Face Recognition Gates Introduced at Ikebukuro Station

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Hitachi Ltd. and Tobu Railway Co. on Wednesday introduced a facial recognition system at ticket gates at Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward. Passengers can pass through the ticket gates hands-free if they register their facial data and commuter pass information in advance. The companies hope to encourage other railway operators to adopt the system, which can be installed by simply adding cameras and other equipment to existing ticket gates. The system was jointly developed in cooperation with three ticket gate manufacturers, including Toshiba Corp., and Panasonic Connect. Co. This is the first time that the system has been installed at a major terminal station in Tokyo. For now, the facial recognition service is available only at a section between Kami-Itabashi Station and Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Tojo Line. The system has already been introduced at stations in Tochigi Prefecture, including Tobu-Utsunomiya Station on the Tobu Utsunomiya Line. The companies hope that the system can be used for facial recognition-based payment services at commercial facilities near Ikebukuro Station. “We want to provide services that can be used in various daily settings, such as at convenience stores,” Atsushi Koganei, sales department chief of Tobu Railway’s train business headquarters, said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]