JAPAN WUT? Podcast

ON PODCAST 152 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT Japan’s Space Debris Challenge, the expanding role of Facial Recognition in Japan, and Dedollorization with Japan’s Central Bank scrambling to uderstand why. Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com SHOW NOTES STRANGE ITEM Japan startup reveals 'world's first' close-up space debris image COVID Japan discarding 240 mil. COVID vaccine doses, worth $4.3 bil. SOCIETY 5.0 Launch of edge facial recognition system for industrial PCs that promotes DX in factories and offices Triple Eyes - Setagaya Ward Adopts AI Facial Recognition System AIZE for Attendance Management (Triple Eyes Orig) DXYZ's facial recognition system packaged with Mitsubishi Estate's comprehensive smart home services Can AI help solve Japan’s labour shortages? Japan’s first hydrogen-fuelled ferry begins service Tokyo exhibition looks at what technology will be like in 2050 Japan city streams AI avatar vids of mayor speaking English to connect with foreigners SUPPLY CHAIN WAR Balikatan to stir up new trouble as it lures Japan China coast guard confronts Japanese politicians in disputed East China Sea area Another US precision-guided weapon falls prey to Russian electronic warfare, US says Is China stockpiling resources in case of future war? DEDOLLAR/BITCOIN Russia, China reach near complete de-dollarization in bilateral trade

Japan’s AI Bear Detection Tech, Japanese government to use Google and Microsoft for AI Governance, and China’s AI Laser Submarines. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times. Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com STRANGE TIMES Baby-crying sumo contest JAPAN Japan's ruling party loses all 3 seats in by-elections Japan, EU to boost economic security ties, reduce dependency on China India to surpass Japan as 4th-largest economy in 2025, IMF says COVID Japan discarding 240 mil. COVID vaccine doses, worth $4.3 bil. SOCIETY 5.0 Japan to trial AI scheme for spotting bears as attacks on humans rise EU-Japan to cooperate on AI, data flows Microsoft, Google partner with Japanese cities on AI rules Can AI help solve Japan’s labour shortages? Japan’s first hydrogen-fuelled ferry begins service Tokyo exhibition looks at what technology will be like in 2050 Japan city streams AI avatar vids of mayor speaking English to connect with foreigners CHINA China Confirms It’s Building a 4th Aircraft Carrier—and the Tables Are Turning China closing in on laser-propelled fast, stealth subs

ON PODCAST 150 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT 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. 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

ON PODCAST 149 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT Review of a new Japan paper detailing rising cancer rates in Japan post-Covid Jab, Self-Driving Buses in Japan, and Making Your Carbon FootPrint “FUN” at the Osaka Expo! Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com Show Notes ODD NEWS World's 1st recycled diapers go on sale at stores in southwest Japan COVID Increased Age-Adjusted Cancer Mortality After the Third mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Vaccine Dose During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan SOCIETY 5.0 Japan eyes launch of new dialogue framework on int'l AI regulations Fujitsu Given Guidance over My Number System Problem - JIJI PRESS Japan's first "maximum speed on general roads" autonomous driving level 4 bus to be realized No driver required, finally 60 km driving OK Water DX ~ Health check of water pipes using artificial satellites and AI SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 opens across the city on April 27 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Press Preview Reveals Exciting Sustainable Technological Innovations JR East to offer online banking, capitalize on reward points NTT's new generative AI platform able to parse diagrams, charts SDF begins Tomahawk missile training for FY2025 deployment Yomiuri Shimbun, NTT Announce Joint Proposal on Shaping Generative AI Microsoft to invest $2.9 bil. in Japan to enhance AI data centers United States and Japan Announce Two New University-Corporate AI Partnerships Worth $110 Million Carbon Footprint Management System Going Green at Osaka Expo: New App Makes Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Fun Oracle to invest $8 bil in Japan to respond to growing AI demand

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 Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com

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. Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com 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

ON PODCAST 146 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT 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. Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com 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)

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. Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com 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

ON PODCAST 144 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT 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. Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com 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

Author and former US Navy Intelligence Officer Max von Schuler joins the podcast to discuss his books about informing the Japanese people about the coming collapse of America, and how that might affect Japan’s very tight economic and military relationship with the USA. Japan is playing a very dangerous game right now, and almost nobody knows it. Follow Max on X Watch Max on Youtube Buy Max’s books on Amazon Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com

