[Kyodo News, September 4]Japan’s Tobu Railway Company and Hitachi, Ltd. announced on the 3rd that they will launch a “hand-swipe” payment service in more than 100 locations across the country starting this month. The service is called “SAKULaLa”, which is a biometric authentication service that allows users to complete shopping payments by simply pointing their fingers at a dedicated device. The settlement method is simplified, so that payments can be completed quickly, improving user convenience.

The service has been introduced in three Tobu Railway supermarkets “TOBU STORE” since April. In the future, it will be expanded to include not only commercial facilities and hotels, but also some FamilyMart convenience stores in 2026. Users can also earn points by paying with pre-registered credit cards.

The device recognizes individuals by reading veins. It is said that payment speed can be shortened by about half compared to showing a mobile phone app or inserting a credit card. Facial recognition will also be used from 2025.

“Biometric information can be said to be the ultimate personal information. We fully guarantee its security,” said Tobu Railway executive director Ryuhei Maeda at a press conference in Tokyo.