Rio Akasaka
@rio.akasaka.org
Product manager on Google Maps driving + walking, and that little bit at the end that says you've arrived. I dream of a beautiful place in the mountains to call home. 日本語でもたまには書きます
📍Tokyo by way of Boulder and Zurich
📍Tokyo by way of Boulder and Zurich
Dumbest rule ever at Mizuho bank- if you don't have your cash card no amount of IDs that confirm you are the owner of an account will let you transfer money at the bank
December 17, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Dumbest rule ever at Mizuho bank- if you don't have your cash card no amount of IDs that confirm you are the owner of an account will let you transfer money at the bank
Proof that no one does QA any more now that everything is about AI
December 14, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Proof that no one does QA any more now that everything is about AI
Why is it that old white men find joy in being the only people EVER in an onsen to submerge their head/hair.
December 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Why is it that old white men find joy in being the only people EVER in an onsen to submerge their head/hair.
I have to admit I'm a bit bearish on the social media ban. As much as I understand social media is harmful, a ban pushes motivated users to alternatives that might be even less safe. I much prefer the European approach of a social media curfew, to put guardrails rather than outright bans.
December 10, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I have to admit I'm a bit bearish on the social media ban. As much as I understand social media is harmful, a ban pushes motivated users to alternatives that might be even less safe. I much prefer the European approach of a social media curfew, to put guardrails rather than outright bans.
Tell me you live in Tokyo without telling me you live in Tokyo
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Tell me you live in Tokyo without telling me you live in Tokyo
Remember the days when signing up for free WiFi at the airport or the nearest business involved signing away your first born child
November 22, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Remember the days when signing up for free WiFi at the airport or the nearest business involved signing away your first born child
I find that asking my AI agent to be a bit snarky (using Personal Context) actually really reminds me when to use it and when not to
November 22, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I find that asking my AI agent to be a bit snarky (using Personal Context) actually really reminds me when to use it and when not to
Super proud of the work that went into building this. I learned so much about how to integrate AI thoughtfully and make it truly helpful and delightful. Can't wait to see how you use Gemini on your next Google Maps journey.
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
Google Maps taps Gemini AI to transform into an ‘all-knowing copilot’
“Hey Google, where am I?”
www.theverge.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Super proud of the work that went into building this. I learned so much about how to integrate AI thoughtfully and make it truly helpful and delightful. Can't wait to see how you use Gemini on your next Google Maps journey.
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
This is a fascinating map
November 5, 2025 at 4:16 AM
This is a fascinating map
So it turns out Halloween is the day grocery stores in Japan take the universal cue to change their in-store jingles to be Christmas themed and all I can say is TOO SOON
November 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
So it turns out Halloween is the day grocery stores in Japan take the universal cue to change their in-store jingles to be Christmas themed and all I can say is TOO SOON
Just because you can does not mean you should
October 10, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Just because you can does not mean you should
I wonder how many transactions are lost with this one -- the default Enter keypress on my Visa OTP input form... opens a dialog to cancel the entire transaction 🤦
October 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I wonder how many transactions are lost with this one -- the default Enter keypress on my Visa OTP input form... opens a dialog to cancel the entire transaction 🤦
My most antisocial behavior is to return car share vehicles with driver seat configurations that make it impossible for the subsequent driver not to wonder what kind of misshapen person could have possibly driven the car before.
October 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM
My most antisocial behavior is to return car share vehicles with driver seat configurations that make it impossible for the subsequent driver not to wonder what kind of misshapen person could have possibly driven the car before.
It's a bold strategy, Cotton.
October 1, 2025 at 6:34 AM
It's a bold strategy, Cotton.
Always reminded never to be totally surprised at how good the Pixel captures imagery, even tricky things like fireworks
September 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Always reminded never to be totally surprised at how good the Pixel captures imagery, even tricky things like fireworks
I can't think of anything quite more American than thinking of new places to put cup holders
September 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I can't think of anything quite more American than thinking of new places to put cup holders
A big corp holding itself accountable _and_ recognizing the press for their role in uncovering the issue? Must be a particularly sunny day in Seattle. share.google/7VgEOE5zYigN...
Update on ongoing Microsoft review - Microsoft On the Issues
Brad Smith, Vice Chair & President, shared the below communication with Microsoft employees this morning. I want to let you know that Microsoft has ceased and disabled a set of services to a unit with...
share.google
September 25, 2025 at 11:38 PM
A big corp holding itself accountable _and_ recognizing the press for their role in uncovering the issue? Must be a particularly sunny day in Seattle. share.google/7VgEOE5zYigN...
No ma'am, 88F, 31C is not normal for end of September
September 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
No ma'am, 88F, 31C is not normal for end of September
American grocery store experience: corn, corn, corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
September 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
American grocery store experience: corn, corn, corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
Nature doesn't operate on a timetable.
September 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Nature doesn't operate on a timetable.
I have a hilarious situation with USPS where the package originates from Indiana headed to Maine but they seem to keep trying to deliver it back to some place in Indiana (maybe the origin?), which I suspect is due to how the address was written on the back? Anyhow, two weeks and counting...
September 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I have a hilarious situation with USPS where the package originates from Indiana headed to Maine but they seem to keep trying to deliver it back to some place in Indiana (maybe the origin?), which I suspect is due to how the address was written on the back? Anyhow, two weeks and counting...
Since when are unskippable YouTube ads 1 minute long
September 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Since when are unskippable YouTube ads 1 minute long
I certainly did not agree on most things with the man, but I firmly believe no one should be killed for what they say or believe.
September 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I certainly did not agree on most things with the man, but I firmly believe no one should be killed for what they say or believe.