Info Lounge Awarded Contract for Niigata Prefecture's "Data Utilization Promotion Project" — Building a Next-Generation Open Data Platform Powered by Its In-House Open-Source Software "KUKAN" —

Yokohama, Japan — Info Lounge Corporation (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Masaki Hidano) has been awarded the contract for the "Data Utilization Promotion Project" by Niigata Prefecture.

Overview of the Project

Under this project, public data held by Niigata Prefecture will be prepared and published as machine-readable open data. The project also involves centrally managing metadata—including each dataset's location, content, terms of use, and update frequency—to build and operate an open data catalog site that enables cross-dataset searches.

Info Lounge will provide an end-to-end solution: from establishing open data creation guidelines and automating data cleansing via AI and RPA, to building the catalog site on "KUKAN" (our in-house, CKAN-compatible, open-source data catalog platform) and providing ongoing operation and maintenance. This initiative aims to accelerate Niigata Prefecture's data utilization while reducing the administrative burden on government staff.

The catalog site is scheduled to go live in March 2027.

■ Background

In promoting open data, local governments face a dual challenge: not just "publishing" data, but establishing a sustainable operational framework within the government while simultaneously providing a data infrastructure that private-sector businesses and local citizens can readily put to use.

In many administrative settings, statistical tables and other public data are traditionally formatted for human readability—often using merged cells, multiple worksheets, and non-standard notations. Converting these into machine-readable formats imposes a heavy workload on staff. Furthermore, because a limited number of personnel must handle data preparation and updates alongside their regular duties, it has been difficult to focus on improving data quality or proactively driving data utilization.

At the same time, data users have long needed an environment where they can quickly locate the data they need, grasp its meaning, and immediately put it to practical use.

■ Project Initiatives

To address these challenges, Info Lounge will implement the following initiatives as an integrated solution:

・Development of Open Data Guidelines: We will establish practical, easy-to-understand guidelines featuring plain language and diagrams, enabling staff without specialized knowledge to create and publish data under uniform rules.

・Automated Data Cleansing & Implementation: By combining AI, RPA, and custom scripts, we will automate as much of the pipeline as possible—from the structural analysis of Excel files to their conversion into machine-readable CSV format. We will prepare the target statistical data (31 types) and deliver procedure manuals that enable prefecture staff to maintain the process independently.

・Open Data Catalog Site Deployment: Using our "KUKAN" platform, we will build a modern catalog site equipped with full-text search, faceted search, and instant data previews.

・Manual Development & Operational Support: We will provide role-specific operation manuals, video tutorials, and training, backed by 24/7 technical support to ensure stable, reliable operation after launch.

■ Technical & Operational Features

・AI-Driven Data Preparation: Our proprietary AI structural-analysis assistant automatically identifies the role of each Excel row (heading, data, footnote, etc.) and generates conversion rules. Staff can prepare data simply by uploading files via a browser and applying the generated templates, enabling continuous updates without specialized skills.

・Context-Preserving Data Design ("Three-in-One" Packages): To prevent data from losing its original meaning during digitalization, the platform publishes a "three-in-one" package that bundles the machine-readable CSV, the original Excel file, and the official survey report (PDF) into a single dataset. This ensures that footnotes, references, and other context essential to proper interpretation are fully preserved.

・Next-Generation Architecture via "KUKAN": While maintaining full API compatibility with CKAN, KUKAN has been entirely redesigned with a unified TypeScript architecture and a serverless configuration. It enables lightweight, low-cost operation, Japanese morphological analysis, and deep full-text search that indexes the actual content within attached files (CSV, Excel, PDF, etc.). It also comes standard with an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, fully supporting the automated search, reference, and integration of data tailored for generative AI applications.

・Accessibility & Security: The system features user interfaces compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA (the international web accessibility standard), supporting color-vision diversity and full keyboard navigation. Security and privacy are enforced through HTTPS encryption, robust access control, and automated pre-publication checks for personal and confidential information.

・Future Scalability & Multi-Tenancy: The platform supports a multi-tenant architecture, allowing individual municipalities within Niigata Prefecture to independently manage and publish their own data. This design anticipates the platform's evolution into a prefecture-wide data infrastructure, including the phased integration of municipal data from fiscal 2027 onward.

■ Value for Users & Local Governments

・For Government Staff: Automation via AI and RPA minimizes the manual burden of data preparation and updates. Standardized workflows and templates ensure consistent data quality regardless of personnel turnover, while pre-publication checks allow approvers to release data with confidence.

・For the Private Sector & Civic Tech: Full-text indexing and rich metadata allow developers and data scientists to locate target data instantly. Machine-readable formats and robust APIs streamline data analysis and accelerate the development of new civic services and applications.

・For the Local Community: Driving active data utilization strengthens the competitiveness of local industries, advances regional digital transformation (DX), and fosters deeper collaboration between citizens and the public sector.

■ Future Outlook

Moving forward, Info Lounge will execute this project in phases—covering guideline development, automated data cleansing, and catalog site construction and testing—aiming for a public launch in March 2027.

Following the launch, we will continue to sustain Niigata Prefecture's data infrastructure through ongoing maintenance, optimization, and user adoption support. Info Lounge remains committed to empowering local government DX, elevating open data quality, and building sustainable, highly accessible public data ecosystems.

■ About Info Lounge

Info Lounge Corporation is a Japan-based technology firm specializing in data utilization consulting, web systems, and custom software development. For years, the company has partnered with local governments to build and operate robust open data catalogs, supporting public-sector data initiatives from both technical and operational dimensions.

[Related Links]

・KUKAN Official Website: https://kukan.dev/

・GitHub Repository: https://github.com/kukan-project/kukan

■ Company Overview

Company Name: Info Lounge Corporation

Representative: Masaki Hidano, Representative Director

Address: Room 402, South Core, 8-33 Chigasaki Chuo, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Established: July 3, 2007

■ Media Contact

Info Lounge Corporation

TEL: +81-45-482-4361

Email: kukan@info-lounge.jp