Akihabara News (Tokyo) — SoftBank has become the first major operator to unroll consumer 5G mobile services in Japan, with the network launch planned for March 27.
SoftBank is launching new products and services to take full advantage of 5G speed and capacity.
For example, SoftBank will begin offering 5G compatible smartphones, starting March 27. The initial four models will be the Aquos R5G by Sharp, the ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G, and the Oppo Reno3 5G.
Preinstalled on these smartphones will be 5G Lab apps, a new SoftBank content service. 5G Lab is comprised of four categories: AR Square, which will offer Augmented Reality experiences; VR Square, which will deliver Virtual Reality experiences; FR Square, which will provide Free-viewpoint Reality experiences; and Game Square, a cloud gaming service based on Nvidia’s GeForce Now. The latter is slated to launch in June.
SoftBank launched a series of 30-second promotional videos today, including this one.
To get the program rolling, SoftBank is offering to waive the monthly ¥1,000 5G Basic Fee for those who sign up by August 31, 2020.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The following is a working timeline of 5G in Japan which Akihabara News intends to expand and update in the weeks and months ahead.
2010
NTT DoCoMo initiates 5G research and development, undertaking extensive indoor and outdoor field tests.
2013
October: NTT DoCoMo presents its 5G vision at CEATEC Japan 2013, promising that it will be able to offer “1000 times the capacity and 100 times the speed as the current network” by 2020.
2014
May: NTT DoCoMo announces six mobile vendors it will be working with for testing of 5G technologies across a range of frequencies: Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Fujitsu, NEC, Nokia, and Samsung.
2015
March: NTT DoCoMo announces that it will conduct a three-way 5G technical collaboration with China Mobile Communications Corporation and KT Corporation. NTT DoCoMo also reveals that its joint 5G outdoor trials with Ericsson have achieved a maximum data transmission speed of over 4.5Gbps using the high-frequency 15GHz spectrum band, and that they aim to establish a commercial 5G network before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games begin in July 2020. Huawei and Mitsubishi Electric are added to the list of NTT DoCoMo 5G vendors.
July: NTT DoComo announces that it entered into 5G collaborations with five additional vendors—Intel Corporation, Keysight Technologies, Panasonic Corporation, Qualcomm Technologies, and Rohde & Schwarz.
October: NTT DoCoMo conducts first real-world tests of its 5G network technology, in partnership with Nokia, at the Roppongi Hills complex in Tokyo.
2016
February: NTT DoCoMo, KT, SK Telecom, and Verizon agree to form a new global initiative called the 5G Open Trial Specification Alliance, planning to develop an aligned 5G trial specification that would serve as a common, extendable platform for different 5G trial activity around the world. Also, NTT DoCoMo and Denso Corporation agree to undertake joint research and development of vehicle control systems that use 5G in order to realize advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems. Additionally, NTT DoCoMo announces that MediaTek has been added to its list of 5G vendors.
May: NTT DoCoMo announces that it has achieved the world’s first wireless real-time transmission of 8K video deploying radio access technology for 5G mobile communications systems, in a trial jointly conducted with Nokia.
November: NTT DoCoMo and DeNA announce agreement to trial a 5G mobile-communications system that is expected to enhance the safety of self-driving vehicles through remote monitoring and passenger assistance.
December: NTT DoCoMo announces that it concluded a memorandum of understanding with the China Academy of Information and Communication Technology to jointly investigate the standardization of 5G technologies and available frequency bands.
2017
February: KDDI and Samsung announce successful completion of Japan’s first ever 5G multi-cell handover test using the 28GHz spectrum to be conducted in an outdoor environment on Tokyo’s metropolitan expressway. KDDI reveals that it is targeting 2020 as the start of its commercial 5G services.
March: SoftBank is granted an experimental license to conduct tests on the 28GHz frequency band, a candidate for 5G in Japan, aiming launch 5G commercial services around 2020. Indoor and outdoor 5G trials begin in Tokyo Waterfront City.
May: SoftBank, Qualcomm Technologies, and Sprint agree to jointly develop technologies for 5G.
September: KDDI and Samsung announce the completion of 5G tests at Everland Speedway in South Korea at speeds over 190km per hour, the fastest in the world.
October: KDDI and Samsung conduct successful 5G trials on a moving train in Saitama Prefecture. The tests include 8K video being downloaded by the 5G router on-board, and 4K video filmed from a camera atop the train being uploaded.
November: NTT DoCoMo announces that it has conducted the world’s first successful outdoor trial of 5G mobile technologies for ultra-reliable low-latency communications using a 4.5GHz system, developed in collaboration with Huawei. Meanwhile, SoftBank and Honda begin joint research on the use of 5G technologies for the automotive industry.
2018
January: NTT DoCoMo signs an agreement with Nokia to supply 5G baseband products, aiming for the rollout of commercial 5G services by 2020. Meanwhile, Rakuten and Tech Mahindra announce the opening of the Rakuten Cloud Innovation Laboratory, focusing on 5G technologies.
April: KDDI partners with independent venture capital firm Global Brain Corporation to establish the KDDI Open Innovation Fund 3, a fund to invest in venture firms related to 5G technologies.
May: KDDI begins business trials with partner companies on developing new business operations using virtual characters and other Extended Reality (xR) technologies.
June: KDDI announces a successful live 4K video 5G transmission test using a drone. Rakuten begins joint 5G trials in partnership with Nokia.
December: The Japanese government announces that Huawei Technologies and ZTE will be excluded from public procurement regarding 5G technologies due to alleged security risks.
2019
February: KDDI and partners conduct Japan’s first 5G multi-vehicle autonomous driving experiment on public roads.
April: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications allocates spectrum to operators DoCoMo, KDDI, SoftBank, and Rakuten in advance of a planned commercial 5G launch in 2020. The operators commit to building out 5G networks in every prefecture by 2022.
May: US government restricts technology sales to Huawei Technologies, due to alleged security risks. SoftBank responds by selecting Nokia and Ericsson as its 5G vendors, excluding its longtime supplier Huawei Technologies.
June: Rakuten and NEC Corporation partner to build a 5G wireless communications network across Japan.
July: KDDI and SoftBank announce an agreement on the mutual use of their base station assets to promote the rapid buildout of 5G networks in Japanese rural areas. Meanwhile, Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani says his firm will roll out its 5G services in Japan in June 2020.
September: KDDI partners with Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia for the mobile operator’s 5G network rollout in Japan, planned for early 2020. Meanwhile, NTT DoCoMo announces that it has joined the 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation with the aim of further advancing the use of 5G technology in the manufacturing sector. NTT DoCoMo also achieves the world’s first 5G mobile communications between base stations and a high-speed bullet train in collaboration with Central Japan Railway Company.
November: KDDI announces that it will partner with Facebook on developing 5G technologies, with a focus on creating high-definition Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) images. Meanwhile, SoftBank and Subaru Corporation start joint research on using 5G mobile communication systems for the realization of an automated driving society.
December: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications begins accepting applications for licenses to operate local 5G services.
2020
January: NTT DoCoMo announces it will launch a video-streaming service based on 5G high-speed wireless technology beginning in March. NTT DoCoMo also releases a white paper on 6G, which its aims to launch on a commercial basis by 2030.
February: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issues to Fujitsu the country’s first preliminary license to build a local 5G communications network. Japan’s legislature begins considering a bill that would provide state-backed low-interest rate loans and tax incentives for Japanese companies to develop secure 5G mobile networks. Sharp Corporation unveils its first 5G smartphone model.
March: SoftBank becomes the first mobile phone company to offer 5G services to its customers.
Yahoo! Japan Corporation is a Japanese internet company originally formed as a joint venture between the American internet company Yahoo! and the Japanese company SoftBank. Yahoo! Japan’s web portal is the most visited website in Japan, and its internet services are mostly dominant in the country. Its annual income is in the range of US$8 billion.
Toshiba Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate focusing on products and services including information technology and communications equipment and systems, electronic components and materials, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems, consumer electronics, home appliances, medical equipment, office equipment, as well as lighting and logistics. Its annual income is in the range of US$35 billion.
Known under a series of different names until 2013, the Line Corporation is a Tokyo-based subsidiary of the South Korean internet-search Naver Corporation. The company’s main business is the development of mobile applications and Internet services, particularly noted for its flagship Line chat mobile app. Its annual income is in the range of US$2 billion.
KDDI is a Japanese telecommunications firm formed in October 2000 through the merger of DDI Corporation, KDD Corporation, and IDO Corporation. It is most noted for providing mobile cellular services using the au by KDDI brand. Its annual income is in the range of US$45 billion.
Line (Tokyo) — As part of the continuing expansion of the Line token economy, Line Corporation has launched Bitfront, a global digital currency exchange based in the United States. Operated by LVC USA, a subsidiary of LVC Corporation, Bitfront provides a fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto market for the US dollar.
Bitfront will become the main digital currency exchange platform for Line’s token economy. Previously, Line operated the global digital asset exchange Bitbox, a crypto-to-crypto exchange based in Singapore. Now, however, Line has decided to expand its services and become a full-fledged exchange that includes fiat-to-crypto markets, aiming to spur the usage of blockchain by lowering the barriers to cryptocurrency adoption.
With the aim of using innovation to overcome traditional financial barriers, Bitfront brings extensive security and industry know-how built on Line’s years of experience as a major global service. By linking other exchanges and order books, Bitfront provides deep liquidity and ensures a tight bid-ask spread. In addition, users will be able to trade in US dollars by linking their bank account.
Bitfront supports five major cryptocurrencies, including Line’s digital currency Link, Bitcoin, Etherium, Bitcoin Cash, and Tether, in fifteen languages. Furthermore, Bitfront provides a range of customized features to ensure a convenient trading experience.
“This is a major leap toward achieving the mass adoption of blockchain,” said Youngsu Ko, CEO of LVC Corporation. “As the most trusted global digital currency exchange, we will continue to make blockchain and cryptocurrency more accessible to our users.”
To celebrate the launch, Bitfront is offering a promotion for users in the United States. Until March 31, US-based customers who have completed the know your customer process will be able to receive Link rewards if they exchange or purchase more than US$100 worth of digital assets, plus they will be exempt from commission fees if the deposit is made through a wire transfer.
KDDI (Tokyo) — To accelerate telecom innovations and next generation’s Network Infrastructures technologies development, KDDI Corporation is joining Telecom Infra Project (TIP).
TIP was founded in 2016 by Facebook, Nokia, Intel, Deutsche Telekom, EE, and a number of other operators with the aim of developing open technologies and designs that would reduce telecommunication network development costs, thereby advancing telecommunication infrastructure. More specifically, TIP focuses on all elements of the network including access, transport, core & services, and through its project groups, TIP’s members design, build, test and deployment of standards-based, open and disaggregated network solutions.
Hundreds of companies and organizations have joined TIP so far, including , telecommunication companies and service providers, technology providers, developers, integrators, startups, and a range of other entities inside and outside the traditional telecommunications space.
This time, to further accelerate telecom innovations and develop networks that engage new technologies, the two parties will launch initiatives on the following two matters.
First, in spring 2020, KDDI will open TIP Community Lab in Tokyo, a development and verification center to accelerate telecom innovations for TIP.
The TIP Community Lab will be a development and verification center for TIP members to openly discuss the configurations and specifications of the hardware and software used for (access, transport and core) features that constitute communication networks, and develop technologies efficiently and at low cost. Currently there are twelve TIP Community Labs in seven countries around world. KDDI’s TIP Community Lab will be the first site in Japan.
In time for the launch of the TIP Community Lab, and together with KDDI Research, Inc., KDDI will also start evaluating transport facilities that will be based on disaggregated solutions.
TIP Board Member, Aaron Bernstein, commented: “We are delighted that KDDI has joined TIP and will work together with the organization to establish the first TIP Community Lab in Japan and the thirteenth lab in the world. The Community Labs are a core component of TIP’s development model, where members come together to build and test new technologies and share what is learned from their respective organizations; reimagining the way networks are developed and deployed.”
