SNA Travel (Tokyo) — Looking at a Tokyo train map can make you dizzy with its seemingly endless spirals of colored lines. But visitors will soon discover that there is an anchor point from which perspective and orientation can be secured–the big green loop called the Yamanote Line.

The Yamanote Line connects the largest city centers in a single loop of thirty stations which takes about an hour to traverse the entire 360 degrees.

The Yamanote can be frightfully crowded at many hours of the day, though the northeastern corner between Ueno and Ikebukuro is certainly its quieter spot.

But among the city centers it provides convenient access to are Tokyo (Marunouchi), Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Akihabara.

Here are the basics to know about these centers:

Tokyo Station: This is a central connection point for several train lines, and of course the one given pride of place in terms of naming. Aside from the attractive red brick architecture of the station itself, it is set in the central banking and business districts of Marunouchi and Yaesu. Not far from the station is the Imperial Palace and its gardens.

Shibuya Station: Shibuya Crossing is one of the most iconic sights in Tokyo, and here is where you will find it. The area is a center for Japan’s youth culture. There are themed bars, dance clubs, and all types of shopping and food options.

Harajuku Station: Walking distance from Shibuya is Harajuku. This includes the famous Takeshita Street is where you can see J-Pop and Harajuku street fashion. On the other side is the massive Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park, where you can escape the city sights without ever leaving.

Shinjuku Station: This station is the largest of them all, full of businesses, shops, and entertainment options. The nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has a great view of the city. Also, this is where you can find the famous (or infamous) Kabukicho, where you can find bars and all forms of adult entertainment.

Ikebukuro Station: Second in size only to Shinjuku, here is another business district. This is a primary connection point to the northern areas of the vast Kanto plain and beyond. Directly outside the station is Sunshine City, an extensive entertainment hub and shopping area.

Akihabara Station: Also referred to as Electric Town, this is the mecca for anime culture, cosplay, and memorabilia. Once a key symbol for Japan’s cutting-edge electronics, in its current state its probably better at nostalgia.

As always when traveling in Japan, please consider your etiquette. Many Yamanote train-goers will suffer in silence when people talk too loud, cackle with bursts of laughter, or eat and drink. They may not speak out, but they are definitely unhappy with the swarms of tourists (and sometimes Japanese young people or drunk company workers) who don’t “read the air” and understand that they should refrain from causing annoyance to other members of society.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Japanese startup ispace has gained notability for the successful launch into space of its Hakuto-R Mission 1 lunar lander, and should it achieve its goal of performing a soft landing on the surface of the Moon, it will write an entirely new chapter of history.

The lander was sent into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on December 11 at 2:38 am local time in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Since the launch, the ispace team reported that initial checks have been promising. Stable communications have been established with the lander and items such as the power supply and all core systems are operating as designed.

Before too long the Hakuto-R lander will be directed to make its way to the Moon. This trip will take about a month.

If all goes well, Hakuto-R will then position for a stable orbit around the Moon. In the final step, it will make its soft lunar landing–probably in late April–and reestablish communications from its position within the Atlas Crater in the Moon’s northern hemisphere.

The payload includes the Rashid lunar rover from Dubai and the two-wheeled SORA-Q, a “transformable lunar robot,” from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Assuming success, Hakuto-R Mission 1 will make Japan only the fourth country (after United States, Russia, and China) to successfully put a vehicle on the surface of the Moon. Both Israel and India have failed in recent years in attempts to do the same. Also, this would be the first such mission accomplished by a private company.

ispace is one of Japan’s leading space industry startups. It was founded in 2010 with rather dreamy-eyed stated objectives such as to “extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon.”

Videos produced by the company envision the discovery of water on the Moon and then the construction of a Moon colony with a population of about a thousand people by 2040.

Whatever the practicality of this vision, ispace has grown to about two hundred employees and has raised over US$230 million. Among its investors are the Development Bank of Japan, Suzuki Motor Corporation, and Japan Airlines (JAL).

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The government has acknowledged that no licensing decisions on Japan’s first casino resorts can be expected this year, signaling yet another setback for the controversial initiative.

