February 10, 2023 Publication of the Interim Report of the Study Group on the Utilization of Metaverse Towards Web3 Era

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to publish the interim report summarizing the discussions undertaken to date by the Study Group on the Utilization of Metaverse Towards Web3 Era (chaired by KOZUKA Souichirou, professor, Faculty of Law, Gakushuin University), and will solicit opinions on the discussion points set out therein.

1. Background

In August 2022, against the backdrop of the growing use of the metaverse and the development of a market for Web3, MIC set up the Study Group on the Utilization of Metaverse Towards Web3 Era with a view to identifying issues with information and communications administration, in terms of the users' understanding and digital infrastructure, while focusing on various use cases, so as to increase convenience for users, and provide services appropriately and smoothly. Since then, the study group has undertaken a number of rounds of discussion.
As the study group has summarized its discussions to date, MIC has decided to publish this summary as an interim report, and will also solicit opinions on the discussion points set out therein from Friday, February 10 through Friday, February 24, 2023.

• *
  From October 3 through November 30, 2022, MIC solicited proposals on the future image of a society that could be created via use of the metaverse, etc. and challenges that should be considered in relation to its realization. MIC intends to use the proposals submitted in discussions in the eighth and subsequent meetings of the study group, with a view to the compilation of the final report scheduled for preparation this summer or thereabouts.

2. Composition of the interim report

1. Summary of discussion points based on the study group's viewpoints

This section defines the main terms and summarizes the discussion points based on the study group's viewpoints on the following.

• 1.
  Approaches to metaverse avatars and other issues related to increasing convenience for users
• 2.
  Summary of tasks to be addressed in order to achieve commercialization for each use case
• 3.
  Impacts of expanding use of the metaverse

2. Matters that should remain on the agenda of the study group

3. Envisaged future schedule

(Reference) Considerations and issues presented in discussions to date.

3. Future plans

The opinions received will be used in future discussions by the Study Group on the Utilization of Metaverse Towards Web3 Era.
The study group plans to compile its final report this summer or thereabouts.

• *
  The published materials are in Japanese only.