author

 
 
 Kazuaki Nagata

Meta

Twitter

@kzinagata

Kazuaki Nagata
BUSINESS
Aug 20, 2017
Booming cryptocurrencies fire up investment interest
Virtual currencies have been playing an increasingly significant role in finance, with investors around the world buying the digital tokens and driving up their value dramatically.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 10, 2017
Toshiba ducks delisting by submitting long overdue financial report
Struggling Toshiba Corp. dodged delisting Thursday by submitting its annual business report for 2016 just before deadline, accompanied by a shaky sign-off from its auditor.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 4, 2017
Toyota, Mazda agree on $1.6 billion tie-up, will cooperate on EVs
In a bid to accelerate joint production in the United States and develop electric vehicles in a world moving away from fossil fuels, Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. agreed Friday to form a capital alliance.
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2017
As manga goes digital via smartphone apps, do paper comics still have a place?
Japan's famed manga industry is turning the page to an unknown chapter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 26, 2017
New women-only capsule hotel to open in central Tokyo as firm sees strong demand
Two Tokyo firms are set to open a women-only capsule hotel in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward Thursday in an effort to meet a need for simple and reasonable accommodation for women.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2017
Fukushima robot finds potential fuel debris hanging like icicles in reactor 3
Tokyo Electric has said that a remotely controlled robot investigating the inside of reactor 3 at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant has finally spotted objects that could be fuel debris — a potential milestone in the effort to clean up one of the worst atomic disasters in history.
BUSINESS
Jul 21, 2017
Popular manga 'One Piece' to be remade into live-action TV drama
Popular manga "One Piece" will become a live-action TV drama through a collaboration with a Hollywood production team, according to the firm that publishes the series.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2017
Tepco deploys new robot into Fukushima No. 1 reactor to locate fuel debris
Tokyo Electric Wednesday sent a submersible robot into the primary containment vessel of the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to probe for the exact location of melted fuel debris.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 19, 2017
NHK develops new VR experience with 8K video projection and hemisphere-shaped screen
The virtually reality experience is no longer limited to bulky head gear with the advent of a new headset-free 8K high-resolution video projection system.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 10, 2017
Smart speakers powered by voice agents seen ushering in era of AI
Major tech firms have been keen to sell speakers equipped with voice-based artificial intelligence agents recently.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 28, 2017
Toshiba sues Western Digital for ¥120 billion as standoff imperils plans for chip unit sale
Toshiba Corp. filed a lawsuit against Western Digital Corp. on Wednesday seeking a court injunction to end the U.S. firms's efforts to block the sale of its chip unit.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2017
Toshiba selects three-way tie-up for chip unit sale, appearing to prioritize government concerns
Toshiba Corp. has chosen a consortium formed by Japanese, South Korean and U.S. investors as the preferred bidder for the sale of its flash memory business, the company said Wednesday, in a move that appears to have prioritized government concerns.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 15, 2017
Line plans smart speaker to challenge Amazon, Google
Line Corp. said Thursday it plans to focus more on artificial intelligence, saying AI-related services will be the next big thing after the smartphone boom.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2017
Tokyo's Filipino housekeepers arrive as part of program to bolster sagging labor numbers
Housekeeping operators are looking to increase more foreign maids in Tokyo, taking advantage of a special deregulation-zone system, as the need for such services is expected to grow.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 13, 2017
Bandai Namco to open virtual reality arcades in Japan and overseas
With an eye on bringing lifelike quality to the world of anime and popular video games, Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. said Tuesday it will launch a flagship arcade featuring virtual reality gaming in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, next month.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / ANALYSIS
Jun 8, 2017
Fate of Toshiba hangs in the balance as TSE delisting threat looms
Toshiba's survival hangs on the ability to make its earnings deadlines, eliminate its negative net worth and show improvement in management.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 1, 2017
At the Tokyo Toy Show, a blend of old and new targets fans of all ages
Holding a Bluetooth-enabled plastic toy gun with a smartphone attached, players fight virtual enemies appearing on the phone’s screen as it displays real surroundings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 18, 2017
Eyeing demographic shift, banks step up English services
When starting out in a new country, having a bank account is essential, but choosing a bank can be difficult without being familiar with banking systems or speaking the local language.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 15, 2017
Toshiba's U.S. partner Western Digital seeks right to block sale of flash memory business
Western Digital Corp. announces it is seeking international arbitration over Toshiba Corp.'s plan to sell its flash memory business.
BUSINESS
May 6, 2017
Japanese, Chinese finance chiefs meet for first time since in nearly two years
The finance chiefs of Japan and China resumed their bilateral dialogue for the first time in two years Saturday, agreeing to deepen economic and financial ties.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan