(This is a post in a series about attending the Internet Governance Forum 2023 in Kyoto.)
The Kyoto International Conference Center is a sprawling complex on the north side of the city, at the very last stop of the Kyoto Municipal Subway line. The subway exit features a circular chamber with a 10m wide IGF logo on the floor welcoming visitors. Hallways are lined with posters for the event, and two escalators later you exit to the ground floor and a red carpeted entrance.
The Internet Governance Forum is a multistakeholder forum established by the United Nations and held annually around the world since 2006. The 18th edition was held in Kyoto, the city in which I reside, so I decided to attend.
I have been to a few technical conferences, barricaded in rooms with passionate technologists arguing over the most minute details of a newly forming standard, but the IGF promised something different. This is a policy forum to discuss the societal impacts of digital technology worldwide.
Took the train up to Kyoto to the old apartment to pick up some things and see how the real estate agency interior designer staged the place with all kinds of modern furniture. We took some family selfies on the tiny European couch and at the dining table with the fancy plates 😂
Under the bridge art in Osaka
Well, we made it. Moved to Osaka successfully. Still some unpacking to do, but we made good progress. Really helps being minimalist 😅
Today at lunch the kids and I counted through every move we‘ve done since we first left Canada: 2020 = 4, 2021 = 3, 2022 = 3, 2023 = 1. We are getting good at it.
Went to Osaka to pick up keys to the new apartment. Popped into the neighbouring Tenjinbashisuji shopping arcade, which is said to be Japan’s longest at 2.6km and over 600 shops. Myakumyaku, the Expo mascot welcomes us!
Look what arrived the day before we move out! It is the pre-order I made forever ago of Jocelyne Allen’s translation of Susumi Higa’s award-winning OKINAWA manga. ⌛️😅📚
Goodnight Kyoto (from my balcony of the past 18 years)
Since I moved my standing desk, monitor, and everything out of the coworking space in preparation for our move to Osaka, this has been my standing work setup
On my way to get a latte ☕️ and maybe a slice of cake 🍰 just walking past a 13th C temple ☸️… as you do in #EverydayKyoto (only 4 more days left until we move 😢)
🔗 Should I stop Flying — Outside Online
Appreciate the discussion in this piece. It is something I have thought about for years, and actually one of the reasons I don’t look forward to when I return to Canada where everything is so remote. Imagining a no-fly future — whether due to carbon laws, massively increased expense, or the threat of RPGs (see Ministry for the Future my fav book of 2022 for more on that extreme form of flygskam) — I would rather live some place like Europe or Japan: dense with a good rail system.
Got a Covid booster in one arm, and a flu shot in the other 😵💫
🐡 Fugu skin hot sake 🍶
🌅 Sun has set on the final day of the #IGF2023. I attended 21 sessions, only about 5% of what was on offer. I had many interesting hallway discussions and took 7000 words worth of notes. I still have much follow up, and will write about takeaways. But for now, good night IGF, and thank you! 🙇♂️
