RFID in Japan

Nishijin is a district in Kyoto, which is well-known for its sophisticated traditional textile products (its origin can be traced back to 1200 years ago).

At Nishijin, each of the seasons is represented. Spring sings of the scent of flowers. Summer speaks of days gone by. Autumn indulges herself in simplicity and serenity. Winter applies a delicate dusting of snow to the patchwork of roof tiles. No one is inferior to any other in this world, lavish with beauty. Savor contentment with the elegance of Nishijin, conceived in the midst of history and tradition.

Interestingly, people there seem to be into high-tech.

The first meeting of "Nishijin Textile Traceability Committee" was held on December 16. What they discussed included a system for tracking Nishijin textile products using RFID and delivering information to consumers. They plan to introduce such a system as early as in 2006. Consumers will hopefully be able to distinguish real Nishijin from counterfeited ones more easily. One of the issues raised at the meeting was the complexity of the special supply chain of Japanese-style products. Also, local governments (city and prefecture-level) are involved in this project.

Source: Kyoto Shimbun, December 16, in Japanese

Posted by konomi at December 18, 2004 12:20 AM | TrackBack