Future

AI

Improved Facial Recognition: Should You Be Scared or Happy?

2020.03.26 www.gloture.co.jp

Facial recognition technology has spread rapidly in Japan as in the rest of the world. You can unlock your smartphone, tablet or computer with your facial features, but it does not stop there. Companies and governments benefit from this new technology too. But will it lead to mass surveillance? Let’s review the situation. How Does Facial Recognition Work? Of course, it’s not specific to Japan. But if you are new to this technology, here is a simple explanation of how it works. Facial recognition was developed to improve safety – but it does not improve privacy, unfortunately. It is also more convenient, so most smartphones are nowadays equipped with a…
Future

Automotive Industry: When Japan Drives Us to the Future

2020.03.24 www.gloture.co.jp

If you have ever done some Great Tokyo walks, you must have seen amazing and very expensive cars in abundance. Because Japan is known for its advances in technology, it is not surprising that cars are becoming more connected and more futuristic. High-performance cars are flourishing since the 2000s, with companies like Toyota, Honda or Nissan, but also Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru, Nexus, etc. Those companies surprised us with more design and developed vehicles, and they will not stop there. So what does the automotive industry look like today and what will it look like in the future? The Japanese Automotive Industry The best Japanese automotive companies are known globally, and…
Challenges

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Impacts Japanese Companies

2020.03.23 www.gloture.co.jp

As of March 23th, 2020, the coronavirus infected more than 337,553 people and killed 14,654 of them. In the archipelago, 14,654 cases and 41 deaths were reported, which makes people wonder if the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will start as scheduled. Unlike people in many countries, the Japanese are not locked up, even though some restrictions are set. They can go out as much as they want but the government asks companies to implement teleworking. So how does Japan, a country where it is valued to spend never-ending hours at work and to build relationships during drinking parties (nomikai), deal with this crisis? Companies Opt for Teleworking Both the government and…
AI

Japanese Robotics: Amazing or Scary?

2020.03.03 www.gloture.co.jp

Japan is known for its innovation in the field of robotic, its population is not afraid of a world in which robots and humans can coexist together – at least not as much as in other countries. Dr. Kazuhito Yokoi, director of the Intelligent Systems Research Institute, called Japan the ‘robot superpower‘ and not without any reason. In 2019, the iREX 2019 was held (international robot exhibition), one of the largest robot exhibitions in the world where visitors from more than 80 countries gathered to see the newest technologies. Let’s take stock of Japanese robotics and of Japanese people’s opinion on the subject. Japanese Robots: What Can They Do? Robots…
AI

The Most Futuristic Japanese Tech: Today or Tomorrow?

2020.02.25 www.gloture.co.jp

Modern-day society is called ‘society 5.0’, information is added to the stages of human development. With VR, IoT, AI, etc., technology has never looked so futuristic. Japan has always surprised people with its new tech, no one can disagree. Japan’s population is declining, but not its capacity to innovate. Not to be outdone, the government strongly supports the R&D and enacts reforms in favor of innovation (with The National Strategic Special Zones, which facilitate foreign companies to invest in Japan, for example). So what has Japan accomplished, what does this new society look like and will look like in a few years? Today’s Tech Earprint (ERGO) This new technology was presented…