Second, KDDI will be co-leading a new sub-group within TIP’s Open Optical Packet Transport project group in spring 2020. The new initiative will be called Disaggregated Open Routers (DOR) and will focus on open and disaggregation routing platforms for transport networks, and will drive technological development toward white-box equipment for backbone networks.
Pony.ai (Fremont) — Pony.ai, an autonomous driving company, announces today that it has raised US$400 million from Toyota Motor Corporation to deepen and expand the two companies’ collaboration in mobility services. The investment comes as an extension of a business partnership that was formed between Pony.ai and Toyota in 2019. Building upon the foundation established last year, both companies will further advance their joint efforts in autonomous driving technology development and mobility service deployment. The new funding totals $462 million and puts Pony.ai’s valuation at just over US$3 billion.
Strengthened ties will enable deeper integration of Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system with Toyota’s robust vehicle platforms and technologies. This type of collaboration is a strategic approach for both companies. In August 2019, Pony.ai and Toyota initiated joint autonomous driving pilots in China. This year’s strategic investment will expand the partnership’s scope of collaboration. In addition to co-developing autonomous driving technology, Pony.ai and Toyota will look beyond the vehicle itself to explore further possibilities on mobility services.
Since its establishment in December 2016, Pony.ai has been committed to revolutionizing the future of transportation by building the safest and most reliable solution for autonomous mobility. Pony.ai has been testing its Robotaxi pilot service, PonyPilot since late 2018 in Guangzhou, China. With PonyPilot, Pony.ai became the first company to launch a Robotaxi operation and offer self-driving car rides to the general public in China. In November 2019, Pony.ai also became the first company to roll out a public-facing Robotaxi pilot service in California, demonstrating its ambition and commitment to mobility services at a global scale.
Going forward, Pony.ai and Toyota will continue to work together to deliver on their shared vision of a safe and sustainable mobility future. The partnership will focus on providing meaningful societal benefit by leveraging the technologies, know-how, and services of each company.
Fujitsu (Tokyo) — Fujitsu has announced that it was granted Japan’s first private 5G radio station provisional license by the Kanto Bureau of Telecommunications. As a next step, Fujitsu will establish a radio station emitting private 5G radio waves in order to verify private 5G network systems at its Shin-Kawasaki Technology Square office in Kawasaki, Japan.
In the spring of this year, Fujitsu will also move to open a “Fujitsu Collaboration Lab,” which will serve as a dedicated co-creation space for collaborating with customers and partners to workshop and verify use cases utilizing private 5G. Moving forward, Fujitsu will continue to apply for private 5G licenses for its other office locations, plants, and group companies in Japan, offering support for customers in various industries to achieve their own digital transformation projects to deliver new value and business innovations.
The introduction of private 5G, which allows companies and local governments to operate their own, ultra-fast private networks, is expected to accelerate business innovation in response to the diverse needs of individuals and communities throughout society. Private 5G network technology promises to unlock numerous business applications in a variety of industries, such as accelerating the deployment of IoT in manufacturing, creating secure networks for seamless remote operations and enhancing surveillance at construction sites and medical facilities.
Despite the innovative potential of this technology, however, the introduction of private 5G requires specialized knowledge in the construction and operation of advanced networks as well as preparing appropriate test environments. To overcome these challenges, Fujitsu will draw on its experience in developing solutions for private 5G networks to conduct technical verification and use case verification of new solutions with this technology together with its customers, with the aim of promoting the optimal use of 5G in real-world business contexts.
Shingo Mizuno, Corporate Executive Officer SVP, Vice Head of Service Platform Business Group at Fujitsu, comments: “Obtaining this qualification marks an exciting and important milestone in the development of our 5G capabilities in Japan. We’re looking forward to the chance to work together with our customers and partners to leverage private 5G network technologies to solve business challenges across a wide range of industries and use case scenarios going forward.”
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — At a recent trade show, Sony unveiled a prototype car called the Vision-S, surprising many observers who didn’t realize that firm is serious about its ambitions as an automaker.
Currently, the Vision-S sits in a state somewhere between concept and prototype. Like a concept, it was built to showcase Sony’s ideas, but like a prototype, it actually works. The car was driven onto the stage and was shown to possess at least the basics of a working car.
It is only Level 2 autonomous, meaning it can “provide steering and brake/acceleration support, as well as lane centering and adaptive cruise control.” But Sony says they intend to try for Level 4 in the coming years, fully autonomous driving.
The car itself has 33 different types of sensors, including CMOS sensors, camera sensors, and lidar sensors. These sensors create what Sony calls an oval system that protects both inside and outside. The CMOS sensors are both highly sensitive and have a high dynamic range, and they are paired with the solid-state lidar that can grasp the 3D environment around it. This helps with more accurate object recognition even in fog, backlight, and in night-time driving.
Although the specifics weren’t provided, the cockpit inside the car showed 445 km remaining with 82 per cent battery left. This electric car has two 200 kilowatt engines, one on the front axle and one on the back. It can go from 0 to 100 kph in about 4.5 seconds, and has a top speed is 240 kph.
The interior features are expansive as well. The Vision-S has a set of rectangular displays on the dashboard from driver to passenger seat. The middle and passenger seat screens are touchscreens. With the center screen, you can control the settings on a friendly user interface that also allows you to play Sony-branded movies, music, and games.
There are also two screens on the back of the driver and passenger seats to allow those in the backseat to enjoy the entertainment as well. The high-quality audio-visual features are nothing less than what you’d expect from a Sony product. The car is also equipped with a 360-degree audio system that was originally developed for the home audio market.
The company says the Vision-S was built to showcase the automotive technologies that it’s developed over the last few years. It won’t be something you see on the road, at least not in the foreseeable future. But it’s a good bet that even if Sony hesitates to make the full jump to become an automaker, that at least some of the technology found in the Vision-S will make it to the consumer market through partnerships with other automakers.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Toshiba has now opened three H2One Station Units, which is a system which produces hydrogen and with water as its only emission. With this technology, Toshiba says that it is aiming for a CO2-free “hydrogen society.”
Toshiba’s H2One Station Unit provides hydrogen using electric power that is itself generated through renewable energy. It then supplies this hydrogen to Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs).
Yoshihisa Sanagi, general manager of the Hydrogen Energy Business Division at Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, stated, “We will contribute to the revitalization of the community through hydrogen-related systems which can supply clean electricity based on renewable energy and expand hydrogen energy with hydrogen-powered technologies.”
Based on the 23 kilometer average mileage per day in Japan, Toshiba has calculated that a H2One Station Unit can produce enough hydrogen for eight FCVs per day. And, when the pressure accumulator is full, it can do so in under three minutes.
The first of these units was established at Tohoku Baseball Stadium; the second in Fukui Prefecture; and at the end of this January a third in Toyama Prefecture.
In March 2018, Toshiba’s first H2One system started operation in Tohoku Baseball Stadium, providing it with clean energy all year round. The stadium seats 23,000 people and is the home field of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles pro baseball team. The system houses a regional radio station that can broadcast essential information to support disaster recovery in an emergency, utilizing an uninterrupted, off-grid energy supply.
More commonly, the H2One supplies energy to the stadium’s electronic displays, the Rakuten.FM Tohoku radio station, and also lights the park near the baseball stadium.
In December 2019, the first H2One Station for FCVs was established in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture.
Through the development of such hydrogen infrastructure, Toshiba hopes to be ready for the growth in the use of FCVs across the nation.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Fujifilm recently announced its plans for a new mirrorless digital camera, the X-T200. With Nikon’s D780 having been announced early this month, you can bet that 2020 is going to be a great year for camera lovers. It looks like there are a lot of new features on this little camera, and some qualities that make it unique.
This easy-to-use and easy-to-navigate camera is aimed at entry-level photographers; people that want to upgrade from their iPhones, but don’t want to spend too much or get bogged down in all the bits and bobs of other high-end cameras.
For the money, it is worth having a good camera. It has a great image quality in both stills and film.
The interface is improved compared with the last installment of the X Series, the X-T100. The LCD touch screen is bigger and the interface buttons on the side do not take up much room or get in the way. As well as being easy to use, the X-T200 is actually 80 grams lighter than the X-T100, weighing in at only 370 grams.
The biggest improvement by far is the enhancement to autofocus. On the X-T100, the autofocus was, how to say, less than desirable. It had poor performance which really brought down the overall quality of the camera. But the X-T200 is on par with the latest Fujifilm cameras like the X-A7, face-and-eye detection tracks are way better. It now has 425 selectable points in AF, which is a huge improvement compared to the X-T100, which only had 91.
It also has the same APS-C 24 megapixel sensor that you would find on the Fujifilm X-A7. This improves light capture, allowing you to shoot in low light whilst maintaining great quality. And it gives you full, 100% phase detect autofocus coverage.
It can track objects from further distances, and the shooting speed has gone up slightly as well, from 6 FPS to 8 FPS. However, the buffer rate is still pretty low. This means that if you are doing family photos, or group shots, this camera is great for you. But if you plan to do sports or wildlife capture, or high-speed objects, this is probably not the right camera.
As for video capture, the X-T200 has made substantial improvements. The X-T100 could only shoot 4K at 15 FPS, which led to a pretty unusable clip, jolty and stuttering. But the X-T200 allows for 4K up to 30 FPS, making the image much smoother and clearer.
The major limitation is that there is a 15-minute cut-off for each clip. This could make for pretty tedious shoots if you plan on filming for long periods.
Another feature that gives it a one up from the X-T100 as well as the X-A7 is that this is able to record at 120 FPS at 1080p. So if you want to grab something in slow motion, the X-T200 can produce nice quality results.
The X-T200 is set for release in late February 2020.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — NTT group companies are coming together to build Japan’s first-ever multi-purpose esports facility, fittingly located right in the heart of Akihabara.
Six companies are involved in the project, NTT East, NTT West, NTT Advertising, NTT Urban Solutions, SKY Perfect JSAT, and Taito. They have already raiser over ¥300 million in capital for the project.
The new company launched today, which is named NTTe-Sports, will include high-tech systems like 5G ultrahigh-speed wireless communications networks and Artificial Intelligence in order to effectively run e-sport tournaments. Located in Akihabara UDX, NTTe-Sports is anticipating a high turn around and expects to achieve yearly sales of ¥4 billion yen by 2025.
NTTe-Sports will operate esports facilities and distribute video content. It will also be working with large industry players in order to expand interest in esports in Japan. The cosponsoring of events such as “Fighting Gods Festival 2020—World Championship of Arcade” is already on its agenda. They also plan to introduce, drive, and sustain esports development in educational institutions. They also seek overseas collaboration with partners who are making big waves in the industry.
Leveraging the NTT group’s communications technology and event managing expertise, NTTe-Sports aims to support local governments in fields like training personnel and organizing esports events and tournaments.
With esports viewership set to surpass even the NFL by 2021, and the use of landline telephones decreasing each year, NTT is looking in new directions. NTTe-Sports will start practical operations and streaming services in July.
Line (Tokyo) — LVC Corporation, a subsidiary of Line Corporation and operator of Line’s cryptocurrency and blockchain-related businesses, announces plans to begin trading its digital currency in Japan from as early as April 2020. Dubbed “Link,” the coins are issued by Line Tech Plus, LVC and Line’s subsidiary.
Since launching on the Bitbox cryptocurrency exchange on October 16, 2018, Link has been available to users worldwide except in Japan and the United States. Concurrently, LVC has been preparing to roll out the coins in the Japanese market in accordance with the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association’s (JVCEA) official process to handle new digital currency.
LVC is currently developing a system in preparation for Link’s debut in Japan.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Not too long ago Akasaka-Mitsuke Station opened up an Olympics-themed shop inside its Bic Camera outlet. The shop is small but somehow manages to pack in a lot of items. Here’s a top ten list of the best things tourists and Olympic fans should grab while in Tokyo.
10. Kids Clothes
Starting with the last on the list, if you like simple and expensive, these clothes are for you. Now, when I say “clothes,” I’m specifically talking about the t-shirts. There are heaps of options for other things like ties, bowties, belts, and socks (which hold a place further up on this list). I must say, though, the shirts in general are a letdown (an overpriced let down). But the reason why they are even on this list is because of the kid’s clothes… They. Are. Adorable… and not as expensive as the adult clothes. They had cute designs for boys and girls with varying sizes. If my child told me they wanted a shirt, I’d let them have one, maybe even two. The t-shirts took up most of the store, so I was expecting a little bit more in the way of cool designs. But no, the cool designs are reserved for the kids.
