Introduction
The Future Tokyo Session of the Innovative City Forum 2016 is roughly divided into four themes–Future Living, Future Work, Future Mobility and Future Entertainment–in order to discuss the future lifestyle of Tokyo citizens in 2035. This time, we interviewed one of the facilitators of the Future Work sessions, Mrs. Izumi Otsu, regarding the theme “Where, why and how do people work?”.
Consensus and Enthusiasm for 2020: The Next Four Years
In selecting Tokyo as the host for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympics, when Tokyo had lost it’s confidence in the competitive city bidding, an opportunity arose that changed the flow of events. We often say that the Japanese can only achieve consensus when faced with impending crisis. In such a time, consensus should be followed by enthusiasm, and that should have provided the momentum needed to meet the deadline.
However, months and years have passed since Tokyo’s selection. Only four years remain. It feels as if Tokyo has ventured into a clouded and irritating time. Despite a continuous outpouring of ideas and images on what we want to create in Tokyo, one who actually visits these locations in the city streets is buffeted by a downpour of negative information—budget revisions, re-planning, and other such complications. We seem to be in a phase of stagnation and endless backtracking. This may be our do-or-die moment. The 2020 selection gave Tokyo a tremendous opportunity. I believe we need to create a positive atmosphere so that those of us who live and work here in Tokyo can respond and look forward to the future.
The Greatest Theme of 2035 is How Humanity’s Will Use It’s “Time”
The theme of this session was Tokyo’s future in 2035. Faced with AI and other technologies, in theory it is possible that humans and cities will find themselves wielding abilities far superior to what they possess now, and we may find ourselves far exceeding our current limiting conditions.
In such a future, one limiting condition will doubtless remain the same—there will still be only 24 hours in a day. We imagine a 2035 where humans have more free time than ever before. In the past, much time was spent on manual household work. Now, long work hours continue to be a problem. Yet, in the future, technology is expected to shoulder this burden, growing our stock of daily disposable time. Where, then, are we to spend all of this newfound time? And there is the expected increase in human lifespans to consider too.
It would be nice if we could find happiness in our boredom, but I for one do not want to imagine days of emptiness spent at home or around the city. Highly cultured entertainment that enriches our time and preoccupation with various time-killing activities will not be enough. Also important are balanced relationships with our fellow humans and the satisfaction that comes from the value one adds to society.
How shall we spend today’s time? How should we use our time in order to raise its quality? The reality will surely be more difficult than what I can imagine. I believe this will become a grand theme with widespread effects on our emotional enrichment, psychological stability, mind-body balance and the way we spend our time.
A Sharing Economy That Changes the Way We Live
I’d like to touch on the sharing economy. When transactions are done directly among people—with each person providing resources out of his or her own will and moving precisely in pursuit of his or her own wants and desires—a new economic sphere will emerge. There is no guarantee that the transfer of value will continue to rely on physical currencies. Perhaps we will use virtual money; or, we may turn to barter. In a sense, such a society would be a mature, affluent one. If non-monetary transactions are to increase, we will need to look past GDP to other indicators of a country’s affluence and economic power.
Furthermore, in the next 10 or 20 years, a new challenge will be how able we are to shift daily life towards that of a sharing economy. This theme directly affects the way we live. We come from the nuclear family generation. “Let us close our doors,” we said. “Let us live with just a family of four.” Neighborhood interaction was minimal. Our little families of four gave their best efforts to build a working households. However, we were too closed off and life became suffocating. Some part of us wants to ask for the support of others. I hope that neighborhoods will become communities of mutual support. In order to take back the lifestyles we once threw away, we need to again open the doors of our house, invite others inside, and explore new days to live while still maintaining the high level of privacy
What are Tokyo’s Strengths?
Recently, many are starting to realize how affluent the Edo Period was. Politics and economy achieved a certain level of stability, and this opened the door for the creation of a wise city and the emergence a diverse culture. The people had room to develop the mental affluence they needed to to enjoy it. Now, 70 years after WWII, the city of Tokyo that was built up at an astonishing pace is enjoying such an affluence. Looking back on the Edo period, detecting shared threads, and reevaluating the past with interest may be a natural occurrence.
Going forward, I have high hopes for Tokyo’s ability to design. However, for this to happen, we must hold a strong vision regarding the nature of the “affluence” that we seek. A city built from yearning and passion for that vision of affluence and a city built with hard headed effort towards solving a mountain of problems—these are two entirely different creatures. We have devoted a large proportion our energy to coping with a series of urgent problems, and, to me, our passionate drive towards an ideal future feels lacking.
The theme for this session is the future of Tokyo in 2035. For realistic problems right before our eyes, we cannot afford to look away. However, if it’s 2035, there is room for pure discussion. We can share our discontinuous future images and debate the rightful form of the affluence we seek from the future. I hope that Tokyo does not become a problem-solving city but a city filled with competitive strength of imagination. It will be wonderful if this session can be a place where such discussion thrives.
Izumi Okoshi
Executive Business Creation Director (EBD), Business Creation Center / Head, Dentsu Innovation Institute / Director, Legacy Project Design Office and 2020 Project Production Department
Ms. Okoshi joined Dentsu in 1998 after working as a research fellow at a private think tank and as a brand manager at a foreign-affiliated manufacturer. She assumed her current post in 2014 after serving in the Marketing Department, Communication Design Center, Business Design Lab, etc.
She has been engaged in promoting co-creation type business design for sustainable growth through industry-government-academia / cross-industrial collaboration, in addition to aiming at accelerating innovations, taking 2020 & Beyond as an opportunity, and being involved in client companies’ domestic and overseas business strategies and brand communication strategies.
2016: Member of screening jury for Nikkei BP Marketing Awards
Member of screening jury for All Japan Radio & Television Commercial Confederation (ACC) Marketing Effectiveness Category, etc.