JAPAN WUT PODCAST 200 "A.I. HAPPY POINTS"

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Did Tokyo implement a social credit score? Why are Japan Banks using A.I. models with blue hair? Who steals a stomach?

SHOW NOTES

JAPAN

Japan's total debt hits record ¥1.3 quadrillion in 2024

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Japan launches fourth Hibiki-class auxiliary ocean surveillance ship for the JMSDF

Seven cities in Fukuoka prefecture plan to accept 47,000 evacuees in case of Taiwan emergency;

Taiwan subsea cable breaks, Coast Guard probes nearby ships

SOCIETY 5.0　

Release of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's official app, "Tokyo App,"

European Man faces years in prison for social media posts deemed "hateful" by AI

Mabuchi Motor introduces generative AI service for in-house operations to all domestic bases

AI cameras used to guide traffic at construction sites, trial introduced in Rifu, Miyagi

A project to install AI cameras to prevent shoplifting at 15 24-hour unmanned Kiyose offal direct sales stores will begin on February 5th on "READYFOR"

Dataiku Releases 2025 Generative AI Trends Report: AI Agents Will Determine Companies' Competitive Advantage

Miyazaki Bank promotes its business by using AI-generated women as exclusive talent

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 199 "THE EMPIRE'S EDGE"

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What is Japan’s current position in the Supply Chain Wars? How will Japan handle the influx of millions of AI Agents in the workforce? Can Japan develop its own Self-Driving Systems?

SHOW NOTES

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Hill hearing explores network of China-controlled ports as security threat

China builds space alliances in Africa as Trump cuts foreign aid

Ghana and China (from Grok)

• Infrastructure Investments: China has financed significant infrastructure projects in Ghana, often through loans and barter agreements. For example, the Bui Dam, Ghana’s second-largest hydroelectric plant, was constructed by Sinohydro through a barter loan involving cocoa exports. China’s Export-Import Bank provided a USD 562 million loan for the USD 622 million project. Other projects include telecommunication networks, highways, water supply expansions, and schools in Accra.

• Rail and Road Development: A USD 6 billion concessionary loan from the China Export-Import Bank is being used to extend Ghana’s rail network, including the 17 km Ofankor-Nsawam road (completed in 2009 with a USD 28 million interest-free loan) and landing sites for fishing communities (USD 99 million interest-free loan).

• Mining and Bauxite Deals: China has invested in Ghana’s mining sector, particularly in bauxite, through deals that exchange infrastructure development for mining rights. These investments have led to significant environmental and social concerns, including deforestation and water pollution in areas like the Atewa forest.

• Total Investments: By 2014, Chinese investments in Ghana reached USD 1.6 billion, with cumulative investments from 2008 to 2015 totaling USD 2.2 billion. Most investments focus on manufacturing, construction, tourism, trading, and services, with building and construction emerging as major recipients.

Owner Of US Defense Contractor Making Fighter Jet, Missile Parts Listed As Chinese Intel Agency Official

Taiwan plans investment and trade center in Fukuoka

SOCIETY 5.0

How can the president of a black company become invincible by acquiring an "AI agent"?

Hackers Using AI Agents To Validate Stolen Credit Cards

SoftBank app SureTalk turns sign language into text

AI agent developed by University of Tokyo startup Tou to streamline construction work

The advent of the "Sales 3.0" era: Algomatic's AI agents will change the future of sales

Napkin AI reinvents the design agency: 4 AI agents generate professional-grade graphics in 5 seconds

Pitch deck for startup that turns existing security cameras into AI agents that successfully raised 2 billion yen [Exclusive Release

Colega AI, an AI agent for restaurants, raises funds and enters the Japanese market in earnest

"Face Recognition System FACEmaⓇ Management Box Series Key Management Box Model," jointly developed with Obayashi Corporation, will be available for rental from February 12, 2025

Migaro Holdings aims to expand its facial recognition service overseas

AI-based medical interviews begin at Kurobe Municipal Hospital, reducing the burden on both doctors and patients

Tuyen Quang Provincial Public Security Department Announces Launch of AI Security System "AI Security asilla" in Detention Centers and Prison Facilities

BYD, China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it will equip all of its vehicles with cutting-edge autonomous driving systems.

