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Pavel Alpeyev
For Pavel Alpeyev's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
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
Oct 4, 2021
SoftBank is cutting more deals with fewer staff than ever before
SoftBank is stepping up investments just as venture capital activity is reaching a fever pitch.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 22, 2021
SoftBank to be ‘more cautious’ with investments in China, CEO says
The Japanese group's stock came under pressure in recent weeks as a widening crackdown by Beijing regulators on China's tech sector battered the value of some of its biggest holdings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 30, 2021
NASA taps Kyoto startup to make maps of the wind for drones
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is turning to a Japanese startup for help in creating maps of the wind.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 19, 2021
SoftBank’s Vision Fund creates post to focus on Japan startups
Masayoshi Son's Vision Fund has poured billions into startups around the world, but so far it has made zero investments in his home country of Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 11, 2021
Masayoshi Son to make personal investments with SoftBank’s Vision Fund
Business leaders don't usually mix personal interests with corporate responsibilities in order to avoid conflicts of interest, especially when there are public shareholders.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 20, 2021
Tokyo Olympics then and now highlight long arc of Japan’s technology decline
As Tokyo again prepares to host the Games this week, Japan is in a technological funk — its heyday of setting the pace far behind it.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 13, 2021
Firms from Sony to noodle-maker urge Japan to pursue moon business
The Lunar Industry Vision Council on Tuesday submitted a white paper to the minister in charge of space policy urging closer cooperation between the state and the private sector.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 9, 2021
SoftBank preps $5 billion for Latin America investments
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is stepping up his investments in technology companies after a number of high-profile debuts in recent months.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 30, 2021
80-year-old Japanese firm may be key to next-gen chip tech
Disco is one of a number of little-known Japanese companies that are indispensable to semiconductor production.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 30, 2021
One Japanese company’s approach to remote work: Pay up to stay home
The gradual rollout of vaccines globally has fueled a debate over how to entice workers back to the office.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 29, 2021
SoftBank pulls the plug on its flagship Pepper 'humanoid' robot
The u00a5198,000 robot was a project Masayoshi Son once personally championed as a symbol of his conglomerate's ambitions in AI and technology.
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
SoftBank’s Son may stay on as chairman past age 69
Masayoshi Son isn't letting go of the reins at SoftBank Group Corp. anytime soon, even as the founder tells shareholders he's taking the issue of his succession seriously.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 8, 2021
Japan must work with TSMC to rebuild chipmaking base, ex-economy minister says
The nation is unable to return to cutting-edge chip development and manufacturing on its own, LDP lawmaker Akira Amari acknowledged, suggesting a tie-up with the Taiwanese chipmaker.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 27, 2021
SoftBank’s top eight executives made $64 million after record profits
Simon Segars, who heads the company's chip unit Arm Ltd., topped the list with a $17 million paycheck in the year ended March 31.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 26, 2021
SoftBank-backed Jellysmack eyes global expansion and acquisitions
The New-York based company helps online content creators and brands promote their offerings across platforms like Instagram and YouTube, taking a share of revenue in return.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 13, 2021
SoftBank tumbles after record profit fails to impress
Investors are skittish about whether SoftBank will keep buying back its own stock after completing a u00a52.5 trillion allotment for repurchases.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 28, 2021
SoftBank nears end of ¥2.5 trillion buyback, imperiling bull run
In March, shares fell even as more money was spent on re-purchases, the overall markets advanced and SoftBank's profit for the March quarter was expected to hit a record.

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