Japan Wut 147 "AMMO FOR AI"

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ON PODCAST 147

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Japan startup aims to overtake Tesla in the EV game, China escalates the Supply Chain War with more Blockchain Payments, and Japan is getting sucked deeper into the US’ Military Industrial Complex. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes

SOCIETY 5.0

OpenAI to open its first Asia office in Tokyo this month

Japan Rad develops "deepfake detection system"--provides beta version for companies

Next up is mass production of fully self-driving EVs from Japan, surpassing Tesla.

Tokyo bets big on hydrogen with moves to boost commercial fuel cell vehicles

AWS invests $15bn into Japan's data ecosystem amidst AI boom

CHINA

China launches Blockchain project for Belt and Road initiative

Cambodia getting a China-backed, game-changing canal

China Bets Big on Military AI

China: Cosco and China Shipping merger plan receives Beijing approval

Chinese textile industry's growing innovation capacity help unleash new opportunities in global market

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Japan designates 5 airports, 11 seaports for use by SDF, JCG

Japan needs 'hulls in the water' to defend Red Sea: Armitage report

AUKUS weighs expanding security pact with Japan to deter China, FT says

Upgrade eyed for U.S. Forces Japan commander: sources

U.S. experts urge revamp of military command architecture with Japan

STRANGE

Debt-laden Tokyo woman lured into overseas prostitution describes abuse by clients

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 146 "Bugs by Proxy"

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ON PODCAST 146

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The hotel industry jumps into AI monitoring, Japan’s iconic vending machines get an algorithm injection, and the Eet Ze Bugs industry takes their aim at fish.

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Show Notes

HIGH OR NOT HIGH

Man arrested after pressing naked butt against water faucet in Tokyo park

JAPAN

Japan's February household spending falls 0.5%, down for 12th month

Shizuoka governor to resign after gaffe insulting vegetable sellers

Japanese firms' plans for CO2 export, storage in Southeast Asia on rise

SOCIETY 5.0

AI is spying on the food we throw away

Uber to launch ride-hailing services in Japan

NEC provides facial recognition payment service for demonstration of local currency service by TOPPAN Digital

Chino Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducts demonstration experiment of facial recognition payment at physical stores, making payments easy even for people who do not have or are unfamiliar with smartphones

Kirin vending machines utilize SoftBank's proprietary AI algorithm; joint demonstration results show that demand forecasts were highly accurate compared to actual sales.

EAT THE BUGS

Making Aquaculture More Sustainable: Marubeni Farms Yellowtail on Insect-Based Feed

JAPAN/NATO

Estonian PM Kaja Kallas to become the new NATO chief Kaja Kallas (WIKI)

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 145 "AI Carbon Warfare"

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ON PODCAST 145

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Japan’s Shohei Ohtani bats against against an AI version of himself, and a deep dive on Japan’s positions in the Carbon Credit Trade by leveraging its AI systems in the Supply Chain Wars. Strap in — You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes

SOCIETY 5.0

Japan considering legally binding regulations for AI developers

New AI traffic project developed in Hungary, Turkey and Japan

Robots replicate reality: High-tech pitching machine mimics every pitcher

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Japan eyes rules for firms to disclose greenhouse gas emissions data

"Everyone Is Panicking": Major Cocoa Processor Scrambles To Find Beans As Prices Hyperinflate

オリーブオイル値上げ「過去に例見ないほど」欧州での不作影響

The world of coffee being reordered by EU laws to stop cutting of forests

Experts exchange views on use of international carbon credits

NEC And Sumitomo Corporation Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement To Expand Global Sales Of The CropScope Agricultural ICT Platform

CropScope innovates agricultural operations with digital agriculture utilizing AI and data analytics

Optimize the entire value chain players in food and agriculture

Taiwan's Smart City Summit & Expo 2024 attracts global carbon trading leaders

Oita forestry firm signs carbon trade deal with Line operator - The Japan Times

CHINA

Taiwan Confirms Presence Of US Green Berets On Islands Very Close To China's Coast

Taiwan training laser weapons on China's drone threat

How China ended up financing the Houthis’ Red Sea attacks

INDOPACOM Boss: China ‘Soon to Be World’s Largest Air Force’

Japan to build shelters on isles near Taiwan in case of attack | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 144 "Woven City"

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ON PODCAST 144

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Japan’s Computer Vision Companies, Underwater Drone Collaborations, and North Korean IT workers infiltrating Japanese companies ahead of China’s possible war on Taiwan. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes

NEW PRODUCTS

Honda Unveils Japan's First Plug-In Rechargeable Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

Hydrogen vehicle filling station opens at former Tokyo Olympics site

JAPAN BUSINESS

75% unaware of gov't measures on 140-year job to replace Japan's aging water pipes: poll

SOCIETY 5.0

株式会社TIGEREYE

Local governments supporting elderly by promoting cashless payment systems

From Driverless Cars To Smart Homes: Inside Japan's Futuristic Woven City By Toyota

Japan Airlines starts drone service in remote areas for disasters

Japan, Australia to conduct study on underwater drones

Japan's Defense Ministry looks into photonics for drone warfare

FEATURE: Local gov'ts supporting elderly by promoting cashless payment systems

Japan, ASEAN to launch joint QR code payment services in FY2025

NORTH KOREA

North Korean IT workers impersonating Japanese nationals to secure jobs: Tokyo

Kim Jong Un lauds tank unit's history of invading Seoul in headquarters visit

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 141 "AI Love in Normie Land"

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ON PODCAST 141…

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The AI Sector gets weird in Japan’s Normie World, Tokyo metro to setup new missile shelter, and facial recognition continues to expand in Japan’s medical fields. Strap in, you are living in Interesting Times.

Show Notes

ODD

Tokyo to create missile shelter in Azabu-Juban subway station  

JAPAN BUSINESS

BOJ discusses an end to negative interest rates

Honda Unveils Japan's First Plug-In Rechargeable Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

Pushed into corner, Yamaha set to return to domestic production

SOCIETY 5.0

Artificial intelligence generates sentences from messages received...Yu Kashii reads out an unstoppable ``love AI novel'' JN

Ishikawa/Kaga City completes admission to hospitals using MynaCard and facial recognition JN

My Number Card: Experience the use of insurance cards using facial recognition at a shopping mall

CHINA

Chinese Scientists Implant First Pig Liver Into Brain-Dead Human

China building giant hypersonic railgun for space launches

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Xinhua Commentary: China-Europe rail route stabilizes global supply chains amid turmoil

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 140 "Logistics Sharing"

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ON PODCAST 140…

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The “Eat the Bugs” Market is failing in Japan, BRICS’ De-dollarisation campaign is affecting Japan, and Japan is facing its own internal Supply Chain War. Strap in — You are living in Interesting Times.

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Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com

Show Notes

OMGWTF

Japan-bound US plane makes safe emergency landing in LA after losing tire on takeoff

EAT THE BUGS

High school students develop eco-friendly feed using crickets; UN-recommended protein source for chickens

Eating crickets is at a crossroads due to headwinds; high hopes, deep-rooted resistance / Aichi

DEDOLLAR/BITCOIN

Kremlin Reveals Plans to Create a "Politics-Free" BRICS Blockchain-Based Payments System

Report: Japan's E-Commerce Giant Mercari to Accept BTC Payments

U.S. embrace of remote working empties offices, weighs on banks

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

``Logistics sharing'' that breaks common sense: 42 companies from different industries collaborate

SOCIETY 5.0

New ride-sharing service to start in Osaka this fall, to be rolled out nationwide in 2025

Now is our chance to govern AI for women’s empowerment

Tokyo startup looks to AI to boost gastrointestinal cancer detection

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PHOTOS

Japan Wut 139 "Dystopia as a Service"

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ON PODCAST 139…

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New Glass & Laser Tech in Japan that could be used for Power, the promises of Dystopia as a Service, and Japan’s plan to bolster its migration influx after meeting and donating to the IOM. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes

OMGWTF

Japan, Swiss scientists create glass that generates electric current

Project Silica (Microsoft Femtosecond Laser Storage)

SOCIETY 5.0

Tokyo subway installs clear translation screen before 2025 events

Itochu and SoftBank Invest in Pioneering Nuclear Fusion Startup BLF

Institute for AI and Beyond Leads Discussions at AI House Davos During the World Economic Forum - SoftBank News. Bringing IT closer to home.

