Tag - cashless

 
 

CASHLESS

A smartphone workshop is held in Tagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, in December in conjunction with the implementation of measures to stimulate consumption through cashless payments.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 20, 2024
Local governments engage elderly to ease adoption of cashless payments
Some older people and others who find digital devices difficult to operate continue to view cash as the be-all and end-all for making purchases.
A poster for digital coupons at a store in the city of Fukushima
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Mar 11, 2024
Fukushima’s welfare coupon campaign highlights digital divide
A call center dedicated to the initiative received so many calls that telephone lines were overloaded.
The PayPay app now seeks to keep its pace of double-digit growth with help from other SoftBank portfolio companies.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 5, 2023
SoftBank’s PayPay app showcases Masayoshi Son’s clout in Japan
Seen to be next in SoftBank’s initial public offering pipeline, the startup now holds two-thirds’ share in QR-code payments in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 18, 2023
Bank of Japan to start new test of digital currency in April
In the experiment, which will involve payment service providers and financial institutions, technical challenges will be examined in the event a digital yen is issued.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2023
Cashless 'saisen' religious offerings spread amid COVID pandemic
Many believe that cashless saisen offerings could help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as people can avoid crowds forming around offering boxes at temples and shrines.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 24, 2022
BOJ plans digital yen experiment with mega-banks next spring
If the BOJ decides to issue a digital yen, one viable option would allow consumers to use the currency via a special app on their smartphones.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 26, 2022
Japan to allow wages to be paid into digital wallets from April
The maximum balance of such digital wallets will be set to u00a51 million ($6,800), with employees able to use the funds to make purchases or remittances directly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 8, 2022
More robots, less cash and new Shibuya await tourists back to Japan
Japan is opening up again after closing its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic for almost three years — and boy have things changed. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 14, 2022
Japan to allow businesses to pay salaries into app accounts
Designated service providers would be required to allow digital salary recipients to withdraw cash for free at least once a month using automated teller machines or through other means.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jun 18, 2022
Travelers ask, 'Cash, what’s that?'
On a recent trip to England, Andrew Dodson, 35, and his wife, Erin, 32, who live in Traverse City, Michigan, had an unexpected problem: No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t spend the 700 British pounds they’d brought along.
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 / FOCUS
Jan 25, 2022
Amid the 'buy now, pay later' boom, Japan takes a different path
The country's unique approach to credit card payments undercuts the appeal of BNPL seen elsewhere, with the service finding a different niche as a result.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 4, 2022
Shopping through social-media platforms expected to hit $1.2 trillion by 2025: study
More than half of so-called social buyers surveyed said they are likely to support small businesses over larger retailers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 8, 2021
PayPal to acquire Japanese unicorn Paidy in ¥300 billion deal
PayPal is looking to deepen its push into buy-now-pay-later products, with Paidy a standout provider in a country where nearly three-quarters of purchases are paid for with cash.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 11, 2021
SoftBank's PayPay surges ahead in Japan's digital payments race
PayPay has deployed a shoe-leather sales force of thousands to target restaurants, drugstores and supermarkets, attracting more than 3 million merchants.
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 / Economy
Apr 20, 2021
Government seeks safety guarantee in Japan's digital wage payout plan
A plan for digital salary payments is being pushed by the government to help people avoid touching cash amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 15, 2021
Rakuten sees biggest surge in 18 years after Tencent and Japan Post invest
The e-commerce pioneer is looking to expand its capabilities in artificial intelligence, financial technology and mobile networks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / EXPLAINER
Mar 5, 2021
Japan may soon allow wage payouts in digital cash. What will that look like?
The government is looking to introduce an option that will allow people to have their salaries transferred to smartphone virtual wallets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 22, 2021
Pandemic gives extra momentum to cashless drive in Japan
Even local governments — typically the last in line to introduce any kind of technology — are starting to jump onto the digital payment trend.

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