I'll have to take your word that the business end is better, because the private banking part I've dealt with has been a massive shitshow.
> You can, in fact, make a person-to-person international wire transfer which is, from the user's perspective, totally automated, by typing into an ATM machine.
Which bank? I want to know so I can switch to them. All the ones I've researched only do them with paper forms or over the phone. Only one that can even do it online was Mizuho if you have a business account.
Keep your existing bank account, get an account with these guys (it requires a paper application the first time, nothing thereafter unless your situation materially changes), go to any bank/atm in Japan and do an interbank transfer (振込み) to the number they give you. They'll process an international wire for you on the back end to the beneficiary account you identify in advance. Costs about as much as a wire transfer generally costs (about $50 all-in to US, after you add your bank's fee, Lloyd's, the intermediary's, and your bank in the US).
If you're primarily concerned about a beneficiary which isn't the US/UK/etc, tell me the country and I may be able to make a better recommendation.
> You can, in fact, make a person-to-person international wire transfer which is, from the user's perspective, totally automated, by typing into an ATM machine.
Which bank? I want to know so I can switch to them. All the ones I've researched only do them with paper forms or over the phone. Only one that can even do it online was Mizuho if you have a business account.