Tag - digital

 
 

DIGITAL

Kioxia Holdings plans to go public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as early as October.
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2024
Kioxia plans to list as early as October as merger talks stall
Kioxia faces a June deadline to refinance as much as ¥900 billion worth of loans, and a public listing will help its negotiations with banks.
The government will extend subsidies worth as much as ¥242.9 billion for Kioxia and Western Digital to expand memory chip production in Mie and Iwate prefectures.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 6, 2024
Japan extends subsidies to downturn-hit Kioxia and Western Digital
The funding provides underpinning for the two companies, which have been hammered by a slump in the market for NAND flash chips.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses a meeting to discuss the results of comprehensive inspection of My Number information held at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2023
15,907 mistakes found over My Number info linkages
The government said it has completed personal identification checks for 82.06 million of the 82.08 million My Numbers subject to inspection.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (third from right) and Digital Minister Taro Kono (second from right) attend a meeting with experts to discuss measures to implement administrative reforms through digitalization, held on Oct. 3 at the Digital Agency in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2023
Japan falls out of top 10 in digital government rankings
The result reflects a series of problems with the country's My Number social security and tax identification cards.
Japan’s first trading of digital securities will begin next month in the form of security tokens issued by real estate firms.
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2023
Japan to start digital securities trading from December
The trading of security tokens issued by real estate firms Ichigo and Kenedix will begin on the Osaka Digital Exchange.
Kioxia and Western Digital have held merger talks since 2021 but the negotiations have often stalled over a series of issues.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 27, 2023
Western Digital and Kioxia call off merger talks, source says
South Korea's SK Hynix — a major Kioxia investor — has said it does not back the deal due to its impact on its investment asset value.
Kioxia Holdings has approached Japan Investment Corp. about making a capital infusion to support its merger with Western Digital and strengthen the combined company’s financial base, according to people familiar with the matter.
BUSINESS
Oct 20, 2023
Kioxia has approached JIC to back Western Digital deal: sources
Kioxia’s lenders are working toward submitting a commitment letter as soon as possible to help facilitate the agreement.
Japanese chipmaker Kioxia Holdings and its U.S. peer Western Digital are expected to agree on a merger as early as this month.
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2023
Chipmakers Kioxia and Western Digital set to agree on merger
The deal would create the world's leading producer of memory chips.
Hidemi Kataoka, a counselor in charge of policy planning at the Personal Information Protection Commission, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 2023
Digital Agency given guidance over My Number issues
The agency submitted a report on the problems with the system in June, but the government commission judged the report insufficient.
Kioxia's Kitakami plant in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture. Western Digital and Kioxia initially aimed to reach a decision on a merger in August, but discussions have dragged on as the companies tried to iron out details.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 20, 2023
Banks prepare ¥2 trillion funds for Kioxia-Western Digital merger
The moves towards a refinancing commitment would mark a step forward in the merger, which has faced months of delays.
Digital transformation minister Taro Kono (right) speaks during a news conference at the Digital Agency in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Sep 6, 2023
Japan to test use of My Number cards for alcohol and ticket sales
The agency will work with private business operators to examining whether use of My Number cards will help improve the efficiency of identity checks.
Digital minister Taro Kono (right) tries out a device that allows the use of My Number cards as health insurance cards at Chigasaki City Hall in Kanagawa Prefecture on Aug. 9.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 21, 2023
My Number and beyond: What's holding back Japan’s digitalization?
The transition from analog to digital in the public sector has been a long-standing challenge for the country, spanning at least the past two decades.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) sits next to digital minister Taro Kono while speaking at a government review meeting on the My Number national identification cards.
PODCAST / deep dive
Aug 10, 2023
Why is modernizing Japan so darn tough?
Reporter Gabriele Ninivaggi joins us to break down how Japan’s digitalization hiccups risk exposing how backward things are.
Digital Minister Taro Kono discusses the My Number system inspection at a government meeting in Tokyo on June 30.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 26, 2023
My Number woes put digital minister Taro Kono under pressure
Another misstep could deal a further blow to the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and jeopardize the political standing of Kono.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2023
Japan's personal data commission inspects Digital Agency over My Number woes
The government's Personal Information Protection Commission has conducted an on-site inspection of the Digital Agency over problems involving My Number personal identification numbers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 15, 2023
Western Digital and Japan’s Kioxia seek to reach merger deal by August
The deal would be structured as a tax-free spinoff of Western Digital’s flash business, which would merge with Kioxia.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 12, 2023
My Number troubles are turning into a bigger headache for the government
Opinion polls have indicated latent public dissatisfaction with how the Kishida administration has been handling the matter.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2023
Commission to investigate Japan's Digital Agency over My Number card woes
The commission is considering taking the rare step of issuing administrative guidance to the agency over the issue, which has shaken public trust and sapped support for Kishida's Cabinet.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2023
Fujitsu halts residence certificate system as issues over My Number cards mount
The glitch adds to growing public concerns over My Number identification cards after a spate of reports detailing leaks of private information in recent months.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2023
Taro Kono expects 'big benefit' from use of AI by central government
The digital minister is eager to promote the active use of generative artificial intelligence by government workers.

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree