AI Broaden Listening
2025-07-02 07:12:25

Shibuya District Launches AI-Enabled Broaden Listening Trials for Citizen Voices

Shibuya District's Innovative AI-Driven Initiative



In an exciting move towards enhancing digital democracy, Shibuya Ward, led by Mayor Ken Hasebe, is pioneering the use of advanced artificial intelligence in its latest initiative, "Broaden Listening." This project is part of the broader "Digital Democracy 2030" initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of diverse residents and ensuring that their opinions are effectively incorporated into policymaking.

What is Broaden Listening?


"Broaden Listening" refers to a systematic approach to gathering and analyzing a wide range of opinions from citizens to inform policy decisions. Traditionally, gathering qualitative feedback through free-text responses has been labor-intensive, requiring extensive time and effort to collate and interpret data. With the deployment of AI technology, notably the "Kōchō AI" system, this process has been revolutionized, allowing for rapid visualization of the broader sentiment and trends expressed in citizens’ feedback.

Overview of the Trial


For this trial, a total of 6,037 responses were collected from the free response section of the 2024 Citizen Awareness Survey, which asked residents about their feelings regarding Shibuya Ward—covering aspects they are satisfied with as well as concerns and complaints. Utilizing the capabilities of "Kōchō AI," the analysis focused on multiple facets:

  • - Automatic Summarization of Comments: This feature enabled researchers to create concise summaries of the residents’ sentiments, capturing the essence of their responses effortlessly.
  • - Topic Classification and Visualization: The AI categorized feedback into various topics and created visual representations, making it easier to comprehend complex data.
  • - Demographic Trend Analysis: The AI analyzed trends based on different age groups and regions, providing insights into how various demographics perceive Shibuya Ward.
  • - Extraction of Policy-Relevant Issues: Key points useful for policy consideration were drawn from the data, offering a clear direction for future initiatives.

Expectations for Future Policy-making


The successful implementation of this trial and the AI-driven analysis are expected to significantly contribute to future policy formulations and the selection of priority areas. By employing cutting-edge technologies, Shibuya Ward is not only enhancing its responsiveness to citizen input but is also laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, user-centered governance model.

Continued Exploration of AI Technology


As Shibuya Ward progresses, there is a commitment to exploring further the potential of AI and other innovative methods to integrate the voices of its residents into policy development effectively. This initiative aims to foster a mature international city that embraces the diverse needs and aspirations of its inhabitants.

For more detailed insights into the trial, please refer to the Shibuya Ward portal page dedicated to the "Broaden Listening" trial. The page outlines additional information and statistical graphics resulting from the analysis, showcasing how the ward is taking significant strides towards a more participative governance system.

Through initiatives like this, Shibuya Ward is setting a leading example of how technology can be harnessed to empower citizens and enhance democracy in urban settings.


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Topics Policy & Public Interest)

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