9. Snacks
Now, I’m not a big snack person, but if I were going to the Olympics, watching events for hours, I’d want a snack or two. But buying snacks at the Olympics could be a long and expensive process, from finding the snack bar to waiting in line to realizing that US$15 is way too expensive for a bag of chips – it’s all very tedious. So, I was happy to see that there were a few options. A big bag of chocolate snacks that have smaller packets inside and a small box of chocolate wafers. And although they are cheap, unfortunately that is it. Two options for each mascot (four total), and so ended the snack section. It was sad, but at least I could afford to buy heaps.
8. Keychains
For someone who has a ridiculous keychain collection like myself, I was surprisingly not all that interested in these ones. The price is really what dissuaded me. Maybe if they were cheaper I would have bought a few, but alas! I will give it to them, though, there are quite a lot of options. There is a keychain depicting each sport; from shot put to basketball to gymnastics. And the 3D keychains are really tempting; cute and small and perfect for a backpack. I got very close to giving my US$10 to the checkout lady, but in the end, I just couldn’t justify it. That being said, it wasn’t a complete letdown, as I mentioned, as there is a huge variety and if you have some bucks left over, it’s a nice keepsake.
7. Pencil Cases
The pencil cases are really nice. They are good quality and, from what I saw, are very nicely designed. There are some sleek ones, very modern in style, simple with the Olympics logo printed on them. And then there are some cute ones meant for children (and me) with the mascots’ faces printed on them. There are even plush cases, which I also really like. They are big, but not too big, and I could easily see using these in school or university. It has a lot of room but could also be very compact. The best part, for me at least, they are affordable. Some of the plush ones were a bit ridiculous (US$30 ridiculous) but the rest of them were reasonable. If you want something practical but also Olympics themed, I’d go for this.
6. Notebooks
Now, I’m not going to lie, they weren’t all that much to look at. They are simple, and there isn’t much variety between books. But, by the gods, would you look at those prices! The notebooks are half the price of a keychain. Something you don’t use, an ornament, is double the price of these notebooks. Back to the design though; I actually like the simplicity, very sleek and modern, but telling you what it is. It’s an Olympic notebook! The varying sizes are nice too, but some are a bit thin for my taste. If you are taking a lot of notes, maybe skip on this one, but if you just want to write general notes for everyday life, these are quite nice. But I wouldn’t recommend the pens, they may have been cute but don’t let that fool you, they aren’t cheap. One of them is four times as much as a notebook!
5. Toys
Now, although there aren’t many toys, and they are all scattered in different sections of the shop, the toys that I did find were very cool. My particular favorite is the nanoblock mascots where you could build your own Miraitowa or Someity with tiny lego-like pieces. There is an Olympics kendama, themed blue or pink for each mascot, and even kimono-wearing barbie dolls that come with their own little Olympic fans. There is even a little plush toy that acts as a bangle. You could straighten it out and when you slapped it on your wrist, it folds and make a bracelet. My point being, there isn’t much but there was enough to keep me amused, so I imagine, the toys they offered could keep a child amused as well.
4. Socks
I like socks, and these socks are very nice. They are made of great material and offer sizes for children, women, and men. There are fun mascot socks and plain Olympic symbol socks. And yes, I did buy some, so you can bet they are reasonably priced. They are a comfy fit, but they are very breathable, great for summer and the heat. Don’t worry, I didn’t put number four on the list as just socks, I mean I love socks, but there is only so much you can do with them. What makes these socks even better is the shoes. Now, I didn’t get any shoes, but I could see how one might be tempted. They have some really cool colorful designs, but also really simple and slick designs. The laces on one pair really attracted me. There are even shoes for toddlers and older children. There are runners and sandals and slip-ons; some of them sported the Olympic logo, while others sported the colors of the rings, while others still are unbranded. By themselves, the shoes are nice quality and nice design, but pairing them with the awesome socks… brilliant idea!
3. Fans
What better thing to get for the summer games than a fan to cool you down? There are so many fans to choose from, from expensive high-end fans to simple (and cute) fans. I think this one gets such a high spot on the list simply for their practicality. It’s going to be hot, the hottest month in Japan actually, when the Olympics are on. A lot of the events are outdoors and are not cooled. So, it’s a practical choice to buy a fan. I’m only mad that they don’t sell small electric fans… now that would have been good! But the fans they do offer are really slick and varied in design. Some are solid colors, some have the mascots printed on them, some are just the logo, and some are anime characters from the official anime team. By now you understand that I’m a sucker for cute designs, and there were a lot of them, especially the ones of Someity. But there are also elegant designs that somehow incorporate the Olympic logo without you really realizing it is there.
2. Plush Toys and Kitchenware
It’s a weird pair but they are linked for me. Starting with the plush toys, there’s really not much to say. They are cute and affordable and soft. There are some ugly ones, but ugly in a way that also made them cute – that is, endearing. And the plush backpacks are something else. They almost don’t look like backpacks at all. You could cuddle up to one as you slept and the next day use it for school… multi-purpose!. The bags are a little pricey, but honestly, I could do it if I really wanted to. I could see myself buying one of them. Onto the kitchen goods… yes, I bought a mug. I’m not proud of it. I know I went there to review the items, but it was just so cool, and the perfect size too. I almost bought a lunch box as well and then I realized that I don’t use lunch boxes anymore. Everything has a nice design and was affordable. There are so many options; from cutlery (forks, spoons, chopsticks), glasses, mugs, teacups, thermoses, drink bottles, plates, etc. All of them (yes, I actually mean all of them) have really nice designs. I could see everyone finding something they liked; something cute, something cool, something elegant, something plain – there are designs for everyone. And they’re useful. They’re not just going to sit on your bookshelf collecting dust. They’re going to be used and loved.
