Matt Bigelow

music, podcasts, and recordings from tokyo

Podcasts and self-produced music from Tokyo. AI trends from Tokyo, Asia News Analysis, Odd Japanese Items, and documenting the rising conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 223 "Yeti Valhalla (Adam Jang) Tales from Sketchy Vietnam"

Adam Jang aka rock legend Yeti Valhalla (Instagram) is back in Tokyo. He discusses how to become a fully independent music artist, which involves some sketchy stories from Vietnam, where he is based. The conversation meanders across business, family, tech, and gear.

See him on the Tokyo tour here, at Meguro Live Station on August 24. Always a banger! I toured with him once!

Yeti Valhalla YouTube

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 222 "Outer Space is for Friends!"

JAPAN WUT MUSIC PODCAST 12 "Southern Rock 2"

Discover Japan Wut's latest AI Music Podcast, blending gritty Southern Rock with vibrant Japanese flair! Dive into innovative sounds, AI-driven creativity, and cultural fusion. Tune in at matthewpmbigelow.com

JAPAN WUT A.I. MUSIC PODCAST 11 "Southern Rock"

Operation Southern Grit: Classified Audio Mission

Agents, your ears are needed for a covert drop of Southern Rock instrumentals on our AI Music Podcast! Infiltrate the riffs of Phantom Blaze and navigate the pulse of Crimson Helix. This ain’t just music—it’s a stealth op through Obsidian Spark and Thunder Wraith. Click the link to decode the soul of the South. Time’s ticking—join the mission now! #SouthernRock #AIMusicPodcast

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 221 "The New Fabians" with Michael Yon

Michael Yon Substack https://substack.com/@michaelyon
Michael Yon, former Green Beret & war correspondent, connects the dots between Zero Borders Activism in Nagasaki, anthropological warfare, Fabian Tactics, Thailand-Cambodia conflict, China’s Belt and Road, Oligarchical Systems and more!

Michael Yon is a former Green Beret, author, and war correspondent with over two decades of experience reporting from conflict zones across more than 100 countries. His work focuses on unfiltered, on-the-ground perspectives, covering complex issues like global insurgencies, migration, and geopolitical conflicts. Today, we’ll discuss his insights from the frontlines.

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 220 "Normative Dystopia"

Japan navigates normative dystopia within its Society 5.0 infrastructure. Egypt and China use yuan and AI-driven payment systems to rival the U.S. dollar. U.S.-Japan trade deal strengthens G7 against Beijing’s rise. #SupplyChainWar #Geopolitics

Show Notes
Intelligence Brief: U.S.-Japan Trade Deal and Indo-Pacific Supply Chain Dynamics

The U.S.-Japan trade agreement, finalized on July 23, 2025, reshapes Indo-Pacific supply chain dynamics, placing Japan at the heart of the G7-BRICS rivalry. Japan, a G7 member and U.S. ally, faces a complex strategic landscape due to its maritime borders with BRICS nations like China and Russia, as well as BRICS-friendly states such as North Korea. The deal commits Japan to a $550 billion investment in U.S. semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and energy, alongside increased imports of American cars, rice, and agricultural products, and $17 billion annually in U.S. defense equipment. By lowering U.S. tariffs on Japanese autos from a threatened 25% to 15%, the agreement deepens Japan’s integration into G7 supply chains, particularly in critical technologies, reducing reliance on China, its largest trading partner. This aligns with G7 efforts to counter BRICS influence through initiatives like the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, bolstering regional economic security. However, Japan’s geographic proximity to BRICS states heightens geopolitical risks, as strengthened U.S.-Japan military cooperation could escalate tensions in the South China Sea or over Taiwan. The deal’s economic shifts may disrupt regional trade, with higher U.S. tariffs on non-NAFTA auto imports pressuring Indo-Pacific allies and Japan’s pivot to U.S. agricultural imports challenging exporters like Australia. Japan’s G7 alignment grows stronger, but its delicate position necessitates careful diplomacy to mitigate potential economic retaliation from China.

