The University of Tokyo and Dai-ichi Life Launch Collaborative Research – Designing a New Societal Value Axis through Human–AI Collaboration: “SHIAWASEspan”
Summary:
A New Societal Axis: SHIAWASEspan Introducing SHIAWASEspan—an innovative well-being indicator envisioned as a third axis, beyond lifespan and healthspan. This concept emerges from human–AI collaboration and seeks to visualize the intangible: happiness, meaning, and fulfillment. Designing the Future Across Generations — from children to adults Children and communities become co-designers of the future through gamified content that explores life design, well-being, and mental resilience. The project emphasizes education grounded in real-world insight. Redefining Human–Digital Relationships By applying generative AI to support—not replace—human values, the project reimagines how digital tools can respond to ethical, emotional, and social complexity.
This Project originated as a spin-off from the COI-NEXT Project CHANGE, led by the Kawasaki City Industrial Promotion Foundation and funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and JST. Dai-ichi Life has been a core participant in CHANGE since 2022. At the 2023 retreat camp, the team reflected on rising youth suicides post-COVID and societal ambivalence toward longevity in the era of 100-year lifespans. While medical advances have extended biological life, and many institutions and companies pursue longer 2 healthspans, the team questioned: What kind of future should we strive for? and What values should guide us there? From these discussions emerged the concept of a new axis beyond biological LIFEspan and physically/mentally healthy HEALTHspan — SHIAWASEspan — which aims to encompass and transcend both. The project now advances this vision toward social implementation.
https://www.dai-ichi-life-hd.com/en/newsroom/newsrelease/2025/pdf/index_021.pdf