Nihon Kotsu and Tier IV begin collecting driving data across Tokyo for AI development

"Autonomous vehicle 'priority lane'" finally installed on Shin-Tomei Expressway in March, tested in left lane at night

Business opportunities inside self-driving cars! Development of concierge AI and special seats progresses

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 198 "YOUR A.I. AGENT COMETH"

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How will AI agents flooding the corporations affect the way we work? Can Japan’s small scale startups compete? What do we know about China’s new secret submarine’s role in the Supply Chain War?

SHOW NOTES

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

New Unreported Submarine In China Leaves West Guessing

Panama: Will not renew agreement with China on Belt and Road initiative

Trump says the US will take over the Gaza Strip

Greenland PM calls election with Trump pressure mounting

Exclusive: Japan weighs Alaska LNG pipeline pledge to win Trump's favour

JAPAN SOCIETY 5.0

OpenAI and SoftBank Group partner to provide cutting-edge enterprise AI "Crystal Intelligence" in Japan, ahead of the rest of the world

JetBrains also announced "Junie," an AI agent that codes autonomously.

Geniee Group company JAPAN AI Co., Ltd. starts offering AI agent "Slide Creation Assistant"

"Rimo Voice" becomes a meeting AI agent

AVILEN starts offering a highly accurate document processing AI agent, aiming to significantly reduce manual work and improve productivity

SoftBank Group plans to deploy hundreds of millions of AI agents -- new business with OpenAI and enterprise AI

OpenAI chief Altman signs deal with S Korea's Kakao after DeepSeek upset

Open House Real Estate to introduce DXYZ's facial recognition platform "FreeiD" for its first all-facial recognition apartment building

DXYZ of the Migaro Group introduces FreeiD facial recognition to apartments in Fukuoka

Prefectural police to introduce AI camera analysis at all 18 police stations in the new fiscal year to quickly process huge amounts of footage

Gunma Prefecture FY2025 Budget Proposal: Safety - AI-based camera footage analysis

Japan Wut 148 "MICHAEL YON IN JAPAN"

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ON PODCAST 148

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One of the world’s top War Correspondents, Michael Yon (X), joins the Japan Wut Podcast to talk about the anti-WHO Pandemic Treaty rallies in Japan, and how his analysis of being in the Darien Gap, the Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong and more applies to Japan’s current situation. Michael Yon has written a series of books to help the Japanese public understand modern day information war. He’s not in Japan to only view the cherry blossoms, folks. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

Michael Yon’s Books HERE

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Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 126 "AI Davos Robots"

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ON PODCAST 125…

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… We discuss a bevy of new AI products, Japan at Davos’ WEF forum, and a new document penned by Ret. Gen. Brig. Robert Spalding (USAF) that elaborates on how to counter China’s rise in the systems of the West, despite the West allowing them in.
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Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com

SHOW NOTES EP. 126

NEW PRODUCT

Japan’s biggest ham company is making “tuna” that contains neither ham nor fish

JAPAN

Elon Musk's Starlink helps communications in quake-hit central Japan

Japan probe lands on Moon in precision touchdown mission

Japan bankruptcies surge in 2023, topping 8,000

SOCIETY 5.0

Davos 2024: Japanese Monetary Authority to adopt India's digital payment models says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Amazon to invest 2 tril. yen in Japan's cloud business amid AI boom

Robots key to new ways of farming as labor shortage looms | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Yokohama library system introduces Japan-1st AI book search

Tokyo bakery, NEC team up to give rise to AI-based 'love bread'

Int'l agreement reached on Japan-proposed rules for flying telecommunication bases

Kono Taro at WEF 2024

WAR

Japan, NATO weigh a dedicated line for sharing security information

Red Sea attacks already bigger issue for supply chain than pandemic, maritime advisory warns

A New Approach: Countering China’s War without Rules

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PHOTOS FOR 126

Japan Wut 118 "Very Clean Future"

ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… We discuss how to implement AI technology into society without it becoming dystopian, by analyzing non-dystopian vs. dystopian solutions that are in the market right now. We also take a look at Japanese Onomatopoeia in the workplace.

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Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com

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SHOW NOTES FOR JAPAN WUT 118

NEW PRODUCT

• Japanese onomatopoeia guidebook hoped to help foreign workers navigate life in Japan

SOCIETY 5.0

• Tokyo has a new vending machine where everything inside is free

• CLEANING TOILET ROBOT (Twitter/X Video)

• Use of AI-based robots on the rise in Japanese agriculture

• This Company Is Bringing Zero-Waste Shopping To Japan (WEF)

• Cities Present Models for Using Data for Social Impact (WEF)

• Artificial Intelligence vs Copyright (In Japan) with supplementary AI or ART Quiz?

