A survey of 500 Japanese consumers conducted by NEXER and SOLOW revealed that only 13.8% prioritize handmade interior items, citing warmth and uniqueness as key values. Despite a low purchase rate (7%), wooden goods are the most popular category among buyers, chosen for their design, warmth, and rarity. The primary perception of handmade goods is that they are expensive, which is a major barrier for the general consumer.
The 4th episode of ABEMA's reality show 'Tokei Jikake no Marriage' featured significant drama as friends intervened in the contestants' relationships. Announcer Yuka Nishizawa was prompted by comedian Rainbow Ikeda to confront her fiancé, leading to her first 'engagement annulment'. Meanwhile, creator Emi-nee criticized CEO Ayaka's fiancé for his pride, and model Natsue deepened her bond with her partner by revealing her difficult past.
Aeon announces its 5th annual environmental fair, 'Let's Choose. The Present that Connects to the Future,' running from May 29 to June 30, 2026, across 5,700 stores. The event, involving 49 partner companies, promotes eco-friendly products under themes like 'Future Food' and 'Deliciously Reducing Waste,' and expands resource recycling initiatives, including a new group-wide clothing circulation model and used cooking oil collection.
Panasonic's F-PX70C slim air purifier has been awarded the 'Best of the best' at the Red Dot Design Award 2026. This completes a triple crown of prestigious design accolades, following wins at the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 and the Good Design Award 2025, recognizing its successful combination of a compact, layout-free design with high-performance air purification technology.
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management announced its participation in the PRI 20th-anniversary ceremony and symposium. Their president, Takahiro Kobayashi, rang the bell at the Tokyo Stock Exchange and spoke on a panel, with the company acting as the sole sponsor for the Tokyo event, reinforcing its commitment to responsible investment.
Valtec's HR system, MOT/HG, which is bundled with their MOT/TEL cloud PBX, has been updated. The new feature allows schedules entered in MOT/HG to be automatically registered in Google Calendar, eliminating the need for double data entry and preventing errors. This integration also enables the MOT/TEL phone system to manage calls based on the user's schedule.
O-Well Corporation announces that four of its subsidiary companies will participate in the "Automotive Engineering Exposition 2026 YOKOHAMA" at Pacifico Yokohama from May 27-29, 2026. The companies will showcase a diverse range of automotive products, including materials for lightweighting, EV components, and advanced coatings, at booth number 536.
A research team from several Japanese universities has published a tutorial paper on Analog In-Memory Computing (AIMC), a technology for ultra-low-power AI hardware. The paper provides a new, memory-agnostic classification of AIMC's computation principles into six types, categorizes its non-idealities, and systematizes the hardware-aware training methods used to overcome them.
The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza hotel is relaunching its 14th-floor restaurant, 'Sophie at EDITION,' on June 3, 2026, with a new Italian trattoria concept. Led by Executive Chef Marco Violano, the restaurant will serve classic Italian dishes, including homemade pasta, using select ingredients from Japan and Italy, complemented by an extensive Italian wine list and classic cocktails.
Dai-ichi Gakushusha, a publisher of high school textbooks, will launch an e-learning course on June 1, 2026, for junior managers. The course, 'Human Skills Course for Managers Learned from Textbook Literature,' redefines classic literary works as case studies and applies Theory U to develop leadership qualities, costing 20,000 JPY per person for organizational subscriptions.
Plantec Inc. held a reception at the International House of Japan on May 13, 2026, to commemorate the publication of Bangladeshi architect Rafiq Azam's book. The event featured a presentation by Azam on his "Green Architecture" philosophy and a high-profile talk session with Japanese architects including Kengo Kuma, fostering international dialogue on the future of urban design.
Sanyo Bussan Co., Ltd. has announced the release of a special Old Pulteney Father's Day gift set, combining the 12 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky with an exclusive glass, highlighting its unique maritime character.
Ikeuchi Inc. announces its participation in the 4th Kyushu Agriculture WEEK at Grandmesse Kumamoto from May 27-29, 2026. The company will exhibit its 'CoolPescon®' fine mist system, a 3-in-1 solution for cooling, humidification, and chemical spraying, designed to mitigate heat stress in agricultural and livestock environments.
Tonkatsu Shinjuku Saboten is launching a new frozen 'Aged Loin Katsu-ni' on its official online store starting May 20, 2026. This product allows customers to enjoy the restaurant's popular katsudon flavor at home by simply heating it. Additionally, the online store will release renewed versions of its 'Pork Donburi' and 'Pork Kakuni' dishes.
Skeb, a major Japanese art commission platform, has announced a login integration with the social VR platform VRChat. This move formalizes an existing strong relationship, as VRChat avatar art commissions constitute 20% of Skeb's business. The partnership is being promoted with a fee-waiver campaign and a large-scale physical event, 'Chou Meta Fes 2026'.