In response to a question from an opposition lawmaker on whether an announcement should be expected by the end of this year, an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which oversees the licensing decisions for the so-called Integrated Resorts (IRs), responded that “from a practical viewpoint it seems quite difficult.”

According to previously published schedules, the central government’s licensing decisions were expected to be announced sometime this autumn, but the fall months passed without any indications.

While the IR Implementation Act of 2018 allows for a maximum of three licenses to be issued, local government candidates fell by the wayside one after another in the past years until only the Osaka and Nagasaki bids now remain standing.

Even with these two serious doubts remain: Osaka’s biggest problem relates to land quality and contamination at its proposed site on the manmade island of Yumeshima; and Nagasaki’s major difficulty relates to the economic viability of the existing plans.

But the broader problem which has underlay most of the difficulties faced by the IR initiative all along is the simple fact that it has never had public support. In fact, most Japanese have always opposed allowing foreign casino firms to operate within the country. Years of trying to get around this fact, to deny it, or to argue that it would eventually be resolved have so far proven to be in vain.

While government officials may not openly admit it, the delay in licensing probably has less to do with the state of negotiations between the national government and the two local government bidders than it does with the fact that the Kishida administration is mired in dangerously low public approval ratings and does not want focus attention at this time on one of its most unpopular initiatives.

By the same token, we can speculate that the decision of IR licensing will probably not come before the unified local elections next April.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — As it enters the 5G world, NTT Docomo is increasingly looking across the Tsushima Strait for a little help from its friends; expanded partnerships with SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics have been announced in rapid succession.

With SK Telecom, Docomo has agreed to jointly work on 5G commercial services, with specific focus on millimeter-wave utilization, energy-efficient networks, and Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN).

The two firms will also work together on metaverse-related projects such as joint production of virtual content (including 3D models, volumetric videos, and virtual cities), as well as explore the the possibility of a longterm connection of their two platforms.

Docomo President and CEO Motoyuki Ii commented that “by combining our technological capabilities and the know-how we have cultivated across years of experience, we hope to create new services that will allow customers around the world to experience new forms of excitement. We look forward to working with SK Telecom to develop the businesses of both companies.”

As for Samsung, they are building upon their 5G partnership first announced in March 2021 by having the Korean giant supply a variety of 5G radios to support Docomo’s O-RAN expansion.

These Samsung radios are expected to enable Docomo to build a more versatile 5G network for diversifying its services to consumers and businesses.

The disclosure from the two companies did not specify what new services Docomo has in mind for the Japanese market. However, Docomo has recently committed to a ¥600 billion (US$4 billion) investment over the next five years in Web3 infrastructure.

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SNA Travel (Tokyo) — For those visiting Tokyo for the first time, Shibuya is arguably the best place to start, and it is certainly one of the most iconic.

Shibuya is typically pictured in Japanese minds as a thriving metropolis for young people. And where a large number of young people congregate, new cultures emerge.

But Shibuya Station can be confusing due to its abundance of platforms and train lines. Before arriving at Shibuya Station via rail, you should determine which line you are on, and try to figure out how to emerge on the correct side of the station.

After leaving the station, finding a starting point for your exploration is a good idea. The Hachiko statue is an excellent place to begin. Indeed, it is probably the most famous meeting place in Japan. Both Japanese and foreigners often gather and meet here before venturing into the concrete canyons of big city.

The story of Hachiko makes this place significant. Hachiko, a small dog, waited in the spot for years for his beloved owner who had died while at work. The loyalty demonstrated by Hachiko touched Japanese hearts, and today loyal souls are expected to wait patiently for their friends and family to join them.

Travelers too can use the Hachiko statue as a meeting place in case they are separated.

Shibuya Crossing, right next to Hachiko, is a popular tourist destination since it is the best-known junction in Tokyo. It will be familiar to many people because it appears in most Hollywood movies set in Tokyo.

Shibuya Crossing is incredible, with up to 3,000 people crossing at the same time during peak hours. It is the busiest intersection in the world and is nicknamed the “scramble” for its chaotic layout. You will feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people crossing the street at once, zigzagging across one others’ paths. It is also common to see people recording and taking photos as they cross, keeping the memories once they return home.

