927 received, 927 listed, 3 sources ・ Page 2 of 10
One place for news and notices from 2 countries/regions: Japan, 900 items from 2 sources; Taiwan, 27 items from 1 source.
One edition every 180 minutes: every item from every source received in the period, with the original link.
OriginalRWAトークン化プラットフォームを提供するSecuritizeは、2026年3月24日にニューヨーク証券取引所（NYSE）とのMOU締結を発表した。この提携により、SecuritizeはNYSEのトークン化証券プラットフォームで初のデジタル名義書換代理人に指名され、企業やETF発行体向けのブロックチェーンネイティブ証券発行を可能にする。両社はトークン化証券の取引における標準策定や、規制・運用・技術要件の確立で協力する。Securitizeの運用資産残高は2025年11月時点で40億ドル超に上る。
Lifestyle & Beauty brand “AHRES” will hold its 2nd POP UP SHOP at Ginza Mitsukoshi starting April 22, 2026. The shop will offer an early launch of 2 limited-edition fragrances, END and LESS, from the popular “Sound Skin Perfume” line. Prices are ¥4,620 for 8 mL and ¥13,200 for 50 mL. General sales begin April 28, 2026.
Cuore will launch 2 spring-summer limited-edition shades in its high-performance eyebrow series from cosmetics brand K-Palette. The limited shades are Taupe Ash in “K-Palette Two-Way Eyebrow Liquid” and Downy Brown in “K-Palette Three-Way Eyebrow Pencil.” They will go on sale nationwide in limited quantities at variety stores and drugstores on April 28, 2026, priced at ¥1,430 each (including tax). Early sales will begin at 10 a.m. on April 20 through the official online shop.
SIDAS Japan will hold pop-up stores in 7 regions nationwide in succession from April 18 to May 31, 2026. The event will showcase the 2026 spring-summer models of its ReCoLA recovery sandals and UTIPPA recovery room shoes. Following the success of its previous pop-up store at Hands Nagoya in February 2026, the company will continue offering try-on experiences and expand to more regions. Both UTIPPA and ReCoLA are registered as general medical devices and are designed to help improve foot conditioning.
Caravan Coffee relaunched its Coffee Yokan (black bean paste and white bean paste) and Tea Yokan (white bean paste) on April 14, 2026. The products feature refreshed packaging, and the Coffee Yokan is made with the company’s own-roasted Soft Blend coffee, processed using freeze-grinding technology. Each 55 g portion costs ¥324 (including tax) and is available through the online shop and company-operated stores. Founded in 1928, Caravan Coffee is a long-established coffee brand. Its operator, Unimat Life, also runs a patisserie business and serves as the exclusive Japanese distributor for French tea brand NINA’S.
Original株式会社ANOBAKAは、2026年5月26日開催の「Generative AI Conference TOKYO」で、AIキャピタリスト「ANOくん」によるピッチ選考枠を新設します。これはANOくんのローンチ1周年を記念した試みで、AIとの面談評価で高評価を得たスタートアップにピッチ登壇権が与えられます。優勝賞金は100万円で、ANOBASHOシェアオフィスプラン半年間無料権も特典に含まれます。応募締切は2026年5月1日です。
SPLYZA Inc. has signed a joint research agreement with the University of Tokyo Hospital to use SPLYZA Motion, an AI-powered markerless 3D motion analysis app. The study aims to establish a multifaceted filming protocol tailored to patients with musculoskeletal disorders and improve measurement accuracy. It will use AI to make it easy and highly accurate to quantify complex movements that have been difficult to assess in conventional clinical evaluations. SPLYZA Motion launched in 2022 and, as of April 2026, has been adopted by approximately 200 facilities.
NEC Corporation and AmbiRise Inc. have begun integrating NEC’s GPRIME Financial Accounting system with AmbiRise’s Haratte electronic invoicing system to improve the efficiency of local government operations. Invoice data created or received in Haratte will be automatically transferred when users prepare expenditure order forms and combined expenditure commitment and order forms in GPRIME Financial Accounting. The integration is expected to reduce workloads for local government staff, prevent rejections caused by manual data-entry errors and speed up review processes. It will be seamlessly integrated into the standard operations of GPRIME Financial Accounting.
CLINKS Inc. was certified on March 16, 2026, by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a Smart SME Supporter, an IT support organization. The program certifies companies that provide IT tools and implementation support to help small and medium-sized enterprises improve productivity and strengthen their management foundations. CLINKS operates IT outsourcing, systems development, AI services and training businesses. Its corporate generative AI chat service, Nareful Chat, has been adopted by more than 1000 companies. Its certification number is No. 58-26030004.
ChillStack Inc. has launched a new Risk Ranking feature for Stena Expense, its AI-powered cloud service for automatically detecting expense fraud. The feature analyzes expense data with AI, calculates a risk score for each applicant and displays applicants at high risk of fraud in a ranking. This helps auditors identify which cases to review first, enabling early detection of fraud and more efficient audits. According to a survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), it takes an average of 18 months for fraud to be detected, highlighting the importance of early detection. To mark the feature’s launch, a webinar will be held on April 20, 2026, featuring Yoshiharu Saito, representative CEO of Rick and Company, and others.
Softcreate Inc. has obtained Microsoft Copilot Specialization, Microsoft’s top-tier partner designation. The certification recognizes the company’s expertise and strong track record in supporting the implementation and use of Microsoft 365, its advanced specialist knowledge and its stable support structure. Its contributions to customers’ business transformation, including AstroScale Holdings Inc., were a factor in receiving the certification. Microsoft Japan also praised Softcreate’s outstanding expertise and track record, and expressed its commitment to working together to promote digital transformation. Softcreate also plans to hold a Microsoft Copilot seminar on May 15, 2026.
