogue of Joi and myself “01:00:50–”, panel of Joi with “Out of the Box” people in major Japanese corporations “01:22:45–” and so on. Take a look and enjoy.
Why don’t you go to the Media Lab? Something inside you might change. I also urge all Japanese companies to support this extraordinary Lab.