Experiencing the crossing from the ground is one thing, but you can also get impressive birds-eye views. The nearest place to see this view is from the Starbucks at Tsutaya, located across the road from the Hachiko meeting place.

But if you want a much more elevated views of the crossing, as well as of the city skyline, go to Shibuya Sky. It will cost you ¥2000 (about US$15 at the time of this writing). The observation deck sits at the 47th floor of the building. From this height, you will see how truly massive Tokyo is. As long as the weather is clear, you will see Tokyo Tower, Skytree, and, on a good day, Mt. Fuji.

If the price is too steep and you’re traveling on a budget, Shibuya Hikarie is a good alternative. Going to its higher floors can also give you a good view through the windows.

If you are into fashion, Shibuya has you covered. One of the most popular places is Shibuya 109. The building was made to be a “fashion community,” according to Minoru Takeyama, its architect. The small retail stores all focused on women’s fashion in its early years, but now there is also a good selection of men’s clothing as well.

Aside from 109, the Shibuya’s streets are lined with fashion brands you will find worldwide, as well as more local offerings.

One store that is a must-go for the first-time visitor is the Mega Don Quijote thrift store. It has virtually anything you can think of. Donki, as it is affectionately called, is sure to have a cheap alternative for anything you may have left at home, if you can find it within the packed maze of aisles. The best part is that it is open 24 hours—and offers some tax-free goods to travelers.

If you want to relax and rest your legs before continuing your exploration, you may have trouble in crowded Shibuya, other than stopping at a coffee shop or restaurant. But one free option is the recently renovated Miyashita Park. This park has a fantastic plant canopy that covers most of its roof. People can come here to have picnics, or you can even relax in the sand, sitting on a beach chair and watching people play volleyball. Extreme sports are not left out, as a roller skate park is also located on the rooftop.

Shibuya is a major venue for Tokyo nightlife.

This area is full of tiny bars, nightclubs, and live music venues. The city’s trains all shut down shortly after midnight, but plenty of people will stay up all night in the Shibuya district before stumbling, exhausted and often drunk, to the first early morning trains.

Of course, for those with money to burn, taxis are an option at any hour.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Drones will now be able to fly over urban areas of Japan after the government’s ban on “Level 4” drone flights was lifted, effective yesterday.

Previously, beyond visual line of sight drone flights were only authorized for unpopulated areas like rivers, mountains, and farmland. In the coming months, Japan residents in some towns and city suburbs may begin to spy drones flying overhead even in their own neighborhoods.

This change in lifestyle, however, will be gradual. The policy is expected to be implemented carefully and cautiously both by the government and the drone firms. There will not likely be a large number of drones flying over urban areas for some years yet.

Key missions for the drones are expected to include disaster relief scenarios and package delivery services. In a handful of rural areas, test services have been ongoing for over a year.

As these services gradually make an appearance in urban areas, government regulators are expected to take a stronger hand. All drones in the country must now be registered and all pilots licensed. Relicensing and recertification requirements will be relatively frequent. When serious accidents occur, these will be investigated by the Japan Transport Safety Board under the auspices of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The authorities are also expected to keep an eye on how the Japanese public reacts. If there are early mishaps, especially any accidents which cause injuries to people on the ground, opinion could quickly turn against drone flights over urban areas.

Indeed, in a bit of unhelpful timing, Naha Airport suspended services for ninety minutes over a suspected unauthorized drone flight just hours before the Level 4 ban was lifted. This caused a number of flights to be delayed or rerouted.

Nevertheless, while many people will not welcome seeing drones flying overhead, this change is probably inevitable, driven by technological developments and the economic need to keep pace with other advanced nations. Logistics, inspection, and monitoring systems are expected to increasingly require drone flights in urban areas.

Beyond that, the next step is urban transportation systems for human passengers as well, which is not far behind, and this may gradually reshape urban lifestyles more profoundly.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — SkyDrive has received a conditional preorder for up to a hundred units of its forthcoming two-seater eVTOL to be used in the skies over Vietnam.

