Michi Tohma - OHYASHIMA

Vol. 5 | Sanpo Yoshi I

What is sanpo yoshi — and did the Ohmi Shonin actually use the term? This installment explores the philosophy behind the concept, and the Marubeni executive who rebuilt an elementary school in a small town, inspired by the founding of Stanford University.

2026.04.13

The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

NHK Announces John Manjiro as the Lead of its 2028 Taiga Drama

NHK has announced John Manjiro as the lead of its 2028 Taiga Drama. The author examines why this ordinary fisherman-turned-cosmopolitan was chosen, and what his story says about Japan's growing inward turn.

2026.04.10

Opinion / Column

Seaweed-Based Food Startup Aqua Theon Raises $5 Million

Aqua Theon, a Japanese-founded food startup based in Los Angeles, has closed a third tranche of its pre-Series A round, raising approximately $5 million. The company's flagship product, OoMee Matcha — a functional beverage made with agar and matcha — is now available in 700 U.S. stores. Aqua Theon positions seaweed as both a health-forward ingredient and a sustainable one, citing its rapid growth rate and CO₂ absorption capacity.

2026.04.07

Business

Vol. 4 | Why So Many Shonin Were Born in One Place

Why did Ohmi produce so many merchant dynasties? This installment of The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin examines the competing theories — from naturalized immigrants and free markets to fragmented fiefdoms — and argues that geography, more than any single cause, was the common thread that sustained them all.

2026.04.06

The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

Photo electron Soul, Developer of Semiconductor Photocathodes, Raises $5.6 Million

Photo electron Soul, a Nagoya University-based startup developing semiconductor photocathodes, has raised approximately 900 million yen ($5.6 million). The funding will support mass production of its electron beam generation system, which simultaneously achieves the narrow beam and high current needed to inspect increasingly miniaturized and multi-layered semiconductor chips at speed.

2026.04.01

Technology

For Expats in Japan: Yodobashi Camera Offers Free Battery Collection

Yodobashi Camera accepts lithium-ion batteries for free — including swollen ones and those without a PSE or recycling mark. Here's what expats in Japan need to know about dropping off batteries that other retailers won't take.

2026.03.27

Living

Skylark Holdings Acquires Operator of Shinpachi Shokudo

Skylark Holdings, one of Japan's largest restaurant groups, announced the acquisition of Shinpachi, the operator of grilled fish set meal chain Shinpachi Shokudo, for approximately 11 billion yen ($69 million). The deal adds another strong brand to Skylark's growing portfolio of M&A targets.

2026.03.25

Business

Vol. 2 | Before We Begin

A note to readers before the series begins in earnest: what this series is — and is not — about, and how key terms like "Jodo thought" and "Ohmi Shonin" are used throughout.

2026.03.24

The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

Vol. 1 | The Japanese Stocks Warren Buffett Bought

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway holds stakes in five Japanese trading companies — including Itochu, whose roots trace back to Chubei Ito, an Ohmi Shonin from 19th-century Shiga Prefecture. This series explores the merchant spirit and Buddhist ethics behind their enduring success.

2026.03.23

The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

LINK-US Raises $3.9M in Series C Extension Round

LINK-US, a Japanese startup with a patented ultrasonic compound vibration technology for metal bonding, has raised 620 million yen (approximately $3.9 million) in a Series C extension round. The proceeds will fund development of a next-generation, higher-frequency bonding device targeting the battery and semiconductor markets.

2026.03.19

Technology