NEWSWORTHY
Japan's IT firms enthusiastically open doors to overseas tech workers
The dozens of young Chinese engineers looked nervous, but eager, as they presented their work in English during a hack-athon in September at the high-rise Roppongi Hills complex in Tokyo. But while the event hosted by Mercari Inc., maker of a popular flea market app, ...
Japan's pro sports clubs see investment boost ahead of 2020 Games
Japan's professional sports clubs are attracting a wave of investment, as a fitness club, clothing chain operators and entrepreneurs look to cash in on the sports world's potential ahead of the 2020 Games. At the training camp of J. League first division soccer side Shonan ...
Rakuten's English drive a case study of success, but wider adoption by Japan Inc. much slower going
Rakuten Inc. CEO Hiroshi Mikitani's 2010 announcement of English becoming the official internal language of the online retailing giant shocked many of the firm's employees, including Fumie Suzuki. More than eight years have passed since Mikitani's bold move and Suzuki, 34, has come to enjoy ...
Barcelona plan to visit China and Japan as part of a pre-season tour to Asia next summer, the club announced on Tuesday. After consecutive years travelling to the United States for the International Champions Cup, Barca will return to Asia for the first time since ...
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green draws crowds in first Japan visit
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green revealed that he was persuaded by Rakuten chairman Hiroshi Mikitani to come to Japan. "This is like my fourth NBA trip that I've done over the summer," the three-time NBA champion said at a news conference on Saturday at ...
Payments via QR codes slowly becoming more widespread in Japan
The number of restaurants, convenience stores and other shops accepting payments with smartphones using QR codes is rising in Japan, although the pace of growth is slow. Major information technology firms are working to promote a cashless payment system and banks are also joining the ...
Bad news for students: Completed homework assignments are no longer for sale
It's the last week of August, when children who have spent their entire summer vacation slacking off suddenly realize with daunting dismay that they have piles of book reports and diaries left untouched, not to mention an art project they were supposed to start ...
E-commerce giant Rakuten ties up with restaurant finder Gurunavi
E-commerce giant Rakuten Inc. says it has reached a capital alliance agreement with restaurant search business Gurunavi Inc. as it looks to strengthen its foothold in the growing online reservation market. Rakuten said Monday it will buy Gurunavi shares worth ¥4 billion currently held by ...
Uniqlo, Rakuten test brand power overseas
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer made headlines two weeks ago when he appeared on center court at Wimbledon wearing an outfit bearing the red-and-white squares of Uniqlo.
Warriors an inspiration to Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani
Effective leadership involves the ability to inspire others. What's more, organizational harmony creates the proper conditions to achieve — and sustain — success. Looking at the Golden State Warriors and Rakuten, Inc., one can see parallels in how they operate, set bold targets and reach them. Billionaire ...
Vissel executive says club hasn't reached deal with Andres Iniesta
Vissel Kobe's head of player development Atsuhiro Miura said Wednesday no deal has been struck to bring star Barcelona playmaker and Spain international Andres Iniesta to the J. League club. Miura said reports originating in Spanish media that the 33-year-old, considered one of the best ...
Japanese government grants Rakuten's entry into cellphone market
The government has formally approved Rakuten Inc.'s entry into the country's mobile telecommunications sector with its own wireless network, potentially sparking a price war in an already saturated market. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda issued the certificate Monday. The e-commerce giant will start ...
