午夜剧场

A year and a half ago, I founded WAmazing to develop services for the increasing number of international visitors to Japan.

WAmazing solves the problem of international travelers being unable to use the internet in Japan by distributing free SIM cards at international airports. While the development of free Wi-Fi spots is progressing ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, it is by no means sufficient. With a SIM card, travelers can access a mobile internet environment just like Japanese people, which is extremely convenient.

Since starting the service at Narita International Airport in February 2017, we expanded to 15 international airports across Japan in about a year, making it possible to reach approximately 80% of all international travelers immediately upon entry. To obtain a free WAmazing SIM card at the airport, travelers must install the WAmazing app on their smartphones while still in their home countries. The SIM cards have limits on the number of days and data capacity, but additional data can be purchased through the app.

Because we sell data capacity to consumers, we are a telecommunications provider, but our core business is a "travel business" that connects travelers with tourism resources in every corner of Japan through the app. Users can book ryokans, hotels, activities, and tours via the app, and we earn commissions from businesses based on the customers we send them.

WAmazing's vision is "Enjoying all of Japan to the fullest, for an Amazing life." We want the growing number of international travelers to discover and enjoy the charms of Japan, not only in urban areas but also in regional areas. If this is realized, it will create interaction and vitality in local regions, leading to high economic ripple effects. The inbound tourism market is a growth industry that the government aims to reach 60 million visitors and 15 trillion yen in spending by 2030, continuing to grow even after the Olympics. WAmazing aims to contribute to Japan's status as a tourism-oriented nation by becoming a travel agent in the palm of the hand, where booking, arrangements, and payments are completed within the app for travelers visiting Japan with smartphones.

A model that combines telecommunications, payments, and travel is difficult to fit into existing frameworks. Twenty years after graduating, I believe that studying cross-disciplinary fields at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies and gaining an omnivorous curiosity and comprehensive strength is one of my current driving forces.

**Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.