Not excusing Japan, because speech control is tyranny, but in context it's not surprising or strange for them. Most countries have some speech laws. By itself not a sign of globalism or wokism. But political correctness has been creeping in so don't expect them to stay based for long.
You act like only big tech giants with billions of dollars of investment can work on machine learning research.
This shit can be done by a kid in his parents basement. We just need enough of those hidden geniuses and autists on our side.