JR East quietly demonstrated Mobile Suica ultra-wideband (UWB) walk-through gates at the grand opening weekend (March 28, 29) of their newest mega-station retail complex OIMACHI TRACKS. A few short video […]
Buddhism - Japan Journal
Life of Higuchi Kiichirō: A Biographical Sketch
The Faith and Actions of a Nichiren Buddhist Imperial Japanese Army Lt. General who saved 20,000 Jews By Shoen Shibata Of all the amazing stories and remarkable people in the […]
Mobile Transit
Mobile TOICA launches with Apple Wallet support
Mobile TOICA launched today (2026-03-17 JST) on Apple Wallet and Android Osaifu Keitai. Hosted on the JR West Mobile ICOCA platform that has been on Apple Pay since June 2023, […]
Digital ID - Japan Journal
My Number Apple Wallet e-Tax Mess
Ever since My Number for iPhone Apple Wallet launched in 2025, I’ve been looking for a good workout opportunity. Unfortunately there haven’t been many. On the medical insurance side, the […]
Mobile Payments - Mobile Transit
Dead Penguin: Suica 2026
What a Suica year. After all that pie in the sky 2024 Suica Renaissance marketing glitz, we should have known the ugly reality 2025 had in store for us when […]
Mobile Payments - Mobile Transit
New JR East teppay QR payment platform coming to Mobile Suica / PASMO Apps
JR East and PASMO announced a new payment platform called teppay that will be coming to Mobile Suica and Mobile PASMO starting in the fall of 2026. It builds on […]