Corporate strategy, funding, alliances
Business Hinoki, champion of “serial business succession”, raises $20m
Hinoki, a Tokyo-based startup, has raised $20m to acquire Japanese SMEs facing succession crises and hold them permanently — a Japanese take on Europe's serial-acquirer model.
Business Short-drama and anime streamer FLASH raises $8m in seed round
FLASH, a Tokyo short-drama and anime startup, has raised ¥1.3bn ($8m) in seed funding to expand its Million app and move into AI and IP publishing.
Business 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.
Business ‘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.
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.
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.
Business Yoyogi Animation Group raises $18m to develop entertainment IP
Yoyogi Animation Group has raised $18m in equity funding to develop next-generation entertainment IP.
Business JR East Unveils New Paper Tickets Carrying QR Codes, to Launch Next Spring
JR East and seven other Tokyo-area railway operators are replacing magnetic paper tickets with QR-code tickets from spring 2027. The move targets maintenance costs and environmental load — but with an estimated 90 to 95 percent of JR East passengers already using Suica, physical tickets may see little use regardless.
Business movus technologies, an Eco-Car Subscription Startup, Raises $27M in Series B
Japan-headquartered movus technologies has raised $27 million in a Series B round to expand its eco-car subscription service for ride-hailing drivers in Indonesia, where limited access to vehicle financing constrains both driver supply and mobility.
Business What Japan’s METI–Infrastructure Talks Reveal About Corporate IT Security
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry convened talks with critical infrastructure operators on the threat of AI-assisted cyberattacks. The meeting highlights a broader pattern: many Japanese companies continue to rely on VPNs, and that dependence has made them a target.