Retail
Seven & i potential buyer Couche-Tard is skilled M&A tactician
Canadian company's buyout of Japanese 7-Eleven parent would be its biggest yet
Cybersecurity
Toyota, Hitachi join Japan's automotive cybersecurity push
Over 100 companies eye rules on software inventories to deter attacks
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Finance
MUFG sheds $1bn in U.S. Bancorp shares
Japanese megabank will maintain smaller stake, bolster partnership
Defense
Japan and India hold third '2-plus-2' security talks
Tokyo considers communications exports as top diplomats, defense ministers meet
Semiconductors
Mitsubishi Electric to mass-produce next-gen optical chips in January
Company to boost production capacity by 50% on growing data center demand
Technology
Vietnam's FPT invests $200m to launch AI services in Japan, other places
Firm to start cloud ops with Nvidia GPU, expand personnel to 5,000 by 2025
Japan's leadership race
Japan's ruling party to vote on Kishida successor on Sept. 27
Range of candidates expected to vie for LDP top job, with winner taking reins as PM
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Technology
Water pressure: TSMC, others tackle groundwater worries in Kumamoto
Farmers look to partnerships with companies to protect vital resource
Startups
U.S. e-scooter startup Lime brings rental service to Japan
Company's first foray into East Asia will see 2,000 vehicles in Tokyo this year
Food & Beverage
Sushi chain Sushiro rolls into Beijing with private rooms, sashimi platters
Restaurant positions itself as an affordable choice for lovers of Japanese food
Startups
U.S. startup investor Techstars debuts Japan accelerator program
12 startups each receive $120,000 and mentorship in 3-month program
Defense
German Navy 'cannot just pay lip service' to aiding global order: admiral
Ships and planes cross into Pacific to join Japan and U.S. in joint exercises
Business deals
Seven & i's slumping stock price raises takeover risk
Japan 7-Eleven parent's structural reforms fail to impress investors
Artificial intelligence
Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. to invest in Andrew Ng's next AI fund
Trading house aims to train dozens of engineers, data analysts each year
IPO
Tokyo Metro headed for IPO as soon as October
Tokyo listing could value the subway operator at up to $4.8bn
Business deals
Japan 7-Eleven parent to mull takeover offer from Canada's Couche-Tard
Deal could create a top global retail group centered on convenience stores
Market Spotlight
Coffee prices volatile on climate, shipping crunch, forest regulation
Unpredictable weather will increase cost of production in the long run
Media & Entertainment
Japan's anime industry looks to AI to solve labor crunch
New services can automate backgrounds, coloring and other time-consuming work
Electronics
Panasonic fluorescent lamp production to go dark in 2027
Japan demand persists despite global deal to phase out mercury-containing lights
International relations
South Korea, Japan, U.S. leaders renew ties on regional challenges
Yoon's office issues joint statement a year after trilateral summit at Camp David
Aerospace & Defense Industries
Japan to see first passenger-to-freighter plane conversion business
Okinawa's MRO Japan has EU certificate to service Airbus planes
Your Week in Asia
Japan-India 2+2, Thai GDP, Vietnam leader in China
Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events
Opinion
Turned off but not tuned out: Japan's floating voters crave options
After Kishida's decision to step down, it is unclear whether his replacement will inspire
Food & Beverage
Japan's top sake exporter Dassai marries tech with tradition
Brewer harnesses data in pursuit of quality and consistency
Startups
Foreign venture capital funds increase Japan investment 70%
Geopolitical tensions divert money away from China