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April 26, 2024
 

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Masatsugu Horie
For Masatsugu Horie's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Self-driving vehicles featuring level-4 capabilities in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture. The limited availability of autonomous driving in Japan stands in stark contrast to the U.S. and China.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 2, 2023
Autonomous driving remains a distant reality in Japan
The limited availability of autonomous driving stands in stark contrast to the U.S. and China, where robotaxis already roam the streets in some cities.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 10, 2023
Yamaha president backs hydrogen as green fuel option for carbon neutrality
Japan’s automotive industry employs 5.5 million people, and has long advocated a multistrategy approach toward decarbonization aiming to sustain existing manufacturers and suppliers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 2, 2023
Renault and Nissan boards set to greenlight alliance revamp with hours to spare
Renault directors are gathering Sunday followed by Nissan’s board early on Monday. Both boards are expected to agree to the proposals.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 27, 2023
Renault-Nissan alliance reboot will kick off with five projects
The desire to agree on fresh common projects as part of the three-way pact, also including junior partner Mitsubishi Motors, signals the companies see a joint future for the alliance.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 17, 2023
Nissan and Renault on track to complete deal to revamp alliance
Final negotiations are under way for Renault to reduce its stake in the carmaker, and for Nissan to invest in Renault's planned electric-vehicle carve-out.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 21, 2022
Toyota-Panasonic battery venture looking for new coastal site
The company, which formally started operations in 2020, also plans to pare production costs by adopting Toyota's so-called kaizen process of increasing productivity via tiny improvements.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 7, 2022
Tired of waiting for cars, Japan’s consumers turn to motorcycles
Sales of bikes with engines larger than 251cc rose 32% to 51,035 units in the first half of the year, according to the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 31, 2022
Smart ring that acts as wallet and key gets backing from big Japanese firms
Made out of zirconia, the finger-worn gadget lets people do things such as lock and unlock doors, as well as pay for drinks in stores.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 29, 2021
Nissan will reach 2% profit margin goal despite COVID-19 parts pain, CEO says
Achieving the target set out last year in Nissan's turnaround plan would be a positive sign the carmaker is holding up despite the shortages plaguing the industry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 4, 2021
Honda's full-year forecast misses estimates as firm strives for electric future
The automaker has embarked on an ambitious plan to go all electric by 2040 and make highly autonomous cars a reality.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 21, 2021
Honda scraps go-it-alone strategy for safer shift toward EVs
A partnership with GM is part of a trend of carmakers sharing the burden of bringing new technology to market.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 16, 2021
Toyota-Panasonic battery venture slashes costs to take on China
Prime Planet currently holds the top share — around 25% — of the market for hybrid batteries, but lags far behind in higher capacity EV batteries.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 28, 2021
Panasonic sells its entire stake in Tesla to raise cash
The company held some $730 million of Tesla shares as of March last year, and that stake had been reduced to zero by the end of this March.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 23, 2021
Honda goes all in on electric cars in stark contrast to Toyota
Honda has said publicly it will phase out sales of gasoline-powered cars completely, setting 2040 as the goal.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 25, 2021
Smart rings seen as new frontier for cashless payments
As retailers around seek ways to make it easier to shop seamlessly without touching anything, MTG in Japan is betting its technology can rule them all.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 8, 2021
Jeep sales rise in Japan as young people warm to brand
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, more young people are taking an interest in the cars, drawn by their ability to handle all sorts of outdoor terrain.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 19, 2021
ANA sees global chip shortage as good cargo opportunity in 2021
The expects its cargo unit to receive a boost this year as planes loaded with semiconductors help accelerate deliveries to automakers and consumer-electronics manufacturers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 4, 2021
Tesla demand picks up in Japan following aggressive price cut
With Japan's government pushing to ban sales of gasoline-only cars by the mid-2030s, Tesla's recent price cut is putting Japan's automakers on notice for a potential price war.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 19, 2021
Nissan to promote Japan-based contract workers to full-time status
About 800 contract workers will become full-time employees from April, as the firm looks also to abolish its system of hiring contract staff.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 23, 2020
Past savior of Japan Airlines expects old values to beat pandemic
The carrier should stick to a philosophy of preserving jobs and keeping workers happy, former assistant chairman Yoshihito Ohta says.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Over 40% of Japan's municipalities at risk of vanishing, study finds
Of 1,729 local municipalities nationwide, 744 have been identified as being at risk of disappearing.
Princess Aiko makes debut at imperial garden party
Princess Aiko attends an imperial garden party in Tokyo on Tuesday.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Japan's former PM Aso meets Trump for talks on security and economy
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Taro Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in New York on Tuesday. The Japanese government’s top spokesman on Wednesday played down the meeting as one conducted "in the capacity of one lawmaker" and “without the government’s involvement.”
For amateur sumo, a fresh start offers hope against time-wasting and gamesmanship
Wrestlers prepare for the start of a bout at the 2023 Sumo World Championships in Tokyo. Starting this month, placing one hand on the clay first is no longer allowed.
LDP veteran Nikai's youngest son expected to succeed him in Wakayama
Toshihiro Nikai, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced in March that he would not run in the next Lower House election to take responsibility for the political funds scandal that rocked his party and his own faction.
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
A craft beer crawl through Tokyo’s top bars, brewpubs and dives
If all you drink is Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin, you're depriving yourself of some of the best craft beer Tokyo has to offer — and there sure is a lot of it out there.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass
Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

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