Japanese Map Culture: Inheritance through FOSS4G Technology
2026-09-02 , Dahlia2

Japanese map culture has evolved through a pursuit of intuitive map designs as sophisticated infographics. We are redefining this cultural legacy within the digital space using FOSS4G technology to ensure its inheritance and evolution for the next generation.


During the 1990s, the Japanese map industry developed unique designs to intuitively convey information within limited spaces. By perfecting techniques such as purposeful exaggeration, simplification, and strategic color schemes - treating the map as sophisticated infographics - a distinct Japanese map culture was established.
MAPPLE is now redefining traditional cartography in the digital realm, using FOSS4G as our technological foundation. Maps possess the power to solve social issues; we aim to unlock their inherent "intuitive clarity" through digital means, linking their potential to a better future. Furthermore, we will actively contribute to the FOSS4G community through these initiatives.


Level of technical complexity: 1 - beginner I make my conference contribution available under the CC BY 4.0 license. The conference contribution comprises the abstract, the text contribution for the conference proceedings, the presentation materials as well as the video recording and live transmission of the presentation:

I work as an engineer at MAPPLE, Inc.
And OSGeo Japan Committee member.