Electronics

Sony expects to maneuver around constrained chip supplies and build 22.6 million PS5 consoles as it prepares to break its PlayStation sales record in fiscal 2022. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)
Media & Entertainment

Sony expects PS5 to break 24-year-old console sales record

Gaming chief says China growth will be spurred by locally created content

27 May 2021
"Sony is directly connected to about 160 million people in the world due to their desire to consume entertainment," President and CEO KenichiroYoshida says. "I want to expand this number to 1 billion." (Source photos by Sony and Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable)
Media & Entertainment

Sony will invest $18bn to grow entertainment and sensor businesses

Japan corporate icon sets goal of signing up 1bn entertainment subscribers

26 May 2021
Falling profitability in Samsung's chipmaking business could affect the company's investment capacity in displays and other sectors.
Semiconductors

Micron challenges Samsung's dominance in memory market

South Korean company loses to US rival in profit margin for chipmaking business

23 May 2021
Sony Group and Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced on Friday plans to establish a joint company over the coming months in which each will hold a 50% stake. (Source photos by Reuters and AP)
Business deals

Sony and Kawasaki Heavy partner up for remote robot service

Japanese groups will establish JV to offer essential workers remote options

21 May 2021
Foxocnn has teamed up with automaker Stellantis to tap demand for car-related software. (Photo courtesy of Foxconn)
Automobiles

Foxconn teams with Fiat owner Stellantis on connected cars

iPhone assembler seeks new revenue streams through automotive tech

18 May 2021
Samsung hopes to supply its three-segment folding OLED panel to other smartphone brands. (Photo courtesy of Samsung)
18 May 2021
Brisk demand for its LCDs from Apple is underpinning Sharp’s earnings.
Electronics

Japan's Sharp reaps fruits of Apple ties in LCD business

But demand is fading as higher-end panels are increasingly being used in iPhones

16 May 2021
The South Korean web companies Naver and Kakao are aiming to solidify their positions in the world of web comics. (Photo by Kotaro Hosokawa)
Media & Entertainment

South Korean internet giants battle for top spot in web comics

Naver and Kakao make use of smartphone-friendly format to reach global audience

16 May 2021
 South Korean pop group BTS helped promote a limited-edition Samsung phone in their signature color of purple. (Photo courtesy of Samsung)
Electronics

From BTS to Adidas, Samsung taps elite brands to stand out

Pricey limited-edition phones and earbuds seek to challenge Apple on style

15 May 2021
A Vingroup factory in Hanoi: The Vietnamese conglomerate entered the smartphone business in 2018. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Electronics

Vingroup makes quick exit out of smartphones in shift to EVs

Vietnamese conglomerate will also halt TV production

11 May 2021
Under previous CEO Kazuhiro Tsuga, Panasonic focused on restructuring after reporting losses in excess of $7 billion for two years straight in fiscal 2011 and 2012. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Electronics

Panasonic accelerates shift to corporate business solutions

Osaka-based company expects 27% profit rise despite chip shortages, pandemic

10 May 2021
Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong made a quick trip to ASML in the Netherlands to secure much needed advanced chipmaking gear.
Semiconductors

How Samsung fell behind TSMC in the race for cutting-edge chips

Trailing in technology risks hurting company's smartphone business

10 May 2021
A person tries on Sony's PlayStation VR headset. The company hopes to strengthen the sense of community among users by integrating the Discord chat service into the PlayStation ecosystem.
Business deals

Sony takes aim at gamers with Discord stake

PlayStation and US chat service to come 'closer together' from early 2022

5 May 2021
The Nintendo Switch is five years old. (Photo by Wataru Ito)
Electronics

Nintendo raises Switch output to record 30m on stay-at-home demand

Boom in paid subscriptions helps to drive gaming device's success

2 May 2021
Yaskawa is now selling itself as an automation efficiency expert, especially for industrial robots.
Electronics

Japan's Yaskawa morphs into leading automation consultant

From microchips to rice balls, robot motor maker extends across diverse sectors

2 May 2021
Murata is changing its battery strategy by forgoing sales to smartphone makers in favor of those to wearable producers.
Technology

Murata to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries in fall

Japan company makes capacity breakthrough with tech acquired from Sony

2 May 2021
Onkyo Home Entertainment faces delisting from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Photo by Daishi Chiba)
Electronics

Audio brand Onkyo weighs last-ditch sale of core business

Japanese company has tried and failed before to cash out of home entertainment

2 May 2021
Kyocera plans aggressive investment into new businesses, including those related to 5G and collaborative robots.
Electronics

Kyocera goes on offensive with record investment

Japanese electronics maker aims to boost sales to $18 billion in a few years

1 May 2021
Panasonic TVs on display at a store in Tokyo.
Electronics

Panasonic nears deal to outsource TV production to China's TCL

Output to end in India and Vietnam as Japanese brand moves to restore profitability

1 May 2021
Net profit and operating profit guidance fell short of analysts' expectations, giving some investors the impression that Sony's unprecedented growth and the pandemic-driven gaming fever have run their course.
Media & Entertainment

Sony shares dive 8% as underwhelmed investors lock in gains

Japan blue chip forecasts annual profit drop as pandemic-driven gaming fever cools

30 April 2021
Samsung Electronics is enjoying increased profits and sales.
Semiconductors

Samsung to maximize foundry capacity amid global chip shortage

Strong sales of smartphones and other devices boost Q1 results amid pandemic

29 April 2021
Sony expects its breadwinner gaming business to fall short of the previous year, which saw unprecedented demand during the initial phases of the coronavirus pandemic.
Electronics

Sony faces profit drop following record-breaking year

Conglomerate expects tougher times after unprecedented gaming demand

28 April 2021
Renesas operates as a "fab-lite" manufacturer, outsourcing part of its production to foundries such as Taiwan's TSMC. (Source photos by Reuters and Renesas/Kyodo)
Semiconductors

Renesas quarterly profit more than doubles despite fire

Japanese chipmaker tries to make up for lost time amid growing demand

28 April 2021
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. consumes nearly 200,000 tons of water a day. (Photo courtesy of TSMC)
Semiconductors

Taiwan drought at 'most critical' phase for chip sector

President Tsai calls for conservation in hard-hit semiconductor hub Taichung

28 April 2021
Nidec's projection of an operating profit of 180 billion yen for the current fiscal year, up 13%, came up short of the consensus estimate of 200 billion yen. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Electronics

Nidec faces reality check after fiscal 2021 earnings miss

Investors pause to consider Japan company's China foray and leadership change

26 April 2021