JAPAN WUT PODCAST 189 "QR CODE ROADS"

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ON PODCAST 188

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Is it a good idea to slap QR Codes on Japan’s road signs for self-driving cars? Will unions be able to halt A.I. from taking jobs from the Japanese? How far will Japan go to acquire automated defense capabilities?

Show Notes

JAPAN

Parasitic worms 'manipulate' praying mantises onto asphalt roads: Japan researchers

SOCIETY 5.0

In the age of autonomous driving, road signs may become "QR codes" List of anticipated use cases

Tobu Railway has announced its intention to introduce new autonomous trains on the Daishi Line.

Sekisui House launches Japan's first "AI Clone Owner" service that allows home buyers to easily consult with the owner via chat

DXYZ's facial recognition platform "FreeiD" introduced to Pressance Corporation's "Presance Grand Kyoto Kawaramachi," the first condominium in the Kansai region to use all facial recognition technology

Japan audio industry calls for appropriate use of AI as voice actors air frustrations

SoftBank taps Nvidia for Japanese 'AI grid' project

Prime Minister Ishiba plans to provide more than 10 trillion yen in public support to the AI and semiconductor industry over seven years

Microsoft Research Asia – Tokyo established

Hello Work to use artificial intelligence (AI) to list job vacancies

AI-equipped unmanned demonstration aircraft to make first flight in November 2025, Defense Acquisition Agency official reveals at technology symposium

"Fire watchtower" equipped with AI camera installed in Oarai Town

China's Baidu releases the latest version of its autonomous driving platform "Apollo" to the world

North Korea tests exploding drones as Kim calls for mass production

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

102 local Japan traditions halted or lose folk cultural asset status amid population decline

Japan's births likely to fall under 700,000 for 1st time in 2024

Salmon poachers in Hokkaido likely solicited by foreign language ads online

SGOTW

American tourist accused of defacing gate at Meiji Shrine with fingernails

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 176 "INTERNET OF GARBAGE"

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ON PODCAST 176

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Do you want IoT Trash Cans in your neighborhood? How can hackers easily exploit Solar Farms? Why are Japan’s Facial Recognition Condos selling so well?

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SHOW NOTES

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

More migrant workers heading to South Korea instead of Japan

SOCIETY 5.0

IoT smart trash cans that help reduce waste in cities Low environmental impact and can be installed anywhere

Solar Power Systems Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks via IoT: Cases of Fraudulent Transfers Emerge

Google to offer "AI Overviews" of web searches in Japan and elsewhere

Hitachi and NEC look at biometric authentication for cash register payments -- what are the aims and how will it become more widespread?

[All-Facial Recognition Apartment] Crecia IDZ Chiyoda Iwamotocho Investment Condominium Units Sold Out (PR TIMES)

"Towards the world's most interesting fisheries industry" Re:Start Fisheries Invested in Ribble Co., Ltd.

Turing develops "Terra," Japan's first generative world model for autonomous driving

Yokohama National University develops smart motion recognition system integrating stretchable devices and AI

China's growing 'robotaxi' fleet sparks concern, wonder on streets

INSANE Wuhan ROBO Taxi (Why the US don't have this?)

JAPAN WUT 170 "TOYOTA AI DRIFT"

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ON PODCAST 170

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Why are Toyota's self-driving cars drifting on American racetracks? What is the status of the super-important Digital Twin techno-layer in our AI futures? Who was in Japan to strengthen the ties between the US military and Japan's SDF?

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Show Notes

DEPOPULATION

Japanese Population Drops by Single-Year Record of 860,000; All But One Prefecture See Decrease in Population

SOCIETY 5.0

Toyota's world-first "self-driving tandem drift" marks an important step in the evolution of autonomous vehicles

TRI / Stanford Engineering Autonomous Tandem Drift YOUTUBE

Current status of autonomous driving and DigitalTwin technology (Latest version 2024)

Taxis to be equipped with 360-degree recording device for autonomous driving development

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

US to upgrade military command in Japan as concerns grow over China

JGSDF Plans to Build a Missile Firing Range on Japan’s Easternmost Island

Japan Wut 164 "AUTONOMOUS CURRENCIES" (Copy)

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ON PODCAST 164

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Show Notes

Self-Driving Car startups are seeing massive cash injections in Japan, but can they deliver the goods? The BRICS plan on launching a new blockchain-gold-backed currency, called the UNIT. What does this mean for Japan and the G7 Economy, which is hellbent on minority issues and riding the tailcoats of its past?

