Mercedes-Benz Japan Fined Record 1.2 Billion Yen

Mar 13, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The Consumer Affairs Agency has ordered Mercedes-Benz Japan to pay a record fine of over 1.2 billion yen for violating the fair trade law.

The violation involved five products sold by Mercedes-Benz Japan, including the "GLB200d."

Cases were pointed out where features listed as "standard equipment" in catalogs and on the internet site actually required additional payments as part of optional features, or where the actual vehicle differed from its description.

The Consumer Affairs Agency had issued an order in 2021 for violation of the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, leading to Tuesday's record fine of 1,230,970,000 yen.

Mercedes-Benz Japan has commented that they will "work to prevent recurrence."

Source: ANN

Typhoon No. 30 Brings Violent Winds to Okinawa's Sakishima Islands

Typhoon No. 30 (Champa), a large and very powerful storm, was moving northwest south of Okinawa as of 9 p.m. on October 22, with the Sakishima Islands already experiencing violent winds ahead of the typhoon's expected closest approach from the afternoon of October 23 through the early hours of October 24, while an approaching autumn rain front threatens widespread heavy rainfall across western Japan.

PHP Security Flaw Forces Shutdowns Across Japan, Including Takaichi's Website

A critical security flaw discovered in PHP, a programming language used by an estimated 70% of the world's web systems, has triggered widespread disruptions across Japan since October 21, forcing banks, restaurant chains, government agencies and other businesses to suspend online services as a precaution against potential cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks Hit Japanese Police and Businesses

A growing wave of cyberattacks across Japan has raised concerns over the possible use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence in hacking operations, with personal information belonging to tens of thousands of police employees potentially exposed and major companies forced to suspend online services, while cybersecurity experts warn that slow decision-making within Japanese organizations is allowing damage to spread.

H3 Rocket Successfully Launches Mars Moon Probe

Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on the morning of October 20th, placing the probe into its planned orbit in the first stage of a mission to collect samples from one of Mars' moons and return them to Earth.

Japan Introduces Personalized Motorcycle License Plates

Motorcycle owners across Japan can now choose their preferred license plate numbers under a new system introduced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on October 19th, with popular numbers allocated by lottery and applications costing between 2,500 and 3,000 yen.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nikkei Plunges 1,713 Points as AI Sell-Off Deepens

Japan's financial markets suffered another sharp setback on October 22 as heavy selling in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks sent the Nikkei 225 down 1,713.40 points, or 2.65%, to 62,907.84, its lowest closing level since July 30.

Japan's Trade Deficit Doubles as Oil Prices Surge

Japan's trade deficit nearly doubled in the first half of fiscal 2026 to 2.8184 trillion yen, driven largely by surging crude oil prices following turmoil in the Middle East, while the value of oil imports from the United States increased nearly ninefold as Japan sought alternative sources of supply.

Japan Stocks Rebound 546 Points as Export Growth Supports Market

Tokyo stocks rebounded on October 21, with the Nikkei 225 closing 545.82 points higher at 64,621.24, a gain of 0.85%, as stronger U.S. equities, renewed buying in technology shares and encouraging Japanese export figures helped the market recover from two consecutive sessions of losses.

Mizuho Bank to Stop Using Driver's License Photos

Japanese banks and securities firms are moving to stop using facial photographs from driver's licenses to verify customers opening accounts online, following a series of personal information leaks that have raised concerns about fraudulent account applications.

Japan Stocks Slide 841 Yen as AI Concerns and Oil Prices Hit Tokyo Market

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed at 64,075.42 on October 20th, falling 841.28 points, or 1.30%, as renewed selling in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares, rising oil prices and concerns over inflation pushed Tokyo stocks lower for a second consecutive session.

Nearly 30% of Large Japanese Companies Report Data Leaks

Nearly one in three large companies in Japan have experienced a data leak or a suspected breach, according to a survey released by Teikoku Databank on October 19th, highlighting growing concerns over corporate information security as unauthorized access incidents continue to affect businesses across the country.

Nikkei Closes at 64,916 as Technology Stocks Drag Market Lower

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed 407.59 points lower at 64,916.70 on October 19, a decline of 0.62%, recovering from an intraday plunge of more than 1,400 points as concerns over artificial intelligence investment weighed on semiconductor and technology shares, while buying in banks, utilities and other domestic sectors helped the broader TOPIX index finish slightly higher.

Qilin Threatens to Release Data Stolen in Keio Railway Cyberattack

International hacking group Qilin has claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack on subsidiaries of Keio Railway in late September, publishing images allegedly showing internal company documents and displaying a countdown believed to indicate a deadline for releasing stolen data, while the railway operator said it is investigating the claims.

< 2 3 4 5 >