On March 6, 2026, Japan's Health Minister formally approved ReHeart (severe heart failure) and Amshepri (Parkinson's disease), the world's first iPS cell-derived medical products. In May, Amshepri became the first iPS product covered by public insurance, priced at 55.3 million yen. Here are the conditions, the seven-year deadline, and the objections.
Denso proposed a tender offer for Rohm worth up to 1.3 trillion yen (about $8.2 billion), then withdrew it in April 2026 after Rohm's special committee declined to endorse the deal. Consolidation has shifted to a Rohm-Toshiba-Mitsubishi Electric alliance. Here is the competitive picture against Infineon, onsemi, and China's fast-rising players.
Sakana AI, the Tokyo-based startup founded by former Google researchers, has raised $135M to reach a record $2.65B valuation — making it Japan's top unicorn. Citibank made its first-ever strategic investment in a Japanese company through this round. With backing from the CIA's venture arm and Google, Sakana is spearheading Japan's push for sovereign AI.
Panasonic's glass-type perovskite solar cells will be installed on the exterior of Hankyu Hanshin Properties' new headquarters—a first for new office buildings in Japan. This landmark step brings Japan-invented next-generation BIPV solar technology closer to mainstream adoption, in a building already certified ZEB Ready and DBJ Green Building 5-Star.
On March 4, 2026, Finland-born food delivery service Wolt ended all operations in Japan after six years. Despite being loved for its god-tier customer support and elegant Nordic design, Wolt couldn't break through the Uber Eats/Demae-can duopoly that controls 90% of the market. We analyze why Wolt lost, what delivery workers face next, and what foreign tech companies need to succeed in Japan.
Visa, Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority are set to invest over up to $220 million as cornerstone investors in PayPay's Nasdaq IPO. With a valuation target of up to $14 billion, this could be the largest US listing by a Japanese company. A deep dive into PayPay's dual-mode QR/NFC strategy and its challenge to America's $2 trillion cash market.
Japan's Finance Minister Katayama announced a dedicated crypto and stablecoin bureau within the FSA at MoneyX 2026. With yen-backed stablecoin JPYC approaching $9 million in cumulative issuance and Japan's three megabanks launching pilot programs, we explore how Japan's regulatory approach compares to the US GENIUS Act and EU's MiCA framework.
Once struggling to gain a foothold in Western markets, Japan's Uniqlo has surged to 47th on Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2025 ranking. With overseas revenue exceeding 56% and Europe/North America now outpacing China, we break down the strategies behind this turnaround — from outfitting Sweden's Olympic team to its LifeWear philosophy and differentiation from ZARA and H&M. What can other Japanese brands learn from Uniqlo's global conquest?
Nintendo has approved a secondary offering of up to ¥338.2 billion ($2.2 billion) as four major shareholders unwind their strategic stakes. What is Japan's unique cross-shareholding system, and why is it being dismantled now? We break down the governance revolution sweeping Japanese corporations, from Toyota's $19 billion unwind to foreign investors' growing appetite for a reformed Japan Inc.
Thailand's BEV sales have turned negative while hybrid vehicle sales surged nearly 50%. Collapsing resale values, inadequate charging infrastructure, and Chinese EV maker retreats reveal the harsh realities behind the global EV fever. As markets from Bangkok to Berlin recalibrate, Toyota and Honda's "multi-pathway strategy" is looking increasingly prescient. A data-driven deep dive into the EV slowdown across Thailand, China, and Europe.
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has joined the AI-RAN Alliance, an international consortium turning cell towers into AI processing hubs. With SoftBank, NVIDIA, Samsung, and other tech giants on board, this move signals Japan's commitment to distributed AI infrastructure — and its strategic positioning in the US-China tech race heading into the 6G era.