On February 18, 2025, the LF AI & Data Japan Regional User Group (Japan RUG) Kick-Off Event was successfully held at the Fujitsu Uvance Kawasaki Tower in Kawasaki, Japan. The event attracted AI engineers and researchers from leading companies such as Fujitsu, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi Electric, who shared the latest developments and case studies on open-source AI technologies.
Key highlights from the event included:
- Keynote: Welcome & Introduction to LF AI & Data
Nancy Rausch from The Linux Foundation gave a remote keynote presentation on the mission of LF AI & Data Foundation, its major projects, the state of AI in 2024, expectations for 2025, and ongoing research support for Generative AI. - Fujitsu: The Future is Now! LLM Utilization at Fujitsu
Tomohiko Tashiro, Head of the AI Innovation Promotion Office at Fujitsu, introduced Fujitsu’s internal use cases of large language models (LLMs), showcasing their impact on operational efficiency and new service creation. - Fujitsu: Fujitsu’s OSS Activities with LF AI & Data and its Internal Applications
Kosaku Kimura, Senior Research Manager at Fujitsu Research, discussed Fujitsu’s contribution of the AutoML OSS SapientML to LF AI & Data and its application in internal product development. See slides from Fujitsu’s presentation here. - Hitachi Academy: Local LLM for Code Generation and Low-Code Development
Kazuhito Yokoi, Lead Instructor at Hitachi Academy, demonstrated the implementation of code generation AI models using Ollama and vLLM, and how these models are integrated into Visual Studio Code and Hitachi’s Node-RED low-code development tool. See slides from Hitachi Academy’s presentation here. - Mitsubishi Electric: OSS Utilization and Community Engagement for AI Compactness
Masahiro Hiramori, Senior Researcher at Mitsubishi Electric, presented on his experience to work with the OSS communities such as PyTorch and Apatch TVM as part of Mitsubishi Electric’s effort around the development of AI compactness technologies for industrial robots, automotive systems, building equipment, and home appliances. See slides from Mitsubishi Electric’s presentation here.
Watch the full session here, on our YouTube channel, and subscribe to keep up-to-date on recent presentations from across the community.
Participant Feedback
Attendees shared positive feedback, highlighting:
- The valuable opportunity to connect with AI engineers in Japan
Insightful case studies from major companies
Practical takeaways for AI implementation in their own organizations
Looking Ahead
Japan RUG plans to continue hosting regular events and study sessions to foster collaboration and innovation in Japan’s AI community. Stay updated on future events via our official website and social media channels.
Follow us for updates: https://lists.lfaidata.foundation/g/jp-rug
Thank you for being part of the LF AI & Data Japan RUG Kick-Off! We look forward to seeing you at our next event.
