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Japan's Trade Ministry to Support Rakuten's Next-Generation AI Model

TOKYO, Jul 15 (News On Japan) - The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has decided to support Rakuten Group’s development of a next-generation generative AI base model, according to reporting by TV Tokyo. Rakuten is expected to begin developing a large language model in August with 700 billion parameters—one of the largest in Japan.

The model will reportedly be trained using data from the so-called Rakuten ecosystem, which has over 2 billion users worldwide, with the aim of creating a proprietary AI agent capable of offering personalized recommendations. The ministry plans to support the AI development efforts of 24 companies in total, including Rakuten.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Japan-Bound Tanker Clears Strait of Hormuz

An Idemitsu Kosan crude oil tanker has safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first vessel bound for Japan to do so since attacks on Iran heightened tensions in the region and effectively disrupted maritime traffic.

Golden Week Crowds Seen From Above

Japan’s Golden Week holiday period got fully underway on April 29, drawing large crowds to major tourist destinations and airports, where long lines formed as overseas travel surged.

Giant Bears Return to Hokkaido

A series of sightings involving unusually large brown bears in Hokkaido has heightened concerns among local residents, with one 330-kilogram animal captured in Tomamae and another 280-kilogram bear attacking a hunter in Shimamaki.

Golden Week Travel Kicks Off

Full-scale Golden Week travel began on April 29, with Chubu Centrair International Airport experiencing its busiest outbound travel day of the holiday period. The airport was crowded from the morning with vacationers heading overseas.

Japan Faces Higher Power and Gas Bills

Electricity and gas bills for usage in May will rise slightly in Japan, with the impact of tensions involving Iran expected to appear in utility charges from June onward. Larger increases could follow in subsequent months.

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ChatGPT Outperforms Top Applicants of Tokyo and Kyoto University Entrance Exams

Generative AI chatbot ChatGPT would have ranked first in this year's entrance examinations for both the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, according to research by AI startup Life Prompt.

画像から動画へ AIツール5選：2026年版おすすめガイド

画像から動画へという技術は、静止コンテンツをより魅力的な動的コンテンツへと変換する手段として急速に普及している。

Executive reshuffle at Orix amid the construction of Japan’s first legal casino

Japanese financial services group Orix Corp has announced a slate of senior leadership changes.

Japan Warns of AI Cyber Risks

The Japanese government held an emergency meeting with the Bank of Japan and executives from the country's three megabanks to discuss potential risks posed by the new artificial intelligence model 'Claude Mythos' to Japan's financial system.

How to Find Influencers in Japan: The Best Platforms for 2026

Japan is not like other markets. Brands that try to copy-paste their Western influencer strategies here will struggle. Japanese consumers have unique platform preferences, cultural expectations, and engagement patterns that require a localized approach.

AI 80%, Human 20%; More or Fewer Jobs?

Businesses worldwide are grappling with a growing concern: will artificial intelligence take away human jobs? Yet in the United States, recent developments suggest a more complex reality. Job openings for software developers have been rising since around November 2025, according to U.S. employment site Indeed.

LINE Yahoo Announces "AI Agent"

LINE Yahoo announced a new 'AI Agent' service on April 20, aiming to provide an AI assistant that users can rely on in their daily lives. The service will be introduced through the LINE app and Yahoo! JAPAN platform.

BYDFi Marks 6th Anniversary with Month-Long Celebration, Built for Reliability

VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 31, 2026 - Global crypto trading platform BYDFi will mark its 6th anniversary with a month-long celebration beginning on April 1, 2026, highlighting BYDFi’s evolution into an all-in-one crypto trading platform built on a CEX + DEX dual-engine model.

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