DEPOPULATION

Meiji Yasuda Life to extend retirement age to 70 amid labor shortage

SOCIETY 5.0

Aichi Prefecture to start regular operation of self-driving vehicles in Nagoya City from October

Autonomous driving venture Turing raises additional 1.5 billion yen, total amount to 6 billion yen, to be used for development of computing infrastructure

Kajima and SoftBank subsidiary to operate Level 4 autonomous bus, first private company to do so

DEDOLLAR/BITCOIN

BRICS will have its own currency

Japan Wut Podcast 150 "Diversity Japan"

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ON PODCAST 150

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Japan’s top-down strategies that insist on diversity in the country, Japan’s role in the Supply Chain Wars, and how Japan could get caught up in the Dedollarization Movement.

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Show Notes

ODD JAPANESE ITEM

Water-absorbing, quick-drying umbrella holder

JAPAN

Sony, Nature magazine create award for female researchers

Seniors 75 and older top 20 million in Japan for the first time

'Understanding systemic discrimination' new students' 1st homework: U. of Tokyo president

Kishida secures $2.9 bil investment from Microsoft

Japan's elderly population living alone to jump 47% by 2050

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Southern island worries it will host long-range missiles

Phl, Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement May Be Signed By Yearend – Envoy | OneNews.PH

Russian and China warn NATO to stay out of Asia

Russia to hold talks with North Korea on increasing quota for DPRK students

Japan will prove a worthy collaborator with AUKUS

NATO and a Taiwan contingency

DEDOLLAR/BITCOIN

US deficit poses ‘significant risks’ to global economy, warns IMF

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

Meitetsu Bus joins hands with central Japan city to train foreign bus drivers
Japan's population falls below 125 mil; down for 13th straight year

CHINA

US, Vietnam fear Cambodia’s China-backed canal could serve military goals

China Confirms It’s Building a 4th Aircraft Carrier—and the Tables Are Turning

China is moving towards full monetary independence

NORTH KOREA

North Korea can use gene-editing tech to craft military bioweapons, US warns

GREEN JAPAN

Sumitomo Electric Unveils New Material Made from Recycled CO2 and Metal

Hitachi Zosen Leads Decarbonization of Shipping Industry with Green Methanol Technology

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Japan Wut 134 "AI Infrastructure"

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ON PODCAST 134…

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… We discuss new uses of Facial Recognition and QR Codes in Japan, the Last Naked Man Festival in Japan, and the importance of Localizing AI Infrastructure. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes Ep. 134

IT'S OMGWTF!

Japan's horrible opinion titles

SOCIETY 5.0

Public servant uses QR codes for safety on Tokyo subway system

A Conversation with the Founder of NVIDIA: Who Will Shape the Future of AI?

Sanyodo Shoten Toyota store opens unmanned at night, adopts facial recognition, opens 24 hours, plans to open 5 stores by March next year

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

Japan to boost child allowances to tackle falling birthrate

88-year-old woman arrested for dangerous driving after hitting 3 children

1,000-Year-Old ‘Naked Men’ Festival Held for the Last Time

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PHOTOS EP. 134

Japan Wut 130 "AI Dream Reader"

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ON PODCAST 130…

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… We discuss a Japanese breakthrough AI-based technology that allows users to transmit their brain imagery, Japan’s issues with demographics, and dive into the Supply Chain Wars. Strap in — You are living in Interesting Times.

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SHOW NOTES EP. 130

IT'S NEW!

