[Seminar] Legal Systems and Practices Surrounding Autonomous Driving and Robot Taxis

Nitto Kohki will hold the "2026 Attack Fair in Misato" at the Misato City Cultural Hall Exhibition Room for two days on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and Thursday, June 27, 2026. The Attack Fair is an exhibition where you can actually "see, touch, and operate" Nitto Kohki's products. Additionally, there will be wonderful souvenirs for visitors and many fun activities prepared. We look forward to welcoming everyone!

Dates: December 16 (Wednesday) to December 18 (Friday), 2026, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center), South Hall 1 & Conference Building

[Speaker] Nobuhito Sato, Partner Attorney at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Law Firm Foreign Law Joint Enterprise [Key Lecture Content] As the social implementation of Level 4 autonomous driving technologies, such as robot taxis and self-driving buses, progresses, there are numerous legal issues that need to be considered for commercialization, including vehicle safety assessments, the division of roles among operating entities, and responsibilities and cause investigations in the event of accidents. Although the legal amendments following the 2022 Road Traffic Act revision have settled down, developments in the regulatory framework are ongoing, including a report from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regarding responsibilities in the event of accidents due in 2025, revisions to guidelines concerning safety assurance, and agreements on new international standards for autonomous driving systems (ADS) and regulations concerning self-driving vehicles without steering wheels at the UN WP.29 in June 2026. In this lecture, Nobuhito Sato, who has been responsible for the revision of the Road Transport Vehicle Act related to autonomous driving and the examination of liability for damages at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and who has continued to participate in relevant government study groups, will systematically explain the latest discussions and practical considerations.

[Instructor] Professor Makoto Kawase, Ritsumeikan University Business School [Key Lecture Content] The rapid evolution of AI, the development of mobility symbolized by autonomous driving, the ongoing global trends of declining birth rates and aging populations, and the rise of Generation Z are all significant changes that are currently transforming the structure of industries and society. The future is not a continuation of the present. To create our own future, we must first think about what we can do in the future through "backcasting," which involves envisioning from the future. Then, we will consider how to realize that vision and what actions to take to connect it to reality. By going through this series of processes, the somewhat vague image of the future becomes connected to the present reality, taking shape and becoming realized. In this seminar, the instructor, who has worked on future creation projects in large corporations, will introduce the steps for creating the future that have been developed through trial and error, and will also explain how to cultivate future creators. This seminar is recommended for those who want to create new businesses in a changing future or who are struggling with the idea that the future cannot be found on the current trajectory.

[Speaker] Representative of Post-Petroleum Strategy Research Institute, LLC, Mr. Kisho Oba [Key Lecture Content] The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz that began at the end of February 2026 has significantly shaken the foundations of Japan's energy procurement. While physical supply has been maintained to some extent through alternative transportation, stock releases, and reduced demand, the impact has manifested in multiple layers, including rising costs through war insurance premiums, freight charges, exchange rates, and interest rates, as well as disruptions downstream such as in naphtha. In this lecture, we will organize the course of the crisis based on data related to navigation, detours, and stockpiling, and present structural changes in the crude oil and LNG markets, along with risk scenarios anticipated for 2027. Furthermore, we will provide insights on how procurement, purchasing, and risk management should assess price fluctuations and decarbonization investments.