Top! Otaku Section
I know it might be cheating to give Number One to an entire section, and I tried not to be biased, but this section, full of anime mascot merchandise, seriously is the coolest. The color combo of red and white really stuck out to me, the print of the characters were clearly seen, and overall there is a lot of variety. You could get fans, you could get keychains, spoon and chopstick sets, lunch boxes, drink bottles and more. I mean the variety is really nice to see and it is all in one section which makes for finding things very easy. Overall, the designs for this otaku section are the nicest out of the whole shop. Even taking away the anime characters (which some opted to do) the colors stand out and the sleek yet somewhat playful nature of some of the items really makes for a cool place.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda has announced an investment of US$394 million into Joby Aviation and shared his company’s expertise in order to develop a flying taxi service.
Joby Aviation, a relatively unknown company, was founded ten years ago in 2009, but already they are making big promises to the aviation industry. They made huge leaps over the past ten years toward producing their envisioned “air taxi service” with hundreds of full-scale tests occurring between 2014 and 2017. In recent years, Joby Aviation has been working on testing their polished production prototypes, ready for “certification, production, and operation.”
Joby Aviation has been working on their electric vertical take-off and landing machines (eVTOL). Their aim is the develop it for commercial use, and their new partner, Toyota, saw an opportunity in this scheme.
Over US$590 million of investment has now been put into venture capital funding for the concept. Joby Aviation has recently shared some details about the aircraft. Taking off like a helicopter and then shifting into forward flight using its tilt rotors, this all-electric aircraft can carry five people, including the pilot.
Toyota is eager to get the ball rolling on aircraft services, and Joby Aviation believes their partnership will help them produce “fast, quiet and affordable air transportation services” quicker than other companies. Toyota plans to share its expertise “in manufacturing, quality, and cost controls” to push forward production.
Through this, both firms hope to achieve something that will help “alleviate persistent mobility challenges.” Being able to fly when ground traffic gets too congested would make for a much easier rush hour. And with some commuters in the air, commuters on the ground would also have an easier time.
Joby Aviation believes the tests they have done so far “prove the design is reliable, quiet, efficient and well-suited to the air taxi mission.”
With job positions like “Flight Test Technician” and “Senior Flight Test Engineer” posted on their website, it may seem that the dream is close at hand. But don’t get too excited: Joby Aviation and Toyota alike have said that it is “a long-term goal” and won’t be available anytime soon.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Honda and Isuzu have signed an agreement to conduct joint research on fuel cell-powered heavy-duty trucks. With companies like Toyota and Hyundai already successfully producing vehicles powered by fuel cells, it only makes sense for Honda and Isuzu to apply these technologies to larger, heavy-duty trucks.
Compared to other technologies, hydrogen fuel cells (FC) allow for a cleaner and more efficient energy conversion solution. Unlike the fossil fuels we use to power our cars, our motor bikes, our houses etc. (the typical vehicle producing 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year), hydrogen fuel cells do not emit any CO2. Instead, they emit only water, excess heat and electricity.
By using fuel cells, vehicle manufacturers like Honda and Isuzu hope to “address the on-going global challenge of reducing humanity’s environmental footprint” and work towards a more “sustainable energy.”
Isuzu has been working on developments for a clean diesel engine, engines for natural gas vehicles (NGVs), and electric vehicle (EV) powertrains. All of which work to reduce carbon emissions. While Isuzu aims to promote low-carbon usage and clean renewable energy, it also hopes these developments will accommodate to a broad range of customer needs. Similarly, Honda has been working towards the idea of a “carbon-free society.”
For the past thirty years, Honda has been researching and developing fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which they describe as “the ultimate environmental technology.” In addition, Honda has also been developing and producing hybrid and battery electric vehicles since 1999. With Honda’s strengths in the FC development, and Isuzu’s strengths in the development of heavy-duty trucks, the two companies hope to establish the foundation for basic technologies, such as FC powertrain and vehicle control technologies. The aim for their two-year deal is to test Honda’s fuel cell powertrain, originally designed for passenger cars, in Isuzu’s commercial trucks. This, the companies say, may pave the way for FC use in a wider range of vehicles.
Specifically applying FC to large trucks, school buses and other large vehicles that travel great distances will greatly reduce carbon emissions. As a by-product, FCVs will generate their own electricity using hydrogen stored in onboard tanks, allowing for longer trips. This means the time it takes to refuel is also considerably less.
It isn’t the first time we’ve seen two companies join to create FC powered trucks. Earlier in 2019, Hyundai and H2 Energy announced the establishment of a joint venture, with plans to bring 1,600 fuel cell electric heavy-duty trucks into Europe by 2025.
In other parts of the world, the focus has been more sharply on electric cars (EC). Tesla sold 367,500 electric cars in 2019, and Elon Musk has even said that FCVs are “mind-bogglingly stupid.”
In China alone, it is estimated that there were 2.6 million electric cars sold last year. In the United States, that number was half, but still a very considerable amount.
Global FCV stock only reached 11,200 units at the end of 2018. Even though that was an 80% increase from the previous year, the market for FCVs is simply not big enough to warrant other manufacturers to produce them.
That is why it is notable that, out of the eight successful FCVs that have been put to market, six of them were made by Japanese companies; that is, Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota. With more plans to produce newer models of FCVs, like that of the heavy-duty truck, it seems that Japanese companies have no plans on slowing down while the rest of the world catches up.
Isuzu and Honda not only plan to produce the clean, low-noise, low-vibration heavy-duty trucks that their customers are waiting for, but to also encourage the debate that FC trucks and hydrogen energy can contribute to future prosperity.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — With the Tokyo 2020 Robot Project sending big companies like Toyota and Panasonic into a manufacturing frenzy, there are a lot of innovative ideas to look out for at the Olympics this year. The Tokyo vision is ambitious to say the least, but Japan promises that this year’s games will be the most technologically advanced the world has ever seen.
To start with, Panasonic has successfully created, what they call power-assist suits, created for the purpose of helping workers carry heavy objects at airports, factories, construction, and agricultural sites with a decreased risk of injury.
Panasonic introduced power-assist suits in 2017 at the Paralympics in the powerlifting events. It is estimated that the spotters/loaders handled more than 8,650 kilograms collectively, while helping the 180 powerlifters. In order to reduce the risk of injury and make the job a little easier, the spotters/loaders wore the suits and noted that “even 25 kilograms felt lighter than usual”. The suit only weighs 4.5 kilograms and allows for a 40% weight reduction when lifting items.
