Watch Japanese cops use a net-equipped drone to catch a ‘rogue’ quadcopter
After a remotely controlled copter carrying a radioactive substance landed on the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo earlier this year, cops have been looking for an effective way to take down rogue UAVs. The solution? Bigger drones. With nets.
Robots might take over almost half of Japan within the next 20 years
They're already driving taxis, running hotels, and serving as disaster relief personnel in Japan, so of course it's only a matter of time before robots take over the country altogether.
Nintendo launches cross-platform user accounts in Japan
Nintendo launched a cross-platform user account system in Japan this week, giving players the ability to track their digital eShop purchases.
This app lets you design your own accessories with your phone
With Japan's Monomy, described as an online DIY custom jewelry marketplace, anyone can create their own fashion accessories.
Robots can now get into college, surpassing human scores on standardized tests
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) system developed by Japan’s National Institute of Informatics is smart enough to pass the country's college entrance exam.
Japan guns for the moon with proposed 2019 lunar landing
Japanese officials revealed plans to land an unmanned vehicle on the moon in 2019, making it the fourth country in the world to soft land on the moon.
SNK Playmore to renew focus on console and mobile game development
SNK Playmore announced that it will shift its development focus to the console and mobile gaming sectors, following major changes in its pachinko business.
Fujitsu develops tech that turns biometric data into a cryptographic key
Fujitsu is working on a new method of encrypting biometric information to protect your data while traveling over a network.
The Dfree wearable predicts your next bowel movement
Ideal for anyone that needs time to locate a bathroom, the Dfree is a new wearable that attaches directly to skin in order to monitor intestinal activity and create a bowel movement countdown clock
This walking, rolling robot was inspired by the Droidekas from ‘Star Wars’
Japanese researchers at the Chiba Institute of Technology have designed a Droideka-inspired robot that rolls like a ball and walks like a spider.
Japanese man accidentally sets fire to his home during live stream
With a lit cigarette in his mouth, spilt lighter fluid on his hands, and a pile of discarded paper to his right, it's hardly surprising that this particular live-stream demo – for a "permanent match" lighter – went horribly wrong.
Get excited for 2016 — there will be robot taxis on the road in Japan by then
Japan will be testing robot taxis in Kanagawa, a small town just south of Tokyo, with the dawn of 2016.
Forget museums, now train services are banning the selfie stick
The selfie stick is picking up plenty of bans at museums and sports stadiums, but train stations? The operator of Japan's bullet train has decided the extendable monopods are an accident waiting to happen, and are warning travelers to refrain from using them.
Man arrested for assaulting Pepper, the robot that can read your emotions
SoftBank's Pepper robot may be able to read human emotions and respond accordingly, but it apparently offered little in the way of a reaction when a drunken man assaulted it at a store in Japan recently.
In Australia this Labor Day weekend? Flash a smile in the world’s largest selfie
If you're lucky enough to be in Australia for the long weekend, you may want to consider participating in what is being called the world's biggest selfie.
Netflix launches in Japan, though it’s doing things a little differently there
Netflix has finally arrived in Japan, a country with huge revenue potential for the video streaming company. However, it's clearly done its research, choosing to launch the service in a slightly manner than usual.
Japan is building a fully-automated indoor farm capable of producing 30,000 heads of lettuce per day
Japan's Spread Vegetable Factory is working on a novel way of producing high quantities of lettuce using factory automation starting in 2017.
Amazon will launch Prime Instant Video in Japan next month
Perhaps attempting to keep Netflix in check as both companies expand overseas, Amazon Prime subscribers in Japan will soon be able to access movies and television shows on Prime Instant Video.
Sony, Microsoft publishing Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in Japan
Sony and Microsoft confirmed that they will publish Japanese versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, taking over regional publishing duties from Activision.
WalkCar, the personal transporter that’s small enough to fit in a bag
Had enough of walking? Like the idea of standing still to reach your destination? Then check out the WalkCar, a personal transportation solution small enough to chuck in your backpack when your journey's done.
Netflix launches in The Land of the Rising Sun on September 2
Netflix will expand to Japan on September 2, the company has announced.
Japanese companies want autonomous taxis ready in time for 2020 Olympics
Autonomous taxis could hit Tokyo streets in time for the 2020 Olympics, if two Japanese companies can follow through with a new plan.
Japanese scientists are sending whiskey up to space so it can age in zero gravity
Since aging whiskey on Earth is obviously a thing of the past, Japanese distillery Suntory says it will send five bottles of its whiskey to age in space.
The MB4.0 origami bridge could save your life in a natural disaster
The intricate folds of origami have inspired what scientists claim to be "the world’s fastest, largest, strongest, and lightest expanding temporary bridge."
Japanese university sets world record with an insane 2 quadrillion-watt laser burst
Scientists at Osaka University in Japan have reportedly fired the world's most powerful laser beam -- a 2 petawatt burst.
A little girl shows off all the cool features of Japanese bathrooms
Bathrooms in Japan are far more partitioned than in the U.S., which means you don't have to wait for someone to get out of the bath to use the toilet.
Sony jumps on the drone bandwagon with a new venture called Aerosense
Rather than jumping in the ring with consumer drone companies like DJI, Parrot, and others, Sony's new venture, Aerosense Inc., plans to use drones to provide aerial surveying services to businesses.
The Henn-Na (Weird) Hotel is run by robots, and you can now book a night for around $100
The first ever robot hotel opened its doors in Japan, and for $60 to $153 a night, you can live in a temporary home that is staffed completely by humanoids.
There is free Wi-Fi at the top of Japan’s highest mountain
Japan's free Wi-Fi services are about to reach new heights with the launch of hotspots along Mount Fuji's hiking trails. The new service is aimed primarily at foreign travelers, thousands of whom visit each year to climb the nation's highest mountain.
Japan transforming its disused golf courses into solar farms
Japanese electronics company Kyocera is working to convert some of the country's disused golf courses into solar power plants. The locations are perfect for such an initiative as the land has already been cut into mountains and is easily accessible.
Battle of the bots: American MegaBot to face off against Japanese Kuratas next year
In the real life version of a Transformers fight, the Japanese robot Kuratas has accepted the challenge for a duel from American MegaBot.
Conductive ink ushers in the next generation of wearable technology
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a new conductive ink that would allow electronics to be printed on stretchable fabrics.
The first robot wedding happened in Japan: There was a kiss, cake, and dancing
About 100 people gathered in Tokyo on Saturday to witness robots named Frois and Yukirin tie the knot. There was even a “kiss.”
SoftBank’s ’emotional’ Pepper robot sells out in just 60 seconds
SoftBank said it took just one minute to sell its first batch of 1,000 Pepper robots when it went on sale in Japan on Saturday. The humanoid robot is notable for its ability to understand human emotions, and is also able to express its own "feelings".