Why are smart poles being installed in Tokyo’s core? America and China are engaged in AI kill chains, but where does Japan fit in? Would you live in Toyota’s experimental smart city?

SHOW NOTES

JAPAN

Tokyo snake cafe hopes to dispel fears, spread reptiles' charm with 2025 zodiac

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Kill chain clash: China and US battle for all-domain supremacy

Japan links Chinese hacker MirrorFace to dozens of cyberattacks targeting security and tech data

SOCIETY 5.0

Tokyo Smart Pole Project (2023)

Hakodateyama: AI cameras are being used to visualize the surrounding area's congestion

Toyota’s experimental smart city nearly ready to roll

Vacant Houses AI (Grok Message)

TVI releases AI-equipped omnidirectional camera capable of recording 360 degrees

Updated "AI Fish Size Measurement Camera" function to display the number of fish caught in real time and streamline the work of fish farmers

[Electronic Components General Feature] High Tech Focus: Kyocera improves productivity of AI and robots through sensing

Nikken Academy introduces face recognition attendance management system--supported by Sanshin Electronics

[Facial Recognition Apartment] Versclesia IDZ Machiya Residential Condominium Units Sold Out

Microsoft expects to spend $80 bil on AI this fiscal year

Why is it morally wrong for Japan to import energy from Russia, but totally fine when it comes to the Middle East? How is Japan using AI Satellites to monitor dark ships on the high seas? Why is one of Japan’s richest men meeting with Donald Trump?

Show Notes

JAPAN and WEF

Courtesy Call from H.E. Mr. Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum

Børge Brende

Japan brewer to create first space sake in history, sell single bottle for 100 mil. yen

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Honda, Nissan eye merger talks to form world's 3rd biggest auto group

Rival LNG supplies, Sakhalin's depleting fields give Japan an exit from Russian gas

Import volume of crude oil to Japan in 2023, by country

SOCIETY 5.0

Using AI to track "dark ships" via satellite

9 chatbots for local governments. Also introducing track records and implementation examples

AI agents promise to lighten your shopping load − if they can earn your trust

Trump and SoftBank CEO Unveil $100 Billion Investment in U.S. | WSJ News

SoftBank plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects over next four years

GO Japan Transportation and self-driving car technology Waymo enter into strategic partnership to test technology in Tokyo

Group company DXYZ's facial recognition platform "FreeiD" will be standardized for all future apartments built by Tokyo Miraiz

Migaro HD introduces facial recognition platform "FreeiD" to The Parkhouse Shinsaibashi Tower

JR East announces "Suica" future vision, using facial recognition to collect fares and to allow passengers to get on and off trains without passing through ticket gates, utilizing "location information"

Kitamura HD introduces Bitkey's "workhub" to its offices; 8 group companies enter with facial recognition; 84% say it's "convenient"

Understanding bus stop congestion and usage status - face recognition system demonstration experiment to begin on route buses from the 12th [Niigata]

Russia teams up with BRICS to create AI alliance