Can Japan solve climate change with $3 million? Why are Japanese companies creating AI Customers? Why aren’t any of Japan’s Universities in the Global Top 100 for AI?

SHOW NOTES

JAPAN

IAEA Upbeat, but Niigata Governor Delays Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Restart

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Japan to give $3 mil to help Pacific islands fight climate change

China's EUV breakthrough: Huawei, SMIC reportedly advancing LDP lithography, eye 3Q25 trial, 2026 rollout

U.S. to levy fees on ships linked to China, push allies to do similar – draft executive order

SOCIETY 5.0　

Hitachi uses generative AI to create "AI customers" and generate catchy slogans

Nissan tests driverless vehicles in city streets filled with cars and people

Japanese university unveils AI program for medical student training

Japan research team develops technology to visualize acne-causing bacteria using AI

Once-reluctant builders now using unmanned machinery, AI

Ibaraki's Tsukuba and Tsuchiura cities to introduce AI into childcare facility admission selection process

Release of Japanese voice platform models "Izanami" and "Kushinada"

Trinity, the AI camera company, launches "unlimited SIM plan for security cameras" that does not require an internet connection

AI: The Future of Ibaraki - Part 1: Efficiency (3) Automatic detection of fires and floods, 24-hour non-stop safety monitoring

Osaka Metro to start offering "face recognition ticket gate" service from March 25th

NEC unveils completely contactless "face recognition payment" to be introduced at the World Expo

Wave, an autonomous driving startup backed by SoftBank Group, moves closer to launching commercial services

49 Chinese universities in the top 100 for AI, zero in Japan; half of top US researchers are from China

'Another DeepSeek moment'? Chinese start-up launches new AI agent, sparking widespread attention