Business Jan 13, 2021

KDDI unveils cheapest 20GB mobile plan among Japan's main carriers

Although the carrier had initially resisted price cuts, the situation changed after NTT Docomo surprised the public last month with its own new low-cost plan.

Business Jan 12, 2021

Can Japan raise its teleworking game under the second COVID-19 emergency?

A slew of smaller firms are still somewhat hesitant to promoting such working styles, saying they don’t have enough funds to buy new equipment or that it reduces work efficiency.

National Dec 29, 2020

After massive COVID-19 spending, how large is Japan’s debt?

Experts say increased spending is unavoidable but that Japan will need to start seriously discussing how it will deal with its debt once the pandemic eases.

Business / Corporate Dec 22, 2020

SoftBank to match NTT Docomo's ¥2,980 smartphone plan as price war escalates

Some in the industry have accused the government of excessive meddling after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s administration urged major carriers to lower fees.

Business Dec 10, 2020

Can Japan shift gears fast enough to ban gas cars by 2035?

Any plan to phase out sales of new petrol-fueled vehicles by the mid 2030s will have a major effect on the nation's auto sector — the pillar of Japan's industrial might.

Business / Corporate Dec 3, 2020

NTT Docomo unveils ¥2,980 data plan, cheapest among Japan's top carriers

Unlike KDDI and SoftBank, Docomo does not have a budget brand and is set to lower fees for its main brand — a sign that the carrier is succumbing to pressure from the Suga administration.

Business / Corporate Nov 26, 2020

Pandemic and internet banking push Japan’s lenders to revamp branches

Withdrawing or transferring cash through a bank teller could completely disappear in Japan within a few years as banks adapt branches for the digital age.

Business Nov 18, 2020

‘Inclusion’ the watchword as Japan tackles trainees’ isolation

Participants in a recent Tokyo forum said young interns can become socially excluded because their interactions tend not to extend beyond the work sphere.

Business / Corporate Nov 13, 2020

U.S. and China demand pulls Japan’s carmakers back from the brink

With demand revived in crucial markets, Japanese auto giants have revised up their full-year profit forecasts or trimmed losses.

Business / Corporate Nov 2, 2020

Last trains to leave earlier in Tokyo as JR East cuts costs to stem red ink

Weeknight passenger numbers between midnight and 1 a.m. on the Yamanote Line plunged 66% in August compared to the previous year, the firm said.