How can Fukuoka become the next Silicon Valley

Shunichi AraiCTO, Founder at Mogura Inc.

Blogger, Founder at Asiajin.com

Shunichi Arai

• Entrepreneur–Developing a contact

management software as a service.

• Blogger–Asiajin.com –

the best English blog on Japanese IT

(cc-by) Shintaro Kakutani

Kyushu Ruby Kaigi Conference

Tech Communities in Fukuoka

• Ruby Business Commons• Fukuoka Ruby Forum• Rubyist Kyushu• PHP in Fukuoka• Java Community Kyushu• Fukuoka.pm• Fukuoka Web Workers• Codecheck.in

• Satoken (Website Management Study Group)

• Fukuoka Terako(Adobe Flash technology)

• Tenjin.web• Etc…

Number of Public Internet Companies

Fukuoka

Sapporo

Kansai

Tokyo

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

1

2

6

69

出典：ネット株価情報 (netindex.jp)

Number of Patents Registered

Fukuoka

Kyoto

Osaka

Tokyo

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000

1015

3732

19930

78552

出典：特許庁 特許行政年次報告書 2009 年版

Per Capita Personal Income (2006)

Fukuoka

Kyoto

Osaka

Tokyo

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

2665

2976

3083

4820

JPY (1000 円 )

出典：内閣府 経済社会総合研究所 平成 18 年度県民経済計算

Number of Welfare Recipients

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 0

200 000

400 000

600 000

800 000

1 000 000

1 200 000

1 400 000

1 600 000

Creative Center and Innovation

• Innovation is the source of wealth.

• Florida says that innovation occurs at creative centers by creative people.

• The most important thing is to attract creative people to the city.

3T are the key factors of creativity city

• Technology• Talents• Tolerance–Gay index, Diversity index, and

Bohemian index–Life style matters

Lifestyle factor of Fukuoka city

• Small Gay area in Sumiyoshi area• Nightclubs in Oyafuko area• Bicycle friendly city• Cultural center like NPO

Tiempo Ibero Americano• Fukuoka Now!

I live in Fukuoka, because

• I love Daimyo• Very good Salsa dancing scene• Can take social leadership and

opportunities• However,

more intellectual events needed

Talents

Tokyo

ConservativeInfrastructureCompanies

Paul Graham said

“Great cities attract ambitious people. You can sense it when you walk around one. In a hundred subtle ways, the city sends you a message: you could do more; you should try harder.”

Messages

• New York = you should make more money• Boston = you should be smarter• Silicon Valley = you should be more powerful.– What matters in Silicon Valley is how much effect

you have on the world.• Fukuoka?– You should be relaxed. Enjoy your life. Take it easy.

Fukuoka People

• Less ambitious people• Less fear for future• Tokyo people want to have two skills–Such as

IT+English, Finance+English, Sales+IT• Fukuoka people satisfy with only one–No company to use many skills

Diversity

Fukuoka

Kyoto

Osaka

Tokyo

0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 350000 400000

Number of Foreigners

出典： 法務省入国管理局 平成１９年末外国人登録者数

Mixi

Batara Eto

Conclusion

• We should attract more talents–Diversity and job opportunities are key

• We should invest to education, R&D, cultures and entrepreneurs.–Universities should be in city center

• We should change people’s mind