Protecting Social Infrastructure through Games: The Frontline of Power and Local Government DX｜WebX2026

Protecting Social Infrastructure through Games: The Frontline of Power and Local Government DX

In Japan, where population decline and an aging society are progressing, securing personnel to manage power infrastructure and local government operations has become a serious issue. At the Limitless stage of WebX2026, speakers included Mineji Oishi, Vice President of Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Jun Oizumi, Mayor of Hakodate, Shuichiro Yoshida, Director of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Kazuki Kitou, CEO of Growth Ring Grid, which develops the game app "Pictore." They discussed attempts to solve the shortage of infrastructure personnel through the power of Web3 and entertainment, as well as the potential for global expansion.

Worsening Shortage of Infrastructure Personnel

Across Japan, the "bearers" of power infrastructure and local government operations are rapidly diminishing. The speakers candidly expressed the seriousness of the issue from their respective positions.

Mineji Oishi
The facilities we manage include 6 million utility poles and approximately 400,000 kilometers of power lines. We need to patrol, inspect, and repair these, but as the number of construction personnel decreases nationwide, I feel it will be very difficult to continue relying solely on our own resources in the future.

Jun Oizumi
Hakodate City currently has a population of 230,000, decreasing by 4,000 people each year. Consequently, the number of staff has also decreased to about 80% of what it was ten years ago. This is not just a numerical issue; we are on the brink of an era where we can no longer work with truly skilled individuals.

Shuichiro Yoshida
Population decline is occurring everywhere in Japan and will continue in the future. This is not a problem that can be solved by a single business or local government, and I feel this acutely from the national perspective. That is why I am constantly thinking about how to connect the power of Web3 to solving the shortage of personnel in the infrastructure sector.

The Mechanism of "Pictore" Protecting Utility Poles through Games

A common solution mentioned by the speakers to address the shortage of personnel is the game app "Pictore," operated by Growth Ring Grid, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Grid and DEA.

Kazuki Kitou
In this app, users can take pictures of utility poles and earn points, and by connecting the poles, they can play games. It is an app that allows users to enjoy games while also contributing to cost reduction. Thanks to this, we have received about 150,000 downloads, and the total number of photos taken has exceeded 3 million. We are expanding the target assets to include not only utility poles but also inspections of convex mirrors.

Mineji Oishi
Utility poles are not only along roads but also in narrow alleys where cars cannot enter. Therefore, it is difficult to capture images uniformly with vehicle-mounted cameras, and we need people nearby to see them. The mechanism of Pictore, which allows citizens in the city to participate, is extremely helpful. Moreover, I believe it is important to share the sense that we are "protecting the city's infrastructure together" rather than just asking for help unilaterally.

The Enthusiasm and Economic Effects Generated by Citizen Participation

In 2025, an event called "Pictore City Battle in Hokkaido" will be held in Hakodate. The response from citizens exceeded the expectations of those involved.

Jun Oizumi
I participated on the first day, and I felt it was a historic moment. Many citizens participated, taking photos, and there were families with children and grandchildren, all smiling. There was an atmosphere of immersion in the game's world, and incredible experts emerged and became stars. I was amazed that the collective actions of small individuals are solving social issues.

Kazuki Kitou
To speak more practically, there are users who have earned over 1 million yen through Pictore in two years. There are also economic benefits, and we have been featured in the media. Blockchain is merely a means. When we launched Pictore, there were no questions like "What is a chain?" or "What is a layer?" This is the way it should be and the direction we should aim for.

From a Problematic Advanced Country to the World

The discussions did not stop at solving domestic issues but expanded to a global perspective. As pointed out by Oishi, the challenges of declining birth rates and aging infrastructure that Japan is experiencing will sooner or later be faced by Southeast Asian countries as well.

Mineji Oishi
When I talk to stakeholders in Southeast Asia, I often hear a desire for "proven solutions." What has been applied and yielded results in Japan is easier for them to adopt. We are currently in the process of creating results, and I believe that what we are doing can be directly applied to Southeast Asian countries.

Shuichiro Yoshida
When I was stationed in Thailand, I promoted Japanese energy-saving technology and said, "It can pay off in 7-8 years," but the Thai government officials replied, "Thai people cannot wait 7-8 years; at most 2-3 years." While this may be a natural perspective for Japanese people, I believe that being aware of such cultural differences and arranging things in a way that suits each region is key to dissemination. I feel that Pictore, which has proven results in Japan, would match very well with countries like Thailand.

Kazuki Kitou
We are currently in the midst of trying to expand in Thailand. This is a solution that can be applied to any country with aging structures, and we are also planting seeds in America and Europe, continuing until something sprouts somewhere. Japanese entertainment is still one of the few weapons we can be proud of in the world. I sincerely want to send that from Japan to the world.

Jun Oizumi
My slogan is "Bringing the World to Hakodate, and Hakodate to the World." Not only tourism but also using Hakodate as a testing ground for solving issues, allowing global players to utilize it, and expanding what is born there to the world. Pictore is precisely that.

Session Summary

At the conclusion of the session, each speaker shared their vision. Vice President Oishi stated, "Until now, we have been responsible for stable supply with a self-reliant approach, but in the future, we will change to a form of protecting and building infrastructure together with consumers and local communities. I want to aim for such a world." Mayor Oizumi remarked, "The collective actions of individuals taking photos are protecting the infrastructure. This is a unique strength of the Japanese people," emphasizing the value of pride that arises from the involvement of all citizens. Director Yoshida concluded, "If we can combine the strengths unique to Web3 technology with the goodness of being Japanese and take it overseas, I believe it will become a technology that is very proud for the Japanese government. I want to continue to assist with that." Kazuki Kitou strongly declared, "Democratizing infrastructure is the future I aim for. I truly believe we can create a world where citizens protect the things in the cities they live in. From Japan, and to the world," and concluded the session.