Author: Masaru IKEDA

IPO Consulting Firm Launches Trilingual Database Of Japanese Tech Start-ups

On Thursday, Tokyo-based consulting firm for tech start-up ventures, Project Ocean LLP[J] launched a trilingual database of Japanese tech start-up companies, which is called Startups Japan. Project Ocean LLP was founded by Mr. Tomoya Hayakawa[J] in 2006, and Mr. Hayakawa previously worked with Japanese major investment bank Daiwa Securities SMBC on IPO underwriting services for… Continue reading IPO Consulting Firm Launches Trilingual Database Of Japanese Tech Start-ups

Live Event: PHP Conference 2009 Is Now Underway In Tokyo

We have a bunch of tech conferences and events in Tokyo from the end of last month to the middle of this month.    It is very hard to cover all in a limited time. Japan PHP User Group[J] is now holding PHP Conference 2009 in Tokyo, an annual tech-oriented conference for Japanese PHP programmers and community.… Continue reading Live Event: PHP Conference 2009 Is Now Underway In Tokyo

Narita Express: In-train WiFi Service To Start In Competition With Other Transit Operators

As a countermeasure against other transit operators which have been providing in-cabin WiFi service for their passengers, JR East, a railway company operating a rapid express service from/to Narita International Airport, just announced it would start WiFi service in the train this coming October. UQ WiMax users and Softbank Telecom’s WiFi users are allowed to… Continue reading Narita Express: In-train WiFi Service To Start In Competition With Other Transit Operators

Microsoft Innovation Award 2009: Five Tech Start-ups Nominated As Finalists

Microsoft announced the finalists of Microsoft Innovation Award 2009 last week, and there were a judging committee for the award at the company’s annual conference for system engineers in Yokohama, Tech-ED Japan 2009[J]. Microsoft assists the finalists in marketing, engineering and international business development.   In 2007, tech start-up known as web browser developer Lunascape won… Continue reading Microsoft Innovation Award 2009: Five Tech Start-ups Nominated As Finalists

CJIC2009: Internet-Enabled Home Appliances Come Together To Foresee Our Future

Today at Roppongi Hills, a skyscraper located in the heart of Tokyo, CNET Japan[J] held an annual tech conference called CJIC 2009 (CNET Japan Innovation Conference) where two tech-startups, Panasonic and Sony presented their new services and products to more than 350 attendees. As the first presenter of the conference, Atsuki Ishida[J], CEO of FreeBit,… Continue reading CJIC2009: Internet-Enabled Home Appliances Come Together To Foresee Our Future

Sharp’s Pocket-sized netPC: Ten Hour Lifetime Gives You No Fear About Dead Battery

On Thursday, Sharp introduced a brand new pocket-sized netPC terminal named “NetWalker[J]“, which is expected to go on sale in late September for USD460 each (estimated street price).   It has ten hour battery lifetime, Freescale Semiconductor‘s multimedia application processor as a CPU,  a 512MB memory and a 4GB flash memory.  The terminal’s 409 gram (14.4oz)… Continue reading Sharp’s Pocket-sized netPC: Ten Hour Lifetime Gives You No Fear About Dead Battery

Event Wrap-up: 400+ Geeks Applaud Web Innovators At WISH2009

More than 400 Internet users joined the event on Friday evening in Tokyo.   Tokyo-based blog marketing agency Agile Media Network (AMN)[J] held Japan’s first conference having a number of tech start-ups in comprehensive perspective, titled WISH2009 (Web Innovation SHare)[J].   More than a dozen of innovators had opportunities to present their works, and Japanese tech media… Continue reading Event Wrap-up: 400+ Geeks Applaud Web Innovators At WISH2009

IVP Fund Invests In China’s Largest Mobile SNS

Infinity Ventures LLP[J], a Tokyo-based independent venture capital unit investing in tech start-up companies, announced today it had invested approximately USD2.1M (JPY200M) in WAPTX (registered in Cayman Islands) running China’s largest mobile SNS called tx.com.cn(天下网)[C] (pronounced as tiān-xià-wǎng). The service owns 9 million users as of July 2009, and Tokyo-based mobile SNS company DeNA announced… Continue reading IVP Fund Invests In China’s Largest Mobile SNS

Unidentified “Floating” Objects Are Introduced In Osaka This Summer

In commemorating the series of water-oriented events which are now underway in Osaka, NTT Facilities, a property management company of NTT Group, developed two solar-powered and UFO-shaped water purifiers, which are to be installed in Dotonbori[Wikipedia]-canal running through the center of the city, and in a moat around the Osaka Castle. That machine is a… Continue reading Unidentified “Floating” Objects Are Introduced In Osaka This Summer