Suntory Holdings announced it has been selected as a "Supplier Engagement Leader" by CDP for the 6th consecutive year, the highest rating for its efforts in engaging suppliers on climate change. The company also secured top 'A List' ratings for Water Security and Climate Change.
Louis Vuitton has released a new series of men's bags from the 2026 Pre-Fall collection designed by Pharrell Williams. The collection's highlight is the 'Damoflage' canvas, a modern, pixelated camouflage version of the traditional Damier pattern, applied to iconic bag styles including the Speedy, Keepall, Nile, and more.
Dog Diner Co., Ltd. has launched the fifth installment of its music video series, 'If You've Eaten, Dental Revolution.' This episode, titled 'Bad Breath is Immensely Destructive,' uses a monster movie metaphor where a giant dog's bad breath destroys Tokyo to highlight the severe social and health impacts of pet periodontal disease, promoting their 'Eating Dental Revolution' food additive as a simple solution.
Clé de Peau Beauté announces the launch of its new "Synactif Crème Corps" body cream, part of its premium Synactif line, scheduled for release on July 21, 2026. Priced at ¥47,300 (tax included), the cream features exclusive ingredients like Purifying B and HA.B.P Complex to deliver intense hydration and firmness. The product is also notable for its unique "Rose Synactif" fragrance and is recommended for use with a specific lymphatic massage technique for enhanced results.
The Fukuoka City Museum announces a special exhibition titled 'Ghost and Yōkai Paintings from the Fukuoka City Museum Collection,' running from July 19 to September 13, 2026. The exhibition will feature around 100 works, primarily from the Edo period, by notable artists such as Itō Jakuchū and Kawanabe Kyōsai. It aims to explore the human fascination with the supernatural, showcasing a diverse range of depictions from terrifying to comical, and will be accompanied by various events like lectures and rakugo.
Rakuten Eagles announced that TV personality Mieharu, who publicly shared his experience with stage 4 hypopharyngeal cancer, will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the "Rakuten Medical Head and Neck Cancer Overcoming Day" game on May 23rd. His participation aims to promote early detection and treatment of head and neck cancer.
Bellfine Co., Ltd. is accepting pre-orders for a 1/6 scale figure of Anna Yamada in a swimsuit from the TV anime 'The Dangers in My Heart'. The figure, priced at 24,200 JPY and scheduled for an August 2026 release, has generated significant buzz on social media. An exclusive 'water droplet sticker' is available as a bonus for orders placed on the official webshop before the deadline of May 28, 2026.
Luxury brand reseller YOCHIKA is holding the 'Hermès Engraving Season' campaign from May 18-30, 2026. The event promotes the idea of choosing Hermès items by their manufacturing year stamp, offering a curated selection of products with previous years' engravings during the annual market transition to the new stamp.
CSS Co., Ltd. will absorb its group companies, Relife Japan and I'm System Service, on July 1, 2026. This strategic integration, under the banner 'One CSS', aims to combine the respective strengths of the three companies—CSS's financial system development, Relife Japan's high-level consulting, and I'm System Service's operational stability—to accelerate its evolution from a traditional SIer to a proactive 'value-creating company' that leverages AI to deliver innovative user experiences and drive AI transformation (AX) for its clients.
大貫妙子、くるり、K-バンドの新星 Hi-Fi Un!cornら出演!「Asian Pop Festival 2026」5月30日(土)・31日(日)に開催
配信 ・ ソース 日本|PR TIMES
The 'Asian Pop Festival 2026' is announced to be held on May 30-31, 2026, at Paradise City, South Korea. The event will feature a wide array of artists from Japan (Taeko Onuki, Quruli) and Korea (KIMCHANGWAN BAND, Hi-Fi Un!corn), aiming to showcase diverse Asian music. Ticket prices are set at 110,000 KRW for a one-day pass and 176,000 KRW for a two-day pass.
To commemorate reaching nearly 2 million members, business template site 'Template BANK' is launching a three-part campaign with a total prize value of 2 million yen. Concurrently, the service is adapting to modern work styles by introducing templates for Google Sheets and Google Docs, along with Google account integration, with plans for future AI-driven services.
The Kinokawa City Board of Education and Youth Development Council are organizing the "Kinokawa City Youth Message 2026" on May 31, 2026, where junior high school students will share their experiences and aspirations, aiming to promote youth development and community understanding.
Café Tanaka, a Nagoya-based café and patisserie founded in 1963, is opening a new permanent store in Isetan Shinjuku on June 17th. To celebrate, they are releasing two exclusive cookie tins: 'Bijou de Biscuit Petit MacMillan' in a can featuring Isetan's MacMillan tartan, and 'Biscuit Witch Ensemble' with two types of cookie sandwiches, all under the theme of 'Living Together'.
