■ STEF 2021

The Sony Technology Exchange Fair (STEF) 2021 was held for three days starting from December 1. STEF is an event that has been held every year since 1973 to promote technology exchange within the Sony Group. Continuing from last year, the theme for the 49th year of this event was "Technology that inspires emotion." While last year's event was held completely online, this year it was held as a hybrid of in-person and online exhibitions, and I was able to visit the booths at the exhibition hall in Sony headquarters. In total, there were 161 exhibits, 40 of which were from overseas Group companies. I am greatly encouraged to see the number of participants from our many diverse businesses continuing to increase each year, and that STEF itself is becoming a "meeting place" that leads to collaboration.

Ultra-wide angle AR display for enhanced immersion

Telexistence technology with minimalistic robot

Applied technology development using SPAD depth sensors

■ Sony Technology Day

The following week, Sony Technology Day was held online, this time showcasing Sony's technology to those outside the company. This is an event where we introduce the technologies that connect and support the evolution of the Sony Group's diverse businesses, primarily to investors, analysts and the media. Based on the same theme as STEF, we introduced the latest Sony technologies in three sessions: "Fusion of the physical and virtual worlds," "Pursuit of reality," and "Contribution to people, society and the earth."

Through these two technology events in early December, I was able to gain a renewed sense of the continuing evolution of Sony's technologies, and the many ways in which they are supporting our ability to deliver Kando to users.

■ Yuru Musical Instruments

Among my experiences of these latest technologies, there was one initiative that caught my eye from a slightly different perspective, and that was "Yuru Musical Instruments" by the World Yuru Music Association. One such instrument is the "Ultra-Light Saxophone," which converts humming into saxophone-like sounds and allows anyone to feel like a real saxophone player. Equipped with Sony Semiconductor Solutions' low-power microcontroller SPRESENSE™, it can be powered by batteries and features a range of audio signal processing capabilities.
* Yuru is a Japanese word meaning "loose" in English.

I found this project, which captures the latent human desire to create, invent, and perform, and turns it into a casual and playful experience, to be fascinating.

Children performing an impromptu Christmas concert with Yuru musical instruments in 2020

■ Reflecting on 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact how we live and work. I would like to again express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, for adapting to the many challenges we have faced, and working together so that we can continue to create new value. Let's move forward together again in 2022 with our shared Purpose to "fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology." I wish you and your families and safe and peaceful year-end and new year's season.

As always, I look forward to receiving your feedback.