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 Kazuaki Nagata

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Kazuaki Nagata
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 10, 2021
As cryptocurrencies boom, Japan looks to finally move on from scandals
A hacking attack that hit Coincheck in 2018 put a wet blanket on a growing cryptocurrency frenzy, but local players feel the industry has now turned a corner.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2021
No holiday mood as Japan virus emergency set to hit tourism and shopping hard
The emergency, set to last from Sunday to May 11, is expected to dramatically impact industries that were hopeful ahead of the usually bountiful Golden Week holidays.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 22, 2021
Can security be improved by bringing personal data back to Japan?
While storing and managing data within Japan may better protect against foreign governments' attempts to obtain personal information, critics are yet to be convinced.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 22, 2021
Line data scandal alerts Japan of need to get serious about data protection
Following the news that the firm had allowed a Chinese software company to access users' personal information, calls are being made for better regulation of information.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2021
Japan's vaccine chief pushes flexibility for rollout
Taro Kono said that the government will consider having students and workers receive shots at their schools and workplaces to make it more convenient for them.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Mar 31, 2021
Will data handling setback damage Line’s dominance in Japan?
A scandal over a Chinese firm's access to user data could derail Z Holdings' plan to facilitate the digital transformation of the public sector.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 22, 2021
As e-money gains ground in Japan, so do local digital currencies
Regional virtual currencies such as Setagaya Pay can be used in a specific city or ward and are intended to stimulate local economies that have been battered by the pandemic.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 15, 2021
COVID-19 pushes Japanese firms to overhaul supply chains
Reducing dependence on China had been on companies' minds over the past few years due to the Sino-U.S. trade war, but the global health crisis served as a wake-up call.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / EXPLAINER
Mar 5, 2021
Japan may soon allow wage payouts in digital cash. What will that look like?
The government is looking to introduce an option that will allow people to have their salaries transferred to smartphone virtual wallets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 22, 2021
Pandemic gives extra momentum to cashless drive in Japan
Even local governments — typically the last in line to introduce any kind of technology — are starting to jump onto the digital payment trend.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 11, 2021
Will mobile carriers' price cuts boost smaller rivals or doom them?
Budget SIM providers face an uphill battle in differentiating themselves from the likes of NTT Docomo and SoftBank based on price and innovative services.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 29, 2021
Rakuten cuts mobile fees for light users to maintain edge over bigger rivals
The firm now says it will lower the cost depending on the amount of data used within the space of a month, saying the fee will even be free for particularly light users.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 23, 2021
As climate change push grows, Japanese firms accelerate shift to renewable energy
Major companies are moving up their timelines to shift to renewables, as the need to be environmentally friendly is becoming a key factor in expanding their businesses.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2021
KDDI unveils cheapest 20GB mobile plan among Japan's main carriers
Although the carrier had initially resisted price cuts, the situation changed after NTT Docomo surprised the public last month with its own new low-cost plan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 12, 2021
Can Japan raise its teleworking game under the second COVID-19 emergency?
A slew of smaller firms are still somewhat hesitant to promoting such working styles, saying they don't have enough funds to buy new equipment or that it reduces work efficiency.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2020
After massive COVID-19 spending, how large is Japan’s debt?
Experts say increased spending is unavoidable but that Japan will need to start seriously discussing how it will deal with its debt once the pandemic eases.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 22, 2020
SoftBank to match NTT Docomo's ¥2,980 smartphone plan as price war escalates
Some in the industry have accused the government of excessive meddling after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration urged major carriers to lower fees.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 10, 2020
Can Japan shift gears fast enough to ban gas cars by 2035?
By the middle of the next decade, cars that run on gasoline may be as common at dealerships as VCRs are at electronic shops today thanks to an ambitious policy under consideration by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration to buttress its decarbonization efforts.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 3, 2020
NTT Docomo unveils ¥2,980 data plan, cheapest among Japan's top carriers
Unlike KDDI and SoftBank, Docomo does not have a budget brand and is set to lower fees for its main brand — a sign that the carrier is succumbing to pressure from the Suga administration.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 26, 2020
Pandemic and internet banking push Japan’s lenders to revamp branches
Withdrawing or transferring cash through a bank teller could completely disappear in Japan within a few years as banks adapt branches for the digital age.

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?