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Yuki Furukawa
For Yuki Furukawa's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 2, 2022
Toshiba reveals buyout and alliance offers ahead of key shareholder meeting
The conglomerate's nuclear business, which is deemed important to Japan's national security, is seen as a major obstacle to any move to make Toshiba privately owned.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 12, 2022
Panasonic seeing robust demand from Tesla for batteries
Panasonic has been scouting sites in Oklahoma and Kansas for a multibillion-dollar factory as part of its push to increase investment in EV cell production.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 2, 2022
Private equity firms eyeing Toshiba buyout face nuclear dilemma
Toshiba's nuclear business is involved in decommissioning the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, making it hard for the government to accept a transfer of ownership to an overseas firm.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 14, 2022
Nikon looks beyond cameras to reinvent itself as tech supplier
The manufacturer almost single-handedly brought accessible high-quality cameras to the masses but the rise of smartphones and more advanced chipmaking tech has taken its toll on revenue.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 8, 2022
Murata to run more plants entirely on renewable energy by March 2023
A third of Murata's u00a5230 billion capital expenditure budget over the next three years will be dedicated to environment-related projects, Murata President Norio Nakajima said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 25, 2022
Japanese firm that moves world’s chips counts on data explosion
Daifuku Co. is redesigning its ubiquitous overhead conveyors for factories to handle an 'exponential” surge in data usage and global chip demand.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Mar 22, 2022
Hedge fund activists battle old Japan in Toshiba’s crucial vote
Shareholders will vote on two proposals: one, from Toshiba, asks them to support a two-way split; a competing one, put forward by 3D, calls for the company to reconsider alternatives.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 14, 2022
The world’s biggest air-conditioning company braces for a hotter future
Daikin is pouring billions of dollars into research and development, looking to build on technological breakthroughs that could make its machines more efficient.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 11, 2022
Panasonic readies new battery that Tesla sees as key to $25,000 EVs
Over the past year and a half, Panasonic has been working to develop a bigger '4680” battery it intends to sell to the American electric carmaker.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 4, 2022
Panasonic plans U.S. battery plant to supply Tesla, NHK reports
The Japanese electronics conglomerate is looking at sites in Oklahoma and Kansas to build the plant, the public broadcaster reported, citing an unidentified source.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 7, 2022
Troubled Toshiba to split into two firms instead of three
The new plan scraps the earlier intention to separate out its infrastructure operations, which will instead continue to be under Toshiba Corp.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 25, 2022
Nidec founder sours on CEO successor after less than a year
Chairman Shigenobu Nagamori says it was naive of him to bring in someone from outside and appoint that person as successor, sources say.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 22, 2021
Top chipmaking adviser proposes tax breaks and spending to revive industry in Japan
Spending approved this week should be just the start of its efforts to reverse decades of decline, says Tetsuro Higashi, the leading chip expert advising the Kishida administration.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 10, 2021
Supply chain woes force Murata to ship lithium batteries by air
On top of inflated base cargo fees fueled by high demand, batteries shipped via air incur extra handling charges because they're a fire hazard.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 25, 2021
For aging Japan, a cooker that makes chicken as soft as butter
The invention by two Panasonic Corp. engineers is designed to help people with swallowing difficulties.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 11, 2021
Toshiba’s independent probe was biased, say two former directors
The pair rejected the conclusions of a 139-page report by a law firm that determined the firm had worked with Japan's trade ministry to prevent shareholders from exercising their rights.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 8, 2021
Lasertec gets first next-gen gear orders from memory makers
The EUV process unlocks today's smallest-scale designs, enabling more powerful and efficient microprocessors, referred to as logic chips in the industry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 6, 2021
NEC plans overseas acquisitions in drive for 70% profit growth
The focus of acquisitions will be the United States and Europe, while expansion in Asia can come from organic growth, Chief Executive Officer Takayuki Morita has said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 14, 2021
Unhappy with profitability, Nidec founder pushes on targets
Nagamori recently told his senior managers that they need to do more to boost Nidec's business performance
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 6, 2021
Paralympic Games put spotlight on Japan’s tech for disabled
When the Tokyo Paralympic Games came to a close on Sunday, many athletes had managed to get to the finish line, some with medals, thanks to technology from Japan's largest firms.

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