Subscription-based businesses are growing slower in Japan than in other big economies partly due to regulatory barriers, but the number of firms drawn to the model is on the rise as consumers search for personalized and more cost-effective ways to use products that have ...

Corporate Japan's growing need to rely on new technologies to cope with the shrinking workforce was on show at the recent CEATEC technology exhibition, with service industry companies turning out in greater numbers this year. As more and more skilled workers reach retirement across various ...

The consumption tax hike has brought the restaurant industry — already grappling with shortages of labor and rising costs of materials — yet another challenge in keeping customers and attracting new ones. Major restaurant operators have taken various measures out of fear that the tax ...

At this year's Tokyo Game Show, the big draw was next-generation 5G networking — setting pulses racing with the prospect of a radically more immersive gaming experience. Offering data transmission speeds around 100 times faster than 4G, 5G is expected to enable more seamless imagery ...

Organizers say they expect the Rugby World Cup to bring ¥437.2 billion in economic benefits, pinning their hopes on the 400,000 foreign visitors who are projected to visit Japan for the tournament. As that estimate only takes into account the impact before and during the ...

As the unrelenting heat continues, people young and old are resorting to a low-tech way to stay cool this summer: portable electric fans. Stores selling the fans, some of which conveniently attach to the neck or wrist, say they are selling at a brisker pace ...

Major convenience store operators begin introducing measures to curb food waste as companies step up efforts to address the issue.

A garlic and apple farm in the northeast of the country has recognized that its survival largely depends on finding the next generation of workers to replace the aging local population. That is why Aomori Japan Farm Co. is keen on training a group of ...

A wearable "third arm" for construction workers is among the latest innovations under development in Panasonic Corp.'s burgeoning collaboration with academia to make robots an increasing part of people's lives in aging Japan. Panasonic already has expertise in using robots in manufacturing but has reached ...

Haruna Endo never saw it coming, but after over a decade of trial and error, she is finding success selling her konnyaku (devil's tongue) jelly by creating eye-catching products to consumers from both Japan and abroad. "It was as if I was struck by lightning," ...