Boule Mich Inc. will begin selling its Okinawa-exclusive new product, Okinawa Beni-imo Cake, at the Boule Mich Okinawa Ryubo store on April 15, 2026. The moist cake is made with Okinawa-grown beni-imo sweet potatoes, Yomitan vanilla flavoring and Nuchimasu salt, and is mixed with candied chestnuts. It is available in 2-piece packs for ¥540 and 6-piece packs for ¥1,620, can be stored at room temperature and is ideal as a souvenir. The packaging was designed by bingata artist Koji Kinjo.
Futaba Corporation launched the “GYA483,” an ultra-compact 6-axis gyro for RC airplanes, in April 2026. It retains the high-performance control of the previous GYA573 while achieving a compact size comparable to a small 1-axis gyro. Measuring 20.7 x 20.7 x 11.0 mm and weighing 3.7g, it can be installed in a wide range of aircraft and provides high flight stability and handling performance. It also features advanced functions such as auto recovery and roll and flat modes, making it suitable for users from beginners to advanced pilots. The list price is 12,650 yen.
Dainichi Corporation will begin accepting advance orders for a limited-edition design of “Sansan Sponge,” created in collaboration with Sanrio Characters, at its official online shop on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The lineup includes 4 designs featuring Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody and Kuromi, priced at 1,848 yen (tax included) for a set of 4. The general release is planned for Friday, May 15, 2026. The sponge retains its original functionality while adding a vibrant touch to the kitchen. Dainichi Corporation, a family-run company established in December 1973, has manufactured and sold solid dishwashing detergents and sponges for more than 50 years.
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LANEIGE, a brand operated by Amorepacific Japan, will launch the “Flash Pop Lip Plumper,” a serum-formulated lip plumper, in limited quantities. It is priced at 2,000 yen (2,200 yen including tax) and contains 4.2g. It will launch first at PLAZA on May 14, 2026, followed by Qoo10 on May 28 and stores nationwide at Loft, @cosme and e-commerce sites starting June 22. The product features ingredients including chili pepper components and 5 types of hyaluronic acid, and offers warming and cooling effects as well as skincare benefits.
Original公益財団法人神野教育財団は、2026年度の教育・文化活動助成の募集を開始した。募集期間は2025年6月2日まで。助成には「テーマ指定なし」と「テーマ指定あり」の2種類があり、前者は愛知県東三河地域での活動を対象に1件30万円以内を助成する。後者は神野新田・三河港周辺地区の歴史文化に関する活動を対象とする。選考結果は締切後1ヶ月半以内に通知され、2026年7月28日に決定通知書授与式が予定されている。
The Hidenori Watanave Laboratory at the University of Tokyo Graduate School and the nonprofit organization Piece of Syria have jointly launched the “Syria Archive” project to preserve Syrian culture, which is being lost to war, as 3D data. The project uses footage provided by Syrian collaborators to create 3D models of cityscapes and cultural heritage sites. It is being undertaken against a backdrop of buildings destroyed by conflict and more than 700,000 Syrian refugee children growing up without knowing their homeland’s culture. As part of the project, an event where participants can experience the digital archive will be held at JICA Tokyo on April 26, 2026.
Tokyo Soir has developed repairable, long-lasting glass accessories in collaboration with HARIO Lampwork Factory. Against a backdrop of ethical consumer preferences reaching 57.5% in a Consumer Affairs Agency survey, the product embodies circular manufacturing. It will be available at the online store starting April 14, 2026, and at POP-UP stores in 4 department stores on a rolling basis from April 23. Earrings are priced from 13,200 yen (tax included).
Vesync Japan has launched a corporate purchasing service and an official affiliate program on its official website. The corporate service reduces the burden of requesting quotes and placing orders, and offers dedicated discount codes, a 2-year warranty and the ability to issue qualified invoices. The affiliate program provides an opportunity to earn income by promoting products through blogs and social media, with a 5% commission on purchases made through dedicated links and a 90-day cookie period. Through these services, the company aims to expand opportunities to adopt VeSync products and provide value to users. VeSync, a small appliance manufacturer founded in the United States in 2011, operates 3 brands: Levoit, COSORI and Etekcity.
ADDICT Inc. has launched a new project, “Beauty Partner,” to strengthen its beauty business in Japan and South Korea. For its first initiative, it has enlisted beauty creator Zutti Mattia, who has more than 1.7 million followers across social media. By combining ADDICT’s data analysis capabilities with ONEVIEW’s creative capabilities, the project aims to establish a “next-generation standard” in the beauty market. ADDICT is a social media marketing company specializing in beauty, established in April 2026. Nacht Inc. operates marketing and other businesses and was founded in July 2018.
SAK University Tokyo Innovation Campus began accepting applications for the second round of its early transfer admissions program on April 14, 2026. Applications are open from April 14 to April 27, and interviews will be held from April 14 to April 28. The university is an international education partner institution accredited by the University of Essex in the UK, and offers computer science, AI and cybersecurity in Japanese. Information sessions for prospective transfer students and individual academic guidance sessions will also be held.
Uber Japan announced on April 14, 2026, that it is expanding the standard benefits of its corporate service, “Uber for Business.” Employees of participating companies will receive a free 12-month subscription to “Uber One,” a service that normally costs 3,998 yen per year. This allows employees to use all Uber One benefits free of charge for 1 year, both for work and personal use. Companies can support employees’ daily lives and boost engagement without additional costs or contract administration.
