Japan Chapter Report 2009

= Japan Chapter =
 * Period covered by report: Jan-Dec 2009
 * Contact name: Toru Mori

Key Accomplishments

 * Held the 4th annual conference in November in Tokyo and Osaka, attended 150 active people.

Invited Arnulf Christl, president of OSGeo Foundation, to give them a speech and promoted OSGeo and its community. Chris Holmes, Eugenio Realini  Gerald Fenoy and many local speakers gave speech.

Held 4 hands-on sessions (pgRouting, MapServer, GeoServer and QuantumGIS) both in Tokyo and Osaka.

In this event, we organized collaboration with other “geo-friendly” communities such as “GeoMedia (geo mash up folks)”, Open Street Map Japan and Android.


 * 5 local sponsors, Osaka-city University, Autodesk Japan, Ouyougijyutsu, Mapconcielge and Orkney.
 * Organized various community activities such as
 * FOSS4G meeting at annual ecology society meeting in Iwate Japan
 * "Osaka mini event" in September. Eugenio Realini, Nicolas Bozon and Naoki Ueda give speech
 * QGIS hands on at National Institute for Agro-Environmental Science in Tsukuba Japan
 * Launch QGIS localization project
 * FOSS4G session at annual GIS society meeting in Niigata Japan
 * Support and promote Japanese version of "GRASS GIS book" (Markus & Helena)
 * Launch MEXT funded project which promotes use of satellite imagery by using FOSS4G tools such as GRASS and QGIS
 * Promoted OSGeo.JP activities to international OSGeo community.
 * Organized local board committee regularly.

Areas for Improvement

 * Enhanced local website (in Japanese language).
 * Increased registored local chapter members.

Opportunities to Help

 * Join and express your opinions to our local mailing lists.
 * Contribute us translated materials of OSGeo.org pages.
 * Become sponsor of the Japan Chapter and support local activities in financial.

Outlook for 2010

 * Enrich the local OSGeo web site.
 * Increase number of local mailing lists subscribers from 170(current) to 300.
 * 5rd annual conference (currently scheduled in November).
 * Organize off line activities such as face to face meetings and beer parties!