Predicting Japan's digital trends of the next decade
Last year was all about looking back. Between the end of the Heisei Era (1989-2019) and the decade coming to a close, people appeared to go to extra lengths to reflect on the recent and not-so-recent past (this column included). Now that we’ve entered ...
Japanese tech CEO behind popular 'Monster Strike' in search of new hit
Five years ago, Koki Kimura pulled off an unthinkable turnaround to save his company. Now, he's trying to do it again. The 42-year-old runs a tech company called Mixi Inc., a firm with one of the most tumultuous corporate histories in Japan. It operated the ...
IT companies scramble to take advantage of Shibuya's transport networks, proximity to youth culture
Shibuya is famous for its scramble crossing, shopping and youth culture but the district has also established itself as a hub for myriad IT firms and Internet-based startups, leading some to describe it as the equivalent to Silicon Valley in the U.S. state of ...
Japan's social-networking pioneer turns matchmaker
There was a time when the only social network that mattered in Japan was Mixi, but these days, after years of stagnation, it is hardly heard of in daily conversation — being replaced in popularity by rivals such as Gree, Mobage, Twitter, Facebook and ...
Mixi Inc. will shore up its faltering earnings by seeking new businesses and doing away with complacency in the face of stiff competition from Facebook, incoming President Yusuke Asakura said Friday. Asakura, who will take the helm of the domestic social-networking site starting in June, ...
2012: The year in social media in Japan
New Japanese tourists: have social network, will travel
Have group, will travel: social travel companies taking off in Japan.
Today's J-blip: MUJI to GO game
2011 trends: Social media in Japan comes of age
Without a doubt, social media in Japan brought people together in 2011. The question remains: Where does everyone like to congregate?
Real New Year's greetings to virtual addresses
Japan Postal Service acts as a go-between exchanging real cards between online friends.
Privacy not an issue for geolocation apps
Where are you right now ... and do you want to share that information with your social network? Geolocation apps want to know.
Mixi helps users socialize with new apps
Following in the footsteps of Facebook, Mixi brings fun and functional apps to its user community. Anybody need a pantsu calendar?
