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July 05, 2025
 

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STARTUPS

Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 22, 2021
Fintech startup Finatext has worst Tokyo debut in two decades
The firm is expecting a net loss of u00a51 billion this fiscal year, but co-founder Ryota Hayashi says he's in no rush to generate profit, though added it could do so quickly if required.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 21, 2021
What happens when Instagram success meets a market meltdown
THG became a billion-dollar company through makeup and supplements that were wildly popular on social media. The good times didn't last.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 16, 2021
Venture capital cash flows to Japan following China crackdown
Japan's startups are increasingly attracting interest from overseas investors as the country starts to shake off it's reputation as a unicorn-free venture backwater.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2021
Saving the dinosaurs: Startups drive to electrify fossil-fuel cars
EV conversion is a cottage industry that's emerged over the past five years, and been turbo-charged by advances in battery technology and electric motors in the past two.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 3, 2021
More companies will list in Japan this month than ever before
While Japan's stock market might have had an unassuming year overall, one sector is running red-hot: new listings.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 25, 2021
SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son bets on narcolepsy drug for sleep-deprived Japan
The proportion of people sleeping less than the recommended eight hours is rising globally, and costs Japan as much as $138 billion in economic losses each year, according to Rand Corp.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2021
SoftBank-backed crypto firm in Brazil eyes multiple acquisitions
The SoftBank Latin America Fund announced a $200 million investment in Sao Paulo-based 2TM in July, valuing the company at $2.1 billion — the first crypto unicorn in the region.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 8, 2021
SoftBank Vision Fund posts a record loss as Coupang shares fall
The plunging value of some investments and a tech sector crackdown by Chinese regulators have pushed the business into the red.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 4, 2021
100-seat electric plane may be ready by 2027
Wright plans to build a fleet of converted planes, which will have a range of about one hour or 460 miles.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 31, 2021
A $2 billion Japanese startup aims to fix polarized news via an algorithm
SmartNews, which uses an algorithm to provide what it says is an unbiased, nonpartisan mix of information, is one of Japan's most valuable startups.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 27, 2021
Japanese startup targets supercar users with $700,000 hoverbike
The XTurismo Limited Edition from A.L.I. Technologies promises to fly for 40 minutes at up to 100 kilometer per hour.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 20, 2021
SoftBank weighs stake in Ampere, valuing chipmaker at $8 billion
Ampere is a 4-year-old startup run by a former Intel Corp. executive who is trying to break into the market for microprocessors that run servers in data centers, an area dominated by her old company.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2021
Richest families in Southeast Asia scout for the next unicorn
Moguls from Thailand's Dhanin Chearavanont to the Philippines' Lance Gokongwei are either plowing millions of dollars directly into promising companies or setting up venture capital funds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 4, 2021
Made-from-CO2 concrete, sportswear and diamonds spark investor excitement
Companies turning carbon dioxide into products have raised over $800 million so far this year, more than triple the amount seen in 2020.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 4, 2021
SoftBank is cutting more deals with fewer staff than ever before
SoftBank is stepping up investments just as venture capital activity is reaching a fever pitch.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 22, 2021
SoftBank to be ‘more cautious’ with investments in China, CEO says
The Japanese group's stock came under pressure in recent weeks as a widening crackdown by Beijing regulators on China's tech sector battered the value of some of its biggest holdings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 15, 2021
SoftBank launches $3 billion fund for Latin America’s tech boom
The company said it will focus on e-commerce, digital financial services, health care, education, blockchain and insurance companies from across the region.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 9, 2021
SoftBank eyeing battery-maker 3DOM for 6G and mobile base stations
Japanese startup 3DOM is developing new battery separator technology that helps overcome the physical limitations of current lithium-based batteries.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 30, 2021
NASA taps Kyoto startup to make maps of the wind for drones
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is turning to a Japanese startup for help in creating maps of the wind.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 25, 2021
Top Chinese dealmaker bets on new startups after crackdown
While China Renaissance is known for its portfolio of consumer-facing internet platforms, the company has been backing startups in sectors now deemed less susceptible to government scrutiny.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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