Toward the Natural Society and Beyond with the Japanese company
"FUTURE EDGE PreTALK" for EXPO 2025
Opening the Future from OMRON to the World:
The Social Implementation of the “SINIC Theory”
— Toward the Natural Society and Beyond
OMRON, a leading Japanese company envisioning a future of “Automation that Empowers People”—driven by its core technologies and open innovation—will host “Shaping 2050: Natural, Autonomous & Self-Sustaining Society – A Harmonized Society with Nature, Technology, and People” on October 10, 2025, in Osaka, Japan, as part of the EXPO 2025.
* Official page
https://www.omron.com/expo2025/en/
I will be joining this event as a speaker.
In the lead-up to the event, I would like to share part of a planning dialogue, “FUTURE EDGE PreTALK,” held recently at OMRON’s Founders’ Memorial Hall in Kyoto. From the perspective of being a “Good Ancestor”—living the present with long-term thinking—diverse insights emerged around technology, Buddhism, art, and more.
Please take a look at the video here.
FUTURE EDGE PreTALK
- Participants -
Shinichi Nakama (Executive Fellow, Human Renaissance Institute)
Masaki Suwa (President & CEO, OMRON SINICX Corporation)
Shoukei Matsumoto
<Keywords>
“The nature of science itself may change.” — Shoukei
“The starting gun for designing future society.” — Nakama
“The keyword is control — technology must mirror nature’s control.” — Suwa
“Humans inevitably create dramas of joy and sorrow. With these troublesome, complicated traits, we nevertheless must move forward.” — Shoukei
Half a century since the announcement of the SINIC Theory
The “Natural Society” liberated from control—and beyond
Nakama:
Today, as this is a planning meeting for the Expo Theme Week, the three of us have gathered here. Since its founding, OMRON has always sought to anticipate the needs of future society and turn them into business. At the time of the previous Osaka Expo in 1970, we presented a future prediction theory called the “SINIC Theory” at the International Future Conference. Now, 55 years later, I think it would be wonderful if this event could become a place where we can discuss: what will happen after the “Natural Society” described in the SINIC Theory?
* SINIC: Seed-Innovation and Need-Impetus Cyclic Evolution
https://www.omron.com/global/en/about/corporate/vision/sinic/theory.html
Suwa:
I believe the keyword is indeed control. Nature is not without control—it actually exercises very sophisticated control. For example, the fact that Earth maintains an average temperature of about 15°C under the influence of the sun is thanks to greenhouse gases; without them, Earth would be at minus 20°C.
At present, in terms of control, we are able to control artificial objects, and within today’s IoT society, centralized and top-down control has begun to dominate. In the “Natural Society” of the SINIC Theory, technology too must come to resemble the way nature controls itself.
That is what is meant by “liberation from control” in the title of this event. For example, when you get sick, you go to the hospital. Going to the hospital is, in a sense, centralized—you go and receive top-down treatment. But in the future, with OMRON’s healthcare devices and data business, it will be possible to predict: “You are likely to have a stroke.” At that point, you can improve your diet, exercise, or take medication to avoid getting sick. In other words, you won’t need to go to the hospital. This is precisely decentralized, self-organizing control.
The same applies to electricity. Instead of a world where power is generated at a power plant and carefully delivered, you use energy generated by your own electric vehicle or solar panels. This too is decentralized, self-organizing control.
Nakama:
Self-organizing manufacturing—that is truly remarkable.
Paradigm Shifts Opened by Eastern Thought and Buddhism
Shoukei:
Recently, I often come across the term “Post-Anthropocene.”
It refers to an era in which human activity has come to exert an excessive impact on nature. The question is: how do we overcome it? Until now, “humanity” has been regarded in Western society as something good. Human prosperity—that is important, of course. But if we only keep our eyes fixed on humanity, I think it may not be possible.
Think about films: there are human dramas, family stories, love stories, and war films. Humans are beings who inevitably create drama, filled with both joy and sorrow. With these troublesome, complicated traits, we nevertheless must move forward.
In Buddhism, that path is expressed by the concept of Jou-Butsu (成仏)—literally, “Becoming Buddha.” We humans, while carrying such traits, are on the path of becoming Buddha. I believe there is an important hint for us here.
The Synergy of Diverse Co-creators in Future Creation
Nakama:
At the event itself, we will have some remarkable participants. One is Audrey Tang.
Shoukei:
Audrey is not only a thinker, but also someone who considers deeply how to truly bring those ideas into society and implement them. She also takes action, which I think is wonderful.
Nakama:
We will also be joined by computer scientist Yoshitaka Ushiku.
Suwa:
For the first time in human history, we are facing intelligence that is not human. From the perspective of how we should relate to it, I would like to share various thoughts.
Nakama:
Shoukei, how do you view scientists?
Shoukei:
Until now, even when science emphasized objectivity and reproducibility, the human perspective was still dominant. I think perhaps even the very nature of “science” itself is beginning to change.
Nakama:
Another participant is media artist Etsuko Ichihara. Between the SINIC theory so far and what comes next, I think there are significant discontinuities. Reason alone does not easily bring about change. Within the scenario of reason, art has the power to break through.
At the 1970 Expo, architect Kenzo Tange cut a hole in the great roof of the Festival Plaza so that artist Taro Okamoto’s Tower of the Sun could pierce through. It is something like that.
* Expo ’70 Commemorative Park HP
https://www.expo70-park.jp/languages/english/expo70/
Suwa:
Crossing beyond what we just mentioned as “discontinuity” is crazy. “Crazy” is the very point that allows us to transcend it. If you introduce “crazy” into society, it can become dangerous. But art can give it expression. I often tell Etsuko Ichihara, “You manage to stop just short of madness.” Yet, once you move beyond discontinuity, it is no longer “crazy.”
From “Imagination” to “Creation”
Shoukei:
Coming here to the OMRON Founders’ Memorial Hall, I finally thought, “I see.” The SINIC Theory was created by OMRON’s founder, Kazuma Tateishi, and others. A futurist does not merely predict the future; having looked ahead, they also consider how to start businesses and build society in alignment with that vision. That is the part I want to support more seriously. I truly feel that implementation is crucial.
Nakama:
This event is not meant to be just a beautiful, spectacular fireworks display. Rather, I see it as the firing of the starting gun for designing future society. Behind us stands the statue of Kazuma Tateishi, watching over us all this time.
Shoukei:
As if to say, “What on earth are you talking about?”
Nakama:
Exactly. Under the gaze of the original futurist, we can say that three futurists have been born out of this planning meeting. From here, let us increase the number of futurists and aim toward real implementation.
Shoukei:
Yes—so that we won’t be scolded.