Welcome back! The last stretch of the conference is here and the days and nights are blending together into one long continuous blur.
Our round table has chosen to focus on the intersections between the music industry, Japan-US relations, and technology. In particular, I’m researching how Spotify’s recommendation system introduces users to music outside their preferred genre or country.
We are now in DC and just went to ARTECHOUSE, a digital art experience similar to teamLabs in Tokyo. The current exhibition is Isekai (異世界) which means other world or parallel universe – a manga/anime trope. The immersive art demonstrated how technology and art can co-exist and augment each other. The exhibits included an immersive projection room flying through fantasy worlds and a place to chat with an AI avatar with its own life story and background.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention August 15th. August 15th, 1945 was the day Japan surrendered to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Not only was it my 21st birthday and the 90th anniversary of the first JASC, but it was also the 21st birthday of my friend Shimons (Takahito Shimoonoda) – a Japanese delegate in my roundtable who, like me, is interested in AI and finance! For the 90th anniversary, there was a reception, dinner, speeches, and networking between JASC alums, donors, and current members. These coincidences further strengthen my personal connections to the US-Japan relationship.