Google took multiple beatings from various Japanese sides (press, politics, activists etc.) ever since deciding to launch Street View in this country. Google Japan countered concerns if their service is consistent with existing Japanese law by taking some Japan-specific actions, such as using special cameras. So far the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the… Continue reading Japanese government: Google Street View isn’t soo bad
Year: 2009
CyWorld Pulls Out From Japan
CyWorld Japan [J], a Japanese localized version of the most successful social networking service in Korea, CyWorld, announced its withdrawal from Japan in August 2009 [J]. According to the announcement, the direct cause of this shut-down is the operation failure of periodical site maintenance on May 26th. It is explained that the unstable errors after… Continue reading CyWorld Pulls Out From Japan
Does Skimming At Bookstores Make You Feel Restless? Try It Near Utility Poles
Livedoor Wireless[J], an outdoor WiFi service provided by a dot-com company which is known for its founder being accused of fraud, teamed up with the tech company Wayz Japan[J] running a website which aggregates the content of magazine back-issues, and now any passerby-es are allowed to read the back number contents near a number of… Continue reading Does Skimming At Bookstores Make You Feel Restless? Try It Near Utility Poles
Democratic Party Opens Social Network For Tokyo Citizens
Japan’ opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) Tokyo branch has launched a new website “Tokyo Life”. Tokyo Life has two main sub-sites. One is “Tokyopedia” which is a wiki about topics around Tokyo metropolitan assembly and local administrative information. The tool used for the Wiki part is MediaWiki. It is said that the wiki editors are young… Continue reading Democratic Party Opens Social Network For Tokyo Citizens
Check Up Supermarket Prices At Station With Your Mobile
People say two key reasons why they subscribe to daily newspaper are for checking up TV program’s time table and free standing inserts provided by local supermarkets. The inserts are very important items especially for housewives who have to manage the family budgets. On Friday, it became possible for them to check up the latest… Continue reading Check Up Supermarket Prices At Station With Your Mobile
Asahi Newspaper Tweets Soccer and RSS Mixed
As we reported a week ago, national newspaper Asahi Shimbun began a twitter experiment reporting soccer match by national team for the World Cup. The tweeted reports were well-received by web users, but some web people worried that the too frank and personal-sounding tweets may make the main readers of the newspaper, elders, upset. Then… Continue reading Asahi Newspaper Tweets Soccer and RSS Mixed
New Law Approved To Permit Nonbank Remittance And To Accelerate E-Commerce Deals
New legislation (its proposal draft[J]), which allows nonbanks to deal with payments and money transfers, was approved by the Lower House of Japan today. It will accelerate competition in reducing remittance charges among banks and potential service agents in this market. In order to protect consumers from damages caused by possible bankruptcies of remittance agents,… Continue reading New Law Approved To Permit Nonbank Remittance And To Accelerate E-Commerce Deals
Japan’s First iPhone Ad Network Arouses More Useful Free Apps
Traffic Gate, an affiliate service provider and a joint venture of two of Japan’s major dot-com companies CyberAgent and Rakuten, unveiled today a new ad network for developing ad-revenue services using iPhone app, named “TG Ad for iPhone[J]“. It is a very similar approach to AdMob‘s mobile ad solutions that the San Francisco-based tech company… Continue reading Japan’s First iPhone Ad Network Arouses More Useful Free Apps
Banner? Banana? No Banner-na! AD services to seek designs from users.
Drecom[J], a company developing blogs and web2.0 services, has released an AD service to seek design of web banners for mobile sites from public users, named as “Atsumete Banner-na[J]“(meaning collect Banner-na). A banana-shaped character is used as a mascot for the service. Advertisers post themes for banners, then public users create banners and register them… Continue reading Banner? Banana? No Banner-na! AD services to seek designs from users.
McDonald’s And Nintendo Team Up To Call In More Minors
McDonald’s Japan[J] teamed up with Nintendo, and today it launches a new service allowing Nintendo DS users to download Pokemon avatars, evaluation copies of game software and discount coupon for the humburger meals for free via WiFi access points installed at 3,200 McDonalds shops in Japan, which is 85% of the entire fast food chain.… Continue reading McDonald’s And Nintendo Team Up To Call In More Minors