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November 12th, 2020

GAME ON

Nintendo takes off as the world retreats to the couch

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A National League for Democracy election billboard near the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Mainstream Chinese envy America.
Opinion

China does not want to see America fail

Most feel invested in US turnaround but want their country to have own path

The saving grace for Yoshihide Suga is that Japan under Abe had already arrived at an answer to how to manage the challenge of China.
Opinion

Why the US will miss out on a Southeast Asia Suga-high

Tokyo leading Southeast Asia on a steady course when it comes to China

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks to reporters about efforts to fight the pandemic in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 9.
The Nikkei View

Biden's victory is a chance to restore international order

President-elect's pledge of more diplomatic cooperation welcome change

Entertainment giant Nintendo announced record profits as millions turned to its games in quarantine. The pandemic ending, according to one analyst, would be a "horror story" for the company.
The Big Story

Exclusive: Nintendo chief plots post-Animal Crossing future

Pandemic gaming boom lifts profits, but console wars are set to intensify

Philippine malls have gone from centers of daily life to all but deserted amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Kimberly Dela Cruz)
Business Spotlight

'Mini economies': Pandemic tests the Philippines' mighty malls

Retailers and consumers go digital in blow for major developers

Apple aims to rapidly cut its reliance on Intel CPUs for its MacBook lineup.
Technology

Apple aims to make 2.5m MacBooks with in-house CPU by early 2021

California tech giant also orders 20m older iPhones to offset 5G handset delays

Masayoshi Son has overseen a sale of SoftBank assets and change of investment focus this year. (Screenshot from SoftBank's website)
SoftBank

SoftBank swings to $6bn quarterly profit

Vision Fund chief Rajeev Misra and COO Marcelo Claure removed from board

Hyundai Motor is pivoting heavily toward flying taxis and other aerial mobility services. (Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor)
Transportation

Hyundai targets 2026 debut of unmanned cargo planes

Announcement follows partnership with Uber in flying taxis

Making it across the line: entries for the ranking must be submitted by November 30 2020 
Announcements

Call for entries: High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021

Apply for a place in Nikkei Asia/FT ranking, compiled with Statista, by January 31, 2021

Would-be investors in shares of Ant Financial, billed as the world's largest initial public offering, were rattled by an abrupt decision by Chinese regulators to cancel the flotation.
Market Spotlight

China investors rethink market risk after Ant's scuppered IPO

Lure of big returns remains despite unwelcome reminder of Beijing's power

Biden celebrates onstage after his victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 7.
US elections 2020

Biden elected president, heralding shift for Asia after Trump

Democrat vows to make US 'respected' again; experts foresee 'hard line' on China

Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris greet supporters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 7, after news media projected that they had secured the presidency.
US elections 2020

'I won't be the last' woman in White House: Kamala Harris

Full transcripts of victory speeches by Joe Biden and his vice president-elect

King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida: Thailand's ancient monarchy has found itself badly out of step with the kingdom's modern youth.
Asia Insight

Thailand's untouchable monarchy comes under unusual scrutiny

King Maha Vajiralongkorn talks of compromise but calls for reform unlikely to go away

Japanese megastar Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, left -- a former member of the hugely popular boy band SMAP -- plays the role of an impoverished transgender woman in this year's surprise hit "Midnight Swan." 
Arts

An outsider brings transgender struggles to Japan's movie screens

Eiji Uchida's 'Midnight Swan' stars SMAP's Kusanagi as protagonist

Vietnamese cowherd So Y Tiet is not your typical Instagram star. (From Instagram) 
Tea Leaves

Rural Vietnamese vlogger gets 15 minutes of global fame

He herded cows in Vietnam. Then Snoop Dogg put him on Instagram