Michi Tohma - OHYASHIMA

Vol. 18 | Demise and edamise Part 3

How the Ohmi Shonin turned homecoming into promotion. Vol. 18 examines the zaisho-nobori system, the career ladder inside demise and edamise, and the arbitrage across regions that the branch network made possible.

2026.07.21

SeriesThe Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

Space-debris startup Star Signal Solutions raises $3m seed round

JAXA startup Star Signal Solutions raises ¥450m ($3m) seed round led by JAFCO, as it scales debris-tracking and satellite collision-avoidance navigation services.

2026.07.17

Technology

Fusion power company Starlight Engine raises $37m

Fusion power start-up Starlight Engine has raised $37m in its first external funding round, backing the FAST demonstration project it leads toward 2030s power generation.

2026.07.16

Technology

Vol. 17 | Demise and edamise Part 2

Part two on demise and edamise: the ranks within a merchant house, why the Ohmi Shonin staffed them only with men from Ohmi, and the roots of Takashimaya.

2026.07.15

SeriesThe Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

Algae-cultivation startup AlgaleX raises $2m in Series A

Okinawa's AlgaleX has raised $2m in Series A funding for its AI-controlled system that grows DHA-rich algae on awamori distillery waste.

2026.07.13

Technology

Chalcopyrite cell developer PXP raises $9.6m in Series B

PXP, a Japanese chalcopyrite solar cell startup backed by SoftBank, has raised $9.6m in Series B funding to build a mass-production factory opening in 2027.

2026.07.10

Technology

Mofuku Rescue, 24-hour mourning-wear rental service, raises $3m in Series A round

Mofuku Rescue, which rents mourning wear from unstaffed 24-hour stores, has raised around ¥500m ($3m) in a Series A.

2026.07.09

Business

Vol. 16 | demise and edamise Part 1

The Ohmi Shonin covered Japan with demise and edamise, branch shops that clustered in the east. The author explains why, drawing on the Battle of Sekigahara and the shogunate's daimyo hierarchy.

2026.07.08

SeriesThe Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

Self-driving developer Turing raises $78m in Series A extension round

Turing has raised $78m in a Series A extension, taking its total funding to $172m, as the Tokyo-based startup pushes ahead with camera-based, VLA-driven autonomous driving.

2026.07.07

Technology

‘Tree-Ring Management’ pioneer, Ina Food Industry former chairman Hiroshi Tsukakoshi dies

Hiroshi Tsukakoshi, the Ina Food Industry chief adviser behind ‘Tree-Ring Management’ and an inspiration to Toyota’s Akio Toyoda, has died aged 88.

2026.07.06

Business