Android Builders Weblog: #WeArePlay | Meet extra folks creating apps and video games in Japan

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Advertising

Earlier this yr #WeArePlay went on a digital tour of Australia and the U.S. to highlight the tales of app and recreation founders. Right this moment, we’re rounding up our tour internationally with the final cease for 2024: Japan. From an app that makes use of AI to advertise early well being intervention to 1 that’s turning litter choosing right into a social motion, meet the 49 apps and video games founders constructing rising companies on Google Play.

Let’s take a fast street journey throughout Japan by studying a few of my favourite tales.

Fujio’s app is popping litter assortment into a world motion

When Fujio was a baby, his love for environmental books ignited his ardour for shielding nature. Later, whereas touring by way of completely different nations, he was shocked to search out litter in every single place, even in distant jungles. This expertise impressed him to create Pirika – named after the Ainu phrase for “stunning” – a social platform that encourages folks to select up litter, doc it with pictures, and geotag places to trace downside areas. With over over 360 million items of trash collected globally, Pirika is fostering a nationwide motion in direction of cleaner communities. Fujio plans on increasing the app’s attain worldwide, mobilizing communities to battle air pollution collectively.

Self-taught recreation developer and illustrator CHARROOM turned her ardour for mini-games right into a full-time profession. Her newest undertaking, Sushi Meals Cart, combines two of her favourite issues: sushi and cats. On this enjoyable cooking recreation, gamers handle a sushi meals cart, getting ready and serving sushi to prospects rapidly and precisely. The sport options quirky cat characters, time-management challenges, and colourful artwork. As gamers progress, they unlock new recipes, upgrades, and meet new cat characters. For Char, creating apps is her ‘ikigai’—her function in life. She’s at the moment engaged on a brand new restaurant recreation to proceed spreading her playful strategy to gaming.

Kota and Yoshinori’s app makes use of AI to assist folks analysis their well being issues and join with medical specialists

When entrepreneur Kota determined to create a healthcare app, he partnered together with his highschool good friend and roommate, Dr. Yoshinori. Combining Kota’s tech experience with Yoshinori’s medical data, they developed Ubie, an AI-powered symptom checker that permits folks to analysis their signs and join with medical specialists. The app promotes early detection and intervention by providing them tailor-made info on potential well being issues and steering on discovering care. Ubie’s objective is not only restricted to symptom checking; the founders plan to develop its companies to incorporate monitoring therapies and managing day-to-day healthcare wants alongside reworking Ubie into a world model.

Takuji has at all times been captivated with journey and music, however when he realized programming 15 years in the past, he found a brand new inventive outlet. Collectively together with his brother, Shohei, he launched IzumiArtisan from their mother and father’ home in Osaka. The duo focuses on creating escape room video games, closely influenced by the detective tales Takuji loves. Their in style recreation, Rime, is stuffed with mysterious puzzles and plot twists and has been translated into 18 languages, capturing a world viewers. The brothers at the moment are engaged on a brand new title impressed by the American Underground Railroad.

Uncover extra #WeArePlay tales from Japan, and tales from throughout the globe.