Egypt, China central banks sign pacts to boost yuan use, payment systems

US lifts sanctions on Myanmar junta allies after general's letter to Trump

US demands to know what allies would do in event of war over Taiwan
Russia To Begin Trading Gold On St. Petersburg Exchange

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: Russia conducts 90% of trade with BRICS countries in national currencies
One Billion AI Agents Concept and Crystal Intelligence

How One Japanese Town Succeeded in AI Transformation

AI Breakthrough for Depression: Japan Approves New Brain Scan Device

Japan’s Neuromorphic Chips Power AI Revolution

Neuromorphic chips mimic the brain’s neural networks, using spiking neural networks (SNNs) to process data as event-driven spikes, unlike traditional chips’ binary operations. This parallel processing integrates memory and computation, cutting latency and power use. Unlike von Neumann architecture, which separates memory and processing, neuromorphic chips emulate synaptic connections, enabling efficient, real-time AI tasks. Japan is capitalizing on this to lead in AI and edge computing.

Sony’s neuromorphic image sensors, developed with Prophesee, use event-based processing to capture only visual changes, enhancing robotics and consumer tech like BRAVIA XR TVs, powered by the Cognitive Processor XR for human-like sensory processing. Sony’s acquisition of Insightness bolsters its efforts. Toshiba’s 2016 Time Domain Neural Network chip, presented at A-SSCC, targets low-power IoT devices. In 2019, with Johns Hopkins University, Toshiba unveiled a chip mimicking hippocampal spatial perception at ISCAS in Sapporo, enabling compact autonomous robots for infrastructure inspection.

Use cases include: 1) Autonomous Robotics: Neuromorphic chips enable robots to process sensory data in real time with minimal power, ideal for tasks like infrastructure monitoring. 2) Healthcare Diagnostics: These chips power real-time analysis of medical data, enhancing wearable devices for continuous patient monitoring. Japan’s smart tech strategy, backed by R&D, drives growth. The Asia-Pacific neuromorphic market, led by Japan, projects a 119% growth rate from 2024 to 2029 (Mordor Intelligence). Globally, valued at $138.2M in 2023, it’s set to reach $600M by 2032 with a 55% CAGR (Global Market Insights).

Sources: Mordor Intelligence, Global Market Insights, Toshiba, Yole Group

Osaka Prefecture to ban people aged 65 and over from making phone calls in front of ATMs; new AI camera technology to combat fraud

JAPAN WUT A.I. MUSIC PODCAST 10 "Nu-Jazz"

🎺Get ready to groove with our Nu-Jazz AI Music Podcast! ⚡️Sizzling tracks fuse soulful Nu-Jazz vibes with heart-pumping energy. Tune in and strut! 🥁

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 219 "Populism & Technocracy Surge in Post-Covid Japan"

Dive into the surge of populism & technocracy in post-Covid Japan with our latest episode. We unpack Sanseito’s rise, Team Mirai’s tech-driven vision, and the LDP’s historic loss. Where do people go if they have no home? #JapanElection #Populism #Technocracy
Based on the 2025 Japanese House of Councillors election results, here are all parties that won seats, including Team Mirai, with their respective seats, votes, and percentage of votes cast:

  1. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): 38 seats, 12.81 million votes, 21.6%

  2. Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP): 26 seats, 7.40 million votes, 12.5%

  3. Democratic Party for the People (DPP): 17 seats, 7.62 million votes, 12.9%

  4. Sanseito: 14 seats, 7.43 million votes, 12.5%

  5. Komeito: 12 seats, 5.21 million votes, 8.8%

  6. Japan Innovation Party (Ishin): 8 seats, 4.85 million votes, 8.2%

  7. Japanese Communist Party (JCP): 4 seats, 3.56 million votes, 6.0%

  8. Reiwa Shinsengumi: 3 seats, 2.67 million votes, 4.5%

  9. Team Mirai: 1 seat, 1.40 million votes, 2.6%

JAPAN WUT AI MUSIC PODCAST 9 "TOKYO REGGAE NIGHTS"

Japan’s summer heat is here, and so is The Japan Wut Podcast! Dropping our second AI-crafted reggae & ska music episode to vibe with the season. Tune in for chill beats and island feels!

