Kyoto Information service industry Association (Chairman:Wataru Hasegawa, Rector of KCG Group; hereinafter “Kyoto Information Industry Association”), a general incorporated association with its secretariat at Kyoto Computer Gakuin (KCG), held a public seminar on June 29, 2026, in collaboration with The University of Informatics Educational Corporation, The Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics (KCGI) a school corporation under the Information University Foundation, KCG, and Kyoto Prefectural Technology Center for Small and Medium Enterprises.Mr. Masaki Hasegawa, Section Chief of the Regional Collaboration Promotion Department, Solutions & Marketing Division, at NTT DOCOMO Business, delivered a lecture titled “Initiatives and Future Challenges of the Autonomous Driving Social Implementation Project,” which was attended by Kyoto City government officials, members of the Kyoto Information Technology Association, and students from KCG and KCGI.
Drawing on his experience working on autonomous driving implementation projects across the country, Mr. Hasegawa discussed trends in Japan’s autonomous driving sector, challenges facing regional transportation, and efforts to implement autonomous driving services in society.
In the presentation, he introduced the autonomous driving demonstration project utilizing 5G, XR, and AI that has been underway in Aichi Prefecture since 2019 with the aim of realizing a “new mobility experience.”It was explained that, starting in 2024, the pilot areas will be expanded nationwide, and initiatives are being implemented in response to the specific characteristics and challenges of each region.It was also reported that in the Rakusai area of Kyoto City, an autonomous driving service will be rolled out starting in March 2025. Through this initiative, local residents will actually ride the service to help verify its convenience and safety, as efforts continue toward the realization of sustainable local transportation.
During the Q&A session following the lecture, KCG students asked numerous questions, including how autonomous vehicles would be operated and what safety measures would be in place during disasters; how the necessary operating costs would be secured; and what kind of system would be established to ensure sustainable public transportation.The lively exchange of views went well beyond the scheduled time, and it was clear that there was a high level of interest in the societal implementation of autonomous driving technology and in solving local issues.