"From 30 years of firefly observation records to the next 30 years of emergence forecasts." Penguin Labs selected for Nagano Prefecture's Shinshu AI GEARS
Combining Tatsuno Town's long-term firefly observations with global environmental AI TWINZ Plus to conserve fireflies and support tourism
Integrating long-term observations with satellite, weather, soil, and terrain data through AI to predict firefly emergence and build a sustainable nature-tourism model
Penguin Labs LLC (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Co-CEO: Shimpei Akatsuka; "Penguin Labs") has been selected for Nagano Prefecture's FY2026 Shinshu-style sandbox program "Shinshu AI GEARS".
The project combines roughly 30 years of Genji firefly observation data accumulated by Tatsuno Town, Nagano Prefecture, with Penguin Labs' global environmental AI TWINZ Plus. We will build and demonstrate an AI model that unifies predictions of when and how fireflies emerge, analysis and conservation of their habitat, and use of fireflies as a tourism resource.
Through the demonstration in Tatsuno, we will turn locally accumulated environmental records into a data asset that can inform future decisions—and, over time, extend the approach beyond fireflies to cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, rare species, and other natural and tourism resources nationwide.
A 30-year data asset in one of Japan's leading firefly towns
Matsuo Gorge and Hotaru Doyo Park in Tatsuno Town, Nagano Prefecture, are among Japan's foremost firefly sites, with more than 10,000 Genji fireflies on peak nights. The Shinshu Tatsuno Firefly Festival has been held more than 70 times, and fireflies are a signature natural and tourism resource for the town.
Tatsuno Town has also continued observations for many years, including firefly counts and landing conditions.
Firefly habitat is shaped by many interacting factors—temperature, rainfall, river conditions, soil moisture, vegetation, and more. As climate change advances, how to put these accumulated records to work for conservation and tourism has become increasingly important.
This demonstration aims to turn these roughly 30 years of place-specific observations into an asset that can serve the next 30 years, with the help of AI.
Not only "when they fly," but "why they fly"—read through AI
We will integrate Tatsuno Town's firefly emergence and landing records with weather data, satellite observations, soil moisture, terrain and vegetation, future climate scenarios, and other environmental data handled by TWINZ Plus.
By analyzing environmental conditions across the Genji firefly life cycle—larval, landing, emergence, and adult stages—we aim not only to forecast timing, but to visualize which environmental conditions influence firefly emergence.
The goal is a system that captures habitat change from data rather than experience alone, and supports conservation planning.
From AI that protects fireflies to AI that grows the local economy
A core theme of this project is not only conserving the natural environment, but also maximizing the value of fireflies as a tourism resource.
If emergence timing and peak nights can be predicted in advance, the information can support visitor communications and help lodging, food and beverage, transport, and event operations raise the quality of the town's overall hospitality.
Looking ahead, we aim to combine firefly-emergence forecasts with tourism-demand forecasts and build a new nature-tourism model that protects the environment while returning value to the local economy.
Penguin Labs does not treat conservation and tourism as opposing goals. We will use AI to support a cycle in which protecting nature creates economic value for the region, and that economic value in turn becomes a force that protects nature.
From Tatsuno Town to Nagano Prefecture, and nationwide
This project is not meant to end in Tatsuno Town.
Communities across Japan hold distinctive natural resources—cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, fireflies, snowscapes, wetlands, rare species—and years of observations of them. In many cases those records remain as staff or resident experience and have not been fully used as digital assets.
With Tatsuno as a flagship, Penguin Labs will establish a model that combines long-term local observations, global environmental data from satellites, weather, and terrain, AI, and local knowledge.
We will then extend the approach from fireflies to cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, rare species, and more—from Tatsuno to other municipalities in Nagano Prefecture and to communities nationwide—turning dormant environmental records into assets for thinking about a region's future.
The business plan also positions the Tatsuno proof of concept as a flagship, then spreads the results to other municipalities and nature-tourism resources in the prefecture as an AI-enabled tourism model originating in Nagano.
About global environmental AI TWINZ Plus (patent pending)
TWINZ Plus is Penguin Labs' global environmental AI. It integrates satellite observations, weather, soil, terrain, future climate, and other environmental data to analyze and visualize local natural conditions and how they may change.
We have been applying it to suitable-crop analysis and climate-impact assessment in agriculture. The Tatsuno demonstration extends that scope to nature conservation and tourism.
On 15 July 2026, TWINZ Plus took first place in Theme 1, technology development that helps solve challenges at production sites, at the NEDO Challenge final hosted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). It also received the Grand Prize at the Satellite Data Utilization Award 2025-2026 held at the same time.
By combining satellite-image analysis, weather-data analysis, demand forecasting, and data integration and visualization, Penguin Labs supports local decision-making.
Comment from Co-CEO Shimpei Akatsuka
Tatsuno Town holds firefly observation records that the community has built over some 30 years. We see this data not merely as a record of the past, but as a vital local asset for protecting the natural environment of the future. Using AI and satellite data is not an end in itself. The purpose is to combine the knowledge and records that local people have accumulated with technology, so we can ask why numbers were high this year, how the environment will change, and what we should protect. From 30 years of records to an asset for the next 30. We want to carry Tatsuno's fireflies into the future, and to take the model born here to Nagano Prefecture and to natural environments across Japan.
What's next
After selection, we will work with Tatsuno Town to organize and integrate firefly observations; combine them with weather, satellite, soil-moisture, and other environmental data; model emergence conditions; and evaluate and visualize future environments, step by step.
We will examine how the demonstration results can inform firefly conservation and tourism strategy, and consider expanding to other nature-tourism resources and municipalities.
About Shinshu AI GEARS
For details on Shinshu AI GEARS, please visit the official website.
URL: https://shinshu-ai-gears.jp/
Company overview
About Penguin Labs LLC
Penguin Labs is a technology company that uses satellite data, weather data, AI, and related technologies to address challenges in agriculture, the natural environment, and local communities. Through global environmental AI TWINZ Plus and by combining local data with global-scale environmental data, we aim to support decisions that have often relied on experience and intuition, and to help realize sustainable regional societies.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Penguin Labs LLC |
| Location | Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
| Co-representatives | Shimpei Akatsuka and Muneyoshi Kajimoto |
| Business | Using AI, satellite data, and related technologies to weave new stories |
URL: https://penguin-labs.com/en
Media contact
Penguin Labs LLC, Public Relations
Web form: https://penguin-labs.com/contact/