As a part of the program at "Niko Niko Cho Kaigi" at Makuhari Messe on Saturday, April 28, 2012, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is holding a "Cool Japan Strategy Conference" focusing on how Japan can convey Cool Japan to the world using social media, in which speakers and public participants have discussions interactively. This is an innovative attempt as an official event in which Internet users participate.

This "Niko Niko Cho Kaigi" (a huge conference using the Niko Niko Douga website) is a mega-event in which content in the Niko Niko Douga video community website, with its more than 26 million members, will be reproduced in the real world.

METI is holding a "Cool Japan Strategy Conference" focusing on how Japan can convey Cool Japan to the world using social media while talking with participants through the "Niko Niko Cho Kaigi"

In this conference, speakers will provide topics and have a two-way exchange with participants made possible by the participants making comments and casting votes, which is expected to make the conference open and active, and provide the participants with the feeling that they are involved.

METI also hopes that this new attempt will lead many participants to discover ideas on new ways to expand the "Cool Japan" policy abroad through active discussions.

Date: Saturday, April 28, 15:30−16:15
Note: Niko Niko Cho Kaigi will be held throughout Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29.

Venue: Conference Booth, Exhibition Hall, Makuhari Messe (Niko Niko Genron Colosseum: Stage)
Note: Participants need to buy a ticket to enter the "Niko Niko Cho Kaigi" booth: Advance ticket ¥1,000, Same-day ticket ¥1,500

Organizer (co-organizer): METI and Dwango Co., Ltd.

Available number of participants: About 150 (public participants; seats are available.)

Please refer to the website for more information and how to apply:
http://www.chokaigi.jp/

Yukio Edano, METI Minister (pending)
Yoshiko Ikoma, Journalist
Toshiyuki Inoko, President, Team Lab Inc.
Go Sato, Writer, Producer
Danny Choo, Producer, Culture: Japan
Daisuke Tsuda (Chair), Journalist
Nobuo Kawakami, Chairman, Dwango Co., Ltd

April 20, 2012

Creative Industries Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau