The Nikkei Stock Average climbed sharply again on May 22nd, closing at a record high of 63,339 as investor sentiment improved on expectations that fighting between the United States and Iran could soon come to an end.
The Nikkei Stock Average reversed early gains and closed 295.77 points, or 0.4%, lower at 62,417.88 on May 11 after surging more than 1,600 points earlier in the day, as selling spread across AI-related and semiconductor shares despite record highs in the U.S. Nasdaq and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, while concerns over Middle East tensions and U.S. interest rate policy weighed on investor sentiment.
Honda said it expects to post its first net loss since going public in the fiscal year ending March 2026, underscoring the heavy cost of its abrupt retreat from electric vehicle expansion.
SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have jointly established a new company aimed at developing domestically produced artificial intelligence, as Japan seeks to regain competitiveness in the rapidly advancing global AI sector.
Sony and Honda have decided to halt their jointly developed electric vehicle project, with their joint venture Sony Honda Mobility announcing on March 25th that it will cancel the development and launch of its new EV, the "AFEELA 1," as a reassessment of Honda’s EV strategy made it difficult to continue utilizing Honda’s technology and production support, ultimately leading to the conclusion that commercialization would be unfeasible.
Sony is considering spinning off its television business, long symbolized by its BRAVIA brand, in a move that could mark a decisive step away from consumer electronics and toward a new identity centered on entertainment and intellectual property.
Sony has announced it will spin off its television business as competition in the global TV market continues to intensify, saying it has reached a basic agreement with major Chinese electronics maker TCL to begin talks toward a strategic partnership.
Tokyo University professor Yutaka Matsuo said he expects the global balance of power in artificial intelligence to change sharply in 2026, arguing that breakthroughs in chips, robotics and autonomous driving could quickly reshape which companies, and which countries, lead the field.
Nvidia maintains an estimated 80% share of the global AI chip market, but a surge of new competitors is beginning to challenge the company’s dominance, reshaping expectations across the semiconductor industry.
The animated film ‘Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 – Akaza Returns’ has become the first Japanese production in history to surpass 100 billion yen in global box office revenue, while Bandai Namco Holdings has revised up its profit outlook on the back of strong performances from the ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ series. With 46 years having passed since the first Gundam aired, the question now is why the franchise continues to grow.
Sony Group has released a free dataset designed for evaluating AI image analysis performance, opening new opportunities for developers and researchers to improve machine learning models.
Japan’s largest technology exhibition, CEATEC, bringing together the latest advances in digital innovation, opens on October 14th with a strong focus on artificial intelligence designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life.
Sony opened a new facility in central Beijing on October 13th that allows visitors to experience its latest 3D imaging and sensor technologies, part of a broader push to strengthen its entertainment business in China.
News no longer ends at the headline. It begins there. A story in Tokyo might start in a newspaper, but before the day is over, it is being reshared on Instagram, dissected in comments and reimagined in memes.
The Cultural Affairs Agency has, for the first time, surveyed how the spread of social media is affecting the Japanese language in its annual survey on public opinion regarding the national language, revealing that nearly 90 percent of respondents believe there is some impact.
In today's video, we discuss the console wars and why they will never die. (Lady Decade)
Japan’s consumer-electronics leaders, long associated with engineering prowess, face a radically altered global landscape. Once-defining products—Sharp’s all-transistor calculators and wall-mounted TVs, Sony’s Walkman, Panasonic’s image-stabilized camcorders and keep-warm rice cookers—are now symbols of a past era as companies pivot and rivals surge.
A growing number of consumers in Japan are falling victim to fake online ads that falsely claim endorsements from well-known companies and universities. In one such case, a licensed psychologist in Nagoya paid approximately 4,500 yen for an "AI robot dog" that turned out to be little more than a cheap toy resembling something from the Showa era.
Japan Display (JDI), formed in 2012 through the merger of Hitachi, Toshiba, and Sony’s small and medium-sized LCD panel businesses, was once celebrated as the “Hinamaru LCD” and symbolized Japan’s national pride in the sector. By the fiscal year ending March 2016, its sales neared 1 trillion yen. However, its fortunes soon reversed, and it has now posted losses for eleven consecutive years.
Sony has unveiled its latest Xperia smartphone, equipped with advanced camera capabilities powered by its proprietary AI technology. The new model features the brand's first-ever "AI Camera Work" function, which uses artificial intelligence to recognize skeletal movements of moving subjects and automatically track them to keep them centered in the frame.
Sony Group announced on May 14th that its net profit for the year ending March 2025 rose 17.6% year-on-year to a record 1.1416 trillion yen. The strong performance was driven by brisk sales in its gaming division, including the PlayStation 5, as well as continued growth in its music and film business.
The newly established Hokkaido Valley Vision Council aims to create a 'Hokkaido version of Silicon Valley' by promoting development around next-generation semiconductor firm Rapidus and transforming the region from Tomakomai to Ishikari into a hub for advanced technology.
Japan has always played a key part in the gaming industry, thanks to major companies like Sony, Nintendo, and Sega. From early home consoles to advanced systems, these Japanese brands have pushed the industry forward with new technologies and unforgettable games.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way businesses and individuals interact with technology, and chatbots are at the forefront of this transformation.
A senior executive of Taiwan’s electronics manufacturing giant, Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn), reportedly visited Japan last month and met with Nissan officials, according to Taiwanese media reports.