Companies & Industry

Japanese startup AstroX has raised $15 million in Series A funding to develop its revolutionary Rockoon launch system — using high-altitude balloons to carry rockets to the stratosphere before firing them into space. Based in Fukushima's Minamisoma, the company aims to reach space by 2026 and achieve orbital insertion by 2029, challenging the global space launch industry with a low-cost, flexible alternative.

Adobe reversed its decision to kill Adobe Animate just two days after the announcement. Behind the reversal: fierce backlash from creators and animation studios worldwide, including Japan's Science SARU. The share price also fell after the announcement. What does "maintenance mode" really mean for the future of 2D animation?

Electric scooter sharing service LUUP has achieved full coverage across all 23 Tokyo wards in February 2026. With over 16,000 ports and 5 million app downloads, Japan's largest micromobility service is booming—but rising accidents and traffic violations have sparked fierce public debate. How does Japan navigate the global micromobility challenge that led Paris to ban rental scooters?

TSMC upgrades its Kumamoto Fab 2 from 7nm to cutting-edge 3nm production, targeting mass production by 2028 with $17 billion investment. CEO C.C. Wei personally briefed Japan's PM Takaichi on the plan. We analyze what this means for Japan's semiconductor revival, AI infrastructure, and global chip supply chain diversification.

Pre-launch leaks pointed to a 7.8-inch inner display and the return of Touch ID for Apple's first foldable iPhone, which was officially unveiled as the iPhone Duo on September 9, 2026. How will a phone priced around $2,000 land in Japan, where iPhone dominates? A look at the leaks and the foldable market.

Ibiden, the dominant supplier of IC package substrates to NVIDIA and Intel, has announced a massive $3.2 billion investment plan over three years to boost production capacity 2.5x. Discover how this Japanese manufacturer in Gifu Prefecture is positioning itself as the backbone of the global AI infrastructure boom.

Google's parent company Alphabet shattered records with $400 billion in annual revenue for fiscal 2025, fueled by explosive AI growth. Google Cloud surged 48% while Gemini hit 750 million monthly users. Meanwhile, Japan's corporate AI adoption rate sits at just 27%, revealing a widening gap with global competitors. From massive data center investments in Japan to the structural challenges holding Japanese businesses back, here's what Alphabet's AI dominance means for the world's third-largest economy.

Fuji Media Holdings completed a $1.5 billion share buyback, ending a high-profile standoff with activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami. With plans to divest its profitable real estate unit, the Japanese broadcaster faces a pivotal transformation. An analysis of corporate governance and media industry shifts in Japan.

Why has Honda's Super Cub become the most produced motor vehicle in history with over 110 million units? From its origins as "a bike a soba delivery boy can ride one-handed" to its legendary durability and global cultural impact — discover the philosophy that made this humble motorcycle an icon in 160+ countries.