The agreement with Pacific Group, a renewable energy and investment firm in Vietnam, involves a pre-order of ten of SkyDrive SD-05 vehicles along with a conditional preorder option of up to ninety more.

“The urban streets in Vietnam,” explained SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, “are crowded with motorcycles and automobiles… Considering the current social problem of traffic safety and greenhouse gas emissions… we would be happy to contribute to solving Vietnam’s social issues by providing eVTOLs, a means of transportation using the sky, as part of the country’s new transportation infrastructure.”

Le Ngoc Anh Minh, the executive president and founder of Pacific Group, added that “we can foresee the need for eVTOLs in big cities in Asia, such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, in providing a new generation of transportation… Of course, we will have to work closely with SkyDrive and several authorities such as the Vietnam Transport Ministry, Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, and the Vietnam Ministry of Defence from time to time to explain and present the trends and technologies of eVTOL in order to get approvals.”

SkyDrive and Pacific Group have also agreed to work in cooperation on related issues such as vertiports, route and network planning, and other infrastructural requirements in Vietnam.

The SkyDrive SD-05 is expected to be airworthy by early 2025.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Next Food Ecosystem, a Tokyo-based foodtech group, announced this month its expansion plans in Asia, with Singapore acting as the springboard.

The group consists of plant-based meat brand Next Meats; its spinoffs Dr. Foods and Next Restaurant; and Delaware-based Wayback Burgers.

According to Next Meats, they aim to replace all animal meats in people’s diets by 2050.

About a year ago, Next Meats launched its “Next Yakiniku” series, which combines its non-meat technology with the popular Japanese dish.

Beyond Japan, Next Yakiniku is now available in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.

For its part, Dr. Foods unveiled the “world-first plant-based foie gras” this month at a press conference in Singapore.

Singapore is the first country that specifically permits the commercial sale of cultivated protein, also known as lab-grown meat, cultured meat, or cell-based meat. Dr. Foods recently set up a subsidiary in the country.

According to Wayback Burgers Asia CEO Koichi Ishizuka, his firm is looking to partner with food companies and research institutions to produce additional alternative meat products, such as cultured fish caviar and plant-based steak, eventually aiming to sell them to local restaurants.

Wayback Burgers opened its flagship outlet in Omotesando, Tokyo, in March; and it is also looking for expansion into the Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and India markets.

Next Food Ecosystem is planning to list on the Nasdaq stock market in New York, and is searching for additional partners.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — NTT Docomo has committed to a ¥600 billion (US$4 billion) investment over the next five years in Web3 infrastructure.

The mobile phone giant has partnered with the Astar Foundation, the Tokyo-based developers of the Astar Network blockchain, and Accenture, a digital services consultancy firm based in Ireland.

NTT Docomo President and CEO Motoyuki Ii described this as an opportunity to “revolutionize social infrastructure by utilizing blockchain and building a safe and a secure Web3 environment.”

NTT Docomo has not yet revealed specific plans.

However, Ledger Insights, a blockchain news aggregate, speculates that Docomo may be aiming to use Web3 to create a carbon credit scheme aiming at encouraging environmentally responsible polices within the national economy.

Docomo’s moves come in the context of government initiatives such as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s desire, expressed in May, to “develop an environment for the promotion of Web3.” The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) also launched a Web3 Policy Office in July to aid domestic development of the technology.

Web3 refers to a series of technologies and practices that constitute a new decentralized age of e-commerce and communication. The concept envisions a World Wide Web based on blockchain, a digital ledger which functions independently of any central authority. It is therefore said to represent a more secure and democratized information highway.

For his part, Ii described Web3 as “the most impactful technological development since the internet.”

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The failure of the new H3 rocket in a test conducted last month has disappointed those hoping for rapid advances in the Japanese space program.

In a test on October 12, after smoothly leaving its launch pad in Uchinoura Space Center, Kagoshima Prefecture, the H3 ran into trouble at the point when its rocket separated from the booster, resulting in the spacecraft shooting off course.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which led the project, explained in a press release that “the vehicle’s flight attitude [deviated] from the target, and [we] determined that it would be unable to enter the Earth’s orbit as planned. Then we sent a command destruct signal, effecting a failed launch.”

