‘Not-so-happy Friday’ for Japan corporate chiefs

TOKYO -- Japan's Premium Friday campaign, a joint effort by the government and the business community to spur consumption and workplace reform, has not clicked with companies, leading many corporate chiefs to question its relevancy. Under the initiative ... ( read original story ...)

Japan casino hype

Speaking to Business Daily, Yasuhiro Idei, a senior journalist based in Tokyo, highlighted that there are two ‘casino-related bills’ within the process of legalizing casino gaming in Japan. The promotion bill, which was approved by the Diet in December ... ( read original story ...)

Japan to expand service sector work for foreigners

Japan has been welcoming foreign researchers and business people as highly skilled labor. But strict salary, academic qualifications and work experience requirements have kept many skilled foreigners from working in Japan. The government may also relax its ... ( read original story ...)

Apple-backed group to buy Toshiba chip business for $18 billion

Toshiba is selling its prized memory chip business for $18 billion to a group of buyers that includes Apple. The Japanese conglomerate is offloading major assets to try to deal with a crippling financial crisis. The memory chip business is its crown jewel ... ( read original story ...)

Japanese video gaming adapting new tech for familiar titles

CHIBA, Japan — The Japanese video game industry is finding its way out of the doldrums by adapting new technology for decades-old titles. And that energy was evident at the annual Tokyo Game Show, which opened to media Thursday before opening to the ... ( read original story ...)

AP Interview: Japan’s emoji creator saw nuance in pictures

TOKYO — The Japanese creator of the first emoji wanted to add nuance to mobile phone messages and never imagined what he created in 1998 would become a global phenomenon. Shigetaka Kurita says he was rushing to meet a deadline at his phone company when ... ( read original story ...)

Amazon takes on Japan’s business-to-business market

TOKYO -- Amazon.com has launched its business-to-business operation in Japan, where the U.S. tech giant is expected to carve out space against long-established rivals well-versed in this country's corporate norms. All-in-one solution Debuting in April 2015 ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo shares flat, Nintendo rallies on Switch hopes

TOKYO: Tokyo shares ended little changed Wednesday after hitting a more than two-year high, but Nintendo surged on hopes for strong sales of its Switch games console. The Super Mario maker jumped 4.73 percent to 42,890 yen, adding to a more than seven ... ( read original story ...)