Just like the printing technology of the 16th century, the steam engine of the 18th century, electricity and railroads of the 19th century, and automobiles, computers, and the internet of the 20th century, AI is increasingly likely to become a General-Purpose Technology (GPT) that will deeply and widely penetrate society over a long period and significantly reshape the structure of the economy and society. Moreover, in the 21st century, AI is expected to integrate with life sciences and biotechnologies, bringing both great benefits and risks to humanity.
As the speed of technological evolution accelerates, it is becoming ever more necessary to incorporate a human perspective into the development and application of new technologies. In other words, we must critically reconsider for whom, for what purpose, and how we use technology. Furthermore, it is particularly important to deepen our insights into human nature and build human-oriented information systems (HIS) that contribute to the well-being and fulfillment of diverse individuals.
From this perspective, we conduct research on HIS by examining the historical evolution of technology and industry while benchmarking against advanced digital societies such as the Nordic countries and Estonia.
Brief History
After working as an editor of a business IT magazine, I studied information technology and social evolution at a graduate school. I have been involved in research activities at GLOCOM, International University of Japan since 2003. My current main roles include: President / Representative Director of the Information Systems Society of Japan, Program Officer of the “Research Promotion Project for AI and IoT Systems for Dementia” of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Auditor of Digital Society Design Council, Advisor of the “Human-Information Technology Ecosystem” area of Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society (RISTEX), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and Councilor of the Automotive Information Network Association.
Major Works
- The Evolution of Information Systems: Breaking Away from a Technological Worldview Towards a Future that Nurtures Humans, Administrative Information Systems Research Institute, March 26, 2025 (Sole author).
- Information Systems Studies, edited by the New Information Systems Studies Survey and Research Committee, Information Systems Society, April 1, 2023. Contributed to Chapter 6, Section 4: Cases of “Human-Centered Information Systems” in Japan and Chapter 6, Section 5: Nordic Social Systems.
- Digital Series 38: Information Management, by Yasuko Kaminuma, Michiko Ōba, Taku Yamaguchi, Kiichi Kawano, Kunihiro Ogawa, Makoto Katakawa, and Kaoru Sunada, Kyōritsu Publishing, 2019 (Co-author). Contributed to “Chapter 4, Section 4.3: Development of Technologies Realizing Information Systems”＆”Chapter 5, Section 5.1: National Information Systems—E-Government in Denmark and Estonia”＆”Chapter 5, Section 5.3: User-Centered Information Systems—Design Thinking”．
- Globalization and the Japanese Economy, edited by Shujiro Urata and the Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance, Keisō Shobō, July 25, 2009. Contributed to Chapter 9: ICT and the Globalized Economy and Society.
- Introduction to New Information Systems Studies, edited by the New Information Systems Studies Survey and Research Committee, Information Systems Society, February 28, 2014. Contributed to Chapter 4, Section 3: Development of Technologies Realizing Information Systems, Chapter 5, Section 1: National Information Systems—E-Government in Denmark and Estonia, and Chapter 5, Section 3: User-Centered Information Systems—Design Thinking.
- Historical Studies Encyclopedia, Volume 15: “Communication”, edited and authored by Kōichi Kabayama, Kōbundō, June 15, 2008. Contributed to the entry “Computer”.
Major Lectures
- Lecture: “Designing Human-Centered Information Systems,” 5G・IoT Design Girl 8th Term Training, November 27, 2024.
- Lecture: “Human-Centered Digital Transformation—Women Leading 21st-Century Innovation,” A.T. Information Research Inc. 30th Anniversary Open Event, June 3, 2023.
- Lecture: “Human-Centered Information Systems for Shaping the Future of the Digital Society,” 50th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, October 20, 2022.
- Special Lecture: “Human-Centered Information Systems in the Beyond 5G Era,” NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories Open House 2022, May 26, 2022.
- Lecture: “Youth Radical: Insights from the History of the Computer Industry,” Beyond 5G New Management Strategy Center Leaders Forum, September 21, 2021.
- Lecture: “Venture Challenges in Human-Centered Digital Transformation,” Information Systems Society, Spring Lecture Conference, February 27, 2021.
- Lecture: “Advanced Digital Society: Nordic Welfare and Administrative Reform,” Mitaka City Citizens’ University Lecture, October 13, 2018.
Major Achievements
- Member of “Universal Service Committee”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2021)
- Member of the Working Group for the “Beyond 5G Promotion Strategy Roundtable”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2020)
- Member of “Meeting on Empirical Collaborative Research on Methods for Understanding and Analyzing Policy Effects”, Administrative Evaluation Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2018-2019)
- Member of IoT Policy Committee, Information and Communications Council, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2016-2017)
- Member of “Distributed Strategy Working Group”, Subcommittee on Information Economy, Industrial Structure Council, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2016)
- Member of the Editorial Board, “White Paper on Information and Communications”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2010-2016)
Major Awards
- November 2010: The Information Systems Society of Japan, 1st Best Presentation Award
- November 2015: The Society of Information Systems Engineers, Japan 10th Anniversary Commendation “Achievement Award”
Educational Background
March 1979: Graduated with a degree in Physics, Faculty of Science, Chiba University
March 1997: M.A. in Social Informatics, Department of Social and Cultural Studies, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo
April 1997: Entered the doctoral course at the University of Tokyo
March 2002: Withdrew from the doctoral course
Career
1982–2003: Conducted interviews and wrote for business computer magazines. Worked as a journalist for COMPUTERWORLD and served as editor-in-chief of Monthly Computopia.
2004–2007: Part-time Lecturer, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tama Art University.
2005–2020: Part-time Lecturer, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Kokushikan University. Taught International Information Studies and Information Policy Studies.
2018–2019: Part-time Lecturer, School of Culture, Media and Society, Waseda University.
2007–Present: Adjunct Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University. Taught Information and Communication Industry and Information Business Studies.
2003–Present: Research Fellow at GLOCOM, International University of Japan.
2021–Present: Visiting Researcher, Administrative Information Systems Research Institute.
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