Creative Technology in Japan: A Foresight Lab Policy Snapshot

The CoSTAR Foresight Lab has published the second in its ongoing series of Creative Technology Policy Snapshots, following the first report on India earlier this year.

Creative Technology in Japan examines how Japan’s government is shaping the future of creative innovation through integrated approaches to culture, science, and technology. The report explores national frameworks such as the 'New Cool Japan Strategy', 'Society 5.0', and the 'AI Promotion Act 2025', showing how cultural policy and technological ambition intersect to drive competitiveness, digital transformation, and human-centred AI.

The study highlights Japan’s global leadership in gaming, animation, and immersive media, as well as its evolving policy focus on emerging technologies including AI, Web3, and extended reality. By analysing the relationship between creative content industries and national R&D priorities, the snapshot provides insights into how Japan is aligning industrial policy, innovation systems, and international collaboration.

This publication forms part of the Foresight Lab’s international research programme mapping creative-technology policy across key global territories.