Delivered on March 23, 2026
Next-Generation Location Services Created by AI and Maps
Speakers:
Kazuhiro Terada, Strategic Account Manager, Mapbox Japan LLC
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
Mapbox provides APIs/SDKs for map application development, and its use is expanding in areas such as car navigation, logistics delivery optimization, and location-based games. Mapbox emphasizes the security of its data ownership, which belongs to the user company, and its policy of not releasing consumer apps. It also highlights its strengths in expressive capabilities and high-speed rendering of large amounts of data. In location-based games, it uses a fine mesh to control event triggers, balancing safety and ease of play. In disaster prevention, it can overlay Japan Meteorological Agency data and hazard information, and even suggest evacuation routes by specifying avoidance areas. The presentation will share future plans for evolving travel and in-car experiences through AI agents and maps.
Previous Mapbox episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myeQfm8sbKg
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Mapbox Japan's History and Growth in the Japanese Market
Mapbox is a US-based company that has been operating in Japan for six years. A major catalyst for its establishment was investment from SoftBank, which spurred its business expansion in Japan. Initially, its focus was on general map usage such as online store locators, but now its technology is used in a wide range of fields, including large-scale services such as "Yahoo! Weather & Disaster" provided by LINE Yahoo! Japan Corporation, as well as car navigation, delivery optimization in logistics, and location-based games.
Currently, there are over 40,000 applications worldwide utilizing Mapbox's technology, and the number of registered developers has surpassed 4 million. Furthermore, the company's platform boasts over 700 million monthly active users (MAU), establishing a solid position in the Japanese market.
Key Differences from Google Maps: Data Ownership and Customizability
When considering map services, many companies compare it to Google Maps. Mr. Terada cited the location of "data ownership" as Mapbox's greatest feature. Unlike other services such as Google, Mapbox adheres to a business policy of not directly providing consumer-facing applications. Therefore, 100% of the ownership of data collected through applications belongs to the client company, and Mapbox will not use that data without permission to develop competing businesses. This provides significant reassurance for many businesses in today's world where data privacy is becoming increasingly stringent.
Furthermore, its high expressiveness and customizability are also major advantages. Beyond 2D maps, it possesses rendering capabilities that can handle 3D and VR worlds, allowing for map designs tailored to a company's brand image. Furthermore, its high-performance capabilities, such as rapidly processing heavy binary weather data sent from the Japan Meteorological Agency and displaying rain cloud movements on the map in 5-minute intervals, demonstrate the company's advanced technological prowess.
Balancing Technological Innovation and Safety in Location-Based Games
One area where Mapbox's technology is prominently utilized is location-based games. Major domestic titles such as Square Enix's "Dragon Quest Walk" and Koei Tecmo Games' "Nobunaga's Ambition: Shutsjin" utilize the company's platform.
In the development of these games, Mapbox's "Playable Locations Service" plays a crucial role. In location-based games, managing "event triggers"—which place items and events in specific locations—is essential. However, in the past, there were safety management challenges, such as users gathering in residential areas or restricted zones late at night. This service allows for very fine-grained control of these triggers, enabling timely exclusion of hard-to-reach areas and providing an appropriate game experience even in suburban areas with few landmarks.
Integration of AI Agents and Maps: Next-Generation Navigation Experience
One of Mapbox's main focus areas going forward is the integration of "AI agents and maps." "Map GPT," previously announced as a concept, has now evolved into a more concrete AI agent service.
Previously, map usage required users to search for destinations and gather information themselves. However, with the integration of AI agents, the AI can suggest optimal tourist spots and restaurants based on the user's characteristics, companions (family, solo, etc.), and usage scenario, enabling end-to-end service from booking to navigation. There is growing expectation for an intelligent map platform that guides users one step ahead, especially in situations where manual operation is difficult, such as while driving.
Tourism Disaster Prevention and the Role as a Real-Time Data Platform
In recent years, there has been significant interest from local governments and service providers in the context of "disaster prevention." Mapbox directly incorporates data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, providing a platform that allows for real-time reflection of flood, landslide, and river overflow information on maps.
Particularly noteworthy is its "tourism disaster prevention" initiative, which supports tourists and others affected by disasters in unfamiliar areas. By overlaying hazard maps with real-time disaster information and utilizing Mapbox's "Polygon Avoidance" function, it becomes possible to automatically present evacuation routes that avoid dangerous areas. This technology is being increasingly used as a solution to enhance social safety through collaborations not only with local governments but also with insurance companies and ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) that provide disaster prevention services.
Summary
Mapbox Japan continues to evolve as a platform that maximizes the freedom of developers, going beyond simply providing map data. While adhering to a clean business model that guarantees data ownership to customers, its scope of application continues to expand, including advanced control in location-based games, next-generation user experiences utilizing AI agents, and addressing the social issue of disaster prevention. Maps are an essential element that forms the basis of all AI services and calculations, and the company's platform, which combines multidimensional representation with high-speed processing capabilities, will become a core element in the future of location-based businesses. Under LBMA Japan's slogan of "competition and co-creation," it is expected that a richer future for location technology will be forged through partnerships with many companies.