Last Friday, Japan’s first social-lending service provider Maneo Inc. was invited to Digicon Salon’s monthly technology meet-up, where company CEO Tadatoshi Seno-o gave a presentation on Maneo’s services and background at the Graduate School of the Digital Hollywood University in Akihabara, Tokyo. Mr. Seno-o formerly worked for one of Japan’s major banks, and he co-founded… Continue reading Japan’s 1st Social-Lending Site Offers An Alternative In This Rough Economy
Author: Masaru IKEDA
ISP Platform Provider Releases iPhone App To “Server-ize” Your iPhone
FreeBit Co., Ltd[J], a Tokyo-based venture company famous for providing its network platform to many VNO/ISPs (virtual network operator/Internet service providers), presented its business plans to investors Wednesday. On the same day, company CEO Atsuki Ishida[J] unveiled the company’s brand new iPhone app in the AppStore (clicking on the link will launch iTunes). The app… Continue reading ISP Platform Provider Releases iPhone App To “Server-ize” Your iPhone
Tokyo Police Acts Against Slander On Blog Posts
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has decided to give prosecutors files on 18 people, who are suspected to have slandered comedian “Smiley Kikuchi[J]” by posting groundless comments on his blog alleging that he is involved in a high school girl’s murder case. This kind of situation, in which blog readers slander a blog’s owner by… Continue reading Tokyo Police Acts Against Slander On Blog Posts
Osaka-based Tech Start-up Launches A “Meddlesome” SNS
The Osaka-based tech start-up Qript Inc. launched Friday its eccentric SNS called “Tsutsunuke [J]“, which has several features to avoid its user’s long silence to the service. Note: “Tsutsunuke” means a situation where the thin wall deprives you of any privacy, and you can hear the tone of your neighbor’s voice in a typical type… Continue reading Osaka-based Tech Start-up Launches A “Meddlesome” SNS
Telecom Venture Presentations Held By Japan’s Governmental Incubator
On Tuesday, NICT (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology) held its annual conference providing telecom-related start-ups the opportunity to present their business plans. An audience of more than 200 attended the event in Akihabara. NICT is a governmental venture, incubation, and research organization with a special focus on future telecommunications technology development, and is… Continue reading Telecom Venture Presentations Held By Japan’s Governmental Incubator
Comic Giant Officially Allows Bloggers To Republish One Of Its Titles
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
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
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
TV Asahi Quiz Show cooks up Fake Blogs for Clues
Tokyo-headquartered private TV broadcaster TV-Asahi used fake blog sites on its quiz show, fabricated by the program’s production staff as a real news source for the show’s questions, and as a result, the broadcaster is being heavily criticized by audiences and TV watchdogs. The show was broadcast nationwide in Japan during last weekend’s prime time, and… Continue reading TV Asahi Quiz Show cooks up Fake Blogs for Clues