Small Japanese towns look to lead world in smart-city tech

Residents control data to allay privacy concerns troubling US and China projects

Major Japanese companies are contributing to the development of smart cities in Japan, like this project in the city of Susono in Shizuoka Prefecture, seen here in an artist's rendering.

EIKI HAYASHI, Nikkei staff writer

September 6, 2020 16:39 JST

TOKYO -- Japan's regional cities are taking a new approach to smart cities, which use digital technology to improve functionality and livability.

In the U.S. and China, which lead the field, people's distrust of having personal information collected en masse is an obstacle to expanding smart cities. On the other hand, Japan is finding success in taking the opposite tack and making the provision of personal information optional.