Japanese AI: A Human-Centered Alternative Model

As artificial intelligence experiences a global explosion in its uses and advances, Japan presents a unique trajectory, at the crossroads of technological tradition, cultural imaginations, and the industrial dynamics specific to its ecosystem.

In a global landscape dominated by American (OpenAI, Google DeepMind) and Chinese (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent) models, "Japanese AI" does not aspire to supremacy but embodies an alternative, often hybrid, model where humans remain at the center.

Japanese AI: A Specific Technocultural Construct

A deeply rooted technophile culture

Since the 1980s, with projects such as the Fifth Generation Computer Systems (FGCS), Japan has sought to develop symbolic computing focused on logical reasoning and natural language understanding. Although the project was abandoned, it has structured a research culture geared toward useful AI, integrated into society.

A unique anthropomorphic imagination

Japanese representations of AI are shaped by manga, video games, and robotics: from Astro Boy to AIBO, including SoftBank humanoids like Pepper and NAO, Japan sees AI not just as a tool, but as a life partner, potentially endowed with emotions and intentions.

This more emotional and social relationship with the machine directly influences the development of conversational or robotic AI in Japan, which prioritizes empathy, relationships and harmonious coexistence.

State of the Art of AI in Japan: Research, Industry, and Strategies

A relative delay in foundation models

Japan currently lacks foundational models (LLM, diffusion, RLHF) that are on par with GPT or Gemini. However, national projects have emerged to fill this gap, such as ABCI (AI Bridging Cloud Infrastructure), a supercomputer set up by the NII (National Institute of Informatics) dedicated to the development of open-source AI models.

Companies like PFN (Preferred Networks) and NTT are investing in models adapted to Asian languages and specific industrial needs (image analysis, failure prediction, molecular simulation, etc.).

Applied AI: The Heart of Japan's Strategy

Rather than competing head-on with deep learning giants, Japan is focusing on the intelligent integration of AI in the following areas:

• Medicine and aging: MRI analysis, disease prediction, robotic companions for seniors.

• Industry 4.0: predictive maintenance, automated quality, AI embedded in production lines.

• Language and translation: tools specific to the linguistic complexity of Japanese (morphology, politeness, ambiguity, etc.).

• Mobility and social robotics: AI integrated into service robots, vehicles or empathetic interfaces.

This bottom-up approach, based on the needs of society, recalls the Japanese philosophy of monozukuri: doing with care, with a view to harmony.

The role of the State and public policies

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Cabinet Office have placed AI at the heart of the “Society 5.0” strategy, aiming to create a society where advanced technologies solve social problems.

This vision is less focused on productivity than on well-being: support for rural areas, improvement of the quality of life, inclusion of the elderly or disabled.

Characteristics of Japanese AIs

Dimension	Japanese specificities
Relationship with humans	Emphasis on cohabitation, assistance, emotional interaction
Purpose	Less conquest or competition, more social support
Ethics	Implicitly integrated through cultural values (harmony, respect) rather than through charters
Interface	Frequent anthropomorphism (voice, face, gestures)
Language	Japanese language processing is prioritized, but still not very efficient for subtleties
Technology	Embedded AI, soft robotics, analog/digital hybridization

Generative AI in Japan: Slow Adoption but Solid Prospects

Cautious adoption of generative AI

Unlike in the United States, adoption of ChatGPT, Midjourney, and other generative tools has been slower in Japan. This is due to several factors:

• Institutional distrust (data security, culture of secrecy)

• Language barrier for prompts

• Lack of national champions in the field

However, many players are now exploring the generation of content in Japanese, for translation, automated writing, animation or voice synthesis.

Emerging projects and localization

Initiatives such as:

• ELYZA: start-up specializing in Japanese LLMs

• Rinna: a spin-off from Microsoft Japan, which develops generative AI with emotional focus

• Hajime AI: Conversational AI integrated into VTuber avatars

…show growing interest in localized, i.e. culturally adapted, generative AI in Japanese natural language, and integrable into social or mobile interfaces.

Critical issues and challenges for the future

Technological sovereignty and independence

Japan remains dependent on foreign cloud infrastructure (AWS, Google Cloud) to train its models, raising questions about sovereignty. Support for national clouds (ABCI, Fugaku) is one solution, but remains limited in power compared to NVIDIA or OpenAI.

AI talent shortage

Despite its top-tier universities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Tohoku), the country lacks data scientists and AI experts. Training initiatives are underway, but global competition makes retention difficult.

Ethics and legal framework

Japan is still in the exploratory phase regarding ethical and legal frameworks for AI. It is taking inspiration from the GDPR but is seeking to maintain the flexibility needed for innovation, particularly in robotics.

Conclusion: AI with a human face

Japan is developing an AI that runs counter to the dominant models: less spectacular but more integrated, less universal but more contextual, less aggressive but more empathetic. This Japanese path to artificial intelligence—which we might call "relational AI"—opens up valuable space for reflection on the global future of AI: how to create systems that are not only powerful, but also acceptable, sustainable, and socially desirable.