This isn’t the first time that the H3 rocket has faced such issues. The launch was initially planned to take place in September 2020, but a technical problem was identified leading to the rescheduling to last month.

The H3 is Japan’s new flagship rocket, which is meant to replace the currently-operating Japanese rockets–H-IIA and H-IIB–in order to “achieve high flexibility, high reliability, and high-cost performance,” according to JAXA.

These rocket systems allow Japan to launch its own satellites into space without relying on other countries.

As a response to recent failure of the H3 rocket, JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa, set up a task force to determine necessary countermeasures.

The next H3 test is set for March 31, 2023.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — There are now several types of electric or electrified vehicles available on the market and it has become apparent that terminology can be confusing–sometimes deliberately so.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are cars which run on electricity. However, the degree to which electricity is a power source can vary widely.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), often simply called EVs, do not possess internal combustion engines and run, as the name suggests, on batteries alone.

These vehicles have been on the market for about a decade, with the Nissan Leaf being an early, though limited success. In recent years, Tesla has come to dominate the global imagination regarding this kind of vehicle.

BEVs / EVs are also the kind of vehicles which many governments are promoting as part of their countermeasures against the climate crisis. These cars produce no carbon emissions while being operated. However, they can have a negative climate impact when the electricity grids, etc., involve production of greenhouse gases in order to generate the needed electricity for recharging.

Also, from an environmental perspective, there are challenges related to producing a sufficient number of batteries themselves–most of which are created from mined elements such as cobalt and lithium, the supplies of which are by no means infinite.

A second category of vehicle are the hybrids, which themselves come in two major varieties.

Hybrid vehicles run on a combination of gasoline and battery power. They produce some carbon emissions when fuel is burned, though not as much as older vehicles which run entirely on internal combustion engines.

The older variety of hybrid, largely pioneered by Toyota from the late 1990s, use electric power mainly while cruising. The more recently available plug-in hybrids function much like EVs, but use gasoline engines when their electricity charges begin to run out.

The most controversial and potentially confusing term is “electrified vehicles.” While many people may assume that it means the same thing as EV, in fact it refers to all three of the above types–battery electric vehicles, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids.

This term is being advanced by Toyota, in particular, with the apparent objective of misdirecting public debate. The company strongly advocates the view that EVs should not become the only kind of vehicle available on the global market, and that space should be maintained for preserving internal combustion engines.

As a result, when governments and others call for policies such as the conversion of all new vehicle sales to EVs by a certain date–2035, 2040, or whatever–Toyota endeavors to shift the objective subtly, but crucially, away from “Electric Vehicles” and instead toward “Electrified Vehicles,” which would allow sales of hybrids for the foreseeable future.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — China has become a major international space power, and new achievements are likely to follow in the near future. The Tiangong space station appears poised to become the only manned space station within the next decade.

“In the future, many scientific experiments and new technology tests in such fields as space life science, space technology, and space medicine will be conducted in China’s space station, which is expected to make major achievements and breakthroughs in scientific exploration and applied research,” declared China Manned Space Agency Director-General Hao Chung this April at a press conference in Beijing.

The Chinese space station–which was completed at the end of last month–is expected to orbit the Earth for the next ten-to-fifteen years, and its lifespan might be expanded beyond that.

Notably, the only other space station in service, the International Space Station (ISS), which is operated primarily by the United States and Russia, is expected to be retired as early as 2030.

“This is important for the Chinese space program,” notes Beijing-based space law professor Fabio Tronchetti. “The International Space Station won’t run for much longer. You may well end up with only one orbiting space station—the Chinese one.”

The China Manned Space Agency completed its twenty-sixth mission this past weekend, as the Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft was launched carrying six months’ worth of supplies for a crew which will serve aboard the Tiangong space station. The six-month mission will mark the longest period of time that a Chinese crew has been deployed in space.

During the Tianzhou 5 mission, China set a new record for the fastest rendezvous and docking of a cargo rocket. It took just over two hours, according to the lead designer of the cargo system.

