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

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Advertising

Earlier this 12 months #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 at least one that’s turning litter selecting right into a social motion, meet the 49 apps and video games founders constructing rising companies on Google Play.

Let’s take a fast highway 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 toddler, his love for environmental books ignited his ardour for safeguarding nature. Later, whereas touring by means of totally different international locations, he was shocked to search out litter in all places, 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 choose 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 combat air pollution collectively.

Self-taught recreation developer and illustrator CHARROOM turned her ardour for mini-games right into a full-time profession. Her newest venture, Sushi Meals Cart, combines two of her favourite issues: sushi and cats. On this enjoyable cooking recreation, gamers handle a sushi meals cart, making 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 along 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 data on potential well being issues and steering on discovering care. Ubie’s objective isn’t just restricted to symptom checking; the founders plan to develop its providers to incorporate monitoring therapies and managing day-to-day healthcare wants alongside remodeling Ubie into a world model.

Takuji has all the time been captivated with journey and music, however when he realized programming 15 years in the past, he found a brand new inventive outlet. Collectively along with his brother, Shohei, he launched IzumiArtisan from their dad and mom’ home in Osaka. The duo makes a speciality of creating escape room video games, closely influenced by the detective tales Takuji loves. Their widespread recreation, Rime, is full of mysterious puzzles and plot twists and has been translated into 18 languages, capturing a world viewers. The brothers are actually engaged on a brand new title impressed by the American Underground Railroad.

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