Japanese consumers are wary of digital distribution and prefer normal face to face transactions due to distrust

"Japanese consumers are more leery of digital distribution and prefer buying at brick & mortar, thanks to a general distrust of direct electronic transactions. " 

Source: Will Japanese consumers warm up to digital distro next gen?

jiji, purveyor and connoisseur of fine gaming specimens

06-14-2013 

NeoGaf 

http://67.227.255.239/forum/showthread.php?p=63600846

What are the top green Japanese brands?

"Toyota won top billing by selling 2.9 million hybrid Prius cars in 2012, pursuing sustainability in Toyota City, Japan, and reducing its corporate greenhouse gas emissions."

"Top 10 green brand rankings:

1 – Toyota

3 – Honda

4 – Panasonic

5 – Nissan

Source: Interbrand.com "

Source: Car makers are world's greenest companies

June 14, 2013

David McCowen

The AGE Newspaper

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/car-makers-are-worlds-greenest-companies-20130614-2o9ev.html

Japanese companies involved in new iPhone 5S

"Japan's Sharp and Japan Display and South Korea's LG will supply the panels for the aluminium iPhone 5S and the plastic iPhone, while Hon Hai Precision Industry will assemble the higher-end phone and Pegatron will put together the cheaper model."

Source: Cheaper iPhones on way: sources

June 13, 2013

Clare Jim, Reiji Murai and Poornima GuptaThe AGE Newspaper

The AGE Newspaper

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/cheaper-iphones-on-way-sources-20130613-2o7dx.html

Panasonic Japan to start using 3D printers to make metal moulds for home appliances

"Panasonic Corp...will soon start using 3-D printers to make metal molds used in the fabrication of parts that go into home appliances" 

Source:Panasonic to use 3D printers to make metal moulds 

Nikkei.com

Saturday 15th June 2013 

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/freetop.aspx

Video: Nissan GTR in the showrooms in Tokyo

Video: Nissan GTR in the showrooms in Tokyo

Video: Nissan GTR in the showrooms in Tokyo

Japanese investment into renewable energy increased 73 percent to $16 billion following 2011 earthquake

"In Japan (investment in renewable energy ).. surged 73 per cent to $US16 billion as the government introduced subsidies for wind, solar and geothermal power following the earthquake in 2011 that closed most of the nation's nuclear reactors."

Source: 

Renewables growth shifts to developing nations

June 13, 2013 

The AGE newspaper

http://www.theage.com.au/business/carbon-economy/renewables-growth-shifts-to-developing-nations-20130613-2o5b5.html#ixzz2W3FhFE3N

Japanese customers get access to new rescue power cable for smartphones

"When your smartphone is running out of power, you will be able to steal some power from your friend’s smartphone if you have .JTT's.. (Japanese)rescue cable for micro USB....You can use it by setting the bigger side to a smartphone that will feed power and setting the smaller side to the other smartphone running out of power....possible to use it between a smartphone and tablet.Price: 980 yen..Compatible with: Android OS 4.0 or later micro USB built-in device..Weight: Approx 16g"

Source: Feed power from one smartphone to another

JUN. 14, 2013 

Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/new-products/view/feed-power-from-one-smartphone-to-another

Japan's offshore wind market estimated at 31 megawatts in cumulative capacity in 2012

"Japan's offshore wind market -- 31 megawatts in cumulative capacity -- lags behind countries like the U.K. and Denmark with 3,093 megawatts and 923 megawatts of capacity, respectively, according to 2012 data compiled by Bloomberg."

Source: Goldman eyes $3b in Japan renewable investments

June 14, 2013

Zoom in on this story. Explore all there is to know.

The AGE Newspaper

http://www.theage.com.au/business/carbon-economy/goldman-eyes-3b-in-japan-renewable-investments-20130614-2o7uo.html#ixzz2W8yHswLP

Japan set to become largest solar energy market at $19 Billion in 2013 as capacity doubles according to estimate

"Japan is expected to become the world’s largest solar energy market this year, with the installation of new solar power systems more than doubling capacity, a recent report by a U.S. research firm says. ..The domestic solar power market is forecast to reach $19.8 billion (¥1.91 trillion) in 2013, surpassing Germany, which was the biggest market from 2009 to 2012, according to the report by IHS Inc."

Source:Japan set to top solar power market

June 13, 2013

Japan Times

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/13/business/japan-set-to-top-solar-power-market/#.UbkdRfkwdv0

Sharp Japan improves the Cocorobo vacuum cleaner with an array of new features to increase convenience

Video: Cocorobo vaccuum cleaner by SHarp

Source: Digi info news

You Tube CHannel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtvzGD58c-c

Since its release Sharp has improved the robot, increasing how long it operates, the strength of the suction and allows it to know go under chairs

"Cocorobo (Sharp) home cleaning robot ....The robot will detect the size of rooms and places where dirt has accumulated. If there is no dirt, the robot will automatically reduce suction strength, giving it the ability to run more than 60% longer on a charge.The new robot will be able to clean an average-size four-room home in about 100 minutes, compared with current versions, which cannot operate more than 60 minutes without a recharge."

Source:

Sharp Adds Smarts To Home Cleaning Robot

Nikkei.com

Wednesday June 12th, 2013

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20130612D1206N05.htm

Innovative Japanese smartphone slows down the speech of a caller to go on sale in France

"the Raku Raku (smartphone) in Japan, the smartphone is known for having large, easy-to-press button icons. It automatically adjusts volume in conjunction with surrounding noise and has a function that slows down the speech of a caller without changing the length of the conversation." 

Source: 

Fujitsu's Smartphone For Seniors Says 'Bonjour'

June 13th 2013

Nikkei.com

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20130612D12JSN04.htm

Citzen watch company Japan to launch new satellite synchronized watch in September

"Citizen Watch (Japan) .... has set a September release for its Eco-Drive Satellite Wave-Air, a wristwatch that synchronizes with satellite signals to adjust the time in as little as 4 seconds....satellite-controlled watches can sync to adjust the time from any location in the world...price the Eco-Drive Satellite Wave-Air at 252,000 yen, or 262,500 yen for the upgraded version with a hard carbon "coating."

Source: 

Citizen's New Watch Syncs With Satellites For Fast Time Fixes

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Nikkei.com

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20130612D12JSN03.htm

Hitachi wins order to build train cars for first electric railway project in Ho Chi Minh City

"Hitachi Ltd ....has received a 37 billion yen order for train cars and a signaling system for Vietnam's first electric railway project to be built in Ho Chi Minh City, The Nikkei has learned."

Source: Hitachi To Supply Electric Railway To Ho Chi Minh City

June 11th 2013

Nikkei.com

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/freetop.aspx

Japan develops IGZO liquid crystals enable higher screen resolution and more conductive than silicon

".........high-definition, power-saving IGZO liquid crystals, which enable smaller pixels for higher screen resolutions and screen reaction speeds ......IGZO does not use conventional semiconductors made from silicon, but rather uses semiconductors composed of indium, gallium and zinc oxide. Thus, it is called IGZO....IGZO is dozens of times more conductive than silicon. It can make smaller TFTs and give high-definition quality to liquid crystals"

Source: Government aid helped make Sharp's IGZO crystals a reality

June 10, 2013

Asahi Shimbun

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/AJ201306100079

Video: How are marketers attracting Japanese customers this summer?

 Video: Japanese TV Commercials [ 2013 HOT SUMMER EDITION ] 

Source: JPCMHD

Japanese supplement market valued at 10 billion yen

“In Japan alone, the supplement market represents about a 10 billion yen opportunity,” says Izumo. “

Picture: Japanese green tea and red bean snack

Source:Is the Future of Food in Tokyo?

By Jeff Yang

July 25th 2013

Wall Street Journal

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/07/25/is-this-the-future-of-food/#!

Japan may not need to commercialise its methane hydrate reserves, capability might be enough to negotiate

"Japan may not even need to commercialise its resources...."just the physical capability to mine hydrates will give Japan negotiating power" says Kimball Chen, Energy Transportation Group"" 

Source: The ice gas cometh 

By Katia Moskvitch 

The Sunday Age 

September 29th 2013, page 15

Japanese customers can buy a space funeral that sends their remains into space

Picture: Burning incense at a cemetery plot

"Elysium Space is offering a service in Japan to send a portion of a persons cremated remains in a capsule that will circle the earth for several months for $AUS 2100...The cost of renting a burial plot and buying a headstone in Tokyo is about Y2.7 million (AUS$29,000) according to Japan Institute of Life Insurance"

Source: Space the final frontier for burials

by Kanoko Matsuyama

Bloomberg

Australian Financial Review

Thursday 3rd October 2013

Page 15

Record financial deficits from energy imports focused Japan on accelerating its methane hydrate research

"Last year, after energy imports sent Japan into record financial deficits, the country accelerated its decades-old methane hydrate program" 

Source: The ice gas cometh 

By Katia Moskvitch 

The Sunday Age 

September 29th 2013, page 15

Japanese customers set to get first unlimited voice plan as NTT Docomo prepares for launch next April 2014

"NTT DoCoMo intends to launch an unlimited voice plan next fiscal year, a first for a major Japanese mobile carrier."

Source: 

DoCoMo Eyes Unlimited Voice Plan

The Nikkei

Friday June 7th,2013

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/freetop.aspx