The Chinese space program has also found success in its unmanned missions, such as the unprecedented landing in 2019 of the Chang’e 4 spacecraft on the dark side of the Moon. Additionally, last year’s arrival of the Zhurong rover on Mars marked the first time for any nation other than the United States to touch down on the red planet.

Despite China’s string of successes, many Western observers have criticized it for allegedly taking shortcuts and operating with a lack of transparency which compromises public safety.

For example, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has pointed to four known cases of uncontrolled Chinese rocket debris reentries since May 2020. At the latest instance earlier this month, he declared, “once again, the People’s Republic of China is taking unnecessary risks.”

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Mini Electric Vehicles (Mini EVs) appear poised to play a significant role in the Japanese market due to their compactness and low cost.

Most recently, SAIC-GM-Wuling Motor (SGMW) announced that its Wuling Hongguang Mini EV will next year become the first Chinese-made Mini EV to go on sale in Japan.

The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV has clinched the top spot for EV sales volumes in China for the last two years. It has already entered the European market as well.

Tokyo-based Apatech Motors is being employed by SGMW to conduct market research ahead of the launch.

The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is expected to be priced from about ¥650,000 (US$4,700), which should make it highly competitive, even for Japanese consumers who may be initially reluctant to buy China-made cars.

However, this vehicle will not be the only Mini EV on the road.

The Japan-made Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X Mini EVs were both launched in May. Both automakers were so overwhelmed by the consumer demand that they have recently decided to temporarily stop taking new orders.

However, both of these Japan-made Mini EVs cost about ¥2,350,000 (US$17,000), more than three times the price of the China-made Mini EVs.

Apart from the price point, Mini EVs may do well in the Japanese market precisely because of their small size in a country where parking space is limited and often narrow.

One challenge which still needs to be overcome, however, is to have EV charging stations more readily available throughout Japan in order to give EVs greater range.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — JR West Innovations and Nippon Travel Agency have announced a joint initiative aimed at increasing public acceptance of eVTOL air taxis through the creation of helicopter taxi services.

As an initial step, Nippon Travel Agency is offering a two-day program (November 11-12) of helicopter air taxi services between Osaka Yao Airport and Yumebutai on Awaji Island.

“Through this initiative, we will work to improve social recognition and acceptance so that ‘flying cars’ will become an important means of transportation in the future,” the two partners declared.

Tickets for the two-day program, which was first announced in early October, have already sold out. Initially it was not framed as being related to the development of eVTOL taxi services.

While noting that the 2025 World Expo will be a “milestone,” the partners say they are working on future services related to the tourism industry which may start with helicopters before transitioning to eVTOLs.

In early September, JR West Innovations, as part of the Mitsui & Co.-led consortium developing a platform for an air mobility integrated operations management system, received an advanced air mobility financial grant from the Osaka Prefectural Government.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Three major Japanese firms have launched a partnership to develop and provide financial services within ANA GranWhale, a metaverse platform.

The three partners are ANA NEO, a metaverse travel service provider associated with the nation’s largest airline, Sompo Japan Insurance, and MUFG Bank.

According to the press release announcing their partnership, the partners will focus on examining the regulatory and institutional verification processes needed to conduct financial transactions within the metaverse, as well as studying new business opportunities within the metaverse beyond the financial sector.

ANA GranWhale is a metaverse platform which will offers virtual travel, shopping, events, and entertainment options. One of its first offerings will be to allow users to visit and explore a virtual Kyoto and other cities around the world.

Since May, Sompo Japan has been conducting proof of concept testing together with ANA NEO. It aims to find solutions for hedging risks to users, store operators, and metaverse providers.

Meanwhile, MUFG Bank is planning to open a bank branch within the GranWhale metaverse.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Germany-based Volocopter has been tapped to become the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s first eVTOL partner in its ambitious Tokyo Bay eSG Project.

The Tokyo Bay eSG Project envisions the creation of a sustainable city that fuses nature and convenience along the capital city’s waterfront area, attempting to utilize cutting-edge and futuristic technologies.

Volocopter, which is developing the VoloCity multicopter, has been included among the first group of private partners in the project, according to an announcement last week from the metropolitan government.

