Against the backdrop of yet more troops to be stationed on the island of Okinawa, countering future movements by China in Japan's southwestern waters, Fujitsu has developed a new ultrasound tool using AI for measuring the freshness of frozen tuna, a fish expected to become even more popular over the next 5 years. In Fukuoka, the 'Onisube' fire festival at the Dazaifu Tenmangu Temple is dramatic, mysterious and stirring stuff, with visitors invited to takes the temple's burnt ashes home, warding off the threat of misfortune. Rural and seasonal, Japan also prepares for the year ahead in Yamagata, leading up to its International Documentary Film Festival this October. All this and more, as Hirokazu Koreeda releases a new series on Netflix and prepares to release a new film, Monster, later this year. — Get in touch: notebook.podcast@gmail.com Leave a message: speakpipe.com/notebook Instagram: @notebook_pod Twitter: @notebook_pod —