SoftBank Group narrows Q1 loss as Vision Fund rebounds

Aug 08 (Nikkei) - SoftBank Group on Tuesday announced a net loss of 477 billion yen ($3.3 billion), in the three months ending June, slicing its loss by 85%, year-on-year, thanks to an improving valuation for its flagship Vision Fund, as technology stocks rebound.

Rising Prices Hit Japan's Festivals: Ice Shavings and Goldfish Scooping Costs Surge

The impact of rising prices is being felt at summer festivals, with essential items like ice shavings and goldfish scooping seeing significant price increases.

Air Con Thefts 'Not Cool'

Theft of air conditioner outdoor units has surged as Japan's heatwave continues, leaving some businesses unable to run critical cooling systems.

Second Death of Hyogo Prefectural Employee Uncovered

As power harassment allegations against the governor of Hyogo Prefecture continue to swirl, it has been revealed that another prefectural employee has passed away, with the prefecture delaying a formal announcement of the death by 3 months.

Osaka Tops Japan's Urban Power Rankings

Osaka has topped the 'Japan Urban Power Rankings' for the fourth consecutive year. Conducted by Mori Building's think tank, the ranking evaluates 136 cities across Japan in six categories, including economy, culture, and environment.

Japan's Population Shrinks by 530,000

Japan's total population stood at 124.88 million as of January 1 this year, a decrease of over 530,000 from the previous year, further accelerating the trend of a declining birthrate and aging population.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Government Offers 5 Yen Reward for Using Amazon's 'Leave Delivery' Service

Starting in October, the Japanese government will introduce a new support measure aimed at addressing the logistics industry's labor shortage, known as the "2024 Problem," by offering up to 5 yen in points per delivery for using services like "Leave Delivery," where packages are left at the door.

Lawson's Delisting Ends on High Note

Convenience store giant Lawson was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market on July 24, as it enters a joint management system with Mitsubishi Corporation and KDDI.

Shibuya Launches Latest Development 'Sakura Stage'

A new multi-use complex has opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, an area experiencing a significant development boom, often described as a once-in-a-century transformation.

Record Rise in Japan's Minimum Wage

The national average minimum wage for this fiscal year has been set at 1,054 yen per hour, with the increase of 50 yen marking the largest ever.

Has Inflation Revived Japan’s Economy?

When inflation picked up a few years ago, no one was happy - well, apart from Japan, who might be able to pick itself up from its deflationary funk. So, could a sudden inflation spike be the beginning of Japan's long-awaited recovery? (TLDR News Global)

Amazon Starts Prescription Drug Delivery in Japan

Amazon has launched a new service in Japan called Amazon Pharmacy, which delivers prescription drugs to customers' homes.

NTT West to End 'Town Page'

NTT West announced that it will end its 'Town Page' phone directory and '104' phone inquiry services in March 2026.

Lawson Enters 'Crane Game' Market

Crane games, where players attempt to grab prizes, are now found not only in game centers but also in convenience stores. Since March 2024, major convenience store chain Lawson has been actively installing crane game machines and aims to expand to 1,000 stores nationwide by fiscal year 2025.

< 2 3 4 5 >