Self-Driving Car startups are seeing massive cash injections in Japan, but can they deliver the goods? The BRICS plan on launching a new blockchain gold-backed currency, called the UNIT. What does this mean for Japan and the G7 Economy, which is hellbent on minority issues and riding the tailcoats of its past? DEPOPULATION Meiji Yasuda Life to extend retirement age to 70 amid labor shortage SOCIETY 5.0 Aichi Prefecture to start regular operation of self-driving vehicles in Nagoya City from October Autonomous driving venture Turing raises additional 1.5 billion yen, total amount to 6 billion yen, to be used for development of computing infrastructure Kajima and SoftBank subsidiary to operate Level 4 autonomous bus, first private company to do so DEDOLLAR/BITCOIN BRICS will have its own currency