Four Companies Form New Firm for Domestic AI Development

Apr 12, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have jointly established a new company aimed at developing domestically produced artificial intelligence, as Japan seeks to regain competitiveness in the rapidly advancing global AI sector.

The new company, named Japan AI Foundation Model Development, will be led by an executive from SoftBank. In addition to the four core firms, Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, and Japan’s three major megabanks have also invested in the venture.

The initiative will focus on building foundational AI models developed within Japan, with the project expected to receive government support as part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s technological independence and competitiveness.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Powerful Typhoon No. 25 Heads Toward Kanto

Typhoon No. 25 is moving north over waters south of Japan as of 3 p.m. on September 20, and is expected to bring two peaks of heavy rain to the Kanto region, first late on September 20 around midnight and again from the evening into the night of September 21 as the storm makes its closest approach.

Typhoon Threatens Widespread Travel Chaos Across Kanto

Large and powerful Typhoon No. 25 is expected to make its closest approach to the Kanto region from the afternoon through the night of September 21, with flight cancellations already confirmed, planned train suspensions announced across Chiba Prefecture and possible expressway closures extending across the Tokyo metropolitan region.

Drone Hits Nagoya City Hall During Asian Games Light-Up

A drone filming the illuminated Nagoya City Hall headquarters crashed into a building across the road shortly before 9 p.m. on September 17, with police investigating whether the flight may have violated Japan's Civil Aeronautics Act.

Mount Tokachi Volcano Continues to Emit Smoke

Volcanic smoke continues to rise from Mount Tokachi (Tokachidake), an active volcano in Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido, one week after its eruption alert level was raised to Level 3, restricting entry to the mountain and prompting a series of cancellations at nearby hot spring inns just before the peak autumn foliage season.

Starbucks Considers Selling Majority Stake in Japan Business

Starbucks is considering selling a majority stake in its Japanese business, potentially valued at as much as $3 billion, or about 470 billion yen, as the U.S. coffee chain seeks to concentrate management resources on its struggling North American operations.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

Physical AI Robot Aims to Fully Automate Household Chores

Japanese technology company MW is developing a home equipped with artificial intelligence and ceiling-mounted robots designed to automate household chores, with the goal of freeing people from the roughly four hours a day that can be spent on domestic work.

AI Takes Center Stage at Tokyo Game Show

The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's largest gaming exhibitions, opened with a record 1,138 exhibitors as companies from a growing range of industries seek a foothold in Japan's expanding gaming market, with artificial intelligence emerging as one of the main attractions this year.

AI Deepfakes Behind Fake Police Scams

Police are warning of a nationwide surge in scams involving criminals posing as officers, with evidence emerging that generative AI may now be used to create fake identities during video calls and make the deception more convincing.

Humanoid Robot Brings AI Into the Classroom

High school students in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, explored how humans and artificial intelligence might coexist in the future by interacting with an AI-powered humanoid robot during a class on September 11.

AI Imaging Aims to Reduce Missed Cancer Diagnoses

A medical institution opening in Nagoya's Showa Ward in October will use artificial intelligence-enhanced PET-CT and MRI equipment to produce clearer images and reduce the risk of cancer being overlooked during diagnostic examinations.

Why Are Data Centers Being Built Near Homes?

The rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence is fueling construction of data centers across Japan, but plans for two large facilities beside a residential neighborhood in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, are raising concerns over sunlight, noise and low-frequency sound as authorities confront gaps in rules governing the increasingly important infrastructure.

Physical AI Brings New Promise but Raises Hacking Risks

Expectations are growing for the wider use of "physical AI" robots, but concerns over hacking, breakdowns and maintenance are prompting companies to develop new security and support systems as the technology moves closer to everyday use.

Isuzu Begins Full Development of Second-Generation AI Truck

Isuzu Motors has begun full-scale development of a second-generation "AI truck" capable of making driving decisions on its own, as Japan's largest commercial vehicle maker by domestic market share aims to introduce Level 4 autonomous driving in fiscal 2027 to help address a worsening shortage of truck drivers.

< 2 3 4 5 >