• Eco Marine Power introduces cloud communication IoT device for maritime applications

• Toyota trials hydrogen-powered vehicle on public roads in Australia

• Toyota's fuel cell vehicles include food trucks and mobile offices

• E-scooter startup wins over Japanese regulators who confounded Uber

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PHOTOS FOR SHOW 118

Japan Wut 91 "The AI Likes Me"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… Matt talks about raising kids in challenging times, why AI companies keep showing us crap (see photos) and not the good stuff, and some reasons why NATO is opening up an office in Japan.

For photos and additional content, go to the Official Website.

Matthew Bigelow: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram

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Links For Show 91

• Learn the anatomy of a ramen bowl with new 25-piece 3-D Shoyu Ramen puzzle

• China urges 'high vigilance' over NATO expansion in Asia

• Vietnam seeks safer maritime security partnerships

• Is Japan’s military fit for purpose?

• First of its Kind Submarine Visit Forges Relationship

• Japan Is in Dire Need of a Nuclear Strategy

• Editorial: Remembering the importance of children's voices in line with new Japan law

• 45% of young people in Japan have suicidal thoughts: survey

• FEATURE: Japan firms creating cutting-edge tech to make Society 5.0 a reality

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Photos Related To Show 91

Photos: 1) An AI TeleScreen Bot; 2) An automated port in China, 3) WEF, G7, and METI meeting in Japan; 4) Ramen Puzzle; 5) Ramen Puzzle; 6) Kids Fashion in Machida; 7) The Romance Car Excellent Express

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Video of AI that supposedly crosses the Uncanny Valley (note: it does not)

Japan WUT? 86 "Acrylic Screens of Fear"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… Matt discusses a dumb new sleep aid for lonely folk, explains how to use CHAT GPT to help with established translation practices, more bug-eating weirdos, and DJO sends in a segment about how recording frequencies have changed to suit market (and other) needs.

For photos and additional content, go to the Official Website.

Matthew Bigelow: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram
Jeff aka DJO: https://gab.com/TokyoWatch

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Show Links:

• Have a good night’s sleep with Goospy

• ASEAN nations meet, discuss dumping US Dollar, Euro for trade

• Yuan tops euro as Brazil's second currency in foreign reserves

• Foreign Residents in Japan Hit Record 3 M. at End of 2022

• Silkworm pupa "kaiko dumplings" created by Izumigaoka High School students

• Bear meat vending machine proves popular in north Japan city

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Photos related to the show

Photos: 1) Goospy Sleep Aid Product; 2) Bug Eaters; 3) Economic Data; 4) Economic Data; 5) Cover for “AI Super-Powers” by Kai Fu Lee; 6) AI Market Concepts by Kai Fu Lee; 7) AI Market Concepts by Kai Fu Lee; 8) Alleged criminal flips the bird; 9) Bear Meat Vending Machine; 10) Bear Meat Vending Machine [check photos for credits where available]

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CHAT GPT SONNET

The translations done, a sloppy disgrace

My eyes ablaze, I fumed with anger and hate

I tore apart the words, the grammar, the pace

And fixed the errors, with a rage that can't abate

I swapped "individual judgment" with "damn personal"

And "many people said" to "the crowd voiced loud"

No more damn vagueness, now sharp as a chisel

I made it crystal, with no chance to be bowed

"Silent food" now screams "eating without a word"

And "acrylic board" as "plastic screen of fear"

I've made these damn changes with a sense of revolt

For translations that lack sense, I shed no tear

No more damn slipshod work to be ever seen

With my fixes, I feel like a goddamn queen.

Japan WUT? 74 "AI In Our Hands"

ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… Matt and DJO discuss Japanese Ramen Sneakers (photos here), more nonsense from the World Economic Forum and Japan’s limited presence there, being unmasked in a masked-up world, Japanese and US hypocrisy when it comes to China, and some COVID rants.

Matthew Bigelow: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram
Jeff aka DJO: https://gab.com/TokyoWatch

Show Links::

1. Dead Whale

2. Demise of the Dolllar? (Nikkei)

3. Agritech / AI

Dead whale being hauled off in Osaka before potentially being refined into sushi

Converse Ramen Sneakers 1

Converse Ramen Sneakers 2

Converse Ramen Sneakers 3