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Satoshi Sugiyama
For Satoshi Sugiyama's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Akinori Ishii, of startup Tsubame Industries Co., sits inside the cockpit of ARCHAX, a giant human-piloted robot developed by him and CEO Ryo Yoshida, in Yokohama on Sept. 27.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 2, 2023
Japan startup develops 'Gundam'-like robot with $3 million price tag
The 3.5-ton robot has two modes: the upright "robot mode" and a "vehicle mode" in which it can travel up to 10 kilometers per hour.
Onboard snack carts on shinkansen services between Tokyo and Osaka will end on Oct. 31, Central Japan Railway has said.
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2023
End of the line for snack carts on Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen
End of popular service comes amid a looming labor shortage and the trend of more people buying food before boarding.
A tree lies uprooted on a street in Naha, Okinawa on Wednesday after Typhoon Khanun battered the area.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2023
Typhoon Khanun kills two in Okinawa, injures at least 62
Roughly 25% of Okinawa Prefecture — around 166,000 households — had lost electricity as of Thursday morning
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 6, 2022
China's BYD to start selling EVs in Japan by early 2023
The world's largest EV-maker is stepping up its plan to either sell or make its cars available across major markets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 9, 2022
Honda posts 16% rise in second-quarter profit and lifts outlook
The firm has been helped by robust performance in its motorcycle business, particularly in Asia.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 5, 2022
Work stoppages and no chatting at lunch: Japan Inc. grapples with COVID
Relief for Japan's companies and the wider economy could be in sight as health experts project this wave of infection to peak early this month.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2022
With Shinzo Abe pale and lifeless, a doctor at the scene prayed for a miracle
The moment he laid eyes on Shinzo Abe's ashen face, Shingo Nakaoka knew that any attempt to revive the former Japanese prime minister was likely to be in vain.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jul 19, 2022
The 2.5 seconds that sealed the fatal lapses in Shinzo Abe's security
The failure to protect Abe from a second shot followed what appeared to be a series of security lapses in the lead-up to the assassination of Japan's longest-serving prime minister.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2022
Before fatal shooting, Abe was up close with the crowd
As is typical in Japan, where violent crime is rare and guns are scarce, security appeared to be light on Friday morning as Abe spoke.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2022
Kyoto's love-hate relationship with tourists endures as yen weakens
Attitudes in the city reflect a broader uncertainty in Japan about welcoming tourist hordes amid fears they could trigger a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 29, 2022
Toyota misses May global production target in third month of shortfall
The world's largest automaker by sales said it produced 634,940 vehicles globally in May, 5.3% fewer than in the same month last year and short of its target of about 700,000.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 15, 2022
Toyota, slow to move to EVs, says it offers customers choice
Once a favorite with environmentalists for the hybrid Prius model, Toyota has come under fire from some investors for not phasing out gasoline-powered cars.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 18, 2022
Quake-hit Japan plants restart but Toyota to suspend 18 assembly lines
The quake has sparked concerns of further disruptions to a pandemic-hit supply chain for precision components vital to electronics and autos production.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 15, 2022
With Toyota as partner, Mazda hopes to jump-start U.S. market
For Mazda, restarting U.S. production with help from Toyota is the game-changer it hopes will jump-start sales in the world's second-biggest market.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 11, 2022
Toyota to cut quarterly production to ease strain on beleaguered suppliers
The move by the car giant is the latest to spotlight the supply-chain difficulties hobbling the global auto industry as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 9, 2022
ANA plans belt-tightening before fare hikes, says incoming CEO
Koji Shibata also said that the crisis in Ukraine is so far having a limited impact on the airline's earnings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 7, 2022
Transport ministry raids Hino Motors over false emissions data
The company's shares plunged 17% after the raid, dropping by the maximum daily limit allowed under Tokyo exchange rules.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 2, 2022
Toyota to suspend Russian car production, vehicle imports
While Western companies have spurned Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the response of many Japanese firms has been more muted.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 28, 2022
Toyota gears up its first BEV with safer and longer-lasting battery
Battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, typically take hours to charge, using quick-charging methods that often cause the battery's cells to heat up, leading to degradation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jan 16, 2022
Kishida gears up for test of his mettle in parliament ahead of key election
Success for the prime minister depends on how well he oversees the passage of a record-breaking fiscal 2022 budget u2014 all while tackling COVID-19 and fending off opposition challenges.

Longform

Tokyo Healthcare University professor Takayuki Mifune explains how he is trying to re-create bonito broth from 1,300 years ago.
The quest to re-create what the Japanese ate 1,300 years ago