The waves of "Living Diversification" starting from Shinagawa, JR East and KDDI, "Space -free", a smart city

This article is reprinted from an article published on the site "MUGENLABO MAGAZINE" operated by KDDI

Last December, JR East and KDDI announced that they had a basic agreement on the joint business of distributed town development centered on Shinagawa.The digitalization waves that have progressed all at once due to the corona are trying to change their work and change their work.In particular, the urban -intensive lifestyle, which has been said to be the most concentrated in Tokyo, has taken this opportunity to find the option of "decentralization".

But how does society actually change?

The "space -free project" is to try various attempts in the actual city of that great turning point.Both companies that have mainly used the "real" station and the "digital" infrastructure called "Digital" are created from here to create services and experiences that realize various ways of working and living that are not caught in places or time.That's it.In the future, the company aims to develop a "satellite city" as a distributed base, mainly in Shinagawa, and to consider mobility services around Shinagawa in a wide range of fields.

And one key in this project is "co -creation".

As the two companies tagged, the "hub" that combines new technologies like startups and major assets, and connects the world's top players in various fields, such as artists, creators, and researchers.Become.This project seems to have such a plan.It is expected that these people gather and co -create will be the driving force for creating new and working styles.

So how does this concept go and what vision is going?In this article, we talked to JR East executive officers, the key player of this project, Mr. Teruyuki Omotobu, Deputy Director of the Business Creation Headquarters, and Akito Fujii, director of the Solution Business Division, a KDDI executive officer.

The osteomy of the space -free project is the joint promotion of the Core City "Shinagawa Development Project".The Shinagawa Development Project is currently aiming for JR East to open a business in FY2024 with the aim of creating a rich heart with a view to 100 years ahead.Mr. Table, first, had the impact of the spread of infections as the background of the project promotion.

"Corona evil has occurred and a big change has accelerated. Values have changed mainly from concentration to dispersion, masses to personal life, and in a good way, the movement of regional dispersion has come out from the concentration of Tokyo.We were also listed in the management vision called "Transformation 2027", so we will try to accelerate it. We have a real network of various facilities, railway and transportation infrastructure, but it has its strengths.On the other hand, digital is not strong. I thought that taking hands with KDDI to make a new life and people live. "(Table).

Director Fujii also said that he also noticed a new "real" because he was swaying at once.For example, if the movement time disappeared due to the shift to a video conference -centered life, the task of working hours would result in longer working hours.

"The fact that these issues have been seen is not" all digital and all real ", but the combination is very important. It may be possible (remotely), but how creative is it.Should we move to a hybrid? This point is not a simple way to divide it like "Headquarters and Satellite", but the headquarters itself will be dispersed while fusing both real and digital aspects. There is a smart city with that way of thinking.I think it will be necessary.

Also, I recognized it with the corona, but (because the remote work has begun), the situation of one person who had no room in raising children was revealed.In the same way, I went to the company and worked together.It was necessary to snuggle up to each one while thinking about a variety of options in both real and virtual.If the space becomes free, it will spread not only to work style, but also to lifestyles, entertainment, education, and various places.I hope this project will be like that. "

One of the easiest to imagine in the space -free project is the development of "distributed workplace", which is also the first of the promotion.As they say, as they move from "the same place, determined work" to an era where a more personal environment is needed, the momentum of creating a place in each situation is increasing.

Is the image of a distributed workplace like a "connected office"?In response to corporate needs in urban and local cities, a virtual project room in which remote office space is integrated, a function that allows you to connect to an internal intra at the same time as entering the room, and the continuation of the previous meeting can be resumed by ID linkage.The aim is to develop such a workplace that combines working real space, such as a "preserved conference room", with digital virtual technology.

In addition, not only the fixed base but also the traveling space is also regarded as part of the distributed type, and a remote work demonstration experiment in the Shinkansen car will be conducted.These demonstration experiments have been experimentally opened this year in the spring of 2021, and will continue to develop prototypes and demonstration experiments while constantly updating.

The project also announced the development of mobility services that support the movement in Shinagawa blocks, but new ideas and startups are the driving force to keep updating such smart cities at all times.

The project for this realization has also announced the creation of a "space -free consortium" that creates new value and services with various partners.Participation are companies, local governments, startups, and companies that participate as users in this city.The company will start "Workplace Community Activities" together with these companies, exchange opinions on working styles revealed in home work, and conduct demonstration experiments for solutions.

Mr. Table showed a vision of co -creation, where the land of the Shinagawa, the world, the past and the future, the hubs that connect the city and the region, people and companies, and gathered various information, skills and passion.And beyond that vision is the solution to social issues, and our new lives and work styles.

"In the era of decentralization of companies and individuals, the company is working in the company and the company has been working on the system, and the number of companies that recognize the side jobs is increasing, and the social infrastructure is being set up. In such a situation, Shinagawa is located.It is also the center of land, sea, and sky. It is only here in the city center that can make a vast place of about 13 hectares from "zero".Combining real and virtuals should make communication more freely.

We want Japan 100 years later to be rich and dreamy and hope.That's why people who want to realize their dreams are discussed, engaging with technology, wisdom, know -how, and energy, interacting with Shinagawa, causing chemical reactions to create new business and value.I want to make it. "

The center of the project this time is the land of JR East.For example, the mobility service concept announced this time includes automatic delivery drones, but when using public roads in Japan, various regulations must be cleared.In that regard, if it is a private land, the degree of freedom in the demonstration experiment will increase.Participating in people living and working is also an important point in creating actual services and experiences.

You can also ask for feedback from people who live here or related companies through the consortium, etc., which is an advantage in updating the smart city concept.

In addition, both companies have a powerful "data" weapon.The actions of people who use stations and facilities, and ID information such as Suica, commuter passes, and au should be one of the bases in this project.

At the same time, Mr. Table has a sense of crisis in the status of new technological development that promotes countries such as Israel, China, and India, and expects an innovation to say, "I want to make it an experiment to fulfill my future dreams."Was told.

At the end of the interview, Mr. Table taught me an episode about this place called Shinagawa.

In July 2020, the remains of the Takanawa Izumi built at the time of the opening of the railway were found in the planning area of the Shinagawa Development Project.

This is a structure built on the sea to lay Japan's first railway opened between Shimbashi and Yokohama in 1872.According to Mr. Table's story, it seems that this remains were made by importing British technology at the time, but since then, the masonry technology of the castle in Japan has been fused, and it has been improved to a stronger one.That's right.As a result, after 150 years, Japanese railways have grown into the world's best network.

"Tokyo Station also gathered the best technologies in the world at the time, and the red bricks and others gave the Japanese craftsmanship skills. This was also made by the predecessors about 100 years ago. I am in books.While unraveling the story, I was impressed by the trembling. Aspirations, challenge, effort. Even now, even after 100 years, we have given us that excitement. We are the next 100.I have to do that kind of work to people in the year and make the next 100 years I have to do. I have to do that kind of work.I think it is our mission. "

With a real station / town, and a new communication infrastructure such as 5G, the space -free project should be an attractive experiment.On the other hand, it is a person and company that causes true innovation.There is no doubt that the heat of the people and companies gathering in this place will be attractive to the concept of the smart city, and will be the key to transforming into a "city that continues to update".

KDDI and JR East have been exploring the way of domestic innovation in the philosophy of "co -creation", including being evaluated in the highest rankings of large companies sponsored by Morning Pitch.How do the leaders who create the services and experiences needed for the decentralized society gather here?

Expectations will be gathered for encounters with people who have the will of the next 100 years.