Sony to pump $1bn more into Fortnite developer Epic Games

Japanese conglomerate looks to expand metaverse footprint

Apr 12 (Nikkei) - Sony Group has decided to invest an additional $1 billion in Epic Games, the U.S. developer of the blockbuster Fortnite, in hopes of staking a bigger claim in the metaverse.

Epic is raising $2 billion from Sony and Kirkbi, the Danish parent of toymaker Lego, under plans announced Monday. Each is chipping in $1 billion. Sony's investment is the biggest ever by the group as a minority shareholder.

With the latest financing, Sony will have poured $1.45 billion into Epic over three occasions, bringing its stake to roughly 4.9%. The Japanese electronics and media conglomerate started out with a $250 million investment announced in July 2020, then followed up on this with a $200 million investment in April 2021.

Sony sees its relationship with Epic as a path toward upgrading online entertainment operations that integrate gaming, music and films. ...continue reading

Year-End Chaos in Shibuya: Street Drinking, Brawls, and Ambulance Dispatches

The streets of Shibuya became a chaotic scene during the year-end party season, with excessive drinking leading to public disorder. People were found sleeping on the streets, fights broke out among groups of young revelers, and police and emergency services were frequently called to intervene.

New Japanese Passport Applications to Go Online

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled a new passport design set to be issued from March next year. The new system will allow online applications not only for renewals but also for new passport requests. Submitting an original family register certificate will no longer be required for online applications.

Future of Solar Power: Japan's Breakthrough Technology

The next generation of solar cells, known as perovskite solar panels, are ultra-thin, lightweight, and bendable. The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving the equivalent of the energy output from 20 nuclear reactors with perovskite solar cells by 2040. With their use set to expand in various locations next year, 2024 is being called "the dawn of domestic perovskite."

Record 7,000 Teachers in Japan on Leave Due to Mental Health

The number of teachers taking mental health leave reached a record high of 7,119 in the 2023 fiscal year at public schools across Japan.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

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Santa Drops Presents Over Southern Islands

Santa takes to the skies, delivering presents to southern islands. From the rear of an open transport aircraft, boxes equipped with parachutes descend to the ground, marked by the glow of a blue light. These deliveries, bringing joy to residents of remote islands in the South Pacific, are part of an international joint exercise involving Japan's Air Self-Defense Force since 2015.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

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Suspect Nabbed Following Brutal Kitakyushu Stabbings

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Japan to Accept Unusual Baby Names

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Grief and Anxiety Grow After Fatal Kitakyushu Stabbing

The mourning ceremony for 15-year-old Nakashima Saya, who was fatally stabbed at a fast-food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, was held on Tuesday. The attack, which took place four days ago, left Nakashima dead and a male student seriously injured with a deep wound near his waist. Police continue to search for the suspect, who fled the scene immediately after the attack.

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