Yahoo! Japan to Open Silicon Valley Branch

The Jpaan’s largest web company Yahoo! Japan announced [J] that it is to have a new oversea branch in Silicon Valley “to research the cutting edge technologies”. The release does not tell much details, except that it will send three staffs from its Data & Science solution department.

Veoh Likely Aquired By Japanese FC2

First pointed out by someone on Hatena Anonymous Diary, online video service Veoh‘s ownership seems to be handed over to FC2, a huge but scarcely known Japanese everything-portal. FC2 sent a mail to users, soliciting to use Veoh, as s/he wrote. Veoh’s copyright on footer now has “FC2”. According to the Internet Archive, this copyright… Continue reading Veoh Likely Aquired By Japanese FC2

Japanese Restaurant Review Service Tabelog Opens English/New York Version

Popular restaurant review site Tabelog by Kakaku.com launched English site for New York City on March 28. US version tabelog has en accent mark on ‘e’, under .us domain. Its design is totally different and in Western-way design. We’re incredibly excited to announce the official launch of the Tabélog New York website! The new site… Continue reading Japanese Restaurant Review Service Tabelog Opens English/New York Version

NASA and JAXA Runs Character Contest

GPM Anime Challenge is an anime character making contest run by NASA and JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Overview Anime is a Japanese style of animation popular around the world. Anime characters have filled television shows and comics, and inspired costumes and educational activities. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) and our partners at the… Continue reading NASA and JAXA Runs Character Contest

Rakuten Starts Featuring Pinterest On Its Japanese Marketplace And Other Properties

Japan’s biggest e-commerce company Rakuten (US$15 billion market cap, about 80 million user accounts in Japan) has started featuring Pinterest on some of its biggest websites yesterday. Big R caused a major splash in back in May when it led a massive US$100 million investment in the American startup. Rakuten CEO Mikitani was quoted as… Continue reading Rakuten Starts Featuring Pinterest On Its Japanese Marketplace And Other Properties

Drecom Releases American iOS App “Monster Arms”

Drecom [J] Has released the new social game application “Monster Arms” for the American App Store.  The support language is English so unfortunately it can’t be downloaded from Japan. “Monster Arms” is a real time strategy card game where you make an original deck and collect character cards while completing missions.  It has social components… Continue reading Drecom Releases American iOS App “Monster Arms”

GREE Forms Business Partnership With ICS Mobile, Major App Referral Media

GREE [J] has announced that they have agreed to a business partnership to develop a new global company with ICS Mobile, Inc., who run FreeAppADay.com (FAAD), an industry leader in application referral media. ICS Mobile, a company located in Santa Monica California, manages “FAAD”, a free iOS application introduction media.  “FAAD” has gathered a strong… Continue reading GREE Forms Business Partnership With ICS Mobile, Major App Referral Media

Kayac Releases Smartphone Transportation Game “Go Go Cargo” For North America

KAYAC Inc.[J] has released a smartphone transportation game application called “Go Go Cargo” for North America, and it’s a free download at App Store and also Android Market. “GO GO CARGO” is a simulation game in which the player serves as an operator of an express company and delivers the requested load by designing a… Continue reading Kayac Releases Smartphone Transportation Game “Go Go Cargo” For North America

Ameba Pico Reaches 4 Million Users

“AmebaPico,” the overseas 2D virtual space managed by CyberAgent, has acquired 4 million users.  This was brought to light from their English version Twitter account. “Ameba Pico” is this company’s overseas English version of their Japanese virtual space Ameba Pigg [J], offered as a Facebook application.  Like ameba Pigg, you create your own avatar, customize… Continue reading Ameba Pico Reaches 4 Million Users

NTT Solmare To Sell E-Comics From China In Japan, Asia And The US

NTT, or rather NTT West subsidiary NTT Solmare, is planning to sell 100 e-comics from China in its home market of Japan, Asia and the US. NTT Solmare partnered up with Zhejiang Publishing United Group and will initially offer two e-comics each in Japan and the US by the end of this year. In 2012,… Continue reading NTT Solmare To Sell E-Comics From China In Japan, Asia And The US