Michi Tohma - OHYASHIMA

Japan Moves to Introduce “Record Performance and Communication Rights” into Copyright Law

Japan is moving to introduce record performance and communication rights into its copyright law, reshaping how Japanese music used as background music is licensed and monetized worldwide.

2026.01.12

Policy & Regulation

Former Itochu Chairman Uichiro Niwa Has Passed Away: The “Heart” of the Man I Saw

Former Itochu chairman Uichiro Niwa has passed away. The author reflects on Niwa’s career as a business leader and ambassador to China, and on the “heart” he revealed in a rare personal interview.

2026.01.09

Business

Rakuten Medical Raises $100 Million in Series F Funding

Rakuten Medical has raised $100 million in Series F funding to advance its photoimmunotherapy program and prepare for regulatory approval in the United States by 2028.

2026.01.08

Technology

Why Did a Tuna Sell for $3.2 Million?

Why did a tuna sell for $3.2 million at Japan’s Hatsuseri? This article explains the first auction of the year and the cultural roots of Japan’s love for first-of-the-year offerings.

2026.01.06

Culture & Society

Nikkei Reports SWIFT to Build an Instant Settlement System for Cross-Border Transfers — Has the Global Financial Messaging Network Become Outdated?

SWIFT plans to build an instant settlement system for small-value cross-border transfers. Nikkei reports the initiative aims to close the gap with fintech rivals.

2026.01.03

Business

SPACER completes Series B extension, bringing the round’s total to approximately $6 million

SPACER, a Japanese startup developing smart luggage lockers, has completed a Series B extension round, bringing total Series B funding to approximately $6 million to expand production and logistics use cases.

2025.12.26

Business

Lawson Store 100 Shifts Toward a Small-Format Supermarket Model: What This Move Reveals About Japan’s Retail Landscape

Lawson Store 100 is shifting toward a small-format supermarket model. This article explores how the move reflects intensifying competition and structural change in Japan’s urban retail market.

2025.12.24

Business

There Is No Slump in Greetings

“There is no slump in greetings,” a phrase coined by Japanese comedian Kunihiro Matsumura, explains a simple rule behind Japanese communication.

2025.12.22

Opinion / Column

Australia Bans Social Media Use for Children: What About Japan?

Australia has begun enforcing a ban on social media use for children under 16. This article explores how Japan compares, examining Kagawa Prefecture’s gaming ordinance and Toyoake City’s smartphone-use guidelines, and what these rules reveal about Japanese society.

2025.12.18

Culture & Society

Lead accel raises $386,000 in seed funding to advance ADS technology for reducing radioactive waste

Lead accel, a Japan-based nuclear technology startup, has raised ¥60 million in seed funding to advance ADS technology that reduces long-lived radioactive waste through minor actinide transmutation.

2025.12.17

Technology