Introducing The Lunar Industry Vision Council

Since the beginning of human history, we have expanded our sphere of existence and economic activity through the exploration of new frontiers around the globe. We are already expanding beyond Earth, with our orbit now utilized as a zone of indispensable social infrastructure for modern economic activities. Looking ahead to our next frontier, the area between the Earth and the Moon known as cislunar space will soon become the frontline of a new industrial ecosystem.

The Lunar Industry Vision Council, consisting of political, academic, and industry leaders in Japan, was established with the aim of fostering this cislunar ecosystem with a focus on industrialization. There are 30 companies and organizations, politicians, and academics participating in the Council with the shared objective to improve Japanese technology and capability, and increase the threshold for risk, for Japan to lead the world in the implementation of lunar businesses.  

In July 2021, the Lunar Industry Vision Council compiled its first report, Lunar Industry Vision, illustrating the determination of Japanese companies to create a lunar industry that brings innovation to benefit Earth.

To bolster the competitiveness of Japanese industry in the “Planet 6.0” era, it is necessary to foster a domestic lunar industry in which diverse companies participate. In Japan, companies in various industries such as construction, automobiles, food, insurance, and toys have already started innovative lunar commercialization activities, and there are more than 100 companies interested in following their lead to launch lunar related businesses and services.

What is Planet 6.0?

The Lunar Industry Vision Council coined Planet 6.0 as a concept to envisage the Earth and the Moon integrated as one cyclical socio-economic system. Following the concept of Society 5.0 promoted by the Government of Japan, which divides the advancements of civilization into five phases, Planet 6.0 incorporates the evolving relationship between humanity and space. The Council aims to enable a future in which technological and social innovations cultivated through private sector activities on and around the Moon return value to society and industry on Earth.