Month: September 2010

Japan Internet Tech Entrepreneur Event In San Francisco

A first of its kind event is being held in San Francisco featuring Japanese Entrepreneurs on October 13, 2010.  This event named SFNewTech Japan Night is the vision of Brandon K. Hill, President/CEO of btrax, Inc – a San Francisco based digital consultancy agency.  “I wanted to help Japanese Entrepreneurs extend their market outside of… Continue reading Japan Internet Tech Entrepreneur Event In San Francisco

Mochi Media “Scores” Hit Virtual World Ameba Pico From Japan’s CyberAgent

Virtual world Ameba Pico (Ameba Pigu in Japan) is a success story. The service was launched by Tokyo-based web powerhouse CyberAgent in February 2009 and went on attracting four million members [PDF] in Japan. CyberAgent announced an English version in November 2009, which went online in March 2010. And if The Nikkei, Japan’s biggest business daily,… Continue reading Mochi Media “Scores” Hit Virtual World Ameba Pico From Japan’s CyberAgent

Mixi Goes Facebook (II): “Mixi Check In” Is “Facebook Places”

With “Check”, Mixi copied Facebook’s “Like” function today, and while they were at it, Japan’s biggest social network copied Facebook’s location-based function, “Places”, as well. It’s just that on Mixi, “Places” is called “Check In”. So historically speaking, it took Mixi two years to follow Facebook’s Apps platform, half a year for “Like” and now… Continue reading Mixi Goes Facebook (II): “Mixi Check In” Is “Facebook Places”

Mixi Goes Facebook (I): “Mixi Check” Is Facebook’s “Like”

Facebook announced (and rolled it out) earlier this year, and now Japan’s biggest social network, Mixi, announced it, too: A function to share what you “like” on external sites with your friends. On Mixi, that function is called “Check”. As you can see on the screenshot of my Mixi profile below, Mixi Check is now… Continue reading Mixi Goes Facebook (I): “Mixi Check” Is Facebook’s “Like”

Tokyo’s Social App Provider Pokelabo Fundraises USD12M From DCM And Mobage-Town

On Wednesday, Tokyo-based social app provider Pokelabo[J] announced that they had fundraised USD12M from Silicon Valley-headquartered VC firm DCM and IncubateFund[J], an investment fund by DeNA owning social app and mobile game platform Mobage-Town. Pokelabo was founded three years ago by the company’s CEO and his “Mixi[J]-mates”.  It has developed flash games for feature phones,… Continue reading Tokyo’s Social App Provider Pokelabo Fundraises USD12M From DCM And Mobage-Town

Gachapin Now Has His Voice Vocaloid And iPhone Twitter Client

A Japan’s most popular Twitter user Gachapin, who took the most followed user title recently back from ex-prime minister Yukio Hatoyama who once passed him, is expanding his brand on two different geeks-loving products, Vocaloid and iPhone. Gachapin is a 5-year-old dinosaur kid from a popular children TV program Hirake Ponkikki, who is also known… Continue reading Gachapin Now Has His Voice Vocaloid And iPhone Twitter Client

Asiajin Android Reader App Debuts

Tokyo-based Android app developer ACL Inc.[J] has kindly developed the Android Reader App for us, it has been just released today on the Android Market.   Following MotherApp’s iPhone Reader App which was introduced at the beginning of this year, now we have our exclusive apps for both of the two major smartphone platforms. We wish… Continue reading Asiajin Android Reader App Debuts