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July 24, 2026
 

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Mayumi Negishi
SoftBank Group's Paypay said it will take a 70.2% stake in privately held T&D Financial Life Insurance.
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2026
SoftBank¡¯s PayPay to buy T&D¡¯s life insurer for $840 million
PayPay, Japan¡¯s dominant payments app, said it will take a 70.2% stake in privately held T&D Financial Life Insurance.
Sony Group is spinning off control of its home entertainment business to Chinese rival TCL Electronics.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 21, 2026
Sony to cede control of Bravia TVs to China¡¯s TCL
The PlayStation-maker said Tuesday it will sell a 51% stake in its home entertainment arm to TCL.
The Cabinet Office has asked X to improve safeguards and curb the output of sexually altered images by Grok, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda said.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 16, 2026
Musk¡¯s Grok AI faces scrutiny from Japan over sexualized images
The Cabinet Office has asked the social media platform to improve safeguards and curb the output of sexually altered images by Grok, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda said.
Fuji Media Holdings has rejected investors¡¯ calls for a spinoff of its valuable but noncore real estate arm.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 16, 2025
Fuji Media shares jump on activist Nomura¡¯s threat to take 33.3%
The pressure comes as Fuji is trying to recover from a sexual assault scandal that has damaged its reputation and cost it sponsors and viewers.
Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute Priority Asia conference in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 2, 2025
SoftBank¡¯s Son ¡®cried¡¯ about Nvidia stake sale to fund AI bets
Son, addressing for the first time the surprise disclosure that SoftBank had unloaded its stake in the world¡¯s most valuable company, also slammed talk of an AI investment bubble.
SoftBank shares have plunged around 40% since late October as it sits at the forefront of a global AI selloff.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 26, 2025
SoftBank¡¯s 40% slide from peak shows worry over giant OpenAI bet
Growing unease over frothy artificial intelligence valuations is weighing on shares of SoftBank Group, which traders increasingly view as a proxy for privately held OpenAI.
A scene photo from the film ¡°Kokuho¡±
CULTURE / Film
Nov 25, 2025
Oscar entry ¡®Kokuho¡¯ breaks 22-year-old Japan box-office record
¡°Kokuho¡± has won over critics with its lush cinematography and portrayal of the little-known world of kabuki.
PayPay has taken a 40% stake in Binance¡¯s Japan unit.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 9, 2025
SoftBank¡¯s PayPay invests in Binance Japan to expand in crypto
The companies plan to launch a service that will allow users to buy crypto through Binance using their PayPay accounts, they said.
Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun have sued Perplexity AI over alleged copyright infringement.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Aug 26, 2025
Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun sue Perplexity AI over alleged copyright violations
The newspapers are seeking an injunction and ?2.2 billion each in damages from Perplexity, they said in a joint statement. The suit was filed at the Tokyo District Court.
Visitors at the EdgeCortix booth during the AI Expo Tokyo event in Tokyo in May 2023
BUSINESS / Companies
May 28, 2025
Japan backs AI chip startup EdgeCortix in boost to defense tech
The startup secured government subsidies of ?3 billion to develop energy-efficient AI chiplets for commercialization in 2027.
James Rosewald, co-founder of Dalton Investments, speaks during an interview at the company's office in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 28, 2025
Dalton connects with activist investor-linked fund to pressure Fuji Media
Dalton is trying to pressure Fuji Media after the broadcaster earlier this month spurned the fund¡¯s proposal for 12 new directors, including SBI Holdings¡¯ Yoshitaka Kitao.
Akira Shimada, CEO of NTT, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday.
BUSINESS
May 8, 2025
NTT to launch $16.5 billion tender offer for NTT Data in AI push
Japan¡¯s biggest telecom operator is launching a tender offer of ?4,000 per share for all stock it doesn¡¯t own in NTT Data.
Technicians at work in the clean room of a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Ibaraki Prefecture.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 1, 2025
Japan plans to curb exports of chips and quantum-computing tech
The government is expanding its list of export-controlled items to include advanced chips, lithography equipment and cryocoolers needed for the manufacture of quantum computers.
Akira Amari, a former economy minister, championed funneling large sums of public money into building up the country¡¯s semiconductor capacity.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 29, 2024
Japan¡¯s chip push loses key advocate after election defeat
Akira Amari had championed funneling large sums of public money into building up the country¡¯s semiconductor capacity.
NEC CEO Takayuki Morita
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 25, 2024
Japan¡¯s military pivot is firing up NEC¡¯s defense tech business
NEC is targeting more than 60% revenue growth in its aviation, space and defense unit by March 2026.
Toshiki Kawai, chief executive officer of Tokyo Electron
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 27, 2024
Tokyo Electron prepares for India expansion as Modi lures chipmakers
India is amping up efforts to attract international electronics companies and chipmakers to set up facilities within its borders.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has said the 50-50 control of LY, the operator of the Line app, by SoftBank and Naver leaves the messaging app vulnerable to cyberattacks.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 4, 2024
SoftBank and Naver to sell down stake in Japan¡¯s Line app
The tender comes as the capital structure of the operator of Japan¡¯s biggest messaging app Line threatens to become a diplomatic flash point with South Korea.
DeNA plans to co-develop Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket with Creatures Co. for launch on both iOS and Android devices this year.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 28, 2024
Shares in DeNA soar on announcement of new Pokemon trading card game
The smartphone game was one of a flurry of announcements on the 28th anniversary of the first Pokemon game release.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 29, 2023
Japan startup raises ?4 billion to build space robot workforce
The comapny¡¯s CEO believes it¡¯s too risky and impractical for humans to assemble and inspect machinery in space, while equipment now used is far too expensive.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 22, 2023
Rakuten Bank seeks $881 million in biggest Japan IPO since 2018
The banking unit of Rakuten Group set an indicative band of ?1,630 to ?1,960 per share on Wednesday, and the stock will list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on April 21.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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