Lipton releases Pancake Tea Latte in Japan

SUPPLY CHAIN CHINA WAR

Weaponizing Biotech: How China's Military Is Preparing for a 'New Domain of Warfare'

Demand for shipments from China via rail through Russia has ‘skyrocketed’ since the Red Sea attacks

Taiwan to deploy drone defences around power plants amid fears of Chinese attack

Japan, Germany sign military supply-sharing pact amid China rise

SOCIETY 5.0

Japan scientists create world's 1st AI-generated images using brain activity

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

Governor in east Japan wants to abolish nationality requirement for prefecture gov't jobs

Tokyo bus operator banks on foreign drivers as shortage looms

Japan's foreign workers surpass 2m for first time, led by Vietnamese

CHONGRYON (JAPAN’S N. KOREANS)

"Wakayama Compatriots' Spring Gathering / Congratulations to the Youth in Their Twenties

New North Korean propaganda poster depicts tank crushing South Koreans

North Korean drones pose major risk to South Korean airports, lawmaker says

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PHOTOS FOR PODCAST 130

Japan Wut 129 "AI Scoundrels"

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ON PODCAST 129…

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… We discuss SoftBank’s quest for AI Offices via the WeWork Model, the Japanese Carbon Capture Technologies as a Breakaway Society, and more analysis on Japan’s declining population and changing demographics. Strap in — you are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes Ep. 129

IT'S NEW!

Japan’s Homo Sausage now comes with cheese

JAPAN

Rules outlined for storing CO2 underground in CCS projects  | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Toyota Chairman Says Electric Cars Will Never Dominate Global Market

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

Governor in east Japan wants to abolish nationality requirement for prefecture gov't jobs

Tokyo bus operator banks on foreign drivers as shortage looms

Japan's foreign workers surpass 2m for first time, led by Vietnamese

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Photos 129

Japan Wut 121 "CBDC Crickets"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… We discuss Japan’s Cricket Bug Beers, how De-Dollarisation affects Japan, and using Giant Dolls to Combat the Woes of Depopulation. Strap in. You are living in interesting times.

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NOTES FOR SHOW 121

Japan

• In hectic post-COVID Japan, more people prefer sleeping to partying at year-end: poll

• 'Olive oil shock' hits dining tables in Japan as prices of some products rise by over 50%

• Diet debate on inflation-fighting FY2023 extra budget begins

EAT THE BUGS

• Two companies in Gunma prefecture sell drinks containing cricket powder in demonstration experiment

• Is cricket beer delicious? A drink that touches people's emotions

DEDOLLAR

• IMF Releases Digital Currency Handbook For World's Central Banks

• What $6.9B China-Saudi currency swap means for Beijing’s efforts to globalize yuan

• La Russie et le Venezuela confirment leurs plans de dédollarisation

DEPOPULATION 

• This Japanese village was on the verge of being deserted, so a resident filled it with life-size dolls

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Japan Wut 115 "Build Back Worse"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… We discuss how uninformed politicians at Japan’s G7 meet are trying to regulate AI as a Build Back Better move — they don’t care if their AI solutions are worse, as long as they control them and you don’t. We also cover how the De-Dollarization movement is affecting the Japanese economy, and why tech shows seem to be stuck in dumb Sci-Fi ruts!

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SHOW NOTES FOR 115

HIGH NOT HIGH

• Hay fever-fighting rice to be part of Japan's economic stimulus

NEW PRODUCT

• Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance to offer AI security camera service

WAR

• What Russia could give North Korea in exchange for weapons to use in Ukraine | NK PRO

SOCIETY 5.0

• Japan Mobility Show provides glimpse of robots as future of rescue efforts

• Koito, Denso collaborate to enhance night driving safety

• G7 agrees on guiding principles for AI developers to address risks

• Press corner

• An economy that works for people

• Japan, EU agree on developing rules for cross-border data flows

• Japanese scientists make better lithium-ion battery without cobalt

• Brakes applied to driverless public transport after Fukui accident 

• AI suitcase tested outdoors to guide visually impaired people

• AI map analysis uncovers 34 probable ancient burial mounds in Japan

CHINA

• Chinese yuan beats Euro, is 2nd most used currency in global payments system SWIFT

DEDOLLOR

• DCJPY: A Revolution in Digital Currency and Global Connectivity

• De-Dollarization? China Completes First Digital Yuan Purchase For Cross-Border Oil Transaction

• India Rejects Russian Demand To Pay For Oil In Chinese Yuan

SGOTW

• U.S. soldier arrested for trespassing in home in Aomori Prefecture

DEPOPULATION 

• Aging Japanese town faces challenge as foreign population grows 20 times larger in 20 yrs

• Small group learning key to survival of Japan's least populous city

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Photos Related to Show 115