Netprice.com and Alibaba Start B2B Service For Mainland China

On Tuesday, the Tokyo-based Internet conglomerate Netprice.com launched a service specifically focusing on Japanese manufacturer’s wholesale exporting to Mainland China, in partnership with China’s largest B2B platform provider Alibaba. The service helps the manufacturers to find new China’s local merchandisers / distributors by match-making needs among users on Alibaba’s website(B2B) and  its B2C edition called… Continue reading Netprice.com and Alibaba Start B2B Service For Mainland China

Nico Nico Douga Introduces Its iPhone/iPod App

Niwango[J], the owner of Japan’s most popular video sharing site “Nico Nico Douga[J]“, released its iPhone/iPod appon Monday. The app is for free and available only at Japanese AppStore. With 3G or WiFi connectivity, the app allows you to search/play videos and leave your comment on Nico Nico Douga, however it does not cover the… Continue reading Nico Nico Douga Introduces Its iPhone/iPod App

Major Publishers Co-launch Non-UGC Encyclopedia Site

Asahi Newspaper, the Internet portal company EC Navi[J] and major publishers like Kodansha and Shogakukan jointly launched Thursday an online encyclopedia containing 430,000 words, which is called “Kotobank[J]“.   The service is provided for free, and the joint venture expects to earn USD1M in FY2009 from Overture[J] ads appeared on the result pages of Kotobank. The… Continue reading Major Publishers Co-launch Non-UGC Encyclopedia Site

Weather On Desktop: Expert Perspectives, Weather Blogger’s Eyes And Idol’s Loveliness In One App

The world’s largest meteorological company, Weathernews Inc., will launch next Monday its 24/7 live show channel, with its Adobe AIR-based client application, bringing weather updates to your PC desktop every minute. The new service is named “So LiVE 24[J]” (So-La is similar to So-Ra in Japanese pronunciation, meaning sky), eleven weather girls and meteorologists are… Continue reading Weather On Desktop: Expert Perspectives, Weather Blogger’s Eyes And Idol’s Loveliness In One App

Amateur Paparazzis Livecast A Pop Star Under Arrest For Indecent Exposure

As you might hear from the news, the Japanese pop star Tsuyoshi Kusanagi(草彅剛, a.k.a. 초난 강 or Chonan Gang in South Korea), a member of popular group SMAP[J], was arrested Thursday for public indecency after being found drunk and naked at a park near Roppongi, Tokyo. On the popular video sharing site Nico Nico Douga[J],… Continue reading Amateur Paparazzis Livecast A Pop Star Under Arrest For Indecent Exposure

Mixi Appli Conference 2009

Mixi [JP] (TSE:2121) held a conference to introduce their new service “Mixi Appli”. Mixi Appli provides an OpenSocial-based application platform for developers. Mixi Appli is one of the three services provided on “Mixi Platform”. Mixi Platform provides Mixi Appli, Mixi Connect (OAuth) and Mixi OpenID. CEO, Kenji Kasahara briefly introduced Mixi and Mixi Appli. And… Continue reading Mixi Appli Conference 2009

Mixi Connect Powers Eye-Fi’s Picture Upload

Eye-Fi, makers of the wireless memory card for cameras and Mixi has partnered to support automatic upload of photos to Mixi. Eye-Fi SD share-card (2GB) utilizes mixi-Connect, Mixi’s application API to automatically upload photos over WiFi connection to the user’s Mixi’s account. As Mixi’s press release states [JP]: “Uploading Photos becomes easier”. Eye-Fi supported applications:… Continue reading Mixi Connect Powers Eye-Fi’s Picture Upload

Another Way To Have Mobile Broadband, It’s Neither WiMax Nor HSDPA

Japan’s only PHS operator Willcom announced today it would start trial of new high-speed mobile data service next week, which is called XGP and enables logically 20Mbps Internet access not only in downstream but also in upstream. Starting on April 27th, the trial will be in operation until the end of coming September, and the… Continue reading Another Way To Have Mobile Broadband, It’s Neither WiMax Nor HSDPA

Fortune Telling Company Moves Up to TSE 1st Section

Zappallas, a Japanese Fortune Telling content company has moved up to Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section. Enlisted in Mothers section in 2000, Zappallas has managed to meet TSE requirements of moving to the First Section. Zappallas offer Furtune Telling content on Mobile Websites as well as normal web access. According to Zappallas financial reports, demand… Continue reading Fortune Telling Company Moves Up to TSE 1st Section

Ngi Group Cuts Off Over 50% Employees

Ngi Group, one of the most active venture capital firm in Japanese web industry, also known as their successful early investment to the Japan’s largest social network Mixi, declared their downsizing plan in February. When the rationalization plan [J, pdf] was reported at first by Nikkei Net, it was said that they were asking solicit… Continue reading Ngi Group Cuts Off Over 50% Employees