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November 22, 2024
 

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E COMMERCE

Like for other generative AI services, the algorithm behind Rufus is a closely held secret and Amazon declined to discuss how it operates.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 6, 2024
Who benefits when shoppers use Amazon's new AI tool?
The tool raises several questions, as Amazon has a history of steering customers toward products that most benefit the company.
Garments at a Shein Group pop-up store inside a Forever-21 store in the Times Square neighborhood of New York on Nov. 10, 2023
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 31, 2024
Cars and online retailers outperform as China exports disappoint
The sectors represented the fastest expansion among China's economy, with an export value of at least $10 billion.
The U.S. head office of TikTok in Culver City, California
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 24, 2023
Whoever designed TikTok Shop should get coal for Christmas
With TikTok Shop's debut holiday season, is sees a mixed bag of success and struggles.
Since starting out as a venue for short, silly lip-syncing videos, TikTok has emerged as an incubator for consumer trends, with millions of people trying on clothes and reviewing products.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 13, 2023
TikTok Shop sees early success, taking aim at giant Amazon
In a sign of how seriously Amazon is taking TikTok, the company cut deals with Pinterest, Meta and Snapchat to let users shop without leaving those apps.
Chinese fast-fashion upstart Shein has excelled with its offering of $9 hoodies and other bargain-basement apparel.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 7, 2023
Amazon targets Shein with fee cuts for cheap apparel sellers
Rare move by U.S. e-commerce giant shows its intent of muscling into Chinese fast-fashion upstart's territory.
In recent years, Jack Ma has largely stayed out of public view after clashing with the Chinese government.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 30, 2023
Jack Ma returns to rally troops after Alibaba’s troubles deepen
"Every great company is born in a winter"
A JD.com advertisement in Beijing promoting the Singles Day shopping festival
BUSINESS
Nov 10, 2023
China’s Singles Day downbeat amid slumping consumer confidence
Shoppers are increasingly seeking value, looking for cheaper brands amid an overall mood of restraint.
Hiroshi Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo in May.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 17, 2023
Rakuten rally from record lows clouded by looming bond deadlines
The most pressing task now for Rakuten is to raise funds for a wall of more than $5 billion of bonds due in the next two years.
Kiva robots move inventory at an Amazon fulfilment center in Tracy, California.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 13, 2023
Amazon strategy could unlock $100 billion in revenue
Supply Chain by Amazon is the latest part of its drive to become a leading logistics company.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (front left) inspects a shipping company in Tokyo's Ota Ward in September.
JAPAN
Oct 6, 2023
Japan to give shopping points to promote outside door delivery
The project is the centerpiece of the government's emergency policy package to address a looming shortage of truck drivers due to tighter overtime caps.
With the aim of bolstering its customer base, SBI Holdings introduced a commission-free service starting Saturday amid growing interest in investing thanks to government efforts to persuade people to shift household assets from cash and savings to investments.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 2, 2023
Zero-commission services intensify brokerage competition in Japan
SBI Holding's decision to scrap commission fees for domestic stock trading threatens to undercut the brokerage industry's profitability.
TikTok can advertise to more than 100 million users in Indonesia, but they now need to go on a different app or site to buy.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 28, 2023
TikTok’s e-commerce ambitions stall as global backlash grows
Complaints about how TikTok is squeezing local players has stalled the Chinese-owned social media platform's e-commerce ambitions
Lina Khan, chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), speaks during an interview in Washington on Tuesday. The FTC has sued Amazon.com, accusing the e-commerce giant of monopolizing online marketplace services by degrading quality for shoppers and overcharging sellers.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 27, 2023
U.S. trade watchdog sues Amazon.com in landmark antitrust case
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and 17 states accuse the e-commerce giant of excluding rivals in online marketplace services and stifling competition.
Packages to be delivered on Amazon Prime Day in New York in 2022
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 27, 2023
Why Amazon’s online marketplace drew FTC scrutiny
The FTC’s case against Amazon is an important test of whether Lina Khan’s interpretation of the law will hold up in court.
Robots carry items around Amazon Japan's logistics base in Chiba.
BUSINESS / Tech
Sep 17, 2023
Logistics robots coming into wider use in Japan
Companies are looking to logistics robots in response to the popularity of e-commerce, as well as present and potential labor shortages.
A Shein office in Singapore. The meteoric rise of shopping platforms selling Chinese-made goods has been fueled by a decades-old loophole that allows cheap products to land in U.S. mailboxes tariff-free.
BUSINESS
Aug 4, 2023
Key trade loophole keeps cheap Chinese products flowing to U.S.
The fact that Chinese goods and China-founded companies are benefiting from the loophole has frustrated some U.S. lawmakers.
TikTok is in a race to dominate e-commerce in Southeast Asia.
BUSINESS
Jul 24, 2023
TikTok steps up Southeast Asia presence amid e-commerce push
As the company intermingles social media and e-commerce, it is betting that this vision of shopping will knock aside rivals in the region.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 7, 2023
Rakuten’s ¥1.8 trillion debt fuels concern despite funding
The e-commerce giant has racked up four years of losses as its mobile-phone business drains cash.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2023
Rakuten applies to list brokerage arm as debt concerns mount
Billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani’s online retailer has seen its shares tumble to a 14-year low.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 3, 2023
Shein, e-commerce retailer hit by criticism, tries charm offensive
With an initial public offering expected at some point, the company is looking to change its public perception. Not everyone is buying it.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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Longform

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