TOKYO - Rakuten Group and Amazon.com are preparing to enter Japan’s satellite communications market as early as 2026. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has begun discussions on frequency bands, transmission power, and other regulatory frameworks necessary for new entrants.
The move is expected to expand connectivity to mountainous regions and remote islands where terrestrial base stations are not available. Competition will intensify in a market previously dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink service.
In Tokyo’s stock market on August 18th, the Nikkei Stock Average closed at 43,714 yen, up 336 yen, or 0.77%, from the previous trading day. This marked a second consecutive record high following August 15th. The price-to-book ratio (PBR) approached 1.6 times, a level last seen in 2024. Investors continued to buy into relatively undervalued stocks, broadening the rally.
Toho announced on August 18th that box office revenue for its live-action film ‘A Country Report’ reached 10.5 billion yen. This is the first time in 22 years a live-action film distributed by Toho has surpassed the 10 billion yen mark, the last being ‘Bayside Shakedown 2’ released in 2003. Since its June 6th release, the film has drawn 7.47 million viewers in 73 days, ranking third in box office history among live-action films.
Convenience store operator Ministop revealed on August 18th that 23 of its stores in eastern and western Japan falsified expiration dates on in-store prepared products, including rice balls and boxed meals. Similar cases had previously been uncovered, prompting internal investigations. The company has suspended sales of some in-store prepared products across all outlets while continuing its probe.
Health authorities in Guangdong Province, China, reported nearly 10,000 infections from a mosquito-borne viral illness known as Ngonia fever so far this year. While new cases have recently declined, concerns have been raised that containment efforts resemble the strict “zero-COVID” measures once enforced during the pandemic.
Pan Pacific International Holdings, operator of discount retailer Don Quijote, announced on August 18th plans to invest more than 1.2 trillion yen over the next decade through June 2035. The investment will fund store expansion, including 250 new locations, and mergers and acquisitions. This represents a sharp increase from 549.6 billion yen invested over the past decade.
Source: テレ東BIZ
