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Takashi Mochizuki
For Takashi Mochizuki's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 19, 2020
Sony and Microsoft consoles struggle in launch week as stock runs thin
Factory and logistical disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic have hurt manufacturers' ability to keep up.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 12, 2020
With the PlayStation 5, Sony sees a long-term cash cow amid gaming boom
The new PlayStation is Sony's most important gadget since the Walkman, and it goes head-to-head with Microsoft Corp.'s next-generation Xbox over the holidays.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 10, 2020
Microsoft sets sights on Sony’s home turf in console clash
As the Xbox has virtually zero presence in Japan, there is plenty of room for it to increase its share of the market.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 29, 2020
Sony shares surge after boosting forecast on game demand
The hike in the firm's outlook underscores how the entertainment giant is benefiting from a global pandemic-era consumer shift.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 25, 2020
Xbox targets mobile gamers with new cloud service in Japan
Microsoft is also engaging creators in the country, distributing development kits to more than 100 of them.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 16, 2020
Sony cuts PlayStation 5 forecast by 4 million due to chip woes
Sony is widely expected to reveal its own launch and pricing plans for the PlayStation 5 during an official video presentation scheduled for Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 10, 2020
Nintendo boosts Switch production by another 20%
The games maker has been struggling to keep up with demand for the console for most of this year, boosted by the runaway success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 4, 2020
Apple App Store draws fresh scrutiny in Japan, the epicenter of gaming
Epic Games Inc.'s decision to sue Apple over its mobile store practices sparks new scrutiny and prompts questions about how to counter the tech giant's dominance.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 25, 2020
Nintendo plans upgraded Switch console and major games for 2021
The specifications have yet to be finalized, though the company has apparently looked into including more computing power and 4K high-definition graphics.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 27, 2020
Pandemic forces digital change on Japanese companies
The coronavirus pandemic may be a drag on economies across the globe, but in Japan it’s bringing long-overdue changes in work habits and tools.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 22, 2020
Nintendo downshifts on mobile ambitions after Animal Crossing success
With its Switch console thriving amid the pandemic, the firm has reviewed its prospects in a $77 billion mobile gaming market plagued with questionable profit models.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 15, 2020
Japan’s 'king of deals' preparing to pounce once valuations dip in pandemic aftermath
Minebea Mitsumi Inc. Chief Executive Officer Yoshihisa Kainuma is preparing to resume acquisitions once the coronavirus pandemic is done gutting corporate finances and valuations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 10, 2020
Tencent targets Japanese anime and manga to jump-start global growth
The Chinese firm sees Japan's entertainment exports as being ripe for optimization, with better distribution and marketing generating vastly greater revenues.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 8, 2020
Nintendo falls on dour forecast despite strong Switch sales
Game-maker sold 21 million of the console units in the year ended March, beating its own estimate and expectations of roughly 20 million.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 4, 2020
Tiny Nagoya game studio finds Nintendo stardom through Sony’s obsolete Vita
Petit Depotto reasoned that by sticking with that platform, they were giving their title the best chance of being noticed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 17, 2020
Parts shortage has Sony struggling to price upcoming PlayStation 5
A shortage of components has pushed manufacturing costs for Sony Corp.'s next PlayStation to around $450 per unit, forcing a difficult price-setting decision in its battle with Microsoft Corp., according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 17, 2020
Nintendo faces shortage of Switch consoles for U.S. and Europe due to COVID-19
Nintendo Co. is likely to struggle to supply sufficient Switch consoles to its U.S. and European markets as soon as April due to a production bottleneck caused by the coronavirus outbreak, according to sources with knowledge of the company's supply chain.

Longform

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