According to The Asahi Shimbun, Robots built by a Tokyo-based company designed to kill the flu virus using deep ultraviolet rays eliminated novel coronavirus on walls and floors in an experiment at a Tokyo university hospital.
Farmroid Co., which developed the robots, plans to market them from early July.
The robots, called UV Buster, irradiate surfaces with deep ultraviolet rays said to render 99.9 percent of the flu virus inactive when it is exposed to the rays for 2.46 seconds within a 10-centimeter distance.
Unlike normal ultraviolet rays, deep ones have shorter wavelengths, which makes their radiation more damaging.
The hospital, located in the capital's Itabashi Ward, where Farmroid is also based, confirmed the robot eliminated the coronavirus after using it to irradiate the virus on surfaces.
Yasuhiro Gon, a professor of pulmonary medicine at Nihon University School of Medicine, said the facility was keen to use the robots as a measure against infection from the novel coronavirus even though the nation's state of emergency has already been lifted.
Gon said the school wanted to "thoroughly prevent the spread of the virus and prepare for a second wave.”
Farmroid intends to sell the robots, which are built to order, to medical institutions, airports and commercial facilities.
As deep ultraviolet rays can have harmful effects on the human body, the robots can only be used only in places where people are not present. The company has no plans yet to sell them to the public.
Farmroid representative Kazuki Iimura said the robots would be priced to compete with expected rivals.
“We want to provide our products at a cheaper price than foreign companies that make similar products,” Iimura, said.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13491999

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/1029098.html 
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According to The Australian Financial Review, Maple Development Group, an arm of Chinese developer Peng Bo, has been given planning approval for its largest residential project yet, a $200 million apartment tower in central Brisbane's Quay Street precinct.
The Rothelowman design for the mixed use project comprises 255 apartments, a five-star serviced apartment building, commercial offices and podium-level shopping and dining across two 30- and 35-storey buildings.
"Brisbane has in recent years experienced a period of evolution and significant growth, primarily focused on quality riverfront amenity and experiences, which make the most of the city’s climate and riverine landscape,” Maple's group development manager, Gilbert Zhu, said.
Maple, a subsidiary of Hebei Province-based developer Peng Bo, has been pursuing a series of residential and commercial projects in south-east Queensland over the past five years. Two years ago, it launched Arcadia Apartments, a boutique 29-unit project in Indooroopilly.

https://www.afr.com/property/residential/maple-plan-ticked-for-brisbane-s-quay-street-20200622-p554yc

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/1193444.html 
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According to The Nikkei Asian Review, an app to help people stop smoking received Japanese government approval Friday last week, becoming the first prescription digital therapeutic in Japan and heralding an emerging field of treatments developed at lower cost.
The software from Tokyo-based startup CureApp to treat nicotine dependence is also believed to be the world's first prescribed app for smoking cessation.
It guides the quitter by dispensing algorithm-based advice, such as to chew gum or to take a deep breath, in response to reported cravings and daily physical condition. Part coach and part cheerleader, it offers encouragement to make staying off tobacco easier.
CureApp aims to launch the app, expected to be covered by public health insurance, to commercial markets by year-end. The company applied to the ministry for manufacturing and marketing approval in May 2019.
For its clinical trial, CureApp partnered with 31 stop-smoking clinics in Japan and used the app as part of a 12-week treatment program for 584 people and checked their cessation status later. The study found that 64% of those who used the app stayed smoke-free six months after the program, 13 percentage points more than the control group. After a year, 52% of users remained nonsmokers, 11 percentage points more than the control group.
Digital therapeutics are associated with a reduced risk of side effects and can be created for around billions of yen rather than the at least 100 billion yen (US$ 935 million) required for new drugs. They can be developed more quickly, too.
With the CureApp app, user data is accumulated daily and is expected to be used for development of new digital treatments.
The field of digital therapeutics is growing, with big-name companies moving in.
Astellas Pharma and U.S. partner Welldoc announced in November 2019 an agreement to bring the Food and Drug Administration-cleared BlueStar diabetes management tool to Japan and other Asian markets. Boston-based Akili Interactive and Shionogi announced that March a partnership to develop and commercialize digital treatments for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Otsuka Holdings group member Otsuka Pharmaceutical is working with New York-based Click Therapeutics on software to help people with depression.
In the U.S., a Pear Therapeutics app for substance use disorder won clearance from the FDA in 2017.
The global market for digital therapeutic devices -- including apps and wearables -- is projected to grow to US$ 8.47 billion by the end of 2024 from US$ 1.47 billion in 2017, according to Zion Market Research.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Quit-smoking-app-greenlighted-as-Japan-s-first-digital-therapeutic
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If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/2004506.html