ON PODCAST 142 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT The rising use cases of AI for cultural and political soft power, a WEF Death Cult Economist gets his Japanese booze ad pulled, and Japan’s push to adopt ammonia as a green resource. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times. Follow: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website, please share: matthewpmbigelow.com Show Notes OMGWTF Want to spruce up your bike helmet? Switch over to Oshare-heru JAPAN BUSINESS Economist who advocated mass suicide pulled from Kirin ad TOWARDS EQUALITY: Mercari official deciphers unexplained pay gap SOCIETY 5.0 Japan prof. probes strengths, weaknesses of rapidly evolving AI translation: interview AI supercharges threat of disinformation in a big year for elections globally New AI tools can record your medical appointment or draft a message from your doctor SUPPLY CHAIN WAR 4 firms plan first ammonia-fueled ammonia carrier ship Japan's JERA, IHI to test ammonia as fuel at coal power plant

ON PODCAST 141… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT 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

ON PODCAST 140… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT 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. Follow the host, Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram 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

New Glass & Laser Tech in Japan that could be used for Power Generation, 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. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com Show Notes IT'S 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

A dive into AI Drone Swarms in Japan, AI Shinkansens, and Digitization gone wrong in the case of a foreigner being arrested with the wrong/right ID. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com IT'S OMGWTF! Baby Bird Reincarnation sofa bed SOCIETY 5.0 Japan firms look to AI to bolster disaster prevention and mitigation Automate Shinkansen track inspection with vision AI box equipped with FPGA-based SOM Shin-Idemitsu and DXYZ introduce facial recognition platform “FreeiD” to the first existing condominium in the Kyushu region Tokyo police mistakenly arrest Filipino man for allegedly overstaying Meta CEO Zuckerberg meets Japan PM Kishida in Tokyo to discuss AI Digitalization drive proving tough for Japanese school teachers First drone probe of melted fuel inside Fukushima Daiichi reactor halted due to equipment glitch DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION Number of births in Japan hits record low in 2023 Foreign firefighting volunteers increasing in east Japan prefecture 'One lifetime, one encounter': Myanmar woman named Japan hot spring guesthouse GM

ON PODCAST 137… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT A Survey About Japanese Excrement, Innovations in Medical AI Tech, and how Japanese youngsters are seeking opportunity abroad. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com SHOW NOTES IT'S OMGWTF! People in Japan more worried about smell of others' excrement than their own: survey SOCIETY 5.0 AI system supports diagnosis of intractable and rare diseases, free website now available 口座開設、マイナ搭載スマホで完結 25年夏までに - 日本経済新聞 Japan firms look to AI to bolster disaster prevention and mitigation Uber starts delivering food in Tokyo, solving delivery manpower shortage with robots JAPAN BUSINESS Shoma moved from Japan to Sydney for a working holiday, but instead he found a financial bonanza CHINA BYD expands Japan exposure with more EV models, dealership network BYD to launch new EV in Japan yearly through 2026 to gain foothold

ON PODCAST 136… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT … 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. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com Show Notes DEDOLLAR https://www.herald.co.zw/brics-states-ditch-usd-in-95pc-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

ON PODCAST 134… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT … We deep dive on Facial Recognition Tech in Kyushu, Japan re-emerging as a chip hub, and how China’s scorched-earth policy in its real-estate market could be part of the Supply Chain Wars. Strap in. You are living in Interesting Times. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com TOPIC LIST IT'S OMGWTF! Watch that melted during atomic blast over Hiroshima sells for more than $31,000 SOCIETY 5.0 Marubeni tests facial recognition payments on local transportation on Kumamoto city streetcars Trial/NEC collaboration “face recognition” demonstration experiment Facial recognition cash register is efficient as you can pay by looking into the camera for 1-2 seconds...Trial HD and NEC Facial recognition for unmanned hotels Hotels are opening one after another in central Miyazaki City JAPAN BUSINESS Japanese investors raise a glass to Nikkei record Outbound tourism still low after COVID-19, inbound recovers CHINA China's central bank buys 10 tonnes of gold, extending its buying spree to 15 straight months China to spend US$1 billion to revamp Tanzania-Zambia railway to move minerals Is the CCP Deliberately Undermining China's Economy?

ON PODCAST 134… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT … 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. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com 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

ON PODCAST 133… DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT … 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. Follow Matt: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram Official Website: matthewpmbigelow.com 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.