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January 31, 2025
 

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CASHLESS

A stack of ¥10,000 bills equivalent to the year-end balance of banknotes in circulation would be 1,240 kilometers high, or about 328 times higher than the 3,776-meter Mount Fuji.
BUSINESS
Dec 31, 2024
Japan's year-end banknote balance down for second straight year
The drop resulted from people increasingly opting for cashless payments.
The fall of financial assets held by households in Japan reflected a decline in stock prices following the central bank's decision in July to raise interest rates, as well as a weaker yen.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 18, 2024
Japan household financial assets post first fall in eight quarters
The fall reflected a decline in stock prices following the central bank's decision in July to raise interest rates, as well as a weaker yen.
The East Japan Railway Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. Within the next 10 years, JR East will develop automated walk-through gate technology so that passengers can enter the train platform without having to tap their Suica card or phone on the ticket gates.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 11, 2024
JR East announces 10-year plan to drastically overhaul Suica
Dubbed the "Suica Renaissance," the plan involves redesigned ticket gates, new payment features and a subscription service.
Infcurion offers technology powering a range of payments services such as digital wallets and credit cards.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 11, 2024
Japanese payments company Infcurion says planning IPO in 2025
Infcurion, founded in 2006, offers technology powering a range of payments services such as digital wallets and credit cards.
A user receives ¥50,000 of their salary through the PayPay app.
JAPAN
Sep 25, 2024
SoftBank makes first salary payments via its digital platform PayPay
Employees asking to receive part of their salaries via cashless payment services received the money through the PayPay platform, operated by a SoftBank Group affiliate.
The PayPay app had about 60 million registered users as of October.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 8, 2024
SoftBank group firm PayPay Securities aims to double accounts
The company has been in the red since February 2021, with a net loss of ¥4.6 billion ($29 million) for the 2023 fiscal year.
Digital crime in Sweden has doubled since 2021 and become a growing risk for the Nordic economy.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 22, 2024
Ditching paper money makes Sweden a haven for digital criminals
Digital crime in Sweden has doubled since 2021 and become a growing risk for the Nordic economy.
A poster for digital coupons at a store in the city of Fukushima
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Mar 11, 2024
Fukushima’s welfare coupon campaign highlights digital divide
A call center dedicated to the initiative received so many calls that telephone lines were overloaded.
The PayPay app now seeks to keep its pace of double-digit growth with help from other SoftBank portfolio companies.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 5, 2023
SoftBank’s PayPay app showcases Masayoshi Son’s clout in Japan
Seen to be next in SoftBank’s initial public offering pipeline, the startup now holds two-thirds’ share in QR-code payments in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 18, 2023
Bank of Japan to start new test of digital currency in April
In the experiment, which will involve payment service providers and financial institutions, technical challenges will be examined in the event a digital yen is issued.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2023
Cashless 'saisen' religious offerings spread amid COVID pandemic
Many believe that cashless saisen offerings could help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as people can avoid crowds forming around offering boxes at temples and shrines.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 8, 2022
More robots, less cash and new Shibuya await tourists back to Japan
Japan is opening up again after closing its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic for almost three years — and boy have things changed. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect.
BUSINESS
Sep 14, 2022
Japan to allow businesses to pay salaries into app accounts
Designated service providers would be required to allow digital salary recipients to withdraw cash for free at least once a month using automated teller machines or through other means.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jun 18, 2022
Travelers ask, 'Cash, what’s that?'
On a recent trip to England, Andrew Dodson, 35, and his wife, Erin, 32, who live in Traverse City, Michigan, had an unexpected problem: No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t spend the 700 British pounds they’d brought along.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 31, 2022
Smart ring that acts as wallet and key gets backing from big Japanese firms
Made out of zirconia, the finger-worn gadget lets people do things such as lock and unlock doors, as well as pay for drinks in stores.
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Jan 25, 2022
Amid the 'buy now, pay later' boom, Japan takes a different path
The country's unique approach to credit card payments undercuts the appeal of BNPL seen elsewhere, with the service finding a different niche as a result.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 4, 2022
Shopping through social-media platforms expected to hit $1.2 trillion by 2025: study
More than half of so-called social buyers surveyed said they are likely to support small businesses over larger retailers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 8, 2021
PayPal to acquire Japanese unicorn Paidy in ¥300 billion deal
PayPal is looking to deepen its push into buy-now-pay-later products, with Paidy a standout provider in a country where nearly three-quarters of purchases are paid for with cash.
Japan begins feeling the pain of BOJ rate hikes more concretely
People were more concerned about the direct and specific impact of the Bank of Japan's latest rate hike on their personal lives, according to an artificial intelligence-driven analysis of various platforms, including social media.
Sumo’s newest yokozuna is all smiles — but major challenges await
Hoshoryu (front, second from left) celebrates after being promoted to yokozuna on Wednesday in Tokyo.
Japanese man ends his 6,000 kilometer Africa rickshaw trek in Cape Town
Yuji "Gump" Suzuki, the Japanese runner and social media sensation, runs with supporters while pushing his rickshaw as he nears his goal in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday.
No survivors from jet and helicopter collision in Washington, officials say
Part of the wreckage is seen as rescue crews search the waters of the Potomac River Thursday morning after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter, near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.
Cherry blossom season predicted to begin in Tokyo on March 21
Tokyo is expected to lead the season with its first cherry blossoms on March 21, followed by Fukuoka, Kochi and Hiroshima prefectures as well as the city of Yokohama on March 22.
For two weeks only, cold-water yellowtail can give you chills
Yellowtail caught during the coldest period of the year is delicious enough — but paired with a classic method of marinade and pan-searing, it's divine.
In meat- and fish-loving Japan, veganism is making a comeback
Though vegan restaurants have been on the upswing since 2017, Japanese vegans still lack a wide variety of options.
Who are the key figures involved in the growing Fuji TV scandal?
Fuji TV adviser Hisashi Hieda in 2005
What we learned at Fuji TV's marathon Nakai scandal news conference
Members of the media raise their hands for questions as outgoing Fuji TV President Koichi Minato attends a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
Kanoa Igarashi dreams big as surfing championship tour gets underway
Kanoa Igarashi surfs in the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach competition in Oahu, Hawaii, on Feb. 18.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Ayumi Matsuki, a priestess at Yoshiwara Shrine, shows off some "o-mamori" charms. She says visitors to the shrine have increased since the NHK drama “Unbound” began airing this month.
Tracing Tsutaya Juzaburo, Edo’s media maverick
By Alex K.T. Martin

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