NEC commercializes "Manufacturing DX video AI analysis solution" that automatically recognizes and measures time of human work from camera images at manufacturing sites

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

Japan Bolsters IOM Global Appeal with USD 32 Million for Humanitarian and Climate Actions

Mr. TSUGE Yoshifumi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended

The Ministry of Justice：Courtesy Visit to the Minister of Justice by the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Japan considers doubling limit on skilled foreign workers

Up to 820,000 foreign 'specified skilled workers' expected in Japan from FY 2024

Japan races to court foreign talent as it doubles skilled worker cap

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Photos

Japan Wut 136 "Water From Air"

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ON PODCAST 136…

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… We look at how the weaponization of the US Dollar is affecting Japan, the Supply Chain Wars and Japan’s place in securing supply and demand, and Japanese robots made out of meat. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes

DEDOLLAR

BRICS states ditch USD in 95% of Trade

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Most Japan fishing groups hit by China import ban over Fukushima row

U.S.-led Indo-Pacific deal on supply chain resilience takes effect

Japan diversifying seafood export destinations after China ban

Shipping insurance rates soar on Red Sea missile attacks

How China is Tightening its Noose on Critical Minerals

Japan's Defense Ministry hosts Singapore Airshow display for 1st time

SOCIETY 5.0

Researchers Create Two-Legged Robot Powered by Muscle Tissue

Flying Vehicle Company Signs Deal With Drone Maker

Egypt to manufacture ‘KuSui’ device to generate water from air with Japanese technology

FANUC Iberia Office Expansion in Spain – Strengthening FANUC’s Business in Europe

FANUC Applications / Fanuc Robot Video 1 / Fanuc Robot Video 2

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PHOTOS EP. 136

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Robot Videos

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 133 "AI DNA CHIPS"

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ON PODCAST 133…

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… We discuss breakthrough research that turns your DNA into Computer Storage, Pig Organs for Human Transplants, and how Japan’s reliance on Foreign Technology is creating Digital Trade Deficits. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times.

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Show Notes Ep. 133

IT'S OMGWTF!

Japan produces 1st pigs designed for organ transplants

SOCIETY 5.0

Japan Takes a Leap into the Future with Its First Metaverse High School

Wakayama Signs Pact on Flying Cars

Researchers design a processor from DNA — microfluidic chip completes math calculations and also stores data in DNA

JAPAN BUSINESS

Japan slips into recession, becoming 4th-largest economy, behind U.S., China and Germany

Japan's digital trade deficit widens to $37bn on Big Tech reliance

China's warehouse robots set to ease Japan's logistics crunch

U.S. Techstars CEO eyes Japan as Asia's hub for accelerating startups

WAR

SDF to soften hairstyle rules as recruit shortage worsens

[All Politics is Global] Escalating Russia-North Korea Arms Trade a Critical Security Threat

Tweet:Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 

Yet, we see war risk insurance has gone from 0.02% to almost 1 %, except for Chinese ships which is at 0.35%.

We also see a reduction in ships transiting the Suez from 70 to 39 y/y and in tonnage from 4.7M to 2.0M y/y.

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PHOTOS FOR SHOW 133

Japan Wut 131 "AI BabySitters"

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ON PODCAST 131…

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… We discuss Japan’s crazy business numbers, AI Babysitters for Japanese Cars, and Edible Cricket businesses that are declaring bankruptcy (VICTORY!).

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Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com

SHOW NOTES EP. 131

IT'S OMGWTF!

