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May 15, 2025
 

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Yuki Furukawa
Panasonic may be poised to benefit from having factories in the U.S. as Tesla and others seek to reduce their reliance on Chinese battery-makers.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 14, 2025
Panasonic CEO says battery plans align with slower EV demand
The supplier of lithium-ion batteries to Tesla is getting ready to start production at a second U.S.-based factory in Kansas, but has frozen plans for a third plant.
A Sony PlayStation 5 controller
BUSINESS / Companies
May 14, 2025
Sony profit forecast flattens under ¥100 billion tariff burden
New Sony Chief Executive Officer Hiroki Totoki’s first task is to navigate the entertainment group though a new era of a tariff-wielding United States.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone plans a buyback of shares from May 12 through March 31, a move it says is geared toward raising capital efficiency and boosting shareholder returns.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 9, 2025
NTT announces ¥200 billion buyback in capital efficiency push
The buyback from May 12 through March 31 is geared toward raising capital efficiency and boosting shareholder returns, the company said.
Nidec has decided to withdraw a ¥257 billion ($1.8 billion) unsolicited tender offer for machine tool maker Makino Milling Machine, bowing to strong resistance from its target.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 9, 2025
Nidec withdraws its $1.8 billion hostile takeover bid for Makino Milling Machine
Makino had previously threatened to block the takeover by granting stock acquisition rights to existing shareholders.
The BayStars used data analytics to inform the decision to have Hayato Horioka pitch against the Giants last fall. The bet paid off, with Horioka helping to seal the game and Yokohama advancing to the championship.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 17, 2025
'Moneyball' disciples aim to upend Japanese baseball for second year
Yokohama is honing its indicators that predict how well a pitcher will perform at any given moment.
Many Japanese companies are exporting more to the United States to get ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 5, 2025
Japanese firms boost exports to U.S. to get ahead of tariffs
Overall, Japanese exports to the U.S. jumped 8.1% in January to ¥1.5 trillion ($10 billion), the highest for the month in at least 19 years.
Resonac Holdings CEO Hidehito Takahashi
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 19, 2025
Resonac explores deal structures for possible JSR takeover
A deal would be a key step in the chemicals maker’s ambition to corner the Japanese artificial intelligence semiconductor materials market.
Murata Manufacturing President Norio Nakajima
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 19, 2025
IPhone parts maker Murata eyes supply chain shift toward India
The company sees growing demand in India and is running simulations for what it would take to dial up its pace of investment there.
Sony has prioritized acquiring more content and intellectual property rights at a time when the company’s hardware efforts are stagnating.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 13, 2025
Sony lifts forecast on expectations of game and music improvement
Sony has prioritized acquiring more content and intellectual property rights at a time when the company’s hardware efforts are stagnating.
Tokyo Electron, one of a handful of key chip gear-makers globally, revealed expansion plans after posting better-than-expected earnings.
BUSINESS
Feb 6, 2025
Tokyo Electron plans expansion despite AI spending doubts
The company, one of a handful of key chip gear-makers globally, revealed the expansion after posting better-than-expected earnings.
Panasonic will restructure low-growth businesses and make changes to its employment structure, according to a recently released statement.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 5, 2025
Panasonic shares jump most in 11 years on restructuring plans
The Osaka-based company will restructure low-growth businesses and make changes to its employment structure.
Panasonic, whose sprawling operations include hairdryers, PCs and lithium-ion batteries used by the likes of Tesla, will restructure or streamline businesses with low growth potential, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 4, 2025
Tesla supplier Panasonic to cut costs to support shift into AI
One target may be the company’s long-standing TV operations.
Hiroki Totoki had taken up more of the leadership burden at Tokyo-based Sony two years prior, when he added the titles of president and chief operating officer to his role as chief financial officer.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 29, 2025
Sony names finance chief Hiroki Totoki as its next CEO
Kenichiro Yoshida, the outgoing CEO, will remain as chairperson of the board.