Sensitive-skin brand OSAJI will open its first global concept store, “Osaji Kyoto,” in Kyoto on April 25, 2026.
Companies mentioned：doyoubi、CAN−PANY、今古今、upsetters architects
Details and a full lineup of ways to enjoy “Craft Gyoza Fest®︎ 2026,” being held simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka, have been announced. Popular gyoza restaurants from across Japan will gather at the event, which will also sell frozen gyoza to take home and merchandise.
Companies mentioned：餃子とワイン 果皮と餡、宇都宮はちまん餃子、餃子専門丸虎MARCO、肉玉そば越智×浅草開化楼、GYOZA SHACK、玉川精肉店、LIU'S gyoza、サクラサカス、餃子屋ヒロ
“Shisei Karte,” an AI posture analysis system developed by Sapeet, has been adopted at 11 locations of “Hirax,” a rehabilitation-focused day service operated by SPS. Hirax uses the system during facility tours to visualize posture with objective data and clearly communicate the value of its services. After its introduction, the number of prospective clients visiting each month rose steadily from 1–4 to 5–10, helping the service differentiate itself from other facilities.
株式会社ティ・ツウ・オー will launch a limited-edition new embroidered bag featuring Moomin characters for Mother's Day. The bag delicately depicts Moominmamma, Mrs. Mymble and Fillyjonk enjoying a peaceful moment. Functionality is also a priority, with a light water-repellent finish and lightweight design. The tote bag is priced at 6,490 yen (tax included), and the 2-way bag at 6,050 yen (tax included); they weigh approximately 130g and 120g, respectively.
株式会社Smart相談室 conducted joint research with Prof. 古田克利 of Hosei University's Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Career Studies on “the relationship between objective evaluations by clients and subjective evaluations by counselors.” The findings were accepted for presentation at the international conference “2026 APCDA Hybrid Conference” and will be presented in Malaysia from April 20 to 30, 2026. The study analyzed records of 74 counseling sessions conducted through the company's “Smart相談室” service for businesses.
菓匠三全株式会社 began selling its summer-limited product “萩の調 釉 れもん” on April 20, 2026. The product sandwiches lemon cookies and citrus sauce between white langue de chat cookies. It is sold in boxes of 5 for 1,296 yen (tax included), with a shelf life of 30 days including the date of manufacture. It is available at major locations including グランスタ東京店, エキュート品川店, 大丸東京店, 阪神梅田店 and 羽田SMILE TOKYO前店. The company was established on October 15, 1947, and is headquartered in Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
Zoho Japan will hold “ITCON 大阪 2026,” a seminar for IT administrators, at InterContinental Osaka on May 13, 2026. The seminar will explain how to address the “Security Measures Evaluation System (SCS)” promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as well as ways to use AI features to improve work efficiency. Participation is free, and advance registration is required. Following the Osaka event, the seminar is also scheduled to be held in Nagoya on May 20 and Tokyo on July 3.
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LeSportsac Atelier is a capsule collection jointly developed by LeSportsac New York and Tokyo. The Spring/Summer 2026 collection is themed “THE POWER OF LIGHT AND COLOR” and introduces 2 new styles: the 3-way Fold Tote Bag and the Drawstring Marche Bag. The collection also features the Atelier series' first cord charm, with a total of 18 items. The products go on sale Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and will be available through the LeSportsac official online store, the Omotesando flagship store, select locations and various online stores. Limited-time pop-up stores will also be held at バーニーズ ニューヨーク, JOURNAL STANDARD and martinique Le Conte.
株式会社アクル has begun providing its fraud detection and authentication system “ASUKA” to “DYNA IBE,” a lodging reservation system operated by バリューコマース株式会社. According to the Japan Consumer Credit Association, losses from stolen credit card numbers reached 47.5 billion yen in 2025, highlighting the need for stronger security. In response, “DYNA IBE” has adopted “ASUKA” to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud, including credit master attacks, in addition to its existing EMV 3-D Secure measures. “ASUKA” has been deployed at more than 45,000 sites, while “DYNA IBE” is used at 8,300 facilities.
Lazuli株式会社 will hold a private webinar titled “Product Data Strategy in the Age of Agentic Commerce” on April 28, 2026. The webinar will explain product data strategies for being “chosen by AI” in an era when AI is the primary buyer, drawing on the latest report from “Shoptalk 2026,” held in the United States. The event will include a demo of the company's product data platform “Lazuli PDP” and propose actions participants can take immediately. It is aimed at executives and staff facing challenges with e-commerce and digital strategy or product data preparation.
Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort welcomed more than 475,000 visitors in fiscal 2025, setting a new record since 2000 (102% of the previous fiscal year's total). Despite low snowfall, the 2025-2026 winter season drew more than 219,000 visitors (105% of the previous season). Growth was driven by inbound skiers, whose numbers reached approximately 70,000, up 135% year over year, and successful initiatives for visitors who do not ski. The number of sightseeing visitors reached approximately 52,000, up 153% year over year. The green season also performed strongly, recording an all-time high of approximately 256,000 visitors.
Hamilton will launch the latest model of its “Khaki Field King” wristwatch on April 14, 2026. The model reinterprets the tradition of military watches with a more refined design. Key features include a dial without a 24-hour display, water resistance upgraded to 10 bar and the H-40 automatic movement, which offers an 80-hour power reserve. Prices start at 108,900 yen, including tax.