Undersea wine aging hoped to boost southwestern Japan island economy

JAPAN BUSINESS

SoftBank Group marks return to profit as it cuts Vision Fund losses

Japan's total debt swells to record ¥1,286.45 tril in 2023

SOCIETY 5.0

Japan firms unveil prototype model of robots that can babysit in car

AI 2.0: Japan Opens Up the Tomorrow of Solving Social Issues | Japan Insight - Investing in Japan - Japan External Trade Organization

DEDOLLAR

TUCKER PUTIN (INTERVIEW EXCERPT)

EAT THE BUGS

bankrupt The group's edible cricket farming business is sluggish Total debt: 242.9 million yen

A cricket farming venture goes bankrupt less than three years after its founding .

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PHOTOS EP. 131

Japan Wut 125 "Tele-Absentees"

ON PODCAST 125…

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… We discuss Japanese robots that encourage absenteeism, how Japan and Vietnam are using Society 5.0, and how the Supply Chain Wars are affecting you and your family. Strap in, you are living in Interesting Times.

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EP 125 Show Notes

NEW PRODUCTS

Discover trending products from Japan.

JAPAN

• Japan PM Kishida vows to take lead in decarbonization in Asia

• ‘Nowhere to go’: African refugee applicants camp in Tokyo park

• Japan's Nippon Steel to buy US Steel for $14.1 bn: firms

• Singapore, Japan work on green and digital shipping corridor development

• SK’s Chey proposes South Korea-Japan economic bloc akin to EU

• Japan to issue $11 bln in climate transition bonds in February -sources

SOCIETY 5.0

• Stability AI’s plan to counter AI’s Silicon Valley bias

• Stability AI

• ChatGPT, other AI to be studied for military risk by new Japan body

• Absent students in Kumamoto can now attend school via robot

• Vietnam, Japan enhance cooperation in high-quality human resources training

WAR

• S. Korea, U.S., Japan start operating missile-info sharing system

• US clears AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder sales to Japan

• Territorial disputes with Japan 'over,' Russia's top diplomat says

• Shippers mask positions, weigh options amid Red Sea attacks

CHINA

• China poised to eclipse Japan as the largest auto exporter in 2023

• China starts up world's first fourth-generation nuclear reactor

• China to conduct sea trials for its first ultra-deepwater drilling ship

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IMAGES FOR SHOW 125

Japan Wut 124 "Moonshot Weather"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… We discuss Japan’s Moonshot Program to Control the Weather by 2050, the Phillippines as a flashpoint for war in the Indo-Pacific, and Singapore’s decision to allow tourists to use China’s CBDC (Dedollarization).

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Show Notes for Episode 124

NEW JAPANESE TREND

• Character for tax (税) picked as kanji of 2023 

JAPAN NEWS

• All 47 prefectures to have same-sex partnership systems in 2024

• Fukushima nuclear plant worker exposed to radiation

• USJ roller coaster suddenly stops, leaving passengers suspended in the air for over an hour

SOCIETY 5.0

• Moonshot Reseach and Development Program - Science, Technology and Innovation- Cabinet Office Home Page

• Moonshot R&D｜Program｜Goal8 Controlling and modifying the weather

• Driverless buses could be running on public roads by year-end

• Coming Soon: Your Travel Will Be Restricted By Personal Carbon Allowances

• Japan to introduce electronic arrest warrants, interrogation records

• Toyota's "Hydrogen Sharing Network" May Let You Fill Up Your Car At Home

• What is carbon capture and why does it keep coming up at COP28?

