Activity Report
Eighth session of ICF Online Discussion: Menopause Crisis (June 24)
In recent years, menopausal symptoms have come to be recognized as impacting the lives of both women and men. The middle-aged demographic represents a significant portion of the population and plays a vital role in society. Therefore, the physical and mental changes experienced during this life stage are critical issues that must be addressed to maintain a healthy and vibrant society.
We welcomed Miyuki Tezuka and Tomomi Kobayashi from Calendrier Co., Ltd. -a company dedicated to addressing menopause-related challenges for both men and women- for an online discussion. They delivered an insightful presentation on the physical and mental changes, health risks, and effective coping strategies unique to each gender.
Details of the event report and the archived video will be made available on the ICF website at a later date.
Robotics Study Group #1: How Robots Will Change Future Working Styles (June 25)
The first event of the ICF Robotics Study Group was held on June 25. This study group adopts science fiction thinking* to envision the role of robots in agriculture and facility management in society 20 years from now. To achieve this, the group envisions future lifestyles, emerging values, and evolving relationships between people and technology in detail.
For this inaugural session, we welcomed Kengo Shibuya from DENTSU SOKEN INC., who has been involved in the research, development, and strategic planning of advanced technologies since 2009. He shared insights into the value of robot mobility and introduced the initiatives of the Remote Work Study Group, which seeks to enable location-independent work through robotics and related technologies. His presentation illustrated how remote work could be integrated across various industries and envisioned a vibrant, inclusive society where people do not feel isolated or lonely -regardless of location- through co-creation with robots.
During the Q&A session, participants showed strong interest in topics such as the impact of network latency on remote robot operation.
Please refer to the event report, which will be published soon on the ICF website, for more details.
*Science fiction thinking is a creative approach that leverages elements of science fiction -such as futuristic technologies, imagined societies, and alternative realities- to explore potential futures, spark innovation, and address complex challenges.
Societal Issues Discussion (Jun. 26, Jun. 27, Jul. 3, and Jul. 4)
ICF organized a series of discussion sessions on societal issues, based on the “Listings of Societal Issues 2025”, which was published in March.
Among the seven focus areas of the 2025 issue, sessions on DE&I and Education & Human Resource Development were held on June 26, followed by sessions on Energy & Environment and Mobility on June 27. Sessions on Food & Agriculture and Mobility were held on July 3, followed by a session on Wellness on July 4.
The session on Education and Human Resource Development featured lectures by two ICF member companies -HATAPRO, INC. and Acaric Co., Ltd.- who shared case studies on entrepreneurship education rooted in local communities and initiatives for leveraging PhD-level talent.
For the other six focus areas, participants engaged in group discussions following introductory presentations for each field. These discussions centered on business ideation aimed at addressing societal issues. The event concluded with lively networking, and many participants remarked that the discussions were highly meaningful. Building on the outcomes of these discussions, ICF plans to hold a follow-up session to further develop and refine the proposed ideas.
New content now available on YouTube Channels -Introducing the “Listings of Societal Issues 2025” by Mitsubishi Research Institute
We’ve released a one-minute introductory video on the “Listings of Societal Issues 2025” Feel free to take a look and share it with other members within your organization.
https://youtu.be/u3G8BKDMwew
(in Japanese)
“Listings of Societal Issues 2025”: Free download now available from the member site.
“Listings of Societal Issues 2025” is now available for download directly from the following members-only website.
https://icf.mri.co.jp/limited/research/research-23568/
ICF Quarterly Report (April to June 2025) released on July 11
ICF has released the Quarterly Report (April-June 2025).
From CCRC 1.0 to 2.0: Evolving from urban-to-rural senior migration to multigenerational mutual support communities
The concept of developing CCRC 2.0 (Continuing Care Relation Community*) was included in both the “Basic Policy 2025**” and the “Basic Concept for Regional Revitalization 2.0,” which were approved by the cabinet meeting last month. In response, ICF has published a report that outlines the vision of multigenerational communities envisioned under CCRC 2.0, showcases notable case studies, and presents ideas for their realization.
*The original concept of CCRC, or CCRC 1.0, refers to a Continuing Care Retirement Community.
**Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2025 -Toward a society in which everyone can feel that “tomorrow will be brighter than today.”
https://icf.mri.co.jp/information/information-23599/
(in Japanese)
Upcoming Activities
Ninth session of ICF Online Discussion: Exploring the Commercialization of Healthcare (July 29)
Japan’s population ageing continues to increase, and so do its medical and nursing care costs. Sustaining the public insurance system is becoming increasingly challenging. Extending healthy life expectancy, promoting preventive healthcare, and strengthening measures to address pre-disease stages are urgent societal issues.
In recent years, a growing number of companies from diverse industries have entered the healthcare market. The upcoming ICF Online Discussion will address questions like “What kinds of opportunities and barriers exist in this market? ” and “What kinds of outcomes should businesses aim to deliver? “. The event will examine case studies from the Mitsubishi Research Institute and feature a special talk by Tatsuro Amano and Tomoya Okado, President of the Healthcare Innovation Association, who will share insights on emerging industry trends and new business development in the healthcare sector.
Please refer to more details at
https://icf.mri.co.jp/activities/activities-23471/
Registration:
Online participation:
https://mri.smartseminar.jp/public/application/add/9456
(in Japanese)
Robotics Study Group #2: A Future Society Envisioned by Technology Pioneers (July 30 and 31)
The ICF Robotics Study Group will hold its second event over two days, on July 30-31, showcasing a future society as envisioned by university-based startups and other innovators.
The first day of the event will focus on agriculture. Hiroaki Kuwahara from Toyohashi City Hall and Teruyuki Kobayashi from Kisui Co. Ltd. will discuss the potential of robotics as a solution to labor shortages in the agricultural sector.
The second day will focus on facility management. Yoshiyasu Ando from iROBOTICS, Inc. and Shuichi Ishida from TriOrb Inc. will present on the use of robots in facility management, including cleaning and inspection applications.
Please refer to more details at
https://icf.mri.co.jp/activities/activities-23478/
Registration:
Online participation:
https://mri.smartseminar.jp/public/application/add/9488
(in Japanese)
ICF Interim Meeting 2025 (September 17)
The ICF Interim Meeting 2025 will be held on September 17 at Mitsubishi Research Institute Headquarters and online. Along with a report on our activities from the first half of the fiscal year and plans for the second half, the event will also feature pitches by newly joined members.
Details of the event will be announced later.
New ICF Members
From June 13 to July 10, 4 companies/organizations joined ICF.
《Current list of ICF members》
https://icf.mri.co.jp/member/
(in Japanese)