Pocky Stick Registered as 3D Trademark in Japan

Yuko Shimada from The Mainichi:

The shape of the popular Japanese chocolate snack "Pocky" has been registered as a three-dimensional trademark by the Japan Patent Office, snack giant Ezaki Glico Co. announced Aug. 4.

A 3D trademark is a system that allows 3D shapes with a certain degree of uniqueness to be protected as trademarks. According to Ezaki Glico, this is one of the few cases where the product can be identified solely by the shape of the item inside the packaging, even without text or logos.

No idea '3D trademarking' was a thing. But they have a point. Pocky is Pocky and will always be Pocky.

Yomiuri Shimbun Sues AI Company Perplexity for Stealing Content

From The Japan Times:

The lawsuit filed Thursday is one of a slew by media companies worldwide against AI firms using their material and is the first by a major Japanese news organization, Yomiuri said.

The lawsuit filed in Tokyo seeks damages of ¥2.2 billion ($14.7 million), equivalent to 120,000 Yomuiri articles used "without permission" between February and June.

Tech firms think they have to break the law to 'innovate' and that they are justified to do so. Let's teach them otherwise.

Rebuilt Shuri Castle Exterior Completed in Okinawa

Kazufumi Kaneko from The Asahi Shimbun:

The exterior of Shuri-jo Castle's main hall stands reborn once more with reconstruction complete and reporters visiting the historic space here on Aug. 6.

The castle is in the process of being rebuilt after being destroyed in a 2019 fire. The Seiden main hall's roof lined with red tiles unique to Okinawa Prefecture, vermilion pillars and vibrant ornamentations have all been restored.

It feels so good to see Shuri-Jo back again. I first visited it in 2016 during my first trip to Okinawa and was devastated to see it destroyed in 2019. When I lived and worked in Okinawa over the past few years, it was slowly being rebuilt. Ready to book a return trip to Ryukyu to see it in its full glory again.