TOKYO - In Japan’s high-priced real estate market, a new service has emerged that aims to uncover overlooked and undervalued properties. The target: the 99% of real estate on Earth that remains largely untapped.
A start-up founded by a former JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) researcher is taking on the challenge, aiming to revolutionize property discovery and distribution by combining satellite data with artificial intelligence.
When asked about the potential market scale, the founder estimated it at 10 quadrillion yen.
This episode of "Breakthrough" follows writer Hideo Ai as he interviews a pioneer using space and AI to transform how real estate is found and transacted.
The focus is Akutake, CEO of Penetrator, the first start-up to spin out of JAXA. He guides Ai through Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, a densely packed residential area.
"Here’s a quick quiz," Akutake says. "This area may look like an ordinary neighborhood, but there’s actually a vacant lot here that could be a real estate opportunity. Can you spot it?"
Looking around, the buildings seem tightly packed, with no visible open space. But using their proprietary software, Akutake pulls up satellite data that reveals a vacant lot hidden behind a row of buildings.
When they visit the location in person, the space is indeed there—tucked away and invisible from the street.
But the software does more than just identify empty lots. It also integrates data from legal registries to instantly display information like property ownership, location of the owner, and percentage of land held.
"This land, for example," Akutake explains, "you can see who owns it, where they live, and what share of the property they hold."
The software, called WEAR, is a real estate search tool equipped with AI trained to analyze satellite images and identify vacant lots, aging buildings, or even underused parking spaces. It combines this with government data—including ownership records and construction details—providing a comprehensive picture in seconds. The system is patented.
To test the software’s capabilities, Ai tries searching for land on the assumption he wants to build a house.
"The interface is simple," Akutake says. "You enter the desired location and search radius. For example, is there somewhere you've always dreamed of living?"
Ai selects Aobadai in Meguro Ward, Tokyo.
Like a standard property search site, the user inputs a neighborhood and specifies the type of property—such as vacant land, old homes, or parking lots—based on intended use.
"The broader the area or the more detailed the criteria, the longer the search takes," Akutake notes. "But even then, if you’re looking for around 100 properties, it only takes about three minutes."
"Three minutes?" Ai repeats, surprised.
Source: テレ東BIZ
