J-CAST Business News http://en.j-cast.com/ Japan's leading business news website, provided in English and Japanese. Full of useful, practical business tips and know-hows. Chinese site to be launched soon. ja Copyright(c) 2006-2009 J-CAST, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:30:12 +0900 Digital video camera priced at less than 8,000 yen Cheap-priced video cameras
Cheap-priced video cameras

   Exemode, Inc. succeeded in conducting a "cost performance" of cutting the price of a digital video camera to less than 8,000 yen. Such video camera, "EXEMODE DV520," was introduced on June 26, 2009.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/30044336.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/30044336.html Technology & Electronics Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:30:12 +0900 Twitter is gaining popularity at fast pace, May surpass 2channel, Mobage    The micro-blog service that started in the United States, "Twitter," is now attracting users in Japan at a fast pace. The service enables chatting-like communications by posting a muttering like "What shall I eat for supper" in 140 or less number of characters. In the United States, President Obama is using it, while in Japan persons like Takafumi Horie, known by his nickname of Horiemon, and Ryuichi Sakamoto are joining in as users. It remains to be seen how wide the service will expand in Japan.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/26044101.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/26044101.html Technology & Electronics Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:31:04 +0900 “Canned Bread,” recognized by NASA, good news for natural disaster victims    Three-year-old bread tastes just like the right-out-of-oven bread. The "canned bread," made and sold by Pan Akimoto Co., based in Tochigi Prefecture, is gaining the popularity for use in outdoor activities and for preservation for emergency. The annual sales of the product reach 2 million cans. The preservability and other characteristics of the canned bread were cognized by Nasa, and it was as a food supply by the Space Shuttle Discovery, of which the crew included Iwata, on its mission.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/23043804.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/23043804.html Others Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:49:36 +0900 Stock prices not yet safe levels. Fear of “second bottom” rippling from Europe    While the stock prices have regained the average 10,000 yen level, some financial experts and economists warn of a "second bottom." Signs of positive movements are beginning to be seen in the U.S. and other economies. The Japanese economic indicators, however, are a mixture of bright and dark data, and the economy is still unpredictable. It is also pointed out that there are factors "in Europe" that will trigger a "second bottom."

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/19043609.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/19043609.html Financial services & Securities Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:13:13 +0900 Plug-in cars introduced by Fuji and Mitsubishi    Hybrid cars, such as the Prius and Insight are usually thought of as the eco-cars. The eco-cars successively unveiled by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in early June are, however, 100% electric cars. Moreover, the companies say they all are of the "plug-in" type.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/17043368.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/17043368.html Automotive & Machinery Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:45:39 +0900 Walkman. Earphones and player combined in one piece Player and earphones are combined in one piece in new design. (Photo shows a pink-colored model)
Player and earphones are combined in one piece in new design. (Photo shows a pink-colored model)

   Sony Corp. will introduce on June 13, 2009 a light-weight music player of 30 grams, NWD-W202, in the "Walkman W series."

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/12043083.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/12043083.html Technology & Electronics Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:06:12 +0900 Giant retailer Amazon.Co.Jp shows continued sales growth. Wonder under business downturn    The sales expansion on the internet retailing site, Amazon.Co.Jp is unceasing. Just in the past two months, the company newly established the sales categories of "Stationery and Official Supplies," "Jewelry" and "Astronomy," and the number of items handled has already exceeded 10 million. The site is now classified as a gigantic retailing place. The company will set up a new distribution base for the first time in western Japan in early August 2009, aiming at shortening of delivery time and higher efficiency.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/10042891.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/10042891.html Others Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:49:44 +0900 Mouse fitted with “gyrosensor,” can be operated midair BT★AirMouse
BT★AirMouse

   Diatec Corporation introduced the wireless mouse "BT★AirMouse!" in late May. It is compatible with the Bluetooth ver2.1. Fitted with a "gyrosensor," it can be operated midair. It can be used as an ordinary laser mouse on the desk.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/05042614.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/05042614.html Technology & Electronics Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:03:51 +0900 “See auctioning of tuna fish and then eat sushi” – popular spots for foreign tourists    In the ranking of attraction spots for foreign visitors in Japan, the Tsukiji fish market, "Pokemon Center Tokyo" and Roppongi Hills, all in Tokyo, occupy high places. In Kyoto, the ancient capital city that has long attracted foreign visitors, however, Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion) and Fushimi Inari Taisha (shrine) are the only two places ranked in the top ten. The famous Kiyomizu Dera temple was ranked down at the 12th place.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/03042502.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/06/03042502.html Others Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:28:27 +0900 3rd-generation Prius runs 38km/liter New Prius runs 38km per liter
New Prius runs 38km per liter

   Toyota Motor Corp. started selling on May 18, 2009 a new version of Prius after conducting a full model change on the car.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/29042218.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/29042218.html Automotive & Machinery Fri, 29 May 2009 19:25:56 +0900 Desktop PC prices going down, is “nettop” laptop boom coming?    The sales of the low priced laptops called "netbooks," designed mainly for internet access and other selected purposes to cut production cost, are going up sharply. Such trend toward lower prices also appears to be affecting the prices of desktop computers, and the PC makers are introducing products priced in the range of 50,000 yen to 60,000 yen. These products seem to be popular among the consumers who do not want to pay much yet want to have PCs with big display panels. The makers seem to be getting definite response to their efforts. The netbooks, also called "nettops," are low-priced desktop PCs which may show a jump in sales in fiscal 2009.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/27042000.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/27042000.html Technology & Electronics Wed, 27 May 2009 17:21:52 +0900 Digital photo frame capable of storing 3,000 pictures Photo frames that may replace albums
Photo frames that may replace albums

   Samsung will sell two models of digital photo frames starting successively in the middle of May. They can be used by connecting to a personal computer by a USB cable, making an AC adapter unnecessary.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/22041743.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/22041743.html Technology & Electronics Fri, 22 May 2009 21:07:05 +0900 U.S. economic newspaper WSJ to start Japanese-language website. Newspaper sales hitting the wall, can they find way to stay in business by charging a price on the net?    The U.S. economic newspaper Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is to start a website in Japanese. This is believed to be aimed at expanding over the world its online distribution by charging a price. It seems that difficulty facing the management of the publication of the newspaper is in the background. Some people are doubtful, however, if the company can obtain a satisfactory number of readers through charging of a price.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/19041397.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/19041397.html Others Tue, 19 May 2009 18:30:33 +0900 Experimental Lexus car to take part in 24-hour race The images of the experimental car to run in the race
The images of the experimental car to run in the race

   A Lexus-brand car of Toyota Motor Corp. will take part in the 37th Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race to be held in Germany on May 21-24, the company has announced.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/14041145.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/14041145.html Automotive & Machinery Thu, 14 May 2009 21:31:44 +0900 Tour packages to visit spots to observe total solar eclipse, as expensive as overseas trips at maximum 1.4 million yen    Total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through between the Earth and the Sun and the Sun can not be seen behind the Moon for a time. This rare occasion can be observed on July 22, 2009 at some areas in Tokara Islands, Amami Oshima and Tanegashima in the Pacific off Kashima Prefecture. Travel agents say tour packages for visiting the areas are already all reserved. The islands are planning various festivities to mark the occasion and they are already in a festive mood.

]]> http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/12040966.html http://en.j-cast.com/2009/05/12040966.html Others Tue, 12 May 2009 19:06:43 +0900