Kodansha, Japan’s leading comic and novel publisher, announced today that it is allowing bloggers to republish the comic titled “Mikako-san [J]” authored by famous cartoonist and illustrator Kyo Machiko [J]. The title appeared serially in Kodansha’s weekly comic magazine “Morning”, and the same content is also on the magazine’s official website [J]. Her fans can… Continue reading Comic Giant Officially Allows Bloggers To Republish One Of Its Titles
Year: 2009
Laptop users plugging in at stations risk police visit
In US airports, many people can be seen using their laptops plugged in to nearby outlets. If you do that in Japan, you could be arrested by the police. In February 2004, a man using a power outlet in Nagoya Station was questioned by railroad police. The case was reported to the prosecutor’s office as… Continue reading Laptop users plugging in at stations risk police visit
A Brief History Of Japan’s Social Media Scene
This rough overview shows how the social media landscape evolved in Japan from 1987 till today. Hideyuki Yoshikawa is the man behind this. The original blog post can be found here [JP]. In the past, Asiajin covered Kakaku.com, 2channel, Hatena, Nico Nico Douga, Mixi, Twitter (Japan) and Pixiv.
Japanese and French giants shake hands in e-commerce deal
Sumitomo, one of Japan’s almighty general trading houses (sogo shosha), will buy a 34% stake in Hachette Fujingaho [JP], the Tokyo-based subsidiary from Lagardère Active, a media conglomerate headquarted in Paris. The two companies already signed a basic agreement on January 14 with the deal being worth 5 billion Yen (55 million USD/42 million Euros). Sumitomo… Continue reading Japanese and French giants shake hands in e-commerce deal
Google inflates Search Market Share versus Yahoo! Japan
Google Japan’s year-end announcement on Dec 22nd, 2008 shocked the industry, when they loudly proclaimed that their search market share had reached 41%, which is only 3 points behind the 44% of Japanese portal giant Yahoo! Japan, using data from Nielsen/NetRatings (report on @IT [J]). The news raised some eyebrows because no such indications had… Continue reading Google inflates Search Market Share versus Yahoo! Japan
Rakuten to start PHS service in April
Rakuten[J], Japan’s largest e-commerce player, unveiled that it is planning to start a PHS (personal handy-phone system) service as an MVNO (or mobile virtual network operator) for its corporate users this coming April. Jointly with Fusion Communications, and under a roaming agreement with Japanese PHS operator Willcom, Rakuten intends to provide free mobile phone service… Continue reading Rakuten to start PHS service in April
Akiba mobile app biz plan competition held by Mitsui VC
Mitsui Ventures, the investment arm of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., organized a business plan competition called “i*deal competition“, and the award presentation ceremony was held today in Akihabara, where new Internet subcultures and innovative services are born. The event started with a keynote speech by famous IT journalist Nobuyuki Hayashi, who is well-known as the… Continue reading Akiba mobile app biz plan competition held by Mitsui VC
KAYAC sells their 88 websites
Kayac, a web development and consulting service in Kanagawa, announced that they sell 88 web services they created last year. Kayac, which often addresses themselves as “Omoshiro Houjin Kayac”, which means “Funny Corporation Kayac” in Japanese, is known as an unique web development company. Some of their weird topics are; locating at the old capital… Continue reading KAYAC sells their 88 websites
Gree says net profit is up 500%, expects yearly sales of 123 million USD
Mobile social networking site Gree [JP] said Friday that their net profit will probably increase by a whopping 500% on a year-by-year basis to 3.5 billion Yen (38.6 million USD, 28.7 million Euros) in the current fiscal year (which ends for GREE on June 30). This is 300 million Yen (3.3 million USD, 2.5 million… Continue reading Gree says net profit is up 500%, expects yearly sales of 123 million USD
Users of Kadokawa’s New Video Site Can Add Anime Subtitles Collaboratively
Kadokawa Marketing, a subsidiary of this publishing and film-making conglomerate｢J], has introduced a new web video service called “kadoTV“. Kadokawa’s new service allows its users to collaboratively add synchronized, multilingual subtitles to each anime on the site. The service is based on video retrieval technology developed by Tokyo University’s graduate tech start-up TeamLab, and allows… Continue reading Users of Kadokawa’s New Video Site Can Add Anime Subtitles Collaboratively