Japan is exploring innovative ways to reduce the impact of extreme rainfall disasters by 2050, including artificial rainfall induction and AI-based weather forecasting. This initiative is part of the Cabinet Office's Moonshot Research and Development Program, led by Professor Shunji Kotsuki from the Institute for Advanced Academic Research and the Center for Environmental Remote Sensing. The project, called "Artificial generation of upstream maritime heavy rains to govern intense-rain-induced disasters over land (AMAGOI)," aims to lessen the risk of extreme rainfall in populated areas by inducing heavy rains over the ocean. This would reduce the amount of water vapor reaching land, where it can lead to dangerous flooding. Traditional methods like flood-control dams and levees have limitations, especially when facing the most severe torrential rains, which are largely driven by large amounts of water vapor from the ocean. Kotsuki's team is focusing on identifying key control points in the weather system and taking early, targeted actions to influence weather patterns. According to numerical simulations, this method could reduce torrential rainfall by 10% to 20%. In fiscal 2025, the team plans an experimental trial over the ocean, using dry ice dispersed from an aircraft to induce precipitation. One of the biggest technical challenges is accurately modeling current weather conditions and integrating real-time data into simulations using AI. Kotsuki is also looking into the idea of an offshore dome structure, around 600 meters wide and 300 meters high, designed to redirect wind flow and induce rainfall over the ocean. AI is expected to play a major role in improving weather forecasting, especially in predicting linear precipitation bands, which are currently difficult to forecast accurately. Current forecasting models rely on supercomputers to simulate atmospheric behavior, but Kotsuki's AI approach aims to replace much of that computation by calculating 1,000 scenarios quickly and updating forecasts every 30 minutes. A major challenge in current forecasting models is the underutilization of available meteorological data, with only about 5% to 6% used in operational predictions. Kotsuki believes AI can help overcome this issue, especially through explainable AI (XAI), which can clarify which data the AI uses to make its predictions. Beyond the technical aspects, Kotsuki emphasizes the importance of developing independent, proactive leaders. Inspired by the coaching philosophy of former Japan national soccer team head coach Takeshi Okada, he has shifted from a traditional "teaching" approach to a "coaching" one, focusing on building frameworks that encourage individuals to think for themselves. Kotsuki's lab at Chiba University aims to become the top research group in Japan within five years and the world leader in 10 years. He believes the lab is already among the top in Japan in AI and geoscience and is on track to achieve global recognition. As a project manager for the Moonshot Project, Kotsuki leads a team of around 150 people, emphasizing teamwork, trust, and genuine human interaction. He encourages young researchers to pursue what they believe is important, to be passionate, and to give their full effort, step by step, rather than focusing solely on efficiency or cost.