Michi Tohma - OHYASHIMA

‘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

Rental move-in cost instalment service Smooth raises $4m in Series C first close

Smooth, which lets Japanese tenants pay rental move-in costs in instalments, has raised $4m in a Series C first close backed by state fund JIC.

2026.07.03

Business

Nudge, issuer of credit cards for Japan’s oshikatsu fan economy, raises $9m

Nudge, which issues credit cards for Japan's oshikatsu fan economy, has raised $9m through a mix of asset, debt and equity financing, including from Morgan Stanley and Resona Bank.

2026.07.02

Business

EUV photon, which evaluates light for semiconductor-manufacturing exposure equipment, raises $5m in seed round

Kyushu University spinout EUV photon raises $5m in seed funding to expand EUV irradiation and evaluation services, reducing Japan's reliance on overseas facilities.

2026.06.30

Technology

Vol. 15 | The Trading Associations the Ohmi Shonin Formed

The Ohmi Shonin didn't peddle alone. Vol. 15 looks at the peddling associations — from the Ryohama-gumi to the Hino Daitoban Nakama — that powered their trade networks.

2026.06.29

SeriesThe Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin

BEAM Technologies, aiming to manufacture semiconductor crystals in space, raises $1.4m in seed round

RIKEN spinout BEAM Technologies raises $1.4m to grow semiconductor crystals in microgravity, signing LEO manufacturing MOUs with Resonac and others.

2026.06.26

Technology

ElevationSpace, developer of a re-entry-capsule satellite, raises $40m in Series B round

Japanese re-entry-satellite startup ElevationSpace has raised $40m in Series B funding, accelerating its "Aoba" mission and post-ISS space plans.

2026.06.25

Technology

Three-wheeled EV maker Lean Mobility raises $5m in pre-Series A round

Lean Mobility, a Japan-Taiwan EV startup, has raised ¥800m in a pre-Series A round to fund mass production of its three-wheeled Lean3 microcar in Tainan.

2026.06.24

Technology

Yoyogi Animation Group raises $18m to develop entertainment IP

Yoyogi Animation Group has raised $18m in equity funding to develop next-generation entertainment IP.

2026.06.23

Business

Vol. 14 | How the Ohmi Shonin Travelled: By Sea

The landlocked Ohmi Shonin chartered ships from Tsuruga to trade with Hokkaido. The author traces their Edo-period sea routes, and a hotpot born along the way.

2026.06.22

SeriesThe Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin