The 12th Forum “The Dawn of the Autonomous Driving Era in Japan”

The 12th Forum “The Dawn of the Autonomous Driving Era in Japan”EVENTS

To realize a digital-based Super Smart Society, it is essential to develop social infrastructure that reliably links cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to improving everyday convenience and safety. A central area of this is “Smart Mobility,” which requires the creation of a comprehensive framework that includes AI technology supporting automated driving, infrastructure integration with communications and roads, institutional design and operational environment development to ensure its acceptance as a safe and secure means of transportation, and risk assessment. In Japan, where the population is aging and the birthrate is declining, ensuring sustainable regional transportation and improving productivity across society are urgent issues, and automated driving is a key to resolving these issues. Japan’s integrated policy, technology development, and demonstration efforts could serve as a leading model for contributing to the realization and development of a global super-smart society.
This forum, “The Dawn of Autonomous Driving Era in Japan – Challenges Toward Realizing an Autonomous Driving Society,” will share comprehensive insights into the future Super Smart Society, including national policy trends, various service demonstrations, key technologies such as AI, communication coordination and highway initiatives, and risk assessment. In addition, we will provide an opportunity to experience a concrete vision of an autonomous driving society through dynamic exhibits and video demonstrations.

Event Overview

●Forum :

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Venue: W9 Multi-Purpose Digital Hall, Ookayama Campus, Institute of Science Tokyo
Time: 13:00 – 18:05 Fee: Forum / Free

●Networking (Applicant only, please apply via the on-site application form) :

Time: 18:10 -19:50
Venue: TSUBAME TERRACE, Ookayama Campus, Institute of Science Tokyo
Fee: 2,000yen, *Student 1,000yen

●Organizer, Co-sponsored, Support, Endorsement :
Organized by Super Smart Society Promotion Consortium
Co-sponsored : Science Tokyo, Academy for Super Smart Society
Support :
Endorsement :

●Recommended for :
・SSS Consortium partners, University Faculty, Staff, Students, and those interested in our activities
・Those who are interested in Semiconductor technology

In-person Online (Zoom)

Program

Updated as needed

時間 Time	登壇者　Speaker
Host：T.B.D
13:00～13:05	Opening Remarks	TBD
13:05～13:25	Keynote Speech１	「Autonomous Driving from the Perspective of Road Infrastructure 道路分野から見る自動運転について」 Efforts toward the realization of autonomous driving are progressing in many areas across Japan. In the road‑infrastructure sector as well, demonstration projects are underway on road‑vehicle cooperation and the development of driving spaces. This overview outlines the initiatives in the road domain that support the implementation of autonomous driving. 我が国における自動運転の実現に向けて、様々な取り組みが進められている。道路インフラ分野においても、路車協調や走行空間整備に関する実証実験を進めている。こうした自動運転実現に向けた道路分野の取組について概説する。 Mr. Shoichi TAKESHITA Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ITS Policy and Program Office, Road Traffic Control Division, Road Bureau Director
13:25～13:45	Keynote Speech２	「Regional Mobility DX Triggered by Autonomous Driving through Industry–Academia–Government–Community Co‑Creation 産学官”民”共創による自動運転をトリガーとした地域交通DX」 Efforts in Shiojiri City to implement Level‑4 autonomous driving and to promote regional mobility DX triggered by autonomous driving are being supported by local human resources—such as women raising children—through an initiative called KADO, a scheme designed to enable short‑hour employment. This text introduces that case. 塩尻市で取り組んでいる自動運転Lv4社会実装と自動運転をきっかけとした地域交通DXを、時短就労を支援する施策「KADO」という仕組みを通じて地域人材（子育て中の女性等）が支えている事例を紹介します。 Mr. Koichi Ota Nagano Prefecture, Shiojiri City Advanced Industry Promotion Office Director
13:45～14:05	Lecture１	「TBD　後日発表」 Mr. Yuki Iida TIER IV, Inc.
14:05～14:25	Lecture２	「Efforts and Challenges Toward the Realization of Autonomous Truck Line‑Haul Transportation Services」 (Tentative Title) Introduction of a business concept utilizing autonomous trucks and the current status of related activities, along with the challenges that have become apparent in pursuing social implementation. 自動運転トラックを用いたビジネス像のご紹介と現在の活動状況。また、社会実装をするうえで現状見えている課題等について Mr. Shigeto Itaya T2 Inc. Business Development Division Public Affairs Department
14:25～14:45	Lecture３	「Autonomous driving for large vehicles」 We will introduce initiatives aimed at popularizing autonomous driving for large vehicles such as buses and trucks, and will also introduce issues based on the speaker’s experience when deploying autonomous vehicles into real-world traffic environments.Dr. Masaya Segawa Advanced Smart Mobility Co., Ltd. PRESIDENT & CEO	TBD
15:00～15:20	Lecture４	「TBD 後日発表」 Prof. Motoki Shino Institute of Science Tokyo Professor, Department of Engineering
15:20～15:40	Lecture５	「Initiatives to Address Communication Challenges for Level‑4 Autonomous Driving Deployment 自動運転レベル4社会実装に向けた通信課題への取り組み」Regarding the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ FY2025 Regional Society DX Promotion Package Project (Autonomous Driving Level‑4 Verification Type), this text describes Rakuten Mobile’s initiatives in Saga City to address communication challenges related to autonomous driving. 令和7年度に採択された総務省地域社会DX推進パッケージ事業自動運転レベル4検証タイプにおいて、佐賀市で実施した自動運転通信課題に対する楽天モバイルの取り組みについて Mr. Takuya Miyazawa Rakuten Mobile, Inc. Innovation Program Development Business Department Advanced Technology Innovation Section Senior Manager
15:40～16:00	Lecture６	「Automated Driving and V2I Cooperation Enabled by Highly Reliable, Always-Connected Communications」 We believe that highly reliable, mission-critical communications and Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) cooperation are critical technological enablers for achieving SAE Level 4 automated driving. Mr. Shinsuke Funakoshi NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. Senior Manager
16:10～16:30	Lecture７	「Digitalized Infrastructure Maintenance for a Smart Society」 For the social implementation of autonomous　driving, the advancement and digitalization of infrastructure maintenance are essential. In this presentation, we introduce technologies for digitizing the condition of road surfaces, bridges, tunnels, and related infrastructure facilities. Mr. Masafumi NAKATA Mubishi Electric Corporation Kobe Works Social System Solution Department Associate Expert
16:30～16:50	Lecture８	「SOMPO’s Challenge for Next-Generation Mobility」 Japan is currently facing increasingly complex problems, such as transportation gaps and a declining population. Sompo will not only leverage its existing insurance business, but also its accumulated experience to develop unique solutions in the field of next-generation mobility and help resolve social issues. Mr. Tatsuya WATANABE Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. Automobile Lines Department Next-Generation Mobility Strategy Group Manager
16:50～17:10	Lecture９	「Development and Field Demonstration and Validation of an Autonomous Driving Road-to-Vehicle Cooperation System」 Road-to-Vehicle Cooperation systems are expected to contribute not only to the expansion of the operational design domain and smoother operation of autonomous vehicles, but also to safety support for manually driven vehicles and traffic analysis. This presentation reports on system development and discusses the field demonstration and validation through proof-of-concept implementation. Mr. Shingo SUMI Panasonic System Networks R&D Lab. Co., Ltd. ITS Business Promotion Office General Manager
17:10～17:30	Lecture １０	「TBD 後日発表」 Prof. Kei SAKAGUCHI Institute of Science Tokyo Vice President, Professor, Department of Engineering

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