Softbank Mobile To Begin iPad Pre-orders Tomorrow

Softbank Mobile announced it would begin the iPad pre-orders tomorrow (Monday, May 10) at 10am, Japan Time. You’ll be able to make it at iPad authorized dealers such as selected Softbank Mobile shops and consumer electronics retailers. Apple Japan’s online store deals with the iPad Wi-Fi model only, and Apple Stores will deal with all… Continue reading Softbank Mobile To Begin iPad Pre-orders Tomorrow

Mobile Content Provider Voltage To List On Tokyo Stock Exchange Next Month

It’s time for another tech IPO in Japan. Voltage, a Tokyo-based mobile contents provider, has received approval to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Mothers market on June 11 (code: 3639). The company plans to issue 200,000 new shares to the public, next to 220,000 shares coming from its existing shareholders. If demand is bigger… Continue reading Mobile Content Provider Voltage To List On Tokyo Stock Exchange Next Month

10-centimeter Cubic Satellite Keeps Tweeting From The Space

Nakasuga Lab., the University of Tokyo, introduced a bot account tweeting the real-time state of a satellite which is located in the earth low orbit.   The tweet(@XI-V) keeps us update with parameters like the satellite’s surface temperature, battery voltage and where it is located over of the planet and also shows us still images shooting… Continue reading 10-centimeter Cubic Satellite Keeps Tweeting From The Space

Finally Google Out, Goo In On Half Of Japanese Cellphone

As I reported on Monday, NTT comrades – #1 cellphone carrier NTT Docomo and Japanese portal Goo owner NTT Resonant – tried to get back search initiative in Japanese mobile web by switching their i-mode iMenu mobile web search from Google on April 30th, but failed with (I guess by too much traffic) trouble and… Continue reading Finally Google Out, Goo In On Half Of Japanese Cellphone

Amazon Envy II: Rakuten now wants to produce hardware (a barcode scanner)

Another case of Amazon envy from Rakuten, Japan’s biggest online shopping “mall”? It seems so. According to various reports, Rakuten is currently pondering the development of a barcode scanner. One of the reason for Rakuten to get into the hardware business – according to a company representative quoted by The Nikkei (“Japan’s Wall Street Journal”)… Continue reading Amazon Envy II: Rakuten now wants to produce hardware (a barcode scanner)

Soldering Cafe To Be Opened At Ex-school Site In Akihabara

The birth rate keeps lower number in Japan, which causes more elementary and junior high schools to be shut down across the nation.   Especially in the highly populated areas, these ex-school buildings turned to be used for artist’s studios, SOHO for tech entrepreneurs and coffee shops filling the lessee’s stomachs with great meals. In mid-May,… Continue reading Soldering Cafe To Be Opened At Ex-school Site In Akihabara

Google Japan’s “President” Gone – Exceptional Position Of Japan Local Office Lessened

As we reported last month, one of only 6 Google presidents Koichiro Tsujino left Google Japan at the end of April. This leave is confirmed both on the Google’s executive list, on which no more Google Japan president exists, and Tsujino’s tweet [J], ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????less than a minute ago via web??????ktsujino On that tweet, he said… Continue reading Google Japan’s “President” Gone – Exceptional Position Of Japan Local Office Lessened

Foodlog, Rapeko, EatNow: 3 Japanese food picture posting services

One major difference between Japanese bloggers and those elsewhere is that not too few Japanese writers seem to be obsessed with food, filling their blogs with pictures of their dinner, lunch boxes, favorite snacks etc. shot from all angles. Here‘s a Japanese blog that even solely focuses on lunch boxes (and this is just one… Continue reading Foodlog, Rapeko, EatNow: 3 Japanese food picture posting services

DeNA Reports USD100M On Quarterly Profit; They To Focus On Social App Business

Last Friday, Tokyo-based mobile game platform developer and game publisher DeNA announced the company’s quarterly consolidated financial result ended March 2010, which shows us good figures like USD200M in the net sales (81% increase compared to that of last year) and almost USD100M in the operating profit (240% increase compared to that of last year).… Continue reading DeNA Reports USD100M On Quarterly Profit; They To Focus On Social App Business

Google Losing Default Mobile Search Engine Position On Docomo i-mode Portal, A Gate To Half Of Japanese Mobile Web

Japan’s largest cellphone carrier NTT Docomo, which boasts 50% market share on cellphone users, also keeps over 50% share of cellphone web connection services i-mode, announced that they switch their default mobile internet search service from Google mobile search to Goo’s one since April 30th [J]. Until last week, your searching on i-mode portal, iMenu… Continue reading Google Losing Default Mobile Search Engine Position On Docomo i-mode Portal, A Gate To Half Of Japanese Mobile Web