Fumiko Kato: Cross-disciplinary Studies and Omnivorous Curiosity as a Driving Force

2018/05/01

A year and a half ago, I founded WAmazing to develop services for the increasing number of international visitors to Japan.

WAmazing solves the problem of international travelers being unable to use the internet in Japan by distributing free SIM cards at international airports. While the development of free Wi-Fi spots is progressing ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the situation is by no means sufficient. With a SIM card, travelers can access a mobile internet environment just like Japanese people, which is extremely convenient.

Since starting the service at Narita International Airport in February 2017, we have expanded to 15 international airports across Japan in about a year, making it possible to reach approximately 80% of all international travelers immediately upon entry. To obtain a free WAmazing SIM card at the airport, international travelers need to install the WAmazing app on their smartphones while still in their home country. The SIM card has limits on the number of days it can be used and data capacity, but additional purchases can be made by paying through the app.

Because we sell data capacity to consumers, we are a telecommunications operator, but our main business is the "travel business," which connects travelers with tourism resources in every corner of Japan through the app. Through the app, users can book ryokan (Japanese inns), hotels, activities, and tours, and we earn commissions from businesses based on the number of travelers we send to them.

WAmazing's vision is "Enjoy all of Japan for an Amazing life." We want the increasing number of international travelers to discover and enjoy the charms of Japan, not only in urban areas but also in regional areas. If this is realized, it will create interaction and vitality in the regions and have a high economic ripple effect. The market for international visitors to Japan is a growth industry that the government aims to reach 60 million people and 15 trillion yen in spending by 2030, continuing to grow even after the Olympics. WAmazing aims to contribute to becoming a tourism-oriented nation by serving as a travel agent in the palm of the hand for international travelers visiting Japan with their smartphones, where reservations, arrangements, and payments are completed within the app.

A model that combines telecommunications, payments, and travel is difficult to fit into existing frameworks. Twenty years after graduating, I believe that studying cross-disciplinary fields at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies and gaining an omnivorous nature and comprehensive strength is one of my current driving forces.

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.