News On Japan

AI-Powered Store Opens at Fukuoka Dome

FUKUOKA, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - A new type of store will open this season at the home stadium of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Mizuho PayPay Dome: a cashier-free "smart store" that allows customers to shop without stopping to pay at a register.

Located near Gate 4, the "Hawks Smart Stand" uses artificial intelligence and 24 ceiling-mounted cameras to identify customer movements and purchases. On March 18th, ten days before the start of the professional baseball season, the store held a pre-opening trial for employees.

To enter the store, customers tap their credit card at the entrance. AI then tracks their movements, identifying items picked up and tallying the total upon exit. The system automatically charges the card used to enter. A receipt is generated online within about ten minutes, viewable by scanning a QR code inside the store.

One reporter tested the system by entering with a previously purchased gratin dish and then picking up a sweet potato dessert. The receipt reflected only the new purchase, showing the AI's precision in recognizing additional items.

The store is part of a collaboration between the Hawks and Secure, a company that develops AI-based security systems. The project aims to reduce congestion in the concourse on game days, when up to 40,000 fans can crowd the venue, and to address staff shortages.

"We started planning an unmanned store two years ago, as we recognized the issues of long lines and labor shortages," said Yuko Asayama, head of business operations at the Hawks. "We hope this solution improves convenience for fans and alleviates pressure on our staff."

During the system installation on March 12th, a technical glitch caused the card reader to malfunction temporarily. Secure attributed the issue to a possible system error between the store and cloud servers. The Hawks say they are conducting thorough tests to prevent problems at launch.

The Hawks Smart Stand will open for one day on March 23rd as a limited trial, followed by full-scale operation beginning on March 28th, the day of the Hawks' season opener.

Source: FBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

A man found wandering naked in Saitama Prefecture has been arrested after a string of violent incidents, including a fatal hit-and-run and an attempted abduction, unfolded within roughly 90 minutes on April 21st.

The total number of visitors to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai surpassed one million on April 23rd, just 11 days after the event began. Despite being a weekday, the venue remained crowded, with long lines forming at popular pavilions such as the one from the United States.

At the Shanghai Motor Show, which opened to the press on April 23rd ahead of its public run from April 27th to May 2nd, Toyota Motor Corporation revealed a series of new models, including a new electric vehicle, as it works to regain ground in the increasingly competitive Chinese market.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Web3 NEWS

At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a uniquely shaped robot is helping guide people with visual impairments.

A major social media backlash is unfolding over a historic shrine in Kyoto City, prompting a barrage of angry messages including threats such as "I’ll curse you" and "I’ll beat you to death."

Mahjong is gaining popularity in Japan, recognized as both a professional sport with growing international recognition and a casual hobby.

Hokkaido authorities held a countermeasure meeting with related agencies to discuss efforts to prevent bear-related damage, including the use of artificial intelligence to monitor bear populations.

In this video, we break down the jaw-dropping discovery made by a quantum AI system — one that led Michio Kaku to say we may have uncovered the "mind of the universe." Is this artificial intelligence decoding the source code of reality… or waking something up? (Spacialize)

As Meta fine-tunes its Llama artificial intelligence (AI) models on global data and OpenAI deepens its enterprise integration, Asia’s middle powers face mounting pressure to shape their own technological futures. (East Asia Forum)

"Time is money—how are you using yours?" When it comes to short-term investing, the window to achieve significant returns is often smaller than many expect.

Japan’s deep-rooted love for tuna, one of the world’s most consumed fish in the country, is entering a new phase—powered by artificial intelligence.