Toyota, on the other hand, has developed the new mascots for the games. First made by the Japanese artist Ryo Taniguchi, whose design was won in a competition of more than two thousand candidates, Toyota quickly went onto developing and produce Miraitowa and Someity. These two mascot-type Robots will be implemented to greet athletes and customers to the games. They will offer a variety of facial expressions and “human-like movements” such as waving and bowing. They can shake your hand when prompted and even dance when asked. As well as welcoming athletes and guests to the games, Miraitowa and Someity also offer a new way to make the events more enjoyable for children.
For everyone to fully enjoy the games, Toyota has also developed human and delivery support robots. Though not as cute as the mascots, these little guys were designed to assist guests, providing “mobility solutions” for people with disabilities. For a portion of the accessible seating, they will show people to their seats, bring food, water, and even sell souvenirs. Although Toyota made these robots with the aim of exhibiting them into the Olympics, they also hope they will be available to the general public by 2030.
As well as the human support, Toyota (at it again) has developed field-support robots. Equipped with autonomous functions, these special-use robots work at the throwing events (i.e. javelin). They determine the optimal route that is without obstacles and follow operating staff to retrieve and convey throwing event items. By using these little fellers, the aim is to reduce the amount of time needed in retrieving items as well as minimizing the amount of staff labor. But that’s not it for Toyota.
Telepresence robots are not a new thing (they date back to 1993), but Toyota Research Institute in America has specifically designed their remote location communication for people who are unable to attend the Olympics. The screen is way bigger than any we’ve seen before and allows for full (sitting) body view. By projecting an image of the user onto the screen it will help them feel more connected and present in the games, even if they aren’t there in person. It will give physically unable people a chance to attend virtually “with an on-screen facility allowing conversations between the two locations.”
Finally, moving away from the innovations of Toyota, a study done by Ovum for Amdocs reveals that 63% of the world’s largest network operators’ plan to use Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), or a hybrid of both, to view the games. These technologies will be supported by 5G to offer richer viewing experiences to fans. It offers a more interactive way to view the games like; audience members could watch “instant replays and 360-degree streams” or “look up player stats via AR and VR technology” bringing them closer to the action. 5G promises speeds ten times faster than 4G with even lower latency. You should expect to see the first of these services in conjunction with the 2020 Games.
Mitsubishi Electric is still trying to manufacture the replicate holograms. These systems would project large, free-floating holograms into the air and replay events in empty stadia around the country for those that could not attend the games. Panasonic also plans to showcase a cooling system that is water mist based. Supposedly, it would not settle on glass, paper or make-up. They are also rushing to perfect a device that guides wear around their necks, it would translate Japanese into any of ten languages. But the most exciting thing that we have yet to see, something people have been talking about for years… flying cars.
Back at Toyota, a team of engineers “hopes to build a flying car in time to light the Olympic flame.” But from recent reports it doesn’t look like it’s going to be as grand as might be hoped. It is also looking to be the world’s smallest electric vehicle. But progress is still progress and a flying car is a flying car.
There is still time for development on these projects, but with only a few months left the finishing touches should start being applied quickly. Japan seems on track to keep it’s promise; these will be the most technologically advanced Olympics so far.
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — There are many sights to see in Japan, but none so renowned for its anime souvenirs as Akihabara. With dozens of five story shopping complexes, with items from manga, anime, toys, electronics and more, it is quite impossible to look in them all. But some are not simply pleased with just buying souvenirs; some get their excitement from winning them.
Arcade shops are everywhere in Akihabara, and they offer several different things. There are prize machines that allow you to pay for you luck and (maybe) win some cute plush toys. Then, usually on the upper levels, there are arcade games, from old style pinball to futuristic shooters that make you feel like you are inside the game. This is a list of the best ones within easy walking distance from Akihabara Station.
Tokyo Leisure Land
First place was a hard one to pick, but Tokyo Leisure Land, simply put, has the largest variety of prizes, machines, and games. It is also very appealing to look at.
As soon as you come upon it, you know what it is. But unlike all of the others, there is no loud anime theme songs blaring on repeat that you can hear from three streets down. Its colorful front is what draws you in. It is probably the most appealing one to look at because of its faded retro look, the entrance is big and spacious, and it doesn’t give you a claustrophobic feeling when you look at it.
There are five big stories in Leisure Land, the first floor is prize machines that offer varying prizes. This floor is bright and colorful much like the entrance. The prizes here are cute and the atmosphere is very light-hearted. They’re roughly the same type of prizes you’d find in the other stores: plushes, figurines, key chains etc. But the thing that struck me the most, the thing that was unique; you could win energy drinks, big boxes of potato chips, and even instant ramen (which I think is the best prize of all).
The second floor is mainly full of more prize machines, but near the back are arcade machines. This floor has a general theme of anime. There are figurines for different characters and the arcades games are all similar anime battles or Final Fantasy royals. The music here can get a little overwhelming when heaps of people are playing the games – overlapping theme songs and battle noises quickly led me away from that section and up to the next floor.
On the third floor the lighting is dulled down. There are Street Fighter-esque games, old-style arcade joysticks reminiscent of childhood. This floor seems themed to the classic style of arcades. Even just wandering around it is easy to get lost in all the games. Most of them are quiet too; only some have loud sounds emitting from them as you play.
The next floor has a real casino vibe. There is low lighting, a yellow hue, and the smell of smoke. This entire zone is a smoking area. It has games of luck and skill and generally a bit of everything. If you’re not one for the smell of smoke, though, I would steer clear of this floor. With that being said, this is the only arcade that I could find in Akihabara that had a smoking section, there were even ashtrays built into the machines for your convenience. So, if you want to play some battle royale, but don’t want to have to be without a smoke, this is definitely the place for you.
The last floor was probably my favorite. Just in front of the escalator there is another small smoking area that you could tell no one really uses. This floor has a very relaxing atmosphere, low lighting once again, and is generally quiet. Here there are many one, two, and even three-player games. A lot of them are sports related, or rhythm games. There was Footista machines, Soccer machines and there was even darts; not as in ‘dart machines,’ but actual darts. It had a very relaxing ‘chill with your friends’ feeling to it.