#JapanWutPodcast #Reggae #Ska #SummerVibes

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 218 "PHILANTHROPIC CUTLASS"

JAPAN WUT A.I. MUSIC PODCAST 8 "TOKYO TRIPPIN REGGAE & SKA"

Dive into the vibes of AI-generated Ska & Reggae! From skanking beats to chill rasta rhythms, we explore the future of music creation. Listen now and join the groove! #AImusic #Ska #Reggae

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 217 "ORGAN ON A CHIP"

JAPAN WUT AI MUSIC PODCAST 7 "SYNTHWAVE 2.0"

Dive into the AI Music Podcast Experiment! Explore cutting-edge AI music generation with Synthwave 2.0. Discover mind-blowing, AI-crafted tunes that redefine what great music can be. #AIMusic #Synthwave #MusicInnovation

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 216 "JAPAN, CHINA, AND IRAN"

How are Japan and China mitigating energy risks amid the Iran Situation? What’s going on with Japan’s 5G Infrastructure? Can Tourism Surveillance be the answer to Over Tourism?

#War #SupplyChains #5G 

Show Notes

Breakthrough 5G Railway Test on Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line 

JAPAN AI Slashes Press Release Creation Time with In-House AI Agent

5G mmWave Coverage Enhancement in Nishi-Shinjuku

China-build 1043-meter tunnel of KKH project completed

Israeli strikes one more challenge for new China-Iran rail corridor

JAPAN WUT MUSIC AI PODCAST 6 "ASIA PSYCHEDELICA"

donate: paypal.me/japanwut

The Saffron Wraiths on Japan Wut AI Music Podcast 6: Asia Psychedelica. Gritty riffs, funky drums, Khmer mysticism. Japanese-Cambodian band blends Sabbath & Cambodian rock. Survived guitarist's '90 shoe-itis death. #AsiaPsychedelica

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 216 "AI-CARBON SURVEILLANCE"

JAPAN WUT A.I. MUSIC PODCAST 5 "SWAMPY SECONDS"

🎸🥁 Japan Wut Podcast — AI-powered music in Tokyo, blending gritty swamp rock with driven breakbeat instrumentals. Making BGM Great Again on the cutting-edge of AI music generation! #AIMusic #SwampRock #Breakbeat #TokyoVibes #Suno 

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 215 "GOAL EIGHT"

We compare Japan’s GOAL 8 in Weather Manipulation and China’s Brain Computer Interface Ambitions to see if SDG/ESG initiatives are behind Japan’s move to become a multicultural society.

SHOW NOTES

SOCIETY 5.0 

Moonshot: Gaol 8: Vision of Society in 2050 (Illustration)

ECONOMY

Prices in Japan for more than 1,900 food items to rise in June

Japan's real wages drop for 4th month in April

Japan’s births mark record low in 2024, plummet below 700,000

BIRTHS/DEATHS/PPL DOWN IN JAPAN

2017: Difference: 946,065 - 1,340,433 = -394,368

2018: Difference: 918,400 - 1,362,470 = -444,070

2019: Difference: 865,239 - 1,381,098 = -515,859

2020: Difference: 840,835 - 1,372,755 = -531,920

2021: Difference: 811,622 - 1,439,856 = -628,234

2022: Difference: 770,747 - 1,582,033 = -811,286

2023: Difference: 758,631 - 1,575,936 = -817,305

2024: Difference: 686,061 - 1,605,298 = -919,237

JAPAN WUT A.I. MUSIC PODCAST 4 "SWAMP ROCK IN JAPAN"

“Swamp Rock” is a chicken-picking, resonator shifting collection of blues-inspired jams set in Japan’s marshes, swamps, and brackish lakes. Explore the State-of-the-Art in AI music. Do you like it, or hate it?

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 214 “A.I. WATER”

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