Relay Talk
Setouchi Sunny (YouTuber)
Ryushi Osaki (CEO, Setouchi Sunny, Inc.)
Technology & Rural Areas: Adventures Around the World
For all the young people in Japan...Listen up! You’re living in an extraordinary time here in Japan, where there’s a legion of challenges, ranging from earthquakes and torrential rains to infectious diseases and shrinking populations. Social network timelines are full of chaos, and you may despair at the daily headlines. But, it’s not all doom and gloom. Actually, right now, it’s the most amazing time to be alive since the internet was first unveiled to the public. It’s the age of technological innovation.
Before I get down to details, I want to introduce myself to those of you who may be meeting me for the first time. I’m a YouTuber in Kagawa Prefecture, and run a startup company developing media and educational businesses. In 2021, I was selected by Google’s “Humans of YouTube Japan” as one of the 100 most influential YouTube creators who have made meaningful social, cultural and economic impacts. I graduated from Kagawa University’s Faculty of Education with a license to teach science in elementary, junior, and senior high schools and am challenging myself to bring about innovation in local education from the world of YouTube. I find it rewarding when local high school and university students call me “Sunny-san” and think of me as a friend that can provide advice on their life paths and love lives.
OK, let’s get back to the main point. With the arrival of the internet, smartphones, social networking sites, and generative AI, it’s a really, really fantastic time to change the face of Japanese society and education. As you can probably tell from the fact that we all take social networks for granted, their power is even greater that we can imagine. You can connect with and meet anyone in the world just by being proactive in sending out information about yourself. This technology helps you do what you want to do, and the act of disseminating information can even be monetized. What is even more amazing right now is the emergence of generative AI. You and I are alive in an age where your summer homework and college theses can be written by AI. Oh, make sure you don’t get caught by your teachers and professors! ChatGPT can also write emails for adults in English, and very soon, videos will be able to be edited by video-driven AI.
Now, you might be thinking, “Well then, what’s the point of studying?” And yes, conventional education that emphasizes rote memorization and test results’ll hold little meaning. That’s because you can get answers to all your questions from generative AI that’s almost as brilliant as Doraemon. So, what should we do from here on out? I think there’s only one answer. That’s the independence of knowing “what you like and what you want to do”. We’re moving away from cognitive-based education that can be measured numerically, such as tests and standard scoring, and setting foot in a society which requires non-cognitive abilities that can’t be measured by numbers, such as independence, leadership and communication skills.
When I was a student at Kagawa University, I took two years off to study in California in the U.S. I visited Silicon Valley where I met entrepreneurs who were working with technology. Just like them, I’ve continued to do what I want and challenge myself along the way. Right now, I’m in the process of putting together a local Silicon Valley study-abroad program for all the young people who have limited options simply for the fact that they are located in rural areas.
I also actively encourage young people to go abroad and see the world. I do this because I believe that when we get to know more about other countries, we fall in love with the beauty of Japan, the places we live, and the areas we call home. Kagawa and Takamatsu glow with the rich natural beauty of its many islands, the smiling faces of its older residents, and a food culture that’s been refined over more than a millennium. I know that this year’s G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting in Takamatsu, Kagawa will provide a chance for youth to spread their wings and connect with the world.
So, go for it. Get out and see the world!
I also actively encourage young people to go abroad and see the world. I do this because I believe that when we get to know more about other countries, we fall in love with the beauty of Japan, the places we live, and the areas we call home. Kagawa and Takamatsu glow with the rich natural beauty of its many islands, the smiling faces of its older residents, and a food culture that’s been refined over more than a millennium. I know that this year’s G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers' Meeting in Takamatsu, Kagawa will provide a chance for youth to spread their wings and connect with the world.
So, go for it. Get out and see the world!