**Insurer's New App Lets Foreign Tourists Pay for Driving in Japan With Their Data**

A major Japanese insurance company is testing a new way to cover foreign visitors who drive. Instead of a traditional policy, tourists may soon pay with their personal data. Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co. has launched a smartphone app trial. It is designed for visitors from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand who rent cars in Japan. The app tracks driving behavior in real-time. Here is how it works: Users download the app and allow it to monitor their trips. The technology checks for sudden braking, sharp turns, and speeding. Drivers who operate their rental cars safely can earn "points." These points act as insurance. They cover the cost of a rental car's collision damage waiver. Safe drivers essentially get this protection for free. Those with poor driving scores would have to pay the standard fee. The company states no driving data is collected without the user's permission. The trial will run for approximately one year. The goal is to gather information and assess the system's viability. If successful, this model could expand. It offers a potential new option for the millions of tourists who rent cars in Japan each year.