Cabinet Office Moonshot Research and Development Program Goal 1: Creating the Future from the Internet of Brains Narrative: Science Communication Project 'Neu World' Releases 5 New Short Short Stories
The Cabinet Office's Moonshot R&D Program, Goal 1 Kanai Project "Internet of Brains" (IoB), has released five new short short stories by writer Masatomo Tamaru through its "Neu World" science communication project. These stories, published on March 29, 2026, are linked to IoB's five research groups and explore futuristic daily life scenarios in 2050, aiming to foster societal dialogue about the integration of advanced technologies.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 29, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:27 (64h 27m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 00:55 (371h 27m after Collected)
The Moonshot Research and Development Program Goal 1, the Kanai Project Internet of Brains (hereinafter IoB), has released five new short short stories by short short story writer Masatomo Tamaru as a new work for the science communication project 'Neu World,' where SF writers and researchers jointly imagine the future, on its official website on March 29, 2026. These works are each linked to one of IoB's five research groups. URL: https://neu-world.link/posts/short-short_story
Each work can be accessed from the web page above.
Cybernetic Avatars and Neurotech: Small Everyday Stories Spreading Beyond Their Research
"Volunteer in the Deep Sea" (Research Group: IoB Interface)
Searching for my life, I "boarded" a craft and dived to 6,000 meters below the sea.
Synopsis
I can't write my university application essay. I have no extracurricular experience. I have nothing to talk about in interviews. Zenn, a high school student facing this dilemma, accidentally discovers a volunteer opportunity: piloting a submersible using brainwaves and AI to collect deep-sea waste. While diving from his room to 6,000 meters below sea level, he meets "Monaka-san," who has been continuously picking up trash in the same ocean.
"Silent Conversation" (Research Group: IoB Middleware)
In an era where thoughts are transmitted as words without speaking, new forms of communication emerge.
Synopsis
Wearing the hat-shaped BMI "Cap," one can compose text just by thinking, enabling communication without speaking. It's incredibly convenient, and the office is always quiet. Despite this, my chatty junior colleague often speaks to me in person. However, after a certain point, the junior stops approaching me. A certain social issue of recent times crosses my mind...
"Cherry Blossoms of Memory" (Research Group: IoB Core Technology)
Through the memories of someone I couldn't meet, I felt the world.
Synopsis
As a child, I happened to see a Japanese painting of cherry blossoms at a gallery in New York. Looking at that one piece, I decided, "I will definitely paint like this." Eventually, I studied abroad in Japan and spent my days learning to paint. The artist I admired was someone I could no longer meet. But the moment I borrowed their memories from the "Memory Library," which allows people to install and re-experience memories, my world changed.
"Cat's Connection" (Research Group: IoB Minimally Invasive Technology Development)
Everyday life connected with cats through our brains.
Synopsis
In the future, it became possible to safely implant micro BMIs via injection. Many owners began implanting BMIs into their cats, and I decided to do the same for my beloved cat, Hinata. From that day on, Hinata's sensations and emotions began to be transmitted to me. Although there are times when Hinata's excitement wakes me up in the middle of the night, our days are lively. Then one day, I noticed a foster parent application for Gin, a cat who was rescued after severe abuse.
"Robots' Harvest" (Research Group: Common Basic Technology Development)
My part-time job is in a mandarin orange grove. Commuting starts from my room.
Synopsis
A harvesting part-time job at a mandarin orange farm. However, it's remote work.
Every day, I control four harvesting robots simultaneously with my brainwaves, picking mandarins through a screen. While improving my skills under the guidance of the farm owner, one day during a break, I borrowed a robot to take a walk in the mountains and discovered that many mandarins in the neighboring field were ripening without anyone harvesting them...
The latest release from 'Neu World' features short short stories. Five works have been released all at once! IoB is divided into five research groups, each leveraging their expertise and sometimes collaborating to advance research and development. These are daily life SF short short stories set in 2050, based on the research of each group.
Although set in 2050, the stories depict different futures, different ways of life, and the emotions that arise within them.
Easy to read with short shorts, also recommended for book reports!
Even for those new to 'Neu World,' these are recommended short short stories that people of all ages and genders can enjoy as an entry point.
Masatomo Tamaru
Short short story writer.
Born in Ehime Prefecture in 1987. Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, and completed graduate studies at the Graduate School of Engineering.
Debuted as an author in 2011. In 2012, his work 'Umi-shu' won the Grand Prize at the Juritsu-sha Short Short Contest. 'Umi-shu' was adapted into a short film starring Naoki Matayoshi of Peace and screened at the Cannes Film Festival and elsewhere.
He serves as head judge for awards such as the Botchan Literary Prize and has been broadly active as a leading figure in contemporary short short stories, including holding workshops on how to write short short stories across the country since 2013.
