author

 
 

Meta

Lisa Du
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / ANALYSIS
Dec 6, 2018
Takeda downgrade looms after shareholders approve Shire deal
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. shareholders' approval of the $62 billion (about ¥7 trillion) acquisition of Shire PLC is good news for its bosses' ambitions to build a global drug giant — but bad news for its credit ratings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 5, 2018
Fast Retailing opens GU Style Studio store in Harajuku where you try, buy, but walk away with nothing
A brand-new store opened in Tokyo's Harajuku fashion district on Friday, walls lined with clothes, shoes and handbags — and with a twist: shoppers will walk away empty-handed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Nov 27, 2018
The big winner from Carlos Ghosn's arrest? His protege at Nissan
Long before the downfall of his mentor Carlos Ghosn, Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa had pushed to win more power for the Japanese carmaker in its strained alliance with Renault SA. Now he has a chance to do just that.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 23, 2018
Philip Morris CEO expects countries to overturn e-cigarette bans
Philip Morris International Inc. expects regulators to gradually become more open to alternatives to cigarettes even after more than 27 governments have prohibited next-generation smokeless devices.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 2, 2018
In aging Japan, Nestle begins pivots from candy bars to personalized nutrition, taking beverage capsules to next level
The company that brought you milk chocolate, Maggi instant noodles and Rocky Road ice cream is worried about your health.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 2, 2018
146-year-old cosmetics firm Shiseido gets makeover to woo millennial buyers
Shiseido Co., the beauty company that's 146 years old, is giving itself one big makeover.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 22, 2018
Green light for casinos offers jackpot to Japanese companies
Let the competition begin.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 13, 2018
Uniqlo finds success abroad, downplays trade war risk
Fast Retailing Co. shares climbed the most since January on signs that the retailer's steady expansion in overseas markets, now headlined by the face of Roger Federer, is bearing fruit even in the face of risks from an escalating trade dispute.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 13, 2018
Takeda CEO talks about Shire acquisition and the future integration of the firms after Japan's biggest outbound takeover
Christophe Weber says growth and innovation are the metrics for success in Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.'s $62 billion purchase of Shire PLC. The first order of business is bringing global shareholders around to Japan's biggest-ever outbound takeover.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 11, 2018
Kirin Holdings wants its aging customers to eat more healthily
Seeking growth beyond a shrinking beer market, Kirin Holdings Co. is turning its attention to making people healthier.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 18, 2018
Beauty giant Shiseido snaps up technology startups to draw young shoppers
Shiseido Co., the Japanese firm that sells Laura Mercier cosmetics and Dolce & Gabbana fragrances, sold ¥1 trillion ($9.3 billion) worth of beauty products last year, mostly in traditional stores where customers can sample brands in person.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 22, 2018
Pawnshop Sou launches IPO to tap Japan's luxury item boom
The resale of Hermes bags, brand-name jewelry and other luxury items is a thriving industry in Japan, with one critical bottleneck: Building inventory is tough.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 16, 2018
With luxury push, Japan gives Swiss watch-making industry a run for its money
In a factory surrounded by snow-covered peaks, technicians in lab coats use tweezers to assemble tiny metal parts into self-winding watches.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 6, 2018
Convenience-store squeeze shows deflationary dilemma facing Bank of Japan
Takanori Sakai works the graveyard shift four nights a week at the FamilyMart store he owns in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, because he can't afford the higher pay employees demand these days.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Feb 27, 2018
SMAP star's Instagram foray reflects weakening grip of Japan TV ads
Shingo Katori commanded the adoration of millions of fans across Asia as a member of SMAP, one of Japan's most successful boy bands. After decades as a ubiquitous TV presence, he finally decided in November it was time to get an Instagram account.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 15, 2018
Kirin pursues $932 million buyback as it continues Asian expansion
Kirin Holdings Co., Japan's second-largest beverage maker by market value, plans to buy back as much as ¥100 billion ($932 million) in stock as it seeks to improve shareholder returns while building up its presence in the Asian beverage market.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 9, 2018
Japanese 26-year-old who doesn't code creates Asia's hottest game with 'Tabi Kaeru'
Japanese frogs are proliferating across Asia. The good news is, they're not an invasive species, nor are they real.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 26, 2018
Citizen considers luxury acquisitions to attract high net worth customers
Citizen Watch Co., the country's largest watchmaker, is eyeing acquisitions that could add premium timepieces to its offerings, as the company looks to gain more high net-worth customers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 5, 2018
As people in Japan smoke less, Japan Tobacco's new CEO looks abroad for growth
Japan Tobacco Inc.'s Masamichi Terabatake is in the hot seat.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 12, 2017
As domestic market contracts, Uniqlo and 7-Eleven looks to make profits overseas
Stagnant spending and soft wage growth in Japan are forcing two of Asia's biggest retailers — Fast Retailing Co. and Seven & i Holdings Co. — to court overseas consumers to drive long-term growth.

Longform

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