Fujita Kinzoku, an Osaka-based metalworking company, has introduced a high-end, fully custom-made iron frying pan service starting at 220,000 JPY. This bespoke service includes creating a unique mold for each order, allowing customers to define the pan's dimensions, thickness, and handle to create their perfect cooking tool.
Yamabiko Corporation has launched a rental service for its newly developed 'Multi-Hybrid System' through a partnership with Actio Corporation. This power system, designed for locations like construction sites, integrates solar power, batteries, and a generator to cut generator operating time and fuel consumption by up to 90%. This leads to significant cost savings and a near-zero level of on-site CO2 emissions when used with renewable diesel, while also improving the work environment.
Taisho Pharmaceutical announces that its new product, 'Lipovitan Jelly Performance', launched in April 2026, has been featured in Nikkei Trendy's June 2026 issue predicting hit products. The jelly drink contains glucose and caffeine for mental energy, B vitamins, and salt for heatstroke prevention, and comes in a ramune flavor.
OceanBridge Co., Ltd. will exhibit at Interop Tokyo 2026 from June 10-12 at Makuhari Messe. The company will showcase its new AI agent middleware "webfuse" along with other security, remote control, and automation solutions at booth 6A09.
Ujiie Bussan Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of 'Zero Spring,' a new service that productizes the brand design process. The service emphasizes an 'Origin First' approach, starting with a company's core philosophy and providing an integrated solution for strategy, language, and visualization. Concurrently, they are launching 'Story Flow' for social media storytelling.
Kirishima Shuzo, in partnership with Starbucks, Miyakonojo City, and the non-profit 'more trees', has initiated a new phase of its 'Miyakonojo Resource Circulation Forest Project (ODEN)'. They have begun selling 'ODEN Stools', made from locally sourced Miyakonojo oak, on the 'more trees' website. This initiative allows consumers to support local reforestation, as a portion of the sales is donated to the project, which also involves creating compost from shochu and coffee waste to nurture seedlings.
Mitsui Ocean Cruises has unveiled 68 new itineraries for its two vessels, MITSUI OCEAN FUJI and MITSUI OCEAN SAKURA, for travel from January 2027 onwards. The offerings are diverse, including spring-themed tours, round-Japan voyages, short weekend trips designed for beginners, and premium experiences with overnight port stays, all provided under an all-inclusive service model.
The World Local Mascot Grand Prix Executive Committee announces the inaugural event will be held from July 7 to December 13, 2026. This new competition aims to revitalize local communities by evaluating mascots based on their real-world activities through a hybrid system of online and in-person voting at events across Japan. The contest is open to international participants and employs fraud-prevention measures like LINE ID and GPS verification for fair evaluation.
The World Local Mascot Grand Prix Executive Committee has announced the inaugural event will be held from July to December 2026. This new competition aims to fairly evaluate mascots from around the world based on their real-world community activities, using a hybrid online and in-person voting system with anti-fraud measures to promote regional revitalization.
Osaka Electro-Communication University has initiated a "Space and Meteorology Program" led by eight faculty members from diverse scientific fields. This program emphasizes practical learning by utilizing authentic data from leading global observatories and is supported by the public release of a dedicated website and the "Sky_Sim_App" simulation application to foster interdisciplinary skills in data science and engineering.
PREDUCTS has released the 'Headphone Hanger for DASHBOARD,' a new module for its modular desk shelf system. This arm-type hanger features a machined aluminum head part to safely suspend headphones, saving desk space while keeping them accessible. The base component is also designed to be a customizable platform, allowing users to attach different heads for other devices like VR goggles.
NTT Marketing Act ProCX has been awarded a contract by the Kobe City Tax Department to implement a generative AI-powered voice agent. The solution, which combines NTT's VOC analysis with AI Shift's 'AI Worker VoiceAgent', aims to automate over 70% of the 400,000 annual routine tax inquiries, reducing staff burden and enhancing citizen services.
NPO Kids Future Passport announced that 'Taiyaki Sawada' will provide 200 free taiyaki to members of its 'Kodomo Gochimeshi' program. The distribution will occur at the 'Wrapping The Earth in Nezu Shrine' digital art festival on May 23-24, 2026, expanding the child food support initiative to a community event.
Pulsar Co., Ltd.'s 'Jidohanbaiki JP' service has installed a merchandise vending machine at Fujikyu Line's Shimoyoshida Station to address the increased workload on staff from rising tourist numbers. The machine, featuring a flexible layout and future cashless payment options, aims to improve operational efficiency, ease congestion, and provide a smoother purchasing experience for visitors.
Tama Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. has released the 'Shoulder Strap Cable,' a novel product that combines a smartphone shoulder strap with a USB-C charging and data transfer cable. This addresses the dual needs of convenient phone carrying and on-the-go charging, preventing forgotten cables and accidