ON PODCAST 182 DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANW Who goes to Ikea on a Japan vacation? Can Japan escape the G7 supply chain woes? What does the future of the Japanese convenience store look like? Show Notes JAPAN Harassment by boss top reason for job leavers to turn to Tokyo quitting agency: survey SUPPLY CHAIN WAR Japanese company denies making Hezbollah's exploding walkie-talkies SOCIETY 5.0 No one is on board...! Japan's first successful experiment in "unmanned" jet skis Lawson and KDDI's "convenience store of the future" is now fully operational, with AI cameras on the shelves and robots stocking the shelves, aiming to address labor shortages and other issues Japanese convenience store plans to increase shoppers’ phone data capacity just for visiting Kyoto City introduces AI camera system to detect when infants are sleeping face down to prevent suffocation and sudden death Measures to ease traffic congestion at Miyajimaguchi: AI cameras to broadcast congestion status online in November in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Tobu Railway and Hitachi to introduce "biometric authentication" at 100 locations including hotels and trains Osaka Gas Network operates gas pipe patrol services on Shinki bus routes. AI cameras improve productivity and safety quality Japan’s NVIDIA-backed Sakana AI raises $214m DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION UNIQLO Founder Stirs Heated Debate on What's Best for Japan's Workforce of the Future