• Japan digital minister hints at move to make 'My Number' ID cards mandatory

• ANA Holdings, Joby partner with Nomura Real Estate Development for vertiports in Japan

DEDOLLAR

• china-singapore-let-each-others-tourists-pay-digital-yuan-beijing-seeks-globalise-its-e-cny-currency

EAT THE BUGS

Ecology, launched a nutrition bar containing crickets that promotes health benefits by containing iron and zinc.

https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/12/06/11381/

Ecology (Shinjuku, Tokyo, CEO Seiya Ashikari), which produces food ingredients using edible crickets, announced on December 6, 2023 that it will release a new nutrition bar containing cricket powder. A press briefing was held. The company's crickets contain high amounts of iron and zinc, and the company promotes the health benefits of these ingredients. On the same day, the company also announced that it had confirmed that cricket powder promotes the immunostimulating effect of lactic acid bacteria, and expressed its intention to focus on developing products with immunostimulating effects in the future.

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Photos for show 124

Japan Wut 123 "Techno-Swindlers"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… We discuss “Convenience Store Fashion Shows,” how stagnant Japanese bureaucracies hell-bent on SDGs are sucking the life force out Japan’s AI markets, and a potential refugee crisis brewing just outside of Japanese shores. Strap in. You are living in interesting times.

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Show Notes for Show 123

NEW PRODUCT

• FamilyMart hits the runway with ‘Convenience Wear’ lineup

SOCIETY 5.0

• TOKURA Masakazu Chairman, Keidanren and Chairman of the Board, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited

• Japan’s rural areas are depopulating – could a circular economy deliver local economic revitalization?

• Circular Economy in Japan Coming Soon: Your Travel Will Be Restricted By Personal Carbon Allowances

• Japan to introduce electronic arrest warrants, interrogation records

• 草取りの解決で、農業に革命が起きる。雑草対策ロボット開発 - さくマガ

• 田んぼの除草 (Robot video)

• Toyota Hydrogen Factory Scaling Up Its European Activities

• Nvidia to work with SoftBank, other Japan firms to push AI research

• AI-generated imaging using brain activity hits record 75% accuracy: Japan research

• Half of hospitals see no merit in My Number health insurance cards: survey

WAR

• Japan's frontier islanders decry lack of gov't plan to aid Taiwanese fleeing attack

• Hundreds of #Chinese Ships Gather Near the #Philippines

• Japan would play a key supporting role: expert

JAPAN

• Japan backs tripling global nuclear energy by 2050 

• Japan PM vows to phase out coal-fired power at climate summit

• Kobe Illuminage

• 'Roads are for people': Tokyo taxi driver arrested for allegedly running over pigeon

• NPO Director Gets 8 Months in Jail Over Organ Transplants; Arranged Surgeries in Belarus for Japanese Patients

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Photos for Show 123

Japan Wut 122 "My Robot's Load"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

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… We discuss robots on the rise in Japan, the WEF and Japan’s investments into semi-conductors, and more Japanese ships linked to Israelis being hijacked amid the Current Wars. Strap in — you are living in interesting times.

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122 Show Notes

NEW PRODUCT/High or Not High

• Building houses with swarms of drones

SOCIETY 5.0

• Robots helping to solve Japan's '2024 problem,' IFR Reports

• How Japan’s semiconductor industry is leaping into the future (WEF)

• Japan’s tech leaders accelerate its climate actions, ex-PM says

• Sam Altman to return as OpenAI CEO days after ouster with US elite

• Alibaba founder Jack Ma starts ready-made food company

• Docomo to showcase diverse technologies at docomo Open House '24

• Line operator says 440,000 personal data items leaked

WAR

• The First Japan - NATO Cyber Dialogue

• US frees hijacked tanker off Yemen

• Global shipping on edge after Houthis seize Israeli vessels

• U.S. spy drones relocated to Okinawa despite local objection

• Israeli-Owned Ship Comes Under Iranian Suicide Drone Attack In Indian Ocean

JAPAN

• Japan's 330-meter tallest skyscraper Azabudai Hills opens in Tokyo

• Kengo Kuma-designed building paves path as Japan's 1st zero-emissions hotel

• Japan warns that China, Russia share goal of creating new global order

• Origins of Japan's foreign residents shift over 3 decades, further change expected: expert

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Photos for Show 122

Japan Wut 120 "Rope Drones"

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… We discuss Rope Drones, AI Manga, Robot Cameras on Ships, and how war escapes control and predictions, as a Japanese ship with Israeli-control is seized by the Yemeni Houthis amid the Current Wars.

