Docomo Bank to Begin Services in August, Aiming for 1,500 Branches

Jul 11, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - NTT Docomo will begin offering banking services under the new "Docomo Bank" brand in August, with plans to build a network of more than 1,500 locations by fiscal 2030, far exceeding the branch networks of Japan's major banks.

NTT Docomo Financial Group, a financial services company established on July 1, announced the plan at a news conference in Tokyo.

Customers will be able to open bank accounts and seek advice on loans and other financial products at Docomo mobile phone shops beginning in August.

By fiscal 2030, the company aims to provide banking services at more than 1,000 Docomo shops and operate at least 500 bank franchise locations, creating a combined network of more than 1,500 outlets.

Typhoon No. 18 Could Strike Okinawa Next Week

Typhoon No. 18, known as Soudelor, could directly affect Okinawa and the Amami Islands around August 26 after intensifying into a "very strong" storm, while dangerous heat and sudden thunderstorms are also threatening wide areas of Japan.

Japan to Abolish Cool Japan Fund

Japan's government is moving toward abolishing the Cool Japan Fund, a public-private investment vehicle created to support the overseas expansion of Japanese anime, food culture and other industries, after its cumulative losses reached 54 billion yen.

Four Workers Killed After Being Struck by Spacia X Train in Tochigi

Four workers were killed after being struck by the limited express train Spacia X while carrying out vegetation-clearing work at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko Line in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, on August 20, prompting an investigation by the Japan Transport Safety Board.

Shikoku Shinkansen Plan Revived After 53 Years

Plans to bring Shinkansen service to Shikoku have taken a significant step forward for the first time in 53 years, with the transport ministry beginning preliminary studies that could eventually cut travel times from Osaka to major cities including Tokushima, Takamatsu and Matsuyama to around 90 minutes.

Expo Construction Chief Accused of Inflating Invoices

A Takenaka Corp. construction manager who oversaw work on the Grand Ring and other facilities at the Osaka-Kansai Expo was arrested on August 19 on suspicion of causing more than 13 million yen in losses to the major contractor through inflated construction bills, with police investigating allegations that money from the scheme was used for renovations to his home and a cafe operated by relatives.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Mitsubishi Electric to Acquire U.S. Software Firm for Record 220 Billion Yen

Mitsubishi Electric said on August 20 that it will acquire U.S.-based PCI Energy Solutions, a developer of software used to manage electricity trading and other energy operations, in a deal worth about 220 billion yen, the largest acquisition in the Japanese company's history.

Nikkei Rebounds 890 Points as U.S. Bond Relief Lifts Risk Appetite

Tokyo stocks rebounded on August 20, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,216.79, up 890.37 points, or 1.36%, as gains in U.S. equities, a sharp rally in South Korean semiconductor shares and easing global bond-market stress encouraged investors to buy back Japanese shares after two days of heavy selling.

Japan's Revised Labor Guidelines Focus on Workers' Health

Japan's labor ministry will revise its guidance on overtime from September 1, moving away from a uniform recommendation that workplaces keep overtime within 45 hours a month and placing greater emphasis on whether employers have adequate measures in place to protect workers' health.

Whistleblowers Face Multimillion-Yen Lawsuits

Whistleblowers who expose suspected wrongdoing at companies and other organizations in Japan are increasingly finding themselves targeted by multimillion-yen damages claims, raising questions over whether the country's legal system adequately protects people who report misconduct.

How to Safeguard Your Small Business Against Emerging Cyber Threats

Small businesses across Japan—from Tokyo tech startups to traditional long-standing shinise enterprises— are increasingly becoming targets for sophisticated digital scams.

Catalog House Pulls Out of Rakuten Over Military Drone Partnership

Catalog House, the operator of shopping catalog magazine Tsuhan Seikatsu, has announced it will stop selling through Rakuten Market in protest over Rakuten Group's partnership with a German military drone company and its plans to support the introduction of the drones to Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force.

Zento Shin Failure Shakes Cashless Payment Industry

The bankruptcy of payment processing company Zento Shin has raised concerns over the impact on restaurants and other small and midsize businesses, while highlighting regulatory gaps in Japan's rapidly expanding cashless payment industry.

Nikkei Drops 3.2% as AI Selloff and Bond Yields Hit Tokyo

Tokyo stocks fell sharply on August 19, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,326.42, down 3.2%, its lowest finish since August 4, as renewed selling in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares combined with rising bond yields, higher oil prices and geopolitical concerns to trigger a broad risk-off move.

< 2 3 4 5 >