19 DECEMBER 2019
‘Naruto’ broadcaster to launch new animation company in China
TV Tokyo to develop original series with local partners
Hitachi pursues 10% profit margin by trimming fat
Japanese conglomerate unloads power, chemicals and diagnostic imaging businesses
Google is too big to innovate, Peter Thiel says
Billionaire slams Silicon Valley for overpromising and underdelivering on change
Korean lawmakers submit wartime labor bill to defuse Japan feud
Proposal to fund compensation with donations faces opposition at home
Donald Trump’s China deal will not stop him widening trade war
He has Thailand, Vietnam and rest of Asia in his sights as reelection bid flails
Japan defense chief visits China for first time in a decade
Trust-building trip comes ahead of Abe’s meeting with Xi next week
Tourism to Japan drops for 2 months as South Koreans stay away
Travelers from China and US make double digit gains in November
Coach of the year: Pingpong robot knows how to motivate
Omron’s AI-driven arm adjusts to student’s progress level
Blackstone sells Tokyo-area Amazon hub to Nuveen for $370m
Latest Japan property deal unloads warehouse acquired earlier this year
Netflix sales and subscribers soar 150% in Asia over 2 years
Region marked biggest growth area for US video streamer amid struggles at home
18 DECEMBER 2019
MUFG asset manager to charge ultralow fee amid pension woes
Japan institutions cut fund commissions to attract long-term investors
Japanese lawmaker quizzed on Chinese company’s alleged forex violation
Ruling party legislator and leading promoter of casino resorts denies wrongdoing
Hitachi to sell chemical and medical equipment units for $6bn
Buyers Showa Denko and Fujifilm step up as Japanese conglomerate reorganizes
Isuzu partners with Volvo for next-gen trucks
Japanese maker will acquire Swedish group’s UD unit as part of deal
Japanese journalist wins damages in lawsuit over alleged rape
Court rules credibility of prominent #MeToo supporter Shiori Ito relatively high
Kirin bid approved by US brewer’s owners despite Myanmar uproar
Human rights criticism had threatened Japanese giant’s craft beer plans
China’s Xiaomi faces uphill battle to repeat India success in Japan
Phone maker’s ‘pig in a typhoon’ strategy may not fly in shrinking market
Top US envoy for North Korea to head to China after Japan visit
Washington bids ‘to maintain international unity’ as Pyongyang ramps up tensions
Japan’s November exports tumble 7.9% from 1 year earlier
Shipments have declined for 12 months in a row, Ministry of Finance data shows
Asahi ditches battle for market share and seeks crisp profit
Japanese brewer to stop reporting beer sales by volume
Russia seizes 5 Japanese fishing vessels off Hokkaido
Ships accused of not recording catch
What WeWork? Money-losing startup Freee posts strong debut in Tokyo
Sensing investor wariness, fintech player starts to plot path to profitability
Hitachi to pay over $4bn in Africa dispute with Mitsubishi Heavy
Industrial groups settle clash over costs at coal power plants
Japan has world’s best passport, but few go abroad
Just 23% hold one — the least among the G-7
2-year quest to buy Essar exposes risk of India investment
Tangles with government and in court dragged on as bottom fell out of steel market
Yahoo Japan leaves rental venture with Indian startup Oyo
Home-leasing service hit with complaints from owners
Japan’s progressive upstart rattles political establishment
Newcomer’s party could shake up national election that lawmakers expect next year
Japan, US and Europe team up to counter China’s quantum rise
Joint R&D seeks advances in ultrafast computers and secure communications
Fujifilm to buy Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging business
Buyout valued around $1.55bn aimed at taking on top three global players
17 DECEMBER 2019
South Korean shopping malls chase growth in Vietnam
E-Mart and Lotte Shopping compete with Japanese and local giants
Japan to require automatic brakes in new cars from November 2021
Accidents involving seniors spur rush to introduce regulation
SoftBank’s Son says intelligent cars now safer than elderly drivers
Tech investor urges Japan to invest in AI or risk ‘losing the future’
Singapore rises in gender equality ranking as Philippines slips
Japan exhibits largest gap between men and women among advanced economies
Japan’s cold storage in short supply as meat imports rise
Pork shipments rise after tariff cuts, with buildups to last through Olympics
Seoul is Japanese travelers’ top New Year’s destination
Bargain prices push South Korean capital past Bangkok and Taipei
After string of losses, Japan angles for more sway in world courts
Subsidies aim to nurture talent at WTO and The Hague
Japan borrows US playbook to prevent student espionage
Growth of international students raises fear of dual-use tech being leaked
Narita, Haneda and Kansai install facial recognition boarding
Japan’s three main airports cut wait times ahead of 2020 Olympics
Tastes like cricket? Bug-based soy sauce heads to dinner tables
Tokyo startup sees protein-packed critters as promising alternative to beans
Trade war and strong dollar threaten Asia’s oil security in 2020
Oil prices were benign in 2019 but have significant potential to swing
Ad firm Dentsu cuts 1,400 jobs in UK, Singapore and 5 markets
Japanese leader projects 93% drop in profit, cutting 2019 guidance again
Japan, South Korea find ‘common ground’ in trade dispute talks
Months of acrimony give way to tentative easing ahead of Abe-Moon summit
16 DECEMBER 2019
Suntory pours it on in India, the world’s top whiskey market
Japanese distiller chases Diageo, aiming to sell more than 1m cases by 2022
FSA weighs ordering Japan Post to suspend insurance sales
Formerly government-run companies suspected of more than 10,000 violations
China exports AI surveillance tech to over 60 countries: report
Huawei, Hikvision, Dahua and ZTE are among suppliers expanding Belt and Road
Japanese ski resorts get big face-lifts to lure foreign tourists
Operators make largest investments in facilities for decades
KDDI partners with Lawson in mobile payments
Cellphone service operator and convenience chain strengthen ties in data analytics
Japan’s Kao taps AI for tailored skin care as makeup goes high-tech
Beauty titans tie up with outsiders to lure millennials
Philippine parts industry gets jump start from Japan automakers
Toyota and Mitsubishi hit milestone with local parts purchases
