California law on treating rideshare drivers as employees may hurt 'gig economy'
Labor activists Wednesday were celebrating California's move to have drivers treated as employees by rideshare firms even as it fueled concerns it will hurt digital platforms depending on the "gig economy." A landmark bill was approved 29-11 late Tuesday in the state senate, with the ...
Airbnb Inc. says it's back in business in Japan, a year after stricter short-term lodging regulations forced it to freeze a major portion of its listings in the country. There are 50,000 listings available in the country, with another 23,000 rooms in hotels and traditional ...
Umbrella-sharing service in Japan taps 'internet of things' tech to reduce thefts and waste
A startup company has successfully launched an umbrella-sharing service, mainly in Tokyo, using "internet of things" technology to reduce umbrella waste. Nature Innovation Group, founded by Shoji Marukawa, started the service in December, and it aims for the return of all rented umbrellas. Users of the ...
Value of Japan's 'sharing economy' estimated at over ¥500 billion in 2016
Japan's so-called sharing economy was estimated to be worth over ¥500 billion ($4.5 billion) in 2016, according to government data, reflecting the rise of peer-to-peer services. Such services, which are not included when calculating gross domestic product, would boost Japan's ¥548.7 trillion economy by tens ...
Japan's rural regions turn to 'sharing economy' to offer residents valuable services
Business practices collectively known as the "sharing economy" are offering new ways for local and prefectural governments to address problems such as aging populations and scarce job opportunities. The sharing economy involves arrangements in which individuals can pay to borrow or rent underused assets owned ...
Japan's slow embrace of sharing economy nothing to fear, U.S. expert says
Japan's cautious approach to the so-called sharing economy is nothing to worry about, a U.S. expert said, adding that the key to success lies in developing services that match one's local culture. "You can be a little bit late and the second follower, learn from ...
Sharing-economy boom slow to take off in Japan at just 0.005% of GDP
Feel like sharing? Japan might not be your place. Once home to the world's biggest technology drivers in the 1980s, Japan has missed the boat when it comes to expanding its sharing-economy sector. Miles behind the U.S. and dwarfed by China by more than 2,000 ...
'Sharing economy' takes off in Japan despite barriers
Japan's "sharing economy" all but caught fire in 2016, inspired by a growing global trend. Overseas giants such as Airbnb Inc. and Uber technologies Inc. have rapidly spread, and some major cities such as Seoul and Amsterdam promote themselves as sharing cities. In Japan, the private ...