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Show Notes for Episode 120

NEW PRODUCT/High or Not High

• Pokemon and Tiffany team up for new accessory line with Pikachu pendant

SOCIETY 5.0

• New Tezuka 'Black Jack' manga episode created using AI unveiled

• Microsoft CEO Says Sam Altman Will Be Joining Microsoft

• Panasonic envisions a world where homes and offices can be powered by their windows

• 'Aerial robots' as new infrastructure for suburban delivery

• Union files labor complaint as Google Japan rejects talks amid huge staff cuts

• MOL to Install AI System in Cargo Holds of Newbuildings 

WAR

The Houthis have released POV footage of their takeover of the Galaxy Leader. pic.twitter.com/e9S5KjPYU0

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 20, 2023

• Japan seeking talks with Houthi hijackers of Red Sea Israeli-linked ship

• War risk premiums back in oil and shipping as Houthis seize vessel in Red Sea

• Japan should join AUKUS, says former prime minister Taro Aso

• Japan to provide patrol ships to Bangladesh with eye on China

• Japanese marines conduct drill on island seen as vulnerable to China

• Unsafe and unprofessional interaction with PLA-N

• Japan vice ministers visit Ukraine to examine recovery needs

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Photos for Show 120

Japan Wut 119 "Collective Entrepreneurs"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

… We discuss Ramen in Space, how Japan is being peripherally affected by conflicts overseas, and potential SDGs in the Japan Society 5.0 umbrella.

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Show Notes for 119

High or Not High

• More than 10 who ate 'weed gummies' hospitalized this year: Osaka police

• Osaka restaurateur sends ramen ingredients into space for six months to test effects of cosmic rays

SOCIETY 5.0

• Japan Opens New Silicon Valley Base for Japanese Startups

• Sony lures record female engineers despite talent shortage in Japan

• Uber CEO sees huge potential in Japanese ride-sharing market

COVID

• Japan medical groups urge women to check if they are pregnant before taking COVID drugs

WAR

• Car rams into barricade near Israel Embassy in Tokyo; man detained

• Mitsubishi Electric in line to be key supplier for U.S. Navy radar

• ‘Day may come’ when North Korea will attack US to help Palestine: Hamas official

• Philippines joins Japan-led naval drills as brushes with China rise in the disputed South China Sea

• Japan urges China to release national jailed on spy charges

Japan

• Japanese PM Kishida meets Chinese President Xi amid difficult ties

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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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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 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

Japan Wut 112 "Disabled Metaverse"

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ON THIS INSTALLMENT…

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

… We cover Luxury Cars in Your Apartment, the Israeli Ambassador to Japan getting angry about Japanese media coverage of the Israel/Gaza Conflict, Taiwan’s lack of military volunteers despite what’s on the horizon, and a Metaverse for the Disabled being trialled in Tokyo. It’s either WAR, or WEIRD. Strap in.

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Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com

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SHOW NOTES

NEW PRODUCT

• For a price, new condo owners can drive into the living room

WAR

• ISRAEL AMBASSADOR to Japan, Gilad Cohen, discusses Japan Media Coverage about Hamas/Israel

• Mei Shigenobu

• Fusako Shigenobu

• What if North Korea stages military drills with Russia and China?

• Active service in #Taiwan's armed forces has dropped

• Russia’s foreign minister to visit N. Korea amid claims of weapons supplied to Moscow

• Putin’s visit to Beijing underscores China’s economic and diplomatic support for Russia

SOCIETY 5.0

• Tokyo ward tests ‘metaverse’ office for disabled, seeks full support by FY 2028

• CyberLink’s facial recognition receives South Korean cybersecurity certification

• AI chatbot giving farmers tool to help navigate changing world

• Microsoft opens 'AI innovation lab' in Kobe in Japan-first

• Zengin interbank system restored after 2 days of transfer chaos

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Photos for show 112