According to The Australian Financial Review, entrepreneurs are starting new businesses at the highest rate seen so far this year, a positive sign the economy is starting to emerge from the COVID-19-induced hibernation.
Insurance agency BizCover sold 20 per cent more new business insurance policies – mainly to sole operators and small business owners – at the start of June compared with February, while policy cancellations were down 20 per cent compared with the start of the year.
"The rate of increase in small businesses starting seems to have accelerated in every week since the beginning of May, which is great news for small businesses and the economy," said BizCover chief financial officer Simon Schwarz.

https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/small-business-starts-rise-as-lockdown-eases-20200612-p551w7

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/7410955.html
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According to The Nikkei Asian Review, once again, the domestic terminal of Tokyo's Haneda Airport was crowded with travelers Friday, after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared an end to all restrictions on domestic travel the previous day.
The resumption of domestic travel is part of a full reopening of the economy that started on Friday, including allowing bars and nightclubs -- previously hotspots for the novel coronavirus -- to welcome customers. The government must now try to strike a balance between firing up the economy and keeping the virus under control.
During the period of voluntary restrictions, some people have gotten used to working from home and teleconferencing. But many others are eager for a change of scenery.
One 39-year-old flyer at Haneda Airport was on her way to Ishikawa in central Japan. The part-time university researcher said the lifting of the travel restrictions has finally allowed her to return to her lab and catch up on experiments she needs to finish before an academic conference in the fall.
While travel was restricted, she worked remotely with colleagues at the lab. But her research, which deals with the sense of taste, requires her to conduct experiments. "There is a limit to what I can do remotely," she said.
Resorts, amusement parks and nightclubs have also sprung back to life. In the northern hot spring town of Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, hotels have reopened. Operators are hopeful that domestic tourists from the south will bring money to Hokkaido's tourism-dependent economy.
Fuji-Q Highland, an amusement park near Mount Fuji, has begun welcoming guests from across the country. Until recently, the park was open only to residents of Yamanashi Prefecture.
In Tokyo, Johnny Angel, a nightclub in Edogawa Ward, has also reopened in a limited way. The venue normally seats up to 70 guests, but for now it will take a maximum of 15. A plastic sheet now hangs between the stage and the seats to reduce the risk of transmission.
In Tokyo's upscale Ginza district, hostess bars are back in action. True to the neighborhood's reputation for top-notch service, one of such bars has set up multiple air purifiers and fans to ensure good ventilation. Customers are required to have their temperatures checked at the entrance, wear masks at all times and wear covers on their shoes.
The relaxed rules mean events such as concerts can take place if there are no more than 1,000 guests. But the Nippon Professional Baseball league will hold its first game of the season on Friday without spectators.
Abe said at a news conference on Thursday that normal life can resume, so long as people observe basic social-distancing rules. Technology is also expected to play a part in keeping new cases under control. On Friday, the health ministry rolled out a contact tracing app called Cocoa, which is similar to the TradeTogether app used in Singapore but with more robust privacy features.
Like TraceTogether, Cocoa uses Bluetooth signals to keep a record of people who have been within 1 meter of the user for 15 minutes or longer. Users can notify other people on the app if they become infected with the coronavirus. Cocoa can be downloaded for free from the Google and Apple app stores.
Cocoa stores contact data for 14 days, after which it is automatically deleted. The data is kept on the user's smartphone, rather than with the government, as in Singapore. No data is gathered that is traceable to specific individuals, such as names, phone numbers or location data.
The app will be effective if it is used by 60% of the population, the government says.
"If we are able to quickly isolate people who come into contact with those who are infected, a lockdown will be unnecessary," Abe said. "Please rest assured. This app doesn't collect private information. So please go ahead and download the app," Abe said at the news conference.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Japan-reopens-for-business-pinning-hopes-on-tracing-app

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/9723154.html
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According to The Asahi Shimbun, Japanese major clothing retailer Uniqlo opened its new flagship store called “Uniqlo Tokyo” in Tokyo’s fashionable Ginza district on June 19.
The Uniqlo store was originally located on the seventh floor of the mall Marronnier Gate Ginza 2, but has moved to occupy the first four floors of the building and gone through extensive renovations.
The sales floor area has markedly increased by about three times in size, now covering about 5,000 square meters.
The store’s new look is designed to reveal the other floors and show off the four-story ceiling. The design features exposed beams made of reinforced concrete.
The clothing store was previously only selling women’s clothing, but since the refit it now also sells clothing for men and children, as well as bedding.
“The store has cutting-edge sales floors,” said Tadashi Yanai, chairman and president of Fast Retailing Co., which operates Uniqlo, at a recent news conference.
“I would like the store to enjoy prosperity,” he said, adding he hopes it will serve as a symbol of “resurgence” from the novel coronavirus outbreak and “help revive Japan.”