Responding to an inquiry from Akihabara News, the senior spokeswoman for Volocopter’s operations in Japan clarified that the project is still at an initial stage.

Volocopter’s current responsibility is to begin compiling a feasibility study on urban air mobility and drone flights within Tokyo. While the project is not yet fully confirmed beyond next March, it is expected to culminate around March 2025 with the first eVTOL test flights in Tokyo.

In terms of the drone side of the project, the plan is to make use of the VoloDrone vehicle.

KDDI SmartDrone has also been selected by the metropolitan government to explore possible sea-air drone projects in Tokyo Bay.

Volocopter was also a recent recipient of a financial grant from the Osaka Prefectural Government to hold an exhibition aimed at increasing public acceptance of the eVTOL industry.

One of the German firm’s closest collaborators in the country is Japan Airlines (JAL), one of the two largest air travel companies in Japan.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Odakyu Electric Railway is this week opening a facility near Shinjuku Station called Neuu, which will promote XR, a combination of virtual and augmented reality technologies.

This “XR Communication Hub,” located near the major train station’s West Exit, will be divided into three zones: the Experience Space, the Workspace, and the Showroom.

The Experience Space, which contains four seats in total, will allow visitors to experience several kinds of XR content. There will be several variations available, and these are expected to be refreshed about four times per year.

The Workspace will include 36 seats for co-working, based on an hourly fee. The VR Professional Academy will be held on weekends with the objective of nurturing the next generation of XR creators.

The Showroom will contain exhibits of the latest XR hardware and services, allowing visitors a hands-on experience.

Odakyu is offering Neuu in part to consider how the firm might utilize XR technologies on its railway lines or to promote tourist venues in the future.

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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are tools allowing users of the internet to change their Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and to encrypt traffic. VPNs can help improve online security in a number of different ways.

As the name suggests, VPNs are private networks which encrypt and transmit data while it travels from one place to another. They work by extending a private network across a public network, in this case the internet.

VPNs enable users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. Applications running on a computing device also benefit from these networks.

VPNs are most often used by corporations to protect sensitive or proprietary data. In addition to corporate use, VPNs are also popular among individuals who want to secure their communications when using public wi-fi hotspots.

By creating a private, encrypted connection between the device and the internet, VPNs protect users’ data from being seen or accessed by anyone other than the VPN provider.

This has a number of specific applications. They are employed to prevent malicious hacking, avoid targeted advertising, or defeating other forms of privacy threats.

VPNs are also used by those engaged in leisure activities which they wish to keep private, such as playing at regulated online casinos.

When choosing a particular VPN, the security features are the most important thing for users to consider, as there is some variability between the products on the market.

Additionally, speed and compatibility are salient factors for those using VPNs for streaming or online gaming.

There are both free and paid VPNs available on the market, but users need to be aware of the capabilities they require in order to meet their goals.

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — TEPCO Renewable Power has purchased full ownership of Flotation Energy, an offshore wind power company based in Scotland.

“Flotation Energy’s experience and knowledge of the world’s biggest floating offshore wind development and their global network will undoubtedly accelerate the development of our offshore wind business both domestically and internationally,” explained TEPCO Renewable Power President Masashi Nagasawa. “We aim to contribute to stable supply of electricity mitigating the power price surge in the medium- to long-term that is linked to the recent fossil fuel price situation.”

Flotation Energy previously developed the massive floating offshore wind farm at Kincardine, fifteen kilometers off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland.

While the bulk of its interests are in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Flotation Energy has also been trying to expand into the Asia-Pacific, namely Australia, Taiwan, and Japan.

However, the firm has yet to be awarded any of the offshore zones which it is eyeing in the Japanese market.

This deal marks TEPCO Renewable Power’s first investment in an overseas offshore wind developer. The financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

TEPCO Renewable Power, in partnership with Denmark’s Orsted, was widely regarded as the frontrunner in its bid to develop the Choshi offshore wind project in Chiba Prefecture, but it was unexpectedly beaten out by a Mitsubishi Corporation-led consortium when the auction results were announced last December.

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