This week Square mobile payment comes to Japan, super-green Kitakyushu & UNIDO join forces to make clean cities, Japanese research groups are Joining the European Human Brain Project, and some really unfortunate and sad news in the world of humanoid robotics.

Welcome to Japanese Technology from the Future Friday:
It’s already Friday west of the international dateline – here in Japan, it’s totally the future. The weekly JTFF is our somewhat technosnarky coverage of 2-5 particularly important, specifically Japan-related tech stories. Get yourself hip to the micro & macro that went down while North America was sleeping – check in with Akihabara News every Friday morning and BOOM! Ahead of the game, you win.

:: JTFF – May 24, 2013 ::

• Square Mobile Payment System Comes to Japan
Sure, Japan’s had wireless mobile payment systems for lots of years, but that’s a different animal; this is meeting at a Starbucks and swiping my card on your iPad to pay for… whatever. Square is partnering with Sumitomo Mitsui, who brought the Visa card to Japan, but hey – let’s be honest, they still haven’t brought it that far. The land of the fax machine has ATMs that close. Seriously, there are ATMs that turn off and on, not for maintenance, but in line with bank hours! It boggles. And it’s been reported that 80% of small businesses in Japan still don’t even accept credit cards (or debit cards – that species still hasn’t arrived here). We’ll see how this goes.
[SQUARE'S GOING INTERNATIONAL, AND JAPAN'S FIRST - SF GATE]

• Once Horrendously Industrialized Now Super-Eco Kitakyushu Partners with UNIDO for Green Cities
Kitakyushu, Japan, or Kokura, was the original target for the nuclear weapon known as Fat Man - the one that was instead diverted to Nagasaki. It was the industrial hub of the southern island of Kyushu, so one can easily see how that would have been the case. As the city developed, it really became a poster child for filthy, polluted, nearly unlivable urban industrialization. They managed to turn that all around, and now Kitakyushu is considered a global model of green, environmentally responsible industrialization. The city’s getting more props now, and is partnering with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to push an initiative aiming toward zero-emissions industrialized cities.
[JAPAN EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIDO - KUWA]

• Japanese Brain Research Organizations Partnering with the European Human Brain Project
Interesting piece of news, this. One would have expected preeminent Japanese brain researchers to get all mobbed up with the American Human Brain Map project. Instead, they’re reaching a bit further across the globe and getting cozy with the European project. One can’t really blame them – no one’s sure exactly what, how, or exactly why the American project is… existing. So, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and RIKEN brain research teams are going Euro.
[JAPAN BRAIN RESEARCH ORGS PARTNER WITH EUROPE - MEDICAL EXPRESS]

• Kanako Miura, World-Class Roboticist, Killed in Boston, MA, U.S.A.
While it’s several days old, the news bears mentioning. Terribly tragic end for brilliant mind and, by all reports, a lovely and fantastic person. Ms. Miura, a guest researcher MIT working on human-like bipedal mobility for robots, was struck while riding her bike last weekend. We’ll have a full report, in English and Japanese, next Wednesday.
[JAPANESE ROBOTICIST KANAKO MIURA DIES WHILE BICYCLING - MIT NEWS]

That was the JTFF, and live from the future – that is all.

• • •

Reno J. Tibke is the founder and operator of Anthrobotic.com, where the JTFF was born.

Tokyo at Night image via PhotoEverywhere.

Planex Communications Inc. is releasing HDMI Selector “HDMI-SW0401D” on May 31.

Using “HDMI-SW0401D” as an intermediary, you are able to connect a maximum of 4 HDMI built-in devices to a TV or display that has only one HDMI port. You can simply choose which device you want to use through an accompanying remote control.

Also, it’s compatible with 3D and full high-vision image. Since connected devices feed power to “HDMI-SW0401D”, an AC adapter is not needed.

Estimated price: ¥5,000 (including tax)
Size: 115 x 62 x 25.6mm
Weight: 219g

SQUARE ENIX revealed that they will release the PS3 and Windows versions of “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn” on August 27.

Advance orders started today, May 24. A bonus, as part of making an advance order, is “Early Access” where you can log in to FFXIV in advance and get 2 limited items that you can use in the game.

Also, “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition” will be out on August 27 as well. It comes with a special box designed by Final fantasy series illustrator Yoshitaka Amano, as well as other bonuses including a visual art book and special sound track, etc.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Price: PS3 – ¥3,300, Windows – Open price

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition
Price: PS3 – ¥10,290, Windows – Open price

Toshiba is announcing external HDD “CANVIO DESK” – 1TB/2TB/3TB models. The 2TB model is already out, while the 1TB and 3TB models will be out on May 25.

Since “CANVIO DESK” is USB3.0 compliant, it’s able to transfer data 10 times faster than USB2.0 compliant HDD. You can connect it to your TV or Blue-ray recorder that features USB HDD recording functionality and can record hi-vision TV programs in high image quality for a long period of time.

In the large capacity 3TB model, an estimated 816,000 photos, 318 hours of video, and 762,000 songs can be saved.

Size: 42 x 129 x 167mm
Power source: AC adapter and/or USB
Interface: USB3.0
Compatible with: Windows 8/7/Vista, Mac OS X v10.8/v10.7/v10.6/v10.5

Leica from Germany is a popular brand in Japan and they just opened their store in SOGO department store in Yokohama, Japan, and are going to release an exclusive limited edition model called “Leica X2 Yokohama Edition” in July. Only 30 cameras will be available.

The limited model is based on Leica’s premium compact digital camera “Leica X2″, with lizard style leather is used for the body. A shoulder strap and camera protecter made with the same leather material will come with the camera.

APS-C sized newly developed CMOS sensor (16.2 million pixels) and high-spec lens “LEICA ELMARIT-M f2.8/24mm ASPH” are built-in. It has low noise, wide dynamic range and accurate color reproducibility.

Although the release will be in July, they are currently accepting advance orders at the SOGO Yokohama store. The price is ¥283,500.

Audio Technica’s new audio speaker will be out on June 20. It features the “360° Sound Reflector System” and a conical shape that allows the speaker to deliver sounds to 360 degrees.

Play music saved in the smartphone or tablet by connecting the 3.5mm stereo mini plug.

You can plug-in a tablet in front of the speaker and enjoy watching a movie with 360 degree sounds as well. It has a 53mm large diameter speaker unit.

Also, a condenser microphone is built-in, so you can use it for handsfree phone conversations.

Estimate price: 6,000 yen
Dimensions: 117(H) × 180(W) × 180(D) mm
Weight: 400g
Colors: Black, White
Battery: size AA alkaline battery x 3, size AA nickel hydride battery x 3

4 new models of Casio’s outdoor watch series “PRO TREK” (PRW-3000) will be out on June 28.

Employing its new measurement system “Triple Sensor Ver. 3″, measurement accuracy of direction, atmospheric pressure, altitude, and temperature has increased. The length of time of continuous measurement has increased from 20 seconds to 60 seconds, making reading a map or finding a route much easier. Regarding altitude measurement, the measuring time has shortened from 5 seconds to 1 second.

It features low-temperature resistance and water resistance 10.

The following colors are available:

Black (PRW-3000-1AJF)
Dark gray (PRW-3000-1JF)
Navy (PRW-3000-2JF)
Orange (PRW-3000-4JF)

Estimated price: ¥40,000
Size: 56.0 × 47.0 × 12.3mm, 62g
Power source: Solar-charging system

Muji just released a bluetooth compliant speaker built-in charging station “BSSJT-MJ”.

There are 2 USB ports for charging smartphones under the station. Because it has a bluetooth compliant speaker, you can play music saved in your smartphone by connecting wirelessly.

Price: ¥5,900 (including tax)
Size: 170 x 170 x 50mm
Connection method: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Connection distance: Within 10m
Accessory: AC adapter

LG Electronics Japan is releasing a mobile photo printer called “Pocket photo” in early June. With the “Pocket photo”, you can take a photo with your smartphone and print it out right away, anytime, anywhere.

It’s similar in size to smartphones, so it’s easy to carry around.

To get started using it, install a free dedicated application called “Pocket photo” to a bluetooth compliant smartphone. With this app installed, when you take a photo with your smartphone, you can edit or decorate it with functions on the app and then press “Print” on the smartphone display. The print job is sent wirelessly, and 45 seconds later, it is printed out.

Ink cartridges are not needed. Printing is handled through special “pocket photo paper” (“ZINK photo paper”)

Estimated price: ¥15,800
Size: 72.4(W) × 120.9(D) × 24(H) mm
Connection method: Bluetooth
Battery: 500mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery (charging time 1.5 hour)
Compliant OS: Android 2.2 or later/ iOS 5.1 or later
Accessories: Instruction booklet, quick reference guide, USB cable, battery charger, Pocket photo paper (ZINK photo paper)

CCP Co., Ltd., is releasing the world’s smallest helicopter – “NANO-FALCON” – on June 8. It is certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s smallest helicopter controlled by infrared light.

Parts used for small-sized precision machinery and devices such as smartphones are used for “NANO-FALCON”. The helicopter weighs only 11g and is 65mm long. Even though it’s a tiny helicopter, it’s able to fly stably because of a high performance gyrosensor and contra-rotating propellers. You can make the helicopter go up, go down, turn, circle, go forward and go backward.

Price: 4,704 yen (including tax)
Size: 65mm long, 11g
Controlling distance: 5m indoor
Battery for the helicopter: Rechargeable lithium ion polymer battery (built-in)
Battery for the controller: Alkaline size AA batteries x 4 (sold separately)
Continuous flying time: About 5 minutes
Charging time: 30 minutes
Includes: Helicopter, controller, spare tail propellers x 2, propeller remover