Japan's T-Point system is merging with SMBC's V-Point system, which can be used globally at Visa-affiliated stores. The new system will keep the "V-Point" name and starts in spring 2024.

R to @TotemoTech: Totemo looks very great, I'd love to discusss with you, Can you open your dms ?

The Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism (MLIT) have granted permission for the first Level 4 autonomous vehicle in Japan. The 12 km/h cars are powered by electromagnetic induction wires embedded in the road.

Stylenic have announced a smart plug called Woox which is compatible with home assistants, allowing users to control their household appliances with their smartphones or through voice assistance, as well as timer setting and outdoor operation. https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1500440.html

Pixiv has announced measures to address issues related to AI-generated artwork, including potential disadvantages to specific creators, unjustified collection of creators' works by programs, and the over-representation of AI-generated works to users who do not want to see them.

Tobu Railway's flagship train, the "Spacia," will debut its new model, the "Spacia X" in July 2023. They're definitely going for the cosy, upmarket feel with modern private compartments and luxury café counters in the cockpit suite. #JapanTrains https://dime.jp/genre/1587648/

Canon will release its first Vlog camera, the PowerShot V10, at the end of June. The camera features a 1.0-inch image sensor and an ultra-wide 19mm equivalent lens, and Canon has been developing a new genre of cameras to propose new video experiences. https://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1500137.html

Softbank revealed it's working with LINE to launch a Japanese GPT. It aims to catch up with OpenAI by using tech developed by LINE. "It's not a question of whether we can beat US and Chinese companies, but whether we can participate in the future if we don't."

For the nosey among us, @itmedia_news took a look at the desks of staff at game company @SquareEnix and has shared the photos. Enjoy this bit of tech voyeurism! https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2305/10/news040_2.html

The Japanese online artist community, @pixiv, has announced measures to address issues arising from AI-generated artwork, e.g. identity theft & mass replication of creators' work. The measures include stricter guidelines, a new monitoring system, & a filter for AI-generated art.

Inspired by Transformers, the Tatamel is a foldable electric bike that won a CES 2023 award. Top speed: 40kmh (25 mph) Range: 30km (19 miles) Time to charge: 3 hrs Weight: 57kg (126 lb) Price: 550,000円 ($4k) Available: Autumn 2023 (via lottery open now) https://www.icoma.co.jp

PayPay will only accept payments from its own credit card from August 1 and introduce a 2.5% charge for combined payments, sparking a trend on Twitter with the hashtag “PayPay worsening” (#PayPay改悪). Now that PayPay has decent market share, it's starting to build up its walls.

Casio's new watch "LF-20W" is getting attention online for its retro design. Priced at 4400 yen, some say it's expensive for a "cheap" Casio. Casio clarified that "cheap Casio" is not a brand name but a term coined by fans. https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2304/27/news189.html

LINE and Yahoo are due to merge into a new org called… wait for it… LINE Yahoo! It's planned to happen on Oct 1st, with focus on revenue, ID linkage, cross-member programs, PayPay, and a premium membership system. https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2304/28/news175.html

Japan's traffic laws will allow for level-4 autonomous vehicles from Apr 2023 with emergency response automation. The goal is unmanned bus patrols & monitoring multiple vehicles from one spot. Look forward to more safety, efficiency and… cuteness. https://www.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/topic/1494234.html

Piracy of Japanese content apparently caused ¥2.2tn of damages in 2022, up 5x during the pandemic due to greater consumption and new monetisation methods. Brazil joins China and Vietnam as hubs for piracy. https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2304/27/news186.html

KDDI stops using health insurance cards as personal ID due to fraud. SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile are reviewing policies (but likely to follow IMO). Other IDs like driver's licenses and passports will still be accepted. https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2304/25/news180.html

Japanese space venture ispace attempted the first-ever private moon landing, but landing was not confirmed past the scheduled time. Communication with the lander was lost, and it's unclear if the landing was successful. 😢 https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2304/26/news071.html

Starting April 27th, LINE Pay, Seven-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart in Japan will offer a 10% cashback promotion for Apple Gift Card purchases over ¥5000, up to ¥100,000. The campaign ends on May 7th and the cashback methods vary by retailer. https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2304/24/news137.html