Paloma Rheem Holdings is offering to buy Fujitsu General, Fujitsu’s air-conditioner unit.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 7, 2025
Japanese oven maker to buy out Fujitsu General for $1.6 billion
Paloma Rheem Holdings is offering to pay Fujitsu General stockholders ¥2,808 a share, or as much as ¥164.7 billion.
TDK CEO Noboru Saito said the Tokyo-based company plans to start mass production of its third-generation silicon-anode cells from late summer.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 6, 2025
iPhone supplier TDK rolls out new batteries to keep pace with AI
From late summer, the Tokyo-based company plans to start mass production of its silicon-anode cells, which carry more energy than conventional ones.
Sales of Ibiden's AI-use substrates are robust, with customers buying up all the company can sell.
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 30, 2024
Nvidia supplier Ibiden weighs faster expansion for AI demand
Sales of the 112-year-old company’s AI-use substrates are robust, with customers buying up all that Ibiden can sell, CEO Koji Kawashima said in an interview.
Daishiro Yamagiwa, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's group for semiconductors, says a project to develop a domestic manufacturer of next-generation semiconductors is a battle for the nation's survival.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 18, 2024
Japan to support Rapidus even if it delays goal, chip czar says
"We’ve carried out our semiconductor strategy with determination and the Rapidus project is a core part of the strategy,” Daishiro Yamagiwa said.
Kioxia Holdings will debut on the market Wednesday, but its initial public offering may get a cooler reception than anticipated.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 17, 2024
Chipmaker Kioxia faces a tough debut in Tokyo’s busy IPO arena
Investment in Kioxia faltered as parent Toshiba wrestled with years of scandals and crippling losses at nuclear giant Westinghouse, making it a shadow of its former self.
Mitsubishi Electric CEO Kei Uruma
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 13, 2024
Mitsubishi Electric explores forming power chip alliances in Japan
A sense of urgency is growing in the power chip industry as Japanese companies fall further behind German market leader Infineon Technologies.
Scale is becoming important even for distributors like Macnica Holdings, which sells chips made by the likes of Intel’s Altera.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 27, 2024
Japan’s top chip distributor eyes acquisitions in China and India
Macnica Holdings is eyeing an overseas acquisition to better hold its own against bigger competitors.
Transport ministry issues warning to Haneda Airport operator
The operator of Tokyo's Haneda Airport has been warned by the government over its inappropriate transactions.
Success of Chinese-made fighter jets against India raises alarm in Asia
Chinese J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, in November 2015.
One month on, Osaka Expo urged to boost heat and crowd control measures
A gate to the Osaka Expo site is crowded with visitors on Monday.
Xi defiance pays off as Trump meets most China trade demands
Then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visits a school in South Gate, California, in February 2012. Experts say Xi won big in his standoff with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Japanese retailers turn to California rice for cheaper alternative
U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass eats California rice at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday along with Mitsuko Tsuchiya, vice president of retailer Aeon.
Sumo title contenders already emerging in early stages of Tokyo meet
Onosato (left) battles Abi on Day 3 of the Summer Basho in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Harmfully hot days for pregnant women in Japan nearly doubled over past five years
New research by a U.S. climate scientists’ group reveals that extreme heat has increased the risks of preterm births and other pregnancy complications in Japan, nearly doubling the number of days that are harmfully hot for pregnant women over the past five years.
Japanese automakers looking at a ¥1 trillion hit from Trump tariffs 
Cars on display at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama on Tuesday. The automaker posted a massive annual net loss and confirmed that it plans to cut thousands of jobs worldwide.
Tokyo Stock Exchange wants stocks to be affordable for the average investor
The Tokyo Stock Exchange building in Nihonbashi. The exchange wants companies to lower the entry cost of investing in their shares.
Consumption tax set to dominate Upper House election debate
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Tuesday.

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