Rakuten and Amazon Set to Enter Japan Satellite Market

Aug 19, 2025 | News On Japan

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

Typhoons 28 and 29 Forecast to Turn North Around Weekend

Two typhoons are moving across the Pacific east and southeast of Japan, with both expected to change course around the weekend and remain well away from the main Japanese islands, though high waves and stronger winds could affect some areas. Typhoon No. 28, a strong storm, was moving west near Wake Island at about 45 kilometers per hour as of 3 a.m. on October 7, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Qilin Hacker Detained in Japan

A core member of the international ransomware group Qilin was detained in Japan and handed over to German authorities, according to people familiar with the case, as Japanese companies and institutions face a growing wave of cyberattacks that has exposed nearly 15 million pieces of personal information this month alone.

Year of the Sheep Postcards Arrive in Hokkaido

New Year postcards for 2027 arrived at post offices across Hokkaido on October 6, with designs featuring sheep for the upcoming Year of the Sheep as Japan's traditional New Year card market continues to shrink.

Japan Holds Sleep Contest With 2.22 Million Yen Prize

A first-of-its-kind sleep competition was held in Tokyo on October 5, with contestants competing for a 2.22 million yen top prize by trying to achieve the deepest, fastest and most stable sleep during a 90-minute session.

Japan Ends Asian Games With Record 83 Golds and 269 Medals

Japan brought the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to a close on October 4 with a record 83 gold medals and 269 medals overall, finishing second behind China after 16 days of competition that produced historic victories in swimming, athletics, judo, wrestling, softball and other sports, while a closing ceremony in Nagoya marked the end of the first Asian Games held in Japan in 32 years.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

How Japan Is Learning to Live With Years of Rising Prices

Japan's prolonged period of rising prices is continuing to squeeze households and businesses, driven by the weak yen, higher raw material costs and rising wages, forcing consumers to change how they shop and cook while companies search for ways to contain costs without losing customers.

Tokyo Shares Surge as Bond Auction Calms Rate Fears

Tokyo stocks extended their strong advance on October 6, with the Nikkei 225 closing above 70,000 for the first time in three months as buying in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares combined with easing concern over the government bond market. The Nikkei gained 737 points, or 1.05%, to 70,684, while the broader TOPIX rose 38.34 points, or 0.92%, to 4,183.56.

Shared Villas Draw Wealthy Buyers to Regional Japan

A newly opened luxury villa in Kitakaruizawa, Gunma Prefecture, has already sold out under a shared-ownership model that allows buyers to purchase annual stays rather than an entire property, highlighting a growing push to draw wealthy visitors and investment into regional Japan.

Suzuki Launches Long-Range e SKY Electric Mini Car

Suzuki Motor said it will launch its new e SKY electric minicar on November 16, marking the automaker's first battery-powered mini passenger vehicle and offering a driving range of 310 kilometers on a single charge, among the longest for a Japanese-made vehicle in the category.

Daiwa Securities Says 220,000 Customer Records May Have Leaked

Daiwa Securities said on October 5 that about 220,000 records containing customer personal information may have been leaked following unauthorized access to a contractor that manages online customer inquiries.

Japan Requires Property Buyers to Declare Nationality

Japan began requiring property owners to declare their nationality when applying for real estate registration on October 5, including when registering the purchase of condominiums and other properties, as the government seeks a clearer picture of foreign ownership of land and buildings.

Lake Energy：発電から収益分配まで。再生可能エネルギーを活用し、1日1,000ドルを稼ぐ

太陽光や風力といった再生可能エネルギー技術の成熟と発電コストの低下に伴い、新エネルギーは従来の単なるエネルギー供給源から、長期的な運用価値とキャッシュフロー創出のポテンシャルを秘めたインフラ資産へと変貌を遂げつつあります。

Nikkei Nears 70,000 as AI Shares Rally on Fed Pause Hopes

Tokyo stocks surged on October 5, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 69,947, up 1,637 points, after briefly recovering the 70,000 level for the first time in about three months, as weak U.S. jobs data reduced expectations for an October Federal Reserve rate hike and buying spread through artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares.

< 2 3 4 5 >