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13471661

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/9142115.html
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According to The Australian Financial Review, the country's biggest office landlord, ASX-listed Dexus, is forging into the post-pandemic office market, lodging plans for a $2.1 billion twin-tower project on the Brisbane riverfront.
The proposed transformation of the Eagle Street Pier and Waterfront Place has been long awaited, as Dexus honed plans for two towers of 49 and 43 floors along with riverfront dining, retail outlets and public plazas.
The two towers will deliver a combined 120,000 square metres of office space. Another key feature will be the widened and upgraded Riverwalk for pedestrians and cyclists.
"The project's scale and central riverfront location will firmly establish Waterfront Brisbane as a world-class destination and is set to reshape the daily experience of the many people who visit and work there," said Dexus chief investment officer Ross Du Vernet.

https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/dexus-sets-up-on-brisbane-riverfront-20200617-p553h9

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/7703523.html 
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According to The Asahi Shimbun, Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) on June 13 rolled out what it calls the “Supreme” Shinkansen bullet train.
The N700S series model bullet train will debut July 1 on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. The S in the series name stands for supreme.
The top operating speed will be 285 kph, the same as the N700A model that now dominates the fast track on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.
On June 13, the N700S model was shown off to media representatives invited for a test run between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.
JR Tokai will initially have four N700S trains in operation, while gradually increasing the number to 40 in fiscal 2022.
This is the first full model change on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line in 13 years.
Each passenger seat will have an electric outlet and the seat cushion will automatically lower when a passenger reclines.
Storage space is available on the connecting decks of the train so passengers can lock their baggage. A smoking space is available, too.
To increase security, the number of cameras in each car will be increased from two to between four and six. During an emergency, video from those cameras can be sent directly to the control center.
The S model has lithium-ion batteries installed under the floor, meaning the train will be able to continue running even in a power outage.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13455494

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/n700s9066280.html?lang=ja
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According to The Australian Financial Review, retirees could be a key beneficiary of the federal government's HomeBuilder program, which the industry estimates could stimulate an additional 1000 retirement and land lease sales – or a 44 per cent increase on expected transactions – between June and December.
While much of the focus around the $25,000 cash grant for qualifying new home builds has been on first home buyers, it could also provide a much-needed incentive for retirees to downsize and buy into new homes.
"Something like this could be a great catalyst for people to downsize," said Simon Owen, the chief executive of Ingenia Communities, a provider of affordable accommodation under the so-called land lease model, under which an owner buys a dwelling but rents the land on which it sits.
James Kelly, the managing director of Ingenia's Victoria-focused rival Lifestyle Communities, agrees.
"It's the biggest home buyer's downsizer grant we've ever seen," Mr Kelly said. "No-one thinks this applies to them because it never has before. That's why it's so exciting."

https://www.afr.com/property/residential/homebuilder-the-downsizing-retirees-grant-20200609-p5510m

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/homebuilder.html?lang=ja

According to The Nikkei Asian Review, Japan will as early as this summer allow up to 250 business travelers a day into the country from nations with low coronavirus infection rates, while urging visitors to use a smartphone app to facilitate contact tracing.
The government envisions accepting about 80 travelers from Vietnam, 60 from Thailand, 50 from Australia and 10 from New Zealand, plus 50 Japanese nationals returning from these countries, with the overall cap to be raised as testing capacity expands. Total visitors from the four nations averaged nearly 6,000 per day in 2018, with Thailand accounting for more than half.
Talks with these countries on easing immigration restrictions are underway.
The plan comes amid a broad relaxation of travel curbs in the region, with a particular focus on business, as case counts decline.
Incoming visitors will be asked to use a smartphone app that alerts users if they may have come in contact with a confirmed coronavirus carrier, and to report any such notifications to authorities. Travelers will also be told to keep location tracking active on their phones for two weeks after entering the country.
The government plans to have companies confirm in writing their responsibility for business travelers they accept, to nudge businesses to encourage workers to use the tracing app.
Japanese visitors to these countries will likely be subject to similar conditions, as immigration rules are typically reciprocal. The government may set up coronavirus testing centers specifically for people entering and leaving the country if travel picks up.
In 2018, visitors from Vietnam, including vacationers, totaled 1,066 per day, 3,102 from Thailand, 1,514 from Australia and 201 from New Zealand.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Japan-to-let-in-250-business-travelers-a-day-under-close-watch

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/1250.html?lang=ja 
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