The signs of a future in which humans merge with machines are appearing in Japan as people start to implant microchips in their bodies. But set against considerations of convenience are questions over potential medical law violations, health concerns and security risks.
Although integrated circuit chips are being welcomed by some people, who see them being used for everything from electronic payments to unlocking smartphones, the long-term effects of embedding them in the human body are not yet well understood.
At an information technology company in central Osaka called Otafuku Lab Inc., President Takashi Hamamichi, 39, waves his hand across a sensor on a door. A light flashes green and it clicks open.