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 Shusuke Murai

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Shusuke Murai
Shusuke Murai was born in Japan and spent his teen years in central Ohio. He graduated from New York University with a M.A. in Communication. His interests include the activities of virtual communities, intercultural interactions in the information society and futuristic gadgets.
For Shusuke Murai's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 7, 2017
Faster investing, stronger private-sector cooperation key to ADB’s support of regional growth: Nakao
Speedier investing and stronger cooperation with the private sector are key for the Asian Development Bank to continue supporting further growth in the Asia-Pacific region, its president says.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 4, 2017
Japan, Asia Development Bank to promote universal health care in Asia-Pacific
Japan and the Asian Development Bank agree to promote Japanese-style universal health care in the Asia-Pacific as populations in the region turn increasingly gray.
Japan Times
JAPAN / 50TH ADB ANNUAL MEETING
May 4, 2017
Asian GDP growth prospects bright in coming years
Despite slowing growth in China, the economic prospects in Asia continue to remain bright, the chief economist at the Asian Development Bank said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 29, 2017
Resurgent Sony projects ¥500 billion operating profit for fiscal 2017
Sony Corp. on Friday forecasted an operating profit of ¥500 billion for the business year to March 2018, up 73.2 percent from the previous year, on brisk prospects for its semiconductor and gaming businesses.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2017
Amazon launches same-day delivery service for food and medicine
As delivery firms struggle to manage overwhelming numbers of parcels, e-commerce giant Amazon Japan G.K. is expanding its same-day Prime Now delivery service to include cooked meals and other items.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2017
Home delivery firms strain under e-commerce load
Amanda used to work part-time for major delivery firm Yamato Transport Co., helping out during Japan's busy traditional gift-sending seasons in summer and winter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 5, 2017
More retailers in Japan accept virtual currency
With the use of virtual currency spreading, especially overseas, more retailers in Japan are opening up to payments from tourists via the blockchain technology.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media
Apr 5, 2017
AI will never replace human interaction, forum speakers say
Will there be a time in the not-so-distant future when people won't need to learn a second language — instead relying on machine translation powered by artificial intelligence to interpret real-time conversations?
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 3, 2017
Judging Japan Inc.'s health through financial reporting
On March 14, Toshiba Corp. announced it will delay, for the second time, the release of its financial earnings for the third-quarter period until April 11, saying it needs more time for an audit of its accounting problems at U.S. nuclear unit Westinghouse, which filed for bankruptcy protection last week.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Mar 19, 2017
Shareholders, former employees watch as Toshiba's fortunes fall
Shareholders, former workers brace for impact as ailing 142-year-old electronics conglomerate appears bound for crisis.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Mar 12, 2017
With blazing speeds and better connectivity, next-generation 5G network may lay 'foundation' for the future
The world of information technology is growing in leaps and bounds — and is predicted to grow even faster as telecommunications firms rush to get ahead before the introduction of a next-generation mobile network that could serve as "the foundation" of an increasingly internet-connected future.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 9, 2017
Aeon to launch tourism venture aimed at helping Japan's quake-hit Tohoku region
In a bid to boost the Tohoku region's recovery from damage caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, retail giant Aeon Co. will launch a venture offering tourism and other activities in affected areas.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Mar 5, 2017
Entrepreneur taps theatrical skills to coach Japanese leaders in the art of the speech
From John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961 to Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" speech in 2008, history has been colored by powerful rhetoric that is never forgotten.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2017
New KDDI service to help people in need find empty toilet cubicles
Tired of waiting in a long line to use the bathroom? The internet may offer a solution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Feb 16, 2017
Japan-born Thai teenager fights to remain at 'home' despite deportation order
In December, the Tokyo High Court upheld the Tokyo Immigration Bureau's decision to deport 17-year-old Utinan Won from Japan, the country he was born and raised in his entire life.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 14, 2017
Toshiba says it is now considering selling majority stake in flash memory spinoff
Toshiba Corp.'s president said Tuesday the ailing electronics giant may sell a majority stake in its flash memory operations to cover losses caused by massive write-downs on its U.S. nuclear business.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 7, 2017
Government-backed IT agency urges WordPress users to update after hacks
With the recent spike in the number of cyberattacks on websites using the popular web-management platform WordPress, a government-backed IT security agency urged website administrators and managers to patch a vulnerability that allows hackers to deface their sites.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2017
Despite calls for boycott, Apa hotel chain will keep books denying Nanking Massacre
The hotel operator refuses to remove books, written by its CEO and placed in its hotel rooms, that deny the Rape of Nanking.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 23, 2017
Conspiracy bill's fourth bid dressed in Olympic clothing
As the debate on counterterrorism heats up ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, some are pushing for stronger measures and others are warning against the potential for government overreach and the loss of constitutional rights.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 18, 2017
Businesses fear big losses with Tokyo Big Sight shutdown for 2020 Olympics
Analysts estimate that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will have a positive economic impact of some ¥20 trillion.

Longform

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