■ Sony University

Moving into April, the final presentations were held for each of the courses at Sony University for the 2021 fiscal year. First, on April 6th, representatives from the Emerging Leader and Senior Manager level courses presented their proposals for new businesses and initiatives that Sony should pursue. This provided the basis for vigorous debate involving the team members, and the participating business and headquarters management, including myself. At the CEO session for participants of the General Manager course, held on April 13th, leaders representing each of our businesses shared details of the initiatives they are implementing towards "getting closer to people," which was again followed by lively discussion, joined by the other course members. Gaining valuable insight into the many challenges everyone faces on the frontlines of our business, and receiving such forward-looking suggestions for the future, was an invigorating experience that also led me to new findings of my own.

These online sessions brought together Sony Group employees from around the world to exchange ideas and learn from each other. I hope to see the connections that we are able to create through such forums expand even further, and generate new value for the Sony Group.

Together with participants of the Sony University Global General Manager Course

■ Sony CSL Kyoto Laboratory

On April 12, I had the opportunity to visit the Kyoto Laboratory of Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL), which was established in April 2020, and aims to "contribute to the fulfillment of the human values."

With the Sony CSL team
(Front left: Sony CSL President and Sony Group Senior Executive Vice President & CTO, Hiroaki Kitano
Front right: Sony CSL Deputy Director and Kyoto Laboratory Director Jun Rekimoto)

Tatami-mat "Tea Room" equipped with multiple OLED displays to create a telepresence environment	Open-plan laboratory space. I received an explanation on research into the configuration and mechanical characteristics of structures

A number of very unique and thought-provoking initiatives were introduced to me during my visit. One example was a research project that brings together an immersive experience transmission system that uses wearable cameras capable of shooting from 360-degree angles and three-dimensional space measurement, with tea ceremony education. Others included AI that encourages learnings to be made from failures rather than successful experiences, and participatory community development based on civic leadership incorporating information and communication technology.

Kyoto is the location of Sony CSL's third laboratory, following Tokyo and Paris. These research bases are dispersed, drawing on the unique cultural characteristics and talented researchers within each region, while also cooperating with each other and moving forward together on common research themes. The power of decentralization has given us new flexibility, and I believe will lead to even greater diversity. As a result, I am confident that the world will become a more resilient and sustainable place.

■ Earth Day

The shift to decentralization is also an important factor we must consider in terms of our contribution to the Earth and our environment. Sony Semiconductor Solutions' new edge AI sensing platform service "AITRIOS" provides advanced sensing and processing functions on the distributed IoT device side, which reduces power consumption and data communication across the entire network, including on the cloud side. I mentioned Sony CSL's Open Energy System in a previous blog, and I believe the coexistence of a distributed microgrid* alongside existing large-scale power grid systems has the potential to extend the use of renewable energy and strengthen power supply chains.
* Distributed, autonomous, small-scale power systems that do not rely on large power plants for electricity supply.

On April 22, Earth Day, I shared a message stating that, "I feel we must remind ourselves of our shared existence on this single planet, from the perspective of 'The Planet Earth and Space,' and recognize that we must care for each other and our global environment." How can we use Sony's technologies to make even the smallest contribution to the Earth that we must protect? I would like to continue to explore this further with all of you.

As always, I look forward to receiving your feedback.