World in You, Japan Country Expert of the World Summit Award (WSA), is thrilled to announce the nomination of three pioneering initiatives from Japan for the World Summit Award 2024. These initiatives leverage digital technology to address pressing social issues and contribute to positive global change.

At World in You, we are dedicated to supporting non-profit organizations and companies in our region that strive to create social value. We believe in fostering their learning from global insights and cases, empowering them to expand their impact beyond regional boundaries.

The World Summit Award, established in 2003 during the World Summit on the Information Society by the United Nations, has been recognizing digital innovation for 20 years. Each year, 40 organizations, including startups, non-profit entities, and companies, are selected for their outstanding contributions to making the world a better place through digital solutions. Winners receive an invitation to the World Congress, scheduled for April 4-9, 2025, in Hyderabad, India, where they can network with entrepreneurs and experts from over 180 countries.

WSA 2024 Japan Nominees

Takanome　Organization: Pirika, Inc.

【ENVIRONMENT & GREEN ENERGY category】

POSRI 　Organization: kodokodo

【HEALTH & WELLBEING category】

YYSystem　Organization: AISIN CORPORATION

【INCLUSION & EMPOWERMENT category】

Nomination Messages from World in You

・Takanome
Takanome, developed by Pirika, stands as an innovative solution addressing the critical challenge of plastic pollution and illegal dumping on a global scale.
While Takanome was first launched in 2015, the project has continuously evolved. The 2024 update marks a significant leap forward, enabling broader applications and easier access for clients through the SaaS model.

<Content>
Takanome offers comprehensive data on the distribution of litter and illegal dumping, providing invaluable insights for local governments and environmental organizations. The system has surveyed over 1.6 million km of roads worldwide, making it the largest terrestrial litter distribution survey globally.

<Functionality>
The solution comprises three key elements: a smartphone app for recording, AI for litter recognition, and a visualization system for problem-solving. This integrated approach allows for efficient data collection, analysis, and actionable insights, enabling local governments to take targeted action against illegal dumping and littering.

<Design>
Takanome's user-friendly interface allows local governments to easily view data such as the distribution of illegal dumping from a management screen. The system's design facilitates the discovery of problematic areas and helps the users evaluate the effectiveness of countermeasures, enhancing the overall user experience.

<Technology>
Leveraging cutting-edge AI and deep learning technologies, Takanome can detect and classify litter from millions of images captured by vehicle-mounted smartphones. This innovative use of technology enables comprehensive monitoring of vast areas that would be impossible to survey manually.

<Innovation>
Takanome's approach of using everyday vehicles as mobile monitoring units is highly innovative. By transforming taxis, garbage trucks, and other cars into data collection points, Pirika has created a scalable solution to a previously intractable problem. The latest update in 2024 has further enhanced this innovation by enabling the use of the Takanome app directly in vehicles and providing clients with a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Additionally, Pirika has begun collecting open data from drive recorders, expanding their data sources and potential impact.

<Impact>
Takanome has been adopted by more than 10 local governments, impacting areas with a total population of over 4 million people. The system has demonstrably improved the efficiency of clean-up efforts, with one city tripling the amount of litter collected per person during citizen activities. The 2024 updates, including the SaaS model and expanded data collection, are poised to significantly increase this impact.

<Value>
By providing a tool for effective litter management on land, Takanome contributes significantly to preventing plastic waste from entering the oceans.

・POSRI
POSRI, developed by the Japanese non-profit organization kodokodo, stands as an innovative solution addressing the critical challenge of preventive healthcare in Japan's rapidly aging society.

<Content>
POSRI offers a wealth of evidence-based, high-quality content curated in collaboration with Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. With 625 research papers and 966 lifestyle items integrated into the app, POSRI provides comprehensive, locally relevant information in Japanese, making preventive healthcare accessible to a wide audience.

<Functionality>
The app's user-friendly interface allows for easy registration of lifestyle habits and health check-up results. Its AI-powered disease risk prediction feature and personalized suggestions enhance user experience and encourage active engagement in preventive healthcare.

<Design>
POSRI's design is tailored to appeal to a diverse Japanese user base, from health-conscious individuals to corporate employees. The intuitive navigation and visually appealing presentation of complex health data make it accessible to users across different age groups and technological proficiencies.

<Technology>
Leveraging AI technology for disease risk prediction with online consultation features and the unique "POSRI time" concept showcases the project's technical sophistication.

<Innovation>
POSRI's approach to quantifying and visualizing the impact of lifestyle changes on disease risk through "POSRI time" is highly original. This innovative feature, combined with the app's comprehensive evidence base, sets it apart in the preventive healthcare market.

<Impact>
With 1.46 million impressions and 1,190 downloads, POSRI is already making a local impact. Its adoption by major corporations for employee health initiatives further amplifies its potential to improve community health outcomes and address aging population challenges of Japan and other countries.

<Value>
By making high-quality health information and personalized guidance accessible through a free app, it contributes to narrowing the digital divide in healthcare. The project's potential for adaptation to other aging societies globally underscores its international relevance.

・YYSystem
YYSystem, developed by Aisin, stands as an innovative solution addressing the critical challenges faced by people with hearing impairments worldwide. YYSystem represents an exemplary fusion of user-centered design, cutting-edge technology, and social innovation. Its potential to transform the lives of millions of people with hearing impairments globally.

<Content>
YYSystem offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to break down communication barriers for people with hearing impairments. The app provides real-time, high-accuracy transcription of spoken language into text, even in noisy environments. It also recognizes and visualizes approximately 100 types of environmental sounds, enhancing users' understanding of their surroundings.

<Functionality>
The app's user-friendly interface, developed through collaboration with actual users, ensures ease of use and encourages continued engagement. Features like split-screen functionality for face-to-face communication and AI summarization cater to diverse user needs, including those with Listening Difficulty/Auditory Processing Disorder (LiD/APD).

<Design>
YYSystem's intuitive design, created in co-creation with users, earned it the prestigious Good Design Gold Award in Japan in 2023. The app's interface is tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals with hearing impairments, ensuring accessibility and usability.

<Technology>
Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, including Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, YYSystem delivers state-of-the-art voice recognition, even in challenging acoustic environments like factories and trains. The integration of generative AI for conversation summarization and paraphrasing further enhances its technological sophistication.

<Innovation>
YYSystem's approach to both individual and social models of disability support sets it apart in the market. Its rapid development cycle, responding to user feedback within days, and its unique features like environmental sound visualization demonstrate remarkable innovation in addressing user needs.

<Impact>
With over 850,000 downloads, adoption by more than 80 companies, and a thriving user community, YYSystem has made a significant impact. Users report improved quality of life, increased workplace participation, and reduced feelings of isolation. The app's ability to facilitate communication "anytime, anywhere, with anyone" has transformed daily life for many individuals with hearing impairments.

<Value>
YYSystem directly addresses multiple UN SDGs. By providing a free app with usage time limits, it contributes to narrowing the digital divide in healthcare and communication. The project's capability for integration into everyday infrastructure like railways and airports underscores its long-term societal value.