| Representative |
Yusuke Nakano
We are exploring the potential of biological and ecological AI focused on the characteristics of living organisms and the diversity of ecosystems.
We are interested in the exploration of “diverse living organisms” and “non-living artificial intelligence.”
Our “Chicken Sexing AI” determines the sex of chicks from images of their indistinct cloacas.
At public research stations producing native chickens, an aging workforce has led to a shortage of sexing experts, and our technology is attracting interest as an alternative solution. |
| Main Achievements |
2000: Established Denmark Co., Ltd. as Representative Director
2018: Selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Inovation FY2018 “Disruptive Challenge Category”
2022: Selected for commissioned research by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)
2024: Achieved proof-of-concept for chicken sexing AI
2024: Established Japan Roost Co., Ltd.
2024: Kagawa Prefecture Business Challenge Competition Encouragement Award
2025: Selected for Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry “J-Startup WEST”
2025: Selected for Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Entrepreneur Support Program “ICT Startup League” |
| Childhood Dream |
Inventor |
| Influential People, Things, and Events |
Person: “In college, I had many smart classmates, which made me realize I had no choice but to work hard.”
Thing: “The advent of the Internet. First connected via dial-up in my senior year (1998).”
Event: “The rise of social media. The emergence of a world where anyone could share information from their smartphone. I felt the world was changing.” |
| Motivation, Goals, and Ideal World |
In 2009, we were selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' SCOPE program and began collaborative research and development with universities. Our research at that time involved developing a small computer, about the size of an SD card, that could be inserted into household appliances to share information via Twitter and Facebook. After completing prototype development and advancing discussions with major corporations, the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 halted commercialization efforts, leading us to withdraw from the research and development project. Since then, we have focused our business on the field of “visual content people watch,” including online distribution and video production.
In 2017, we participated in an idea contest using dual-arm robots. While implementing a “gentle chick scooping manipulation” for training foreign interns, we learned from the Indian Ambassador about the need for chick sexing in India. Subsequently, selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' “Inovation: Disruptive Challenge Division,” we restarted our R&D division. We achieved a Proof of Concept (PoC) for AI-based chick sex determination and established the new company “Japan Roost Co., Ltd.” in 2024.
Beyond chick sex determination, we are interested in developing AI that deciphers biological diversity and ecosystems. Leveraging our strengths in optics and communication technologies cultivated through our video and online streaming businesses, we aim to explore “the world of life as seen by computers.” |
