Author: akky

Kenko.com and Wellnet Sues Japanese Government around Drug e-Commerce Ban

Today, two online pharmacy stores Kenko.com and Wellnet had a press conference to announce that they had filed a lawsuit against Japanese government. They claims that the ban of online and postal drug sale, which is going to be effective from June 1st, is against the constitution. After we reported Rakuten, Kenko.com and others claimed… Continue reading Kenko.com and Wellnet Sues Japanese Government around Drug e-Commerce Ban

Joker Racer – “Truly-Remote” Control Car Over The Internet

A team of Joker Racer, a project by Tokyo-based Jokerworks Corp. to make remote control cars (and possibly real cars) controlled over the internet to provide virtual-but-real driving experience by using on-car linux and web cam, is visiting the Silicon Valley for their demonstration trip including O’Reilly Where 2.0 and Ignite + Launch Pad. Yoski… Continue reading Joker Racer – “Truly-Remote” Control Car Over The Internet

National Anthem of Japan is Short Enough for Domain Name

The world shortest national anthem lyrics, which became an official national song 10 years ago and still provoking public controversy, seems to be taken as a Germany domain (.de) by someone with using the maximum allowed number of letters (63, according to RFC 1034). As you see, to make the lyrics properly end, it needs… Continue reading National Anthem of Japan is Short Enough for Domain Name

McDonald’s Japan Confuses “Wiki” and “Pedia”

McDonald’s Japan opened a new web campaign for its strategic product quarter pounder, which they desperately wanted to sell even by hiring buyers. The campaign site is named “Quarter Pounder Wiki“, on where there are several keywords are displayed in cloud style. By clicking each keyword, you can see fun contents. But how can this… Continue reading McDonald’s Japan Confuses “Wiki” and “Pedia”

Japanese Government Proposes Pandemic Tracking System By Cellphone GPS

Japan’s Ministry of Affairs and Communications (MIC) calls several projects starting in 2009 as part of the ICT Standard Development Project. Among the three big categories [J], one of the 11 themes in the “Cyber District” operation is “Cellular phone Lifelog”, which targets to draw up the rules for time-space data utilization. In particular, as… Continue reading Japanese Government Proposes Pandemic Tracking System By Cellphone GPS

Lunarr Closes Company With Its Two Unique Web Services

An unique web startup founded and run by a successful Japanese entrepreneur in Portland, Oregon, declared its end of services this month. Notice LUNARR will be discontinuing our Elements and Themes services as of Sunday, May 10th, 2009. You may continue to use both services until that date, at which time your LUNARR Terms of… Continue reading Lunarr Closes Company With Its Two Unique Web Services

Web Chat Service Lingr Shutting Down

A web based chat service Lingr announced its closing down at the end of May 2009. We’re sad to announce that Lingr will be shutting down on May 31, 2009. It’s been great pleasure that so many wonderful people have joined and gotten to know each other here at Lingr. We want to give our… Continue reading Web Chat Service Lingr Shutting Down

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