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April 20, 2024
 

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Ming Jeong Lee
For Ming Jeong Lee's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
SoftBank Group shares surged for a third day in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 13, 2024
SoftBank shares climb again with Arm’s explosive AI rally
Arm Holdings has almost doubled in value since making the case last week for how it will benefit from the artificial intelligence boom.
Yasuhide Uno, Usen-Next Holdings CEO, has transformed his father’s company into Netflix’s biggest competitor in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 28, 2023
Reluctant CEO becomes billionaire at Netflix rival in Japan
Initially wanting nothing to do with his father's cable music company, Yasuhide Uno's faith in video streaming helped him rebuild it for a new era.
The Nasdaq market site in New York. Dozens of Japanese startups are preparing to list on the Nasdaq in the next few years.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 2, 2023
Nasdaq helps Japan startups escape risk-averse home market
An unprecedented number of entrepreneurs turn away from an aging, risk-averse home market.
Softbank's Vision Fund unit swung to a profit of ¥61 billion in the quarter ended June, compared with a ¥2.33 trillion loss for the same period a year ago.
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2023
Global tech stock rebound lifts SoftBank Vision Fund into profit
The fund logged a ¥61 billion profit in the quarter ended June — its first in over a year — compared with a ¥2.33 trillion loss a year ago.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 18, 2023
SoftBank unit bringing Estonian self-driving buses to Japan
Tokyo-based Boldly plans to have self-driving buses operating in eight new areas in Japan this fiscal year to cater to rapidly aging communities.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 11, 2023
SoftBank Vision Fund loses ¥4.3 trillion on weak startup values
Many of the privately held companies that SoftBank’s invested in are not yet profitable, while the IPO market remains lackluster.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 13, 2023
Japan moon lander startup Ispace rockets in value after market debut
The anticipated arrival on the moon of the firm's Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander would make the Japanese startup the maker of the world’s first commercial spacecraft to land there.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 7, 2023
SoftBank Vision Fund loses ¥660 billion as tech slump persists
A collapse in valuations last year has pummeled the global tech investor, which holds stakes in hundreds of startups.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 6, 2023
As tech slumps, SoftBank's Son spooks investors with plan to skip earnings call
The founder and chief executive of the world’s largest tech investor is bidding farewell to the presentations he’s led for decades, saying he would focus on taking chip designer Arm public.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 8, 2022
SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son quietly lifts stake to 34%, edging toward buyout
The billionaire now owns more than a third of the company he founded, after aggressive buybacks in the last two months.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 2, 2022
Activist fund that took on Toshiba targets $2 billion Japan firm
Singapore-based 3D Investment Partners is seeking to appoint four outside board members at Fuji Soft, a Tokyo-listed software firm.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 9, 2022
SoftBank buyback spree sparks speculation that Masayoshi Son plans buyout
SoftBank Group has accelerated the pace of its share buybacks, reigniting speculation that founder Masayoshi Son is laying the groundwork to take the company private.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 1, 2022
This Japanese startup wants to become the moon’s very own FedEx
Ispace is looking to earn money by ferrying scientific equipment and commercial goods to the moon.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 12, 2022
Chip firm Socionext soars in Tokyo debut after Japan’s biggest 2022 IPO
Socionext managed to attract buyers even in a weak market for IPOs in Japan, where proceeds slumped 80% this year on an annual comparison.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 16, 2022
Banker who brought Goldman clout to SoftBank starts venture bets
Before his abrupt departure from SoftBank Group last year, Katsunori Sago was seen as a potential successor to Masayoshi Son. He's now charting his own course in startup investments.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 23, 2022
Popular manga app seeks 2023 IPO in Tokyo at $6 billion value
Piccoma raised u00a560 billion last year from investors, and the startup hopes its profitability will attract more investors at its IPO.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 12, 2022
Masayoshi Son is now down $4 billion on his SoftBank side deals
Son took the unusual step of establishing personal stakes in a series of SoftBank ventures in recent years, a mixing of company and executive interests that drew the ire of investors.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 11, 2022
SoftBank gives up a third of Alibaba stake for $34 billion amid mounting losses
Record losses on sliding tech valuations has raised concern over SoftBank's own financial stability, prompting founder Masayoshi Son to accelerate asset sales.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 8, 2022
SoftBank CEO pledges sweeping cost cuts after $23.4 billion loss
Low tech valuations have been draining SoftBank's ability to turn public listings of its portfolio companies into liquidity to fuel further big bets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 5, 2022
SoftBank talent drain worsens, adding pressure on Masayoshi Son to deliver
Two more managing partners at the company's Vision Fund are leaving, bringing the number of top level departures from the world's largest investment fund to at least 10 since March of 2020.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran
A reported strike against Iran by Israel on Friday came against the backdrop of Iran's support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault into Israel on Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of Gaza.
In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
Former No. 1 Kento Momota retires from international badminton at 29
Badminton star Kento Momota leaves a news conference after announcing his retirement from Japan's national team, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

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

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on
By Lance Henderstein

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