how can fukuoka become the next silicon valley
TRANSCRIPT
How can Fukuoka become the next Silicon Valley
Shunichi AraiCTO, Founder at Mogura Inc.
Blogger, Founder at Asiajin.com
Shunichi Arai
• Entrepreneur–Developing a contact
management software as a service.
• Blogger–Asiajin.com –
the best English blog on Japanese IT
(cc-by) Shintaro Kakutani
Kyushu Ruby Kaigi Conference
Tech Communities in Fukuoka
• Ruby Business Commons• Fukuoka Ruby Forum• Rubyist Kyushu• PHP in Fukuoka• Java Community Kyushu• Fukuoka.pm• Fukuoka Web Workers• Codecheck.in
• Satoken (Website Management Study Group)
• Fukuoka Terako(Adobe Flash technology)
• Tenjin.web• Etc…
Number of Public Internet Companies
Fukuoka
Sapporo
Kansai
Tokyo
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
1
2
6
69
出典:ネット株価情報 (netindex.jp)
Number of Patents Registered
Fukuoka
Kyoto
Osaka
Tokyo
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000
1015
3732
19930
78552
出典:特許庁 特許行政年次報告書 2009 年版
Per Capita Personal Income (2006)
Fukuoka
Kyoto
Osaka
Tokyo
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
2665
2976
3083
4820
JPY (1000 円 )
出典:内閣府 経済社会総合研究所 平成 18 年度県民経済計算
Number of Welfare Recipients
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 0
200 000
400 000
600 000
800 000
1 000 000
1 200 000
1 400 000
1 600 000
Creative Center and Innovation
• Innovation is the source of wealth.
• Florida says that innovation occurs at creative centers by creative people.
• The most important thing is to attract creative people to the city.
3T are the key factors of creativity city
• Technology• Talents• Tolerance–Gay index, Diversity index, and
Bohemian index–Life style matters
Lifestyle factor of Fukuoka city
• Small Gay area in Sumiyoshi area• Nightclubs in Oyafuko area• Bicycle friendly city• Cultural center like NPO
Tiempo Ibero Americano• Fukuoka Now!
I live in Fukuoka, because
• I love Daimyo• Very good Salsa dancing scene• Can take social leadership and
opportunities• However,
more intellectual events needed
Talents
Tokyo
ConservativeInfrastructureCompanies
Paul Graham said
“Great cities attract ambitious people. You can sense it when you walk around one. In a hundred subtle ways, the city sends you a message: you could do more; you should try harder.”
Messages
• New York = you should make more money• Boston = you should be smarter• Silicon Valley = you should be more powerful.– What matters in Silicon Valley is how much effect
you have on the world.• Fukuoka?– You should be relaxed. Enjoy your life. Take it easy.
Fukuoka People
• Less ambitious people• Less fear for future• Tokyo people want to have two skills–Such as
IT+English, Finance+English, Sales+IT• Fukuoka people satisfy with only one–No company to use many skills
Diversity
Fukuoka
Kyoto
Osaka
Tokyo
0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 350000 400000
Number of Foreigners
出典: 法務省入国管理局 平成19年末外国人登録者数
Mixi
Batara Eto
Conclusion
• We should attract more talents–Diversity and job opportunities are key
• We should invest to education, R&D, cultures and entrepreneurs.–Universities should be in city center
• We should change people’s mind