エブリライブ株式会社 has announced the “超超祭2026〜超爽快！超納涼祭！〜,” an offline event hosted by the livestreaming app “everylive.” It will be held at a venue in Tokyo on Saturday, June 20, 2026, and is expected to feature 20-30 popular livestreamers who have advanced through everylive events. The company is currently seeking promotional partners to take part in a wide range of promotions linked to the event. everylive has surpassed 650,000 cumulative downloads and 8,600 livestreamer contracts, and boasts strong promotional reach and engagement.
“ブラデリスニューヨーク,” the shapewear brand operated by ゴールドフラッグ株式会社, took part in the “Flying Solo” runway show during New York Fashion Week on February 16, 2026. Under the theme “Beyond Brilliance,” the show presented 8 styles from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, including bra designs with an outerwear-inspired look and shapewear bras adorned with elegant lace. Flying Solo is a platform for designers established in 2020, and has drawn attention from major media outlets including Vogue and The New York Times.
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株式会社カブク has launched a “requester forwarding feature” on its on-demand manufacturing platform “Kabuku Connect,” responding to frequent customer requests. The new feature allows the staff member who submitted a quote request to send an approval request directly to an internal approver, improving compatibility with internal approval processes. Approvers can review the actual project screen before placing an order, helping prevent ordering errors and significantly improve work efficiency. カブク plans to continue expanding features and services to meet customers' day-to-day business needs.
Tamasu Co., Ltd., which operates the Butterfly table tennis brand, is jointly offering a new program, “Learn the Secrets of Manufacturing and Try Developing a Table Tennis Racket,” through “SPARKE,” an inquiry-based learning library for elementary and junior high schools, with Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd. and COMPASS Co., Ltd. The program lets students experience the full process of racket development and deepen their understanding of the ingenuity and effort involved in manufacturing. Jun Mizutani, a Butterfly Gold Medal Advisor, also appears in the video materials. Applications are open from April 14, 2026, through March 31, 2027, and the program is available free of charge to elementary and junior high school teachers nationwide.
Funai Research Institute, Inc. and Funai Soken Agata FAS Co., Ltd. released the book “A Textbook on Business Succession for Building a Sustainable Growth Company” through President Inc. on April 14, 2026. Positioning business succession as a corporate growth strategy, the book presents 10 cases of generational transitions. It is priced at 1,980 yen, including tax, and has 336 pages.
RABLISS has launched a new “high-transparency sticker album” for organizing cute stickers, photos of favorite personalities, trading cards and more. Its A7 size makes it easy to store and carry, and it comes bound with 10 sheets each of 2 types. It opens and closes easily, and refills are also available separately. The pastel-tone binder comes in 3 colors, and can be personalized with keychains and other accessories.
OSP Holdings acquired all shares of U.S. seal and label manufacturer “GLOBAL VENTURE” (official name: MERCHANT INVESTMENTS, INC.) on March 31, 2026. The acquisition aims to strengthen the OSP Group’s supply capabilities on the U.S. West Coast and address challenges involving delivery times and costs. Based in Washington state, GLOBAL VENTURE has a 35-year history and a customer base in the food, retail and aviation sectors. The OSP Group expects synergies from the M&A to drive growth in the U.S. packaging market.
Yokohama Vanilla Co., Ltd. will open its first limited-time pop-up store at “LUMINE Tachikawa” from April 20 to May 10, 2026. Key products include “Salt Vanilla Financier” (1,100 yen for 3 pieces; 2,160 yen for 6 pieces) and “Salt Vanilla Creamy Sablé” (1,550 yen for 8 pieces; 2,970 yen for 16 pieces). A collaboration package with the feature film “Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway” will also be sold for 1,620 yen. The company is headed by Yuto Takahashi, and in February 2025 it was recognized by Guinness World Records™ for “the most financiers sold in 12 hours.”
The Social Innovation and Investment Foundation (SIIF) published 2 papers on addressing social issues through housing—a vision paper and a research paper—on April 14, 2026. The research analyzes the structure of issues in the area of “household inequality” and redefines housing as “infrastructure that provides a foundation for opportunity.” The vision paper outlines the structure of household inequality and leverage points, while the research paper summarizes the current state and challenges of housing support in Japan and overseas, as well as initiatives by private-sector players. Through these papers, SIIF aims to shift toward an inclusive housing supply model and rebuild local “systems for noticing and connecting.”
“Lazare Diamond,” operated by Primo Global Holdings, will offer advance sales of its new rings “GCT” and “TRANSIT” ahead of their nationwide release on May 15, 2026. The advance sales will take place at the pop-up event “DIAMOND CAFE,” held at L‘OFFICIEL COFFEE in Omotesando from April 25 to May 3, 2026. The event will also offer original cafe menu items and limited-edition goods. The new “GCT” is priced from 330,000 to 605,000 yen, including tax, and “TRANSIT” from 418,000 to 462,000 yen, including tax.
OriginalSUSHI TOP MARKETING株式会社は、2026年4月15日（水）から17日（金）に開催される「第7回ブロックチェーンEXPO春」に過去最大級のブースで出展します。ブースではNFT配布事例や導入事例の展示、担当者による活用方法の説明、ブース内セミナーを実施します。さらに、スタンプラリーを開催し、NFT取得でノベルティがもらえる企画も用意されています。会場内セミナーでは、CEO徳永氏と日本郵便株式会社の三好氏による「NFTを活用した地域の関係人口CRM〜石見銀山の事例を参考に〜」と題したセッションも行われます。
Studist Co., Ltd. announced that its manual creation and sharing system, “Teachme Biz,” ranked No. 1 in domestic market share for fiscal 2024 in the “manual creation/on-site training tools” category, according to a survey by Fuji Chimera Research Institute. Its share reached 62.5% by volume and 57.1% by value. The market is forecast to grow from 4.55 billion yen in fiscal 2024 to 11.2 billion yen by fiscal 2030, and Studist plans to drive the market through measures including enhanced AI features.
Interior shop “fremtiden,” operated by Sawaraizu Co., Ltd., will hold a pop-up fair for Danish design brand “HAY” on the 4th floor of “ONE FUKUOKA BUILDING” in Tenjin, Fukuoka, from April 17 to May 10, 2026. The fair will feature a wide selection of HAY items, including new tote bags, stationery and tableware. The final day, May 10, is Mother’s Day, making the event suitable for gift shopping.
Braze, Inc. announced the findings of its 2026 Customer Engagement Review survey of the Japanese market. The report found that Japanese companies are strong at personalization based on customers’ past behavioral histories, but lag in the maturity of “orchestration,” or coordinating marketing initiatives. In fact, 75% of Japanese companies were in the lowest group for orchestration maturity, exceeding the global average of 67%. Expectations for AI are high, but strict governance is an obstacle to adoption. The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research from November 18 to December 1, 2025, among 2,200 marketing leaders in 17 countries.
Maizuru City announced the start of the season for “Tango no Umi farm-raised rock oysters,” cultivated for about 3 years in Maizuru Bay, and held an on-the-water media tour on April 6 and a tasting event for the media on April 9. The media tour featured the sorting process at an oyster-farming raft, while members of the public sampled the rock oysters at the tasting event. For inquiries, contact the Fisheries Division of the Maizuru City Industry Promotion Department.
CONVERSE SKATEBOARDING will release two new shoe models, 'ROADCLASSIC SK LD OX' and 'ROADCLASSIC SK HEMP OX,' starting April 2026. Both models are priced at 13,200 JPY (tax included) and will be available at CONVERSE OFFICIAL ONLINE SHOP and various retailers.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen, a Danish lifestyle goods retailer, will open a limited-time pop-up store at Ekimae Marche Osaka inside JR Osaka Station on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The store will be operated by Zebra Japan株式会社. It will carry about 1,000 products, including the latest Berry Series. The store is scheduled to remain open until around January 2027.
株式会社25, a group company of 株式会社ALL CONNECT, launched au Hikari Magazine, an information platform about fiber-optic internet and low-cost SIMs, on April 6, 2026. The platform aims to organize information on complex telecommunications services and help users make the best choice. Its features include content that is easy for beginners to understand, balanced comparisons outlining advantages and disadvantages, and accurate, up-to-date information. According to a Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications survey, many consumers are considering reviewing their communications costs but have been unable to take action because of information overload. The platform aims to help address this issue.
UPWARD株式会社 announced that LINEヤフー株式会社 has adopted UPWARD, an AI agent for field sales. LINEヤフー plans to launch new services for the food service and beauty salon industries, LINE Restaurant Plus and LINE Beauty Plus, starting in June 2026. To efficiently roll them out to more than 800,000 restaurants and beauty salons across Japan, the company adopted UPWARD as an AI sales platform that digitizes visits and improves efficiency. UPWARD automatically records visit histories and business card information in Salesforce and uses map functions to help optimize visit plans.
株式会社セミナーインフォ will hold a conference on AI-driven business transformation for financial institutions, titled “Business Transformation at Financial Institutions Using AI: The Essence of AX,” on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the JA Kyosai Building Conference Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The event is aimed at about 200 executives, planning staff, and managers and practitioners in IT and digital departments at financial institutions, including banks, insurers, securities firms, and credit card companies. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available.
株式会社ビィ・フォアード, which operates a cross-border e-commerce site, announced that it recorded all-time highs in both sales, at 160.94642 billion yen, and used-car sales, at 190,000 vehicles, for the fiscal year ended December 2025. This is its first announcement since the fiscal year ended June 2024, following a change to its fiscal year-end from June to December. While the weak yen has supported export conditions, rising resource prices and ongoing logistics disruptions have continued. The company achieved stable shipments by strengthening its relationships with shipping companies and flexibly choosing vessel types. It also contributed to improved profitability by selectively purchasing high-quality inventory and prioritizing supply to regions with growing demand.
Professional soccer club Osaka City SC held a “Kids’ Soccer & Traffic Safety Class” with partner company Toyota Rent a Lease Osaka at Senri Chuo Park on April 11, 2026. The event was part of the 3rd anniversary celebration of “1OOORE SCENES” and was held in 4 sessions for elementary school students. It consisted of a traffic safety class led by Toyota Rent a Lease Osaka and a soccer experience with players from Osaka City SC. The event was powered by Toyota’s hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, MIRAI.
ジャパンフリトレー株式会社 will launch its new cup-style product, Doritos CUP Style Mild Salt Flavor, first at convenience stores nationwide starting April 20, 2026. The product contains 58 g and has an estimated price of around 175 yen, including tax. It will go on sale outside convenience stores starting June 1, 2026. The company’s Doritos brand has grown to about 2.7 times its sales size over the past 5 years, and the new flavor will join its CUP Style series, which is especially popular among younger consumers.
株式会社オープントーン is running the “Local Hugmun Campaign,” featuring its parenting support character Hugmun. The project imagines Hugmun traveling across Japan’s 47 prefectures and creates and releases original characters in collaboration with local tourism resources and specialty products. As of April 2026, characters for 14 prefectures have been completed. The company is inviting local governments and tourism associations to collaborate on tourism promotion, digital hometown tax gifts, and joint LINE sticker campaigns. Hugmun was unveiled in March 2026.
株式会社ゲオ of the GEO Group will open its off-price store, Luck Rack Takasaki OPA, in Gunma Prefecture for the first time on Friday, April 24, 2026. The store will sell surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers at discounted prices, carrying apparel, fashion accessories, general merchandise, and cosmetics from about 100 brands, with about 10,000 items in total. Takasaki is Gunma Prefecture’s most populous city and a commercial hub. By opening at Takasaki OPA in front of JR Takasaki Station, the company expects to attract a wide range of shoppers and meet demand for off-price products. GEO will continue expanding awareness of off-price stores and contributing to the circular economy, while strengthening its expansion into regional areas.
Yamagata University Admissions Prep School, operated by スタディチェーン株式会社, is offering a campaign waiving its entrance fee through April 30, 2026, for prospective students aiming to enter Yamagata University. Under the campaign, the regular entrance fee of 55,000 yen, including tax, will be waived. The school is known for identifying individual challenges through mock exam analysis and learning progress management, and providing coaching. Its representative director is Akihiro Takemoto.
Originalユームテクノロジージャパン株式会社は、2026年4月17日12:00より「AIがコーチングと『人間の可能性』を拡張する未来」と題する無料オンラインセミナーを開催する。定員は100名。セミナーでは、ATD Japan創設者である浦山 昌志氏が登壇し、ATD-ICE 2025および2026のインサイトを基に、エージェント型AIの進化と人間的アートの融合について講演する。対象は経営者、人事担当者、DX推進担当者など。
OriginalAI inside 株式会社のAIエージェント「DX Suite」を株式会社MAYB3が導入し、手書き・FAX書類のデータ入力業務を効率化しました。この導入により、手書きの車台番号などの入力ミスがゼロになり、確認作業が1日あたり数分で完了するようになりました。月間300〜500枚の処理業務負担が激減し、顧客は紙やFAXをPDF化して送るだけで済むようになり、コア業務に集中できる環境が実現しました。「DX Suite」は、独自開発の文字認識AIによる業界最高水準の読取精度を誇ります。
Original株式会社M&Aベストパートナーズと一般財団法人100万人のクラシックライブは、2026年4月19日に富山県高岡市のイオンモール高岡にてクラシックライブを共催する。イベントは14:30と16:00からの2部制で、参加費は無料。このライブは、M&AベストパートナーズのCSR活動の一環として、地域社会への貢献を目指して開催される。当日はヴァイオリン奏者の宮下絢子氏とピアノ奏者の吉岡麻梨氏が演奏を行う。
Mazrica Inc. has begun offering a “Challenge-Solving Package Plan” to help address issues in sales and marketing. The plan combines products the company has previously offered individually to tackle multiple challenges, including a shortage of leads, declining order conversion rates and excessive workloads. Its adoption is expected to generate high-quality leads, improve order conversion rates and proposal accuracy, reduce sales workload, boost productivity, and build a repeatable sales and marketing structure. The company plans to continue advancing product development using AI and data, while strengthening feature enhancements and external integrations.
Kurumeshi Bento, a corporate lunchbox delivery service, is running its “New Fiscal Year: Choose Your Gift Campaign” through June 10, 2026. During the campaign, users who add its official LINE account as a friend and apply via a dedicated form will be entered in a drawing to win prizes, including an “Original Umbrella Marker” and an “Original Perpetual Calendar.” A total of 300 people will receive prizes. The service is operated by Kurumeshi Co., Ltd. (head office: Shibuya, Tokyo; representative director: Atsumasa Kobayashi). It lists approximately 900 shops and 20,000 types of lunchboxes.
ピアジェ unveiled new luxury watches from its ピアジェ Polo and Sixties collections at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026.
Companies mentioned：ピアジェ
Kento Imataki, representative of Boku to Watashi to Co., Ltd., which specializes in marketing for Generation Z, appears in an advertisement for the “100 People: I Started Using YOUTRUST” campaign by work-focused social network YOUTRUST. The advertisement was displayed at Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro from April 6 to April 12. As a related event, U35-exclusive career networking gatherings will be held at Bar 8jikai in Shibuya on May 11, 18 and 25, 2026. Admission is ¥3,000, each session is limited to 20 people, and applications are open from April 6 to April 26, 2026.
Cleaning equipment manufacturer Kärcher Japan completed a project depicting a giant “samurai” on the wall of Matsudagawa Dam in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, on April 10, 2026, marking the 30th anniversary of the dam’s completion. The “BRING BACK THE SAMURAI” project was designed by artist Klaus Daoven, who drew inspiration from Ashikaga’s traditional Setsubun Yoroikoshi event. After approximately 3 weeks of work, the samurai artwork was created using “reverse graffiti,” a technique that uses a high-pressure washer to remove dirt and create an image. The multipurpose dam, completed in fiscal 7 of the Heisei era at a total project cost of approximately ¥13.5 billion, is expected to become a new local tourism asset through art.
Postas Co., Ltd. announced that its smartphone POS system for retailers, “POS＋ retail,” now officially supports KEYENCE Corporation’s business handheld terminal, the “DX-A800 Series.” The integration combines KEYENCE’s proprietary “Dual Site Scan” function with the flexibility of smartphone POS, aiming to streamline customer service and checkout operations at retail stores. The service has been rolling out in earnest since fall 2025, with initial costs starting at approximately ¥100,000 and monthly fees starting at approximately ¥4,900. It is intended for use in apparel stores, event venues, stadiums, home improvement centers and other settings.
