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Peter Elstrom
For Peter Elstrom's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 13, 2022
Japan to join U.S. efforts to tighten chip exports to China
Japan will likely announce soon that it will adopt at least some of the measures the U.S. rolled out in October to restrict the sale of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2022
Nvidia quietly prepares to abandon $40 billion bid for SoftBank's Arm
The purchase u2014 poised to become the biggest chip deal ever when it was announced in 2020 u2014 has drawn a fierce backlash from regulators and the chip industry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 21, 2021
Top ByteDance investor to weigh $500 million stake sale
The future of the worldu2019s most valuable startup is unclear as Beijing's scrutiny over the Chinese tech giants intensifies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 28, 2020
Masayoshi Son's SoftBank strained by losses and infighting at the top
In early March, before the coronavirus pandemic triggered a global economic lockdown, SoftBank Group Corp. founder Masayoshi Son paid tribute to Rajeev Misra, the man who runs his $100 billion technology investment fund. Wearing a $70 (¥7,500) Uniqlo down jacket, the Japanese billionaire put his arm around Misra’s shoulders at a town hall meeting in San Carlos, California. He said he would never forget the help Misra provided when he was at Deutsche Bank AG more than a decade earlier and spoke of the trust and respect they had developed since, according to a summary shared internally. "We are family,” Son said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 28, 2020
SoftBank’s Vision Fund plans to cut 10% of staff as startups sour
As the value of its startups declines, the best of the giant fund's 500-strong staff might start looking for other jobs.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2020
Wipe out: Japan's ski slopes suffering worst winter in decades
Japan's ski resorts are suffering through one of the worst snow seasons on record, disappointing locals and foreign tourists, and jeopardizing the country's budding reputation as an international ski destination.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 2, 2019
SoftBank's startup bookkeeping draws scrutiny after WeWork fiasco
In early 2018, the founders of Chinese artificial intelligence startup SenseTime Group Ltd. flew to Tokyo to see billionaire investor Masayoshi Son. As they entered the offices, Chief Executive Officer Xu Li was hoping to persuade the head of SoftBank Group Corp. to invest $200 million in his three-year-old startup.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 3, 2018
SoftBank names Sprint's Marcelo Claure COO after T-Mobile acquisition
SoftBank Group Corp. named Marcelo Claure chief operating officer, elevating Sprint Corp.'s top executive into a broader role after he negotiated a merger between the U.S. wireless operator and T-Mobile U.S. Inc.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 24, 2017
Apple plays kingmaker in Toshiba chip drama with $3 billion plan to back Bain's bid
With the possibility of providing about $3 billion to Bain Capital, Apple Inc. is playing the role of kingmaker in the battle for Toshiba Corp.u2019s memory chip business.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 22, 2017
SoftBank's Son chases boyhood dreams with $100 billion fund
When Masayoshi Son was a boy growing up in Kyushu, he kept a notebook to scribble down inventions he hoped to create one day. Today, the SoftBank founder has almost $100 billion to invest in making the next big thing a reality.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 21, 2017
Western Digital makes case for taking over Toshiba chip unit
Western Digital Corp. is making a forceful case for its bid to take control of Toshiba Corp.'s memory-chip business amid a fierce bidding war.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 10, 2017
SoftBank set to soon close first round of $100 billion tech fund
SoftBank Group Corp. is aiming to close the first round of investment in its planned $100 billion technology fund by the end of this month, giving Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son an enormous war chest to go on the hunt for deals, according to people familiar with the matter.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world