Imagined Futures in Japan and Beyond

The future begins with imagination. One example for this are the Sci-Fi prototyping initiatives of Japanese tech giants like Sony and NTT, which purposefully utilize storytelling for fostering public acceptance of emerging technologies. Focusing on this connection between narratives, culture, technological innovation, and marketing, the DIJ, in collaboration with the DWIH Tokyo, is hosting an interdisciplinary workshop delving into both fictional and non-fictional portrayals of Japan’s technological future. Our keynote speakers, Fritz Breithaupt (Indiana University Bloomington) and Ōsawa Hirotaka (Keiō University), numerous scholars, as well as practitioners from Japan’s tech industry, will join us to analyze visions of emerging technologies, of their environmental and societal impact, and of Japan as a “futuristic” nation – through the lens of “narrative” and “sociotechnical imaginary” theoretical frameworks.