The content of his writing workshops has been adopted in the 4th-grade Japanese language textbook (published by Kyoiku Shuppan) since the 2020 academic year. In the 2021 academic year, his novel 'Sakurachou' was published in the 1st-grade junior high school Japanese language textbook (published by Kyoiku Shuppan). His books include numerous works such as the 'Umi-iro no Bin' and 'Otogi Company' series. His media appearances include 'Jōnetsu Tairiku' and 'SWITCH Interview: Daremo Shiranai Chi-kara' among others.
Masatomo Tamaru Official Website: https://masatomotamaru.com/
X: https://x.com/tamaru_m
Mr. Ryota Kanai (Collaboration Researcher)
Department Manager at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) / Representative Director of ARAYA Inc.
Project Manager (PM) for the Moonshot Goal 1 Kanai Project Internet of Brains.
After graduating from the Faculty of Science at Kyoto University in 2000, he obtained his PhD (Cum Laude) in 2005 from Utrecht University in the Netherlands for his research on the mechanisms of human visual information processing. He worked as a researcher at the California Institute of Technology in the United States and University College London in the UK. After working as a JST PRESTO researcher and Associate Professor (Cognitive Neuroscience) at the University of Sussex in the UK, he founded ARAYA Inc. in 2013.
He is engaged in research on the principles of consciousness generation in the brain and implementing consciousness in AI through the fusion of neuroscience and information theory, while also working on the practical application of AI and brain science in industry. He has received numerous awards, including the Young Scientists' Prize from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the JEITA Venture Award (2020) and ET/IoT Technology Award (2019) for ARAYA Inc. Since 2020, he has been working on the practical application of brain-machine interfaces as the Project Manager for the Cabinet Office's Moonshot Program.
X: https://x.com/kanair_jp
He provided an interview regarding IoB's initiatives for the creation of these works.
What is 'Neu World'?
The Cabinet Office's Moonshot Research and Development Program Goal 1, the Kanai Project "Internet of Brains (hereinafter IoB)," has launched the science communication project 'Neu World.'
This project was born to co-create with each individual living today, through dialogue, on how to connect cutting-edge research and development with society.
'Neu World' produces stories such as manga and novels set in 2050, with the participation of creators, researchers, and sometimes the general public, as a catalyst for this. We aim to begin co-creation towards the realization of a better future through communication born from stories.
The Communication 'Neu World' Aims For
'Neu World' creates its science fiction works not to predict the future or present the project's vision, but as a catalyst for dialogue with society to build the future together. We encourage you to share your impressions of the works. We believe that science and technology reaching people transcends mere special experiences and integrates into everyday life. Please enjoy five different lives and five different emotions that will emerge when IoB research, like today's smartphones, internet, and automobiles, melts into future society. These works are enjoyable for everyone from children to adults. Please discuss them with your loved ones, such as 'How would I use this?' or 'How could I use this for that person?' You will surely discover something new. (Ryū Miyata, Science Communicator, Neu World)
About the Moonshot Research and Development Program Goal 1, Kanai Project "Internet of Brains"
IoB's mission is "Liberation from the constraints of the body through the extension of physical and perceptual abilities." We are advancing research and development of technologies such as robots that can be operated simply by thinking and telepathic communication, aiming to eliminate societal barriers and challenges, and to realize a future where people from all walks of life can express themselves freely and participate in social activities.
Project Manager: Ryota Kanai (Department Manager, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) / Representative Director, ARAYA Inc.)
Related Links
Neu World Official Website: https://neu-world.link/
Neu World Official X: https://x.com/NeuWorld_iob
IoB Official Website: https://brains.link/
IoB Official X: https://x.com/moonshot_IoB
IoB Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@moonshot_IoB
Masatomo Tamaru Official Website: https://masatomotamaru.com/
Neu World Production Members
Producer: Ryū Miyata (Science Communicator / ARAYA Inc.)
X: https://x.com/myt_ryu
Director: Hitomi Mochon (Science Communicator / ARAYA Inc.)
X: https://x.com/aiminlabs
Editor: Rie Kuroki (Studio Meteorite)
X: https://x.com/SMeteorite26
For inquiries and contact regarding Neu World, please use the contact form below.
Neu World Contact Form: https://neu-world.link/contact
※The manga, novels, and related content produced in this project are all supervised for scientific technology and themes by the "Internet of Brains" science communication project 'Neu World,' and Internet of Brains bears responsibility for the works and their content. The participating writers and creators bear no responsibility whatsoever in this regard. For opinions and questions regarding the project itself, excluding feedback on the works, please send them through the contact page on the official 'Neu World' website, rather than to individual writers or creators. Furthermore, please note that it may be difficult to provide individual responses to opinions shared via social media.