Kanemaru: It all started with a simple request from our division manager: "Think about what ship bridges will look like in 2050." But this wasn't just about designing bridges—it evolved into the fundamental question: "What will society actually be like in 2050?"

The first Future Technology Design Committee meeting was held in 2022. Ten young engineers gathered from various departments—Research, Marine Electronics, System Equipment, and others. At that time, we focused on envisioning a grand-scale future, which led to concepts like "living on the ocean" and "sustainable marine cities." We worked with designers, not just engineers, to visualize these future visions.

Kanemaru: When engineers envision the future, we tend to get stuck in specialized perspectives, so we needed a format that makes it easier to share ideas across departments.

Also, I wanted to create a space where everyone could get excited thinking together about "Wouldn't it be amazing if our company was like this in 2050!" If the next generation of leaders continues this kind of activity, I think everyone—from technology development to sales—can move forward in the same direction.

Nagaoka: I joined from the second meeting onward. The second meeting focused more specifically on "the world of 2035," organizing the technologies needed to realize our 2050 future.

For example, we discussed themes like "If fully autonomous ships become normal by 2050, what level should we reach by 2035?" and "How will energy supply work in marine cities?" These naturally led to conversations about renewable energy being crucial and AI and sensor technology being key drivers.

Kanemaru: The first meeting was all about "freely imagining an exciting future." The second meeting had a stronger focus on "What should we do now to reach that future?"—a more practical perspective.

Nagaoka: Exactly. We drew our ideal 2050 vision first, then worked backward asking "Where should we be by 2035?" By envisioning a nearer future, we could better connect to actual technology roadmaps.

We also discussed changes in social values and lifestyles required for 2050. It was great that we could discuss not just technology, but society-wide changes—like renewable energy adoption for climate change and AI-powered autonomous ship systems.

Nagaoka: Engineers naturally tend toward realistic thinking. But for envisioning the future, that's not enough, so I deliberately encouraged "wild, out-of-the-box thinking." For example, ideas like using sound waves that fish dislike instead of nets for aquaculture, or using underwater drones to guide fish—these sound completely crazy when you think normally. But new technology seeds are born from exactly this kind of thinking.

Also, future marine cities will constantly face wave impacts, so we discussed how to reduce motion sickness. Someone even suggested "putting stones in people's ears to adjust the semicircular canal effects." By combining technology and ideas like this, new future visions kept expanding—it was fascinating.

Kanemaru: Actually, several ideas from the Future Technology Design Committee are already leading to collaborations with external partners. For example, blue carbon (marine environment restoration) research is progressing, and we're receiving collaboration requests to solve harbor sludge problems.

Furthermore, it's influencing our technology roadmaps, making new technology development directions increasingly clear. Ideas from the Future Technology Design Committee have become a common language across the entire company, and we're seeing more cases where they connect to new projects.

Nagaoka: This goes beyond just research and development—it's showing direction for the entire company. Several ideas considered by the committee are actually being referenced for project launches.

Particularly, marine city concepts and aquaculture systems using underwater drones connect easily to actual technology development, and we're already exploring their practical implementation possibilities.

Kanemaru: Thinking about the future doesn't just clarify technology direction—it boosts internal motivation. When you feel "our technology might change the future," it changes how you approach daily work.

Nagaoka: Absolutely. Plus, it generates ideas that wouldn't emerge from traditional technology development. Through the Future Technology Design Committee, I've experienced firsthand how engineers freely sharing ideas rapidly expands new possibilities.