The future of drones

In just five years, things have changed quite significantly on the drone front. In 2022, Japan brought in some new policies regarding drone usage. The two most significant changes within that framework are that 1. you now have to register your drone and 2. you need to apply for permission to fly your drone at least ten days in advance of the flight. There are also various other rules. For example, drones must not fly above 150 meters from ground / water level, they must not be flown within 30 meters of people or buildings and you must not fly them near airports. 

Combined, it has become harder for people to use drones in Japan, which is probably why since 2022 you see less and less drone footage on Instagram! Personally, I welcome these rules and regulations. It was getting a bit out of hand, with people were flying drones in tourist areas and even at festivals, which was very distracting and even dangerous.

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually you will need a permit to fly a drone. You can actually already get certified to fly a drone in Japan. Drone pilot certification began in 2016 to realize state-of-the-art and safe use of drones. And today, October 8th, is drone pilot day. A pun on 10/8: "10 = Do" and "8 = Ronpa"; "doronpa", an abbreviated version of drone pilot!