ZEN University HARC to Host Public Recording with i-mode Founders Mari Matsunaga, Keiichi Enoki, and Takeshi Natsuno

ZEN University's HARC will host a public recording featuring the founders of i-mode on the final day of the service.
NQ 50/100出典：PR Times

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  • 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 16:52
  • 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (5h 7m after Published)
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 08:02 (418h 3m after Collected)

On March 31, 2026 (Tuesday), the day NTT Docomo's "i-mode(R)" service concludes, the ZEN University Content Industry History Archive Research Center (HARC) will host a public recording featuring key figures behind the service's creation: Mari Matsunaga, Keiichi Enoki, and ZEN University Visiting Professor Takeshi Natsuno.

This event is a historic endeavor to document the legacy of i-mode, which drove the digital industry not only in Japan but globally, and to share these invaluable testimonies with the public in real-time.

☑︎ The Origin of Mobile Internet That Transformed Lifestyles

i-mode is a cornerstone of the world-class mobile culture born in Japan. It was a groundbreaking service that allowed anyone to easily access the internet from a mobile phone, enabling features such as mobile banking, ticket reservations, news and weather updates, games, and horoscopes. Furthermore, in an era where internet services were expected to be free, it introduced a monthly subscription model for paid content, creating an entirely new market from scratch.

On the final day of the i-mode service, the founding members will discuss behind-the-scenes development stories, the evolution of the industry, and insights for the future of our digital society. These testimonies will be recorded as "living primary sources" for the development of the content industry, with the goal of passing them on to the next generation.

[Special Public Recording: "i-mode Ends 27 Years of History: Founders Discuss the Behind-the-Scenes of the 'Mobile Revolution'" Overview]

  • Date and Time: March 31, 2026 (Tuesday), 19:00–24:00 (Scheduled)

  • Speakers: Mari Matsunaga, Keiichi Enoki, Takeshi Natsuno (Visiting Professor, ZEN University)

    • First Half Interviewers: Satoshi Endo (HARC Researcher, ZEN University), Pyonta Takahashi (HARC Researcher, ZEN University)

    • Second Half Interviewer: Yoshitaka Kurita (Director, Dwango Co., Ltd. / Representative of Niconico Operations)

      The first half will feature interviews by experts, while the second half will involve discussions while engaging with viewer comments to mark the final moments of the service.

      *Professor Natsuno is scheduled to join the broadcast around 21:00.

  • Streaming URLs

❙ About ZEN University Content Industry History Archive Research Center (HARC)

Japan's content industry is a representative modern expressive culture that has had a significant impact on the world...

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