COMPASS Co., Ltd. has begun offering free access to “Learn the Secrets of Manufacturing and Develop a Table Tennis Racket,” a new program developed with Tamasu Co., Ltd., which operates the table tennis brand “Butterfly,” on its “SPARKE” inquiry-based learning library for elementary and junior high schools. Applications are open from April 14, 2026, through March 31, 2027, to teachers at elementary and junior high schools nationwide. The program teaches the secrets of Tamasu’s racket development and deepens understanding of manufacturing. It is related to units including “Our Lives and Industrial Production” in social studies for elementary school grade 5 and “Materials and Processing Technology” in junior high school technology classes.
Brangista Media Inc. released Vol.67 of the digital magazine “Madoriimu,” featuring Karen Otomo on the cover, on April 14. Published jointly with real estate information website LIFULL HOME’S, the latest issue focuses on “The Ideal Lifestyle.” Features include stories of people who moved to Isumi, Chiba Prefecture, and Tsujido, as well as the appeal of Tachikawa, Tokyo, and Suita, Osaka, where redevelopment is progressing. Otomo stars in the drama “Azato Kawaii Watashi ga Yusho,” which began airing on April 2.
Original三菱総合研究所と電通総研は、2026年度中の「日本ロボット・マニピュレーション応用推進協議会（仮称）」設立を目指し、4月14日に共同で準備会を立ち上げる。この協議会は、労働力不足が深刻なサービス分野において、ロボット・マニピュレーション技術を活用したAIロボットの導入と実用化を推進することを目的とする。準備会には鹿島建設、竹中工務店、本田技研工業など多くの企業や大学、自治体が参画しており、初会合は5月下旬を予定している。
Mouser Electronics has begun carrying Texas Instruments’ “CC330xMOD SimpleLink” companion modules. The product line includes the “CC3300MOD,” which supports Wi-Fi 6 in the 2.4GHz band, and the “CC3301MOD,” which supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.4. Available in an 11×11mm LGA package, the modules connect to host processors via SDIO, SPI or UART interfaces and can add wireless functionality to devices in a range of fields, including retail automation, medical equipment and building automation.
Lenovo Japan will release 2 Android tablet models with AI features on April 17, 2026. The “Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2,” designed for learners and priced at around ¥79,860, features Google Gemini, Lenovo’s own suite of AI tools and a 13-inch 3.5K display. The “Lenovo Legion Tab (8.8", 5),” designed for gamers and priced at around ¥119,860, features a Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, the latest “Legion ColdFront Vapor Cooling System 3.0,” and an 8.8-inch 3K gaming display.
Lumine and NEWoMan will open seasonal beer gardens at 9 facilities, including locations in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Yokohama, from early April through the end of November 2026. Each facility will offer its own concept and menu, with options including “Korean street food,” “drinkable chicken” and craft beer developed jointly with breweries. Nonalcoholic drinks and kids’ menus will also be available, with the venues highlighting their convenient locations directly connected to stations.
Renoveru Inc. will hold a 3-day event offering an immersive experience of sustainability at its Omotesando head office from May 22 to 24, 2026. The event is part of the Tokyo Architecture Festival 2026 program and includes a special opening of its office, housed in a renovated 50-year-old building, an upcycled art workshop, and a flea market on Kotto-dori. Advance reservations are required for the guided tours (participation fee: 3,000 yen; capacity: 20 people per session) and workshops (participation fee: 4,500 yen; capacity: 8 people per session). The event aims to share the sustainable thinking at the heart of renovation.
The recruitment management system “sonar ATS by HRMOS,” provided by Thinkings Inc., has launched API integration with “Levtech Rookie Scout Service,” a job-hunting support service for students seeking careers as IT engineers, provided by Levtech Inc. The integration enables candidate information to be checked and managed in real time on “sonar ATS.” A 2019 survey by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry projected a shortage of up to 787,000 IT professionals by 2030, and the integration aims to strengthen engineer recruitment. Since its launch in 2012, “sonar ATS” has been adopted by more than 2,400 companies and government agencies.
Cross Operation Group Inc. (XOP) will hold an online prompt-writing workshop on April 21, 2026, aimed at promoting the use of generative AI at work. The participation fee is 5,000 yen (excluding tax), and capacity is 20 people. The workshop will use Google Meet and is hosted by the Japan AI Business (Ops) Utilization Association and XOP. It is intended for managers and executives with paid accounts for ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and other services, with a focus on organizational use of AI.
Shizuoka University Admissions Specialty Cram School, operated by Study Chain Inc., has announced its new slogan: “The moment you try to do everything, passing gets further away.” Under this new policy, CEO Akihiro Takemoto announced a target of producing 90 successful applicants by March 31, 2027. A new curriculum accompanying the rebranding will be offered starting March 31, 2027. The company also operates numerous other education-related services, including Gyakuten Gokaku Specialty Cram School and Eiken Coach.
On April 11, 2026, ASICS Japan held a “Plogging Challenge” on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, as part of its environmental conservation program “Run for Reforestation Challenge 2026.” A total of 23 runners took part, including para-triathletes Hideo Uda and Asumi Yasuda and former Japanese national team member Kiyomi Niwata. Participants picked up trash while running about 5 km, collecting a total of about 40 bags. The event also resulted in the planting of 23 trees, matching the number of participants.
Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. announced price revisions for its building material products in response to sharp increases in the cost of petroleum- and naphtha-derived raw materials and energy, driven by instability in the Middle East. Citing conditions that have exceeded the limits of its own cost-cutting efforts, the company will raise prices by 20% to 30% or more on products including all rain gutter products, color pipe bodies, colored fittings and PVC decking materials, effective for shipments from May 20, 2026. The company said it will continue working to ensure stable supply and address costs.