Hey
With an entrance that is considerably smaller than Tokyo Leisure Land, Hey is a place you could easily walk past if you weren’t paying attention. Luckily, I kept my eye out for it. Though the entry starts small and quite narrow, the subsequent levels are considerably large; the second floor most notably so. Hey is a very close second, but it is not as themed as Tokyo Leisure Land and has less variety of prizes and machines (but more than the rest on this list).
The first two levels are full of both prize machines and anime battle machines. Especially on the second floor, the noise these things make can drive you a tad insane. But if you can get over that, there is a variety of anime style games to pick from. My real enjoyment came form the third and fourth levels.
The third level has old-style arcade games; Street Fighter, Tekken, and those janky racing games that are always at movie theaters but are never quite synced right, so you constantly end up crashing into walls and losing… Yeah, this level has a truly nostalgic feel to it, and I love it. The lighting is dimmed way down and, honestly, it wouldn’t be that hard to believe that you could fall asleep playing one of these games. It’s a great way to relax and relieve stress.
As soon as you exit the escalator to the fourth and last floor, you instantly see three anime-covered cubicles with books and pencils chained to them. You can sit down here and write or draw in these books about your favorite characters or series. And people have; these books are full of drawings of characters and letters to strangers, conversations back and forth about their favorites things about an anime. Even when the drawings aren’t particularly good you can see notes from random people encouraging others, giving positive feedback and replying with their own drawings. It truly is such a nice sight to see.
On this last floor also, there are a lot of futuristic games: Huge machines where you can shoot it down and the chair moves you up, down, and side to side. There are a lot of dancing and rhythm games here, the ones that really get you moving and grooving. This level is less for relaxing and more for games you know will get your heart racing.
Sega
I am still a little undecided about the Sega arcades. In Akihabara there are four separate stores each with five floors for each. Tokyo Leisure Land only has two separate stores (one of which I couldn’t find) and the rest on this list have only one. Because of the number of separate stores, Sega arcades almost certainly will have something for you. But their downfall comes with the brand. They pretty much exclusively do Sega-related prizes and games. In the two Sega arcades I went into, the prizes and games were very similar. There were a few unique ones for each store, so going to more than one Sega arcade wouldn’t be a complete waste of time, but if you don’t like Sega products… yeah this isn’t the place for you.
The first and second story are filled with your classic claw machines; grab and drop. There aren’t many other ways to win prizes here, no unique games or machines, just your regular movie theater grab and drop.
The following levels, however, offer a wide and extensive range of Sega games. From SegaSonic the Hedgehog to Enduro Racer, to Tekken. There are anime-style games once again, music and rhythm games and dance battles. The downfall here is the music. My word, the music is loud! Songs form different machines overlap with each other to create a creature that is not of this world. The sounds and words all blur together to create this cacophony that is not dissimilar to an obnoxious beehive or swamp of flies. It’s pretty bad, but not the worst on this list however, which is probably the saddest thing.
Adores
As opposed to the behemoth that is Sega, Adores only has two stories of claw machines. The rest of the floors are full karaoke. The machines here are relatively unique; that is, more so that Sega games. Here, the prizes feel more achievable and you can see the progress you make. Personally, I liked the different prizes here. It was small, sure, but it had range. It was one of the only places I cared to give a go at winning a prize. It’s presentation really tricks you into thinking you can actually win something.
The downfall to Adores was definitely its lack of variety. It didn’t have any machines that weren’t prize games. There may have been a few hidden ones at the back, out of view but none that I could see. If your aim is to win a cute prize then this is the place for you, but if you want to play some Street Fighter, look somewhere else.
Taito Station
Deceptively, Taito Station is not a station at all, but rather a five story arcade. It has a few unique prize machines, and prizes that are a lot bigger than the others on this list (I’m talking, the biggest shark plush you ever did see) and a wide variety of games. The levels are a bit confusing though, with levels one and two set as prize floors, levels three and five as arcade and level four as video games.
The games on level four and really retro looking, even if the games are not. It’s got a good atmosphere and (again with the music), it isn’t too loud. And then I went to the fifth floor.
As soon as the elevator doors shut and I started moving slowly to that last level, I could tell my ear drums would be popped. Honestly, beware, for as soon as those doors open you will experience sounds like you never have before. As if a tidal wave of music had crashed into me, extremely loud and obnoxious music blared. Which is too bad because the games in there looked really awesome. There were interactive dance games, shooting games, racing games, you name it. Big machines that really wrap around you and make you feel part of that world. But, by gods, that music. I walked out of that elevator, took a collective two pictures, and walked straight back in.
Asobox
This little hole-in-the-wall really doesn’t offer much. The claw machines and arcade games here are either anime-related or rhythm games. The ground floor is very narrow and wouldn’t allow for more than a dozen people. But that being said, this is a great place to go if you don’t want to experience the big crowds you’d find in Sega or Adores. There were only a few people in here and they all seemed completely and utterly enthralled with what they were doing.
The music isn’t so loud that you would be turned away, it can get a little annoying but it’s not as bad as some of the others. It consists of only two small stories; the ground floor and the basement, the latter being only little bit bigger than the former. In terms of prizes and games, it has a theme and it’s sticking with it, but if you’re not all that into anime or music, maybe skip this one.
Yugijo
Ahh yes, the final entry on this list. Now, it may be because I am a bit directionally challenged, but it took me quite a while to find this arcade. And when I did, I felt like it wasn’t really worth it.
Honestly, when I first saw Yugijo I felt a little sad for them. The store is just a few claw machines in this small little room. It definitely wasn’t something to marvel at, but I really felt like this tiny little store was trying so hard to make it big in Akihabara. It is a bit further away than all the other stores and for so little in the way of variety, it is hard to see why someone would go all the way for this shop.
Want to learn more about Akihabara? The best way we know to get started is to take the three-hour Akihabara Anime & Gaming Adventure Tour. With an experienced guide and priced at only ¥7,600, this is the ideal means to begin your exploration!
