** Shares of Japan-based wellness firm Medirom Healthcare Technologies MRM.O rise 52% to $1.82 premarket
** Co said late on Thursday it has partnered with Sam Altman's 'World' network to roll out human verification tech in Japan
** Medirom plans to install Orb devices at about 100 Re.Ra.Ku relaxation salons by December, it said
** World is "proof of human" protocol that helps confirm people are real humans, not AI, while protecting privacy
** As of last close, stock up 18.8% YTD
(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)
((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))