Jiritsu Gakushu RED, a tutoring school jointly operated by Meiko Network Japan Co., Ltd. and Sprix Inc., opened 2 new locations in April 2026: the Sapporo Hiraoka classroom and the Hikarigaoka classroom. Jiritsu Gakushu RED provides personalized learning curricula using the latest AI and professional instructors. It has also been recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, receiving the Japan Service Awards’ Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.
Tokyo Electron Device (TED) and ITES will collaborate in the field of latent defect inspection solutions for SiC devices. The companies will develop and sell a new product, the “SiC Latent Defect Inspection System / On-Current Degradation Simulator ITS-SCX100,” which uses UV laser irradiation to expand and visualize latent crystal defects within SiC wafers. Orders for the product are scheduled to open in September 2026, with the aim of significantly shortening material and process evaluation lead times from several months. Under the collaboration, TED will handle planning and provision of equipment and systems, while ITES will be responsible for measurement and data analysis, supporting the development of highly reliable devices in fields such as power electronics.
Frogwell Inc. will hold an online seminar on adopting AI chatbots using Salesforce’s latest AI technology, “Agentforce,” to address the labor shortage in 2026. The seminar will introduce “next-generation customer support based on data,” which goes beyond simple automated responses, with examples of actual implementations. It will be held on May 15 and August 21, 2026, and is free to attend. It is intended for company representatives facing challenges in automating customer inquiries and improving operational efficiency.
Eitaro Sohonpo Co., Ltd. temporarily closed its Nihonbashi Main Store on March 31, 2026, due to redevelopment in the Nihonbashi area. It subsequently opened a temporary store on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 1-2-8 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, offering retail sales only. Cafe services are not available. Founded in 1818, Eitaro Sohonpo manufactures and sells traditional Japanese confections.
Resilience tech startup Spectee Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the Philippines on the use of “Spectee Pro,” an AI-powered real-time disaster prevention and crisis management service. The MOU was realized as part of JICA’s “Project to Support Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and SDGs Business.” MMDA will use Spectee Pro to monitor disasters, incidents and traffic conditions in Metro Manila in real time. Integration with information resources such as CCTV camera footage is also being considered for the future.
Arsaga Partners has launched a management transformation support service that connects employee experience (EX) and customer experience (CX) to profits. The service is based on the “E2P Model,” which takes an integrated view of the relationship between experience, business performance and profit. It provides end-to-end support, from data collection through “Interview AI” and analysis using data science to custom dashboard development and consulting. In a joint development project with Toridoll Holdings, a new system incorporating AI recommendation functions is scheduled to begin operating at Marugame Seimen locations from December 2025. The company’s capital is 1.4347 billion yen as of the end of March 2026.
Yojiya will offer its popular “Suu-Suu! Chocolate Mint” sweets for a limited season starting April 29, 2026. New this year is “extra mint sauce,” which lets customers adjust the cooling sensation up to 80 times.
Companies mentioned：AMAIMON KYUZAYA
Summary not yet available
Originalアルサーガパートナーズは、AIが従業員と対話して本音を引き出し、組織課題を可視化する「アルサーガ5分面談AI」を3つのパッケージで正式リリースした。トリドールHD（丸亀製麺）の約3万人への導入実績もある。
Companies mentioned：トリドールホールディングス、丸亀製麺
Original株式会社マーキュリーは、2026年3月の中古タワーマンションの流通動向を発表しました。東京23区では1,039戸が流通し、70㎡あたりの平均価格は2億747万円で、都心部で価格下落が見られました。大阪市では472戸が流通し、平均価格は1億2,917万円で、前年同月比、前月比ともに大きく上昇しました。このデータはRealnetマンションサマリの新築・中古流通マンションデータに基づいています。
Esports event RAGE held the national qualifying tournament for “Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond” at Makuhari Messe, selecting 8 finalists to advance to the Grand Finals.
Companies mentioned：RAGE、YouTube、X
Tanabe Consulting will hold a free seminar on listing on the TOKYO PRO Market at the Tokyo Stock Exchange Hall on May 11. Formerly listed companies and a TSE representative will speak about the benefits of listing as a growth strategy and the latest developments.
Companies mentioned：株式会社エージェント、株式会社東京証券取引所
Originalタカラトミーアーツは、映画「プレデター」シリーズ7作品に登場するプレデターのマスクをミニチュア化したカプセルトイ『プレデター マスククロニクル』を2026年4月下旬から全国で順次発売する。価格は1回400円（税込）で、全11種類のラインアップ。高さ約50mmのボールチェーン付マスコットで、歴代のプレデターマスクをコレクションできる。映画「プレデター」から「プレデター：ザ・プレイ」までのマスクが登場する。
Feedforce's data feed management tool “dfplus io” has added support for Google Local Inventory Ads feeds, providing strong support for driving in-store visits (OMO initiatives).
Companies mentioned：Google
Salesforce has launched “In-Person Meeting Assistant,” a new feature for its mobile app. Its AI-powered real-time transcription helps reduce the workload on sales representatives during face-to-face meetings and strengthens data integration.
Companies mentioned：株式会社セールスフォース・ジャパン、Apple (iOS)、Google (Android)
A subsidiary of Sun Frontier Fudousan will open “Tabino Hotel Aso Kumamoto Airport,” a hotel specializing in medium- to long-term stays, in Ozu Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, on April 17, 2026. The facility will meet the demand for stays by semiconductor-related engineers accompanying TSMC's expansion into the area.
Companies mentioned：サンフロンティア不動産株式会社、サンフロンティアホテルマネジメント株式会社、TSMC、Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing 株式会社（JASM）