Tokyo-based zakka and hardware store chain Tokyu Hands[J] is now running a campaign which gives you additional reward points by tweeting begging for something you want. The store chain is known for working very much on developing social marketing services including “Korekamo-Net[J]” that allows you to search their inventory of the item you wish to… Continue reading “Tweets Begging” Is A Key To Accelerate E-Commerce Industry By Using Social Media
Author: Masaru IKEDA
Japan Sec Dealers’ Assc Postpones Banning Individual Investments On Pre-IPO Start-ups
Japan Security Dealers Association proposed banning IPO of companies who have been fundraised by individual investors except the companies’ employees and founder’s family, and that news caused a sensation in this country’s tech start-up community. The association aimed at preventing fraud over unlisted shares, but the banning would make start-ups harder to go IPO if… Continue reading Japan Sec Dealers’ Assc Postpones Banning Individual Investments On Pre-IPO Start-ups
Japan’s First Banana Vending Machine Debuts In Shibuya
The Japanese local subsidiary of international leading banana distributor Dole put the country’s first banana vending machine at an underground shopping mall in Shibuya last week, which draws people’s attention. The vending machine has a fridge and maintains stored bananas at 13 degrees Celsius (=55.4 degrees Fahrenheit) which is the best temperature to keep them… Continue reading Japan’s First Banana Vending Machine Debuts In Shibuya
Pankaku Welcomes i-mode’s Father As New Adviser
Tokyo-based smartphone app developer Pankaku[J] announced Mr. Takeshi Natsuno became the company’s adviser today. He started his career in this industry as the vice president for Japan’s first ad-based free ISP HyperNet, then joined NTT DoCoMo and invented the country’s first cellphone web-browsing platform i-mode. He is currently serving managing director for cellphone ringtone distributor… Continue reading Pankaku Welcomes i-mode’s Father As New Adviser
Meet-up Call: Startup Dating Preliminary Edition To Be Held Next Tuesday
Usually Asiajin covers what people are doing and have achieved in Japanese and Asian tech communities, but today I’m writing something about what I and my friends will do for accelerating the communities here in Tokyo. Takeshi Hirano[J] from TechCrunch Japan[J], Hiro Maeda from NetPrice.com and I will jointly organize a networking event titled “Startup… Continue reading Meet-up Call: Startup Dating Preliminary Edition To Be Held Next Tuesday
Spacecraft Carrying Asteroid Sample Returns; Landing Process To Be Ustreamed From Australian Desert
Hayabusa (peregrine falcon in Japanese) is an unmanned space mission to return a sample of material from the asteroid Itokawa. The spacecraft launched from Japan seven years ago, and succeeded to land on the asteroid. It is now returning to the earth and will be landing in Woomera Prohibited Area, Australia today. The final landing… Continue reading Spacecraft Carrying Asteroid Sample Returns; Landing Process To Be Ustreamed From Australian Desert
Four Companies Encourage Developers To Monetize Apps With New In-app Purchase Platform And Investments
Tokyo-based real affiliate service provider Best Create[J], Japan’s largest telecom product distributor Hikari Tsushin, Cyber Agent Investment and SBI Investment[J] launched a new project called “Future of Apps[J]” last month, which is expected to collect new app ideas and will invest USD110,000 at the maximum in each of selected promising ones. The project will also… Continue reading Four Companies Encourage Developers To Monetize Apps With New In-app Purchase Platform And Investments
Sony, KDDI, Asahi And Toppan To Co-launch E-Publisher In July
Sony, Toppan Printing (Japan’s 2nd largest printing company), KDDI(Japan’s 2nd largest telco) and the Asahi Shimbun (newspaper publisher) announced last Thursday that they would launch a joint venture for an e-publication distribution service. Sony has introduced an e-book reader device called “Reader” in Europe and the U.S., and the company plans to introduce it in… Continue reading Sony, KDDI, Asahi And Toppan To Co-launch E-Publisher In July
Apple And Softbank Mobile Start iPad Sales In Japan On Friday
Apple and Softbank Mobile finally started the sales of the iPad in Japan on Friday. At Apple Store Ginza or one of Apple Japan’s two flagship stores in Tokyo, about 1,200 people were queuing for having the new device. The earliest bird who has been waiting at the store since Wednesday’s 4pm was 19-year-old part-timer… Continue reading Apple And Softbank Mobile Start iPad Sales In Japan On Friday
Breaking News: Rakuten To Launch E-Commerce Business With Media Giant In Indonesia
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten just announced today it would launch a joint venture with Indonesian media conglomerate Global Mediacom to run a e-commerce platform service in the country. Rakuten takes 51% stake in the joint venture which is capitalized at USD4.3M. The joint venture will start the service in the latter half of this year… Continue reading Breaking News: Rakuten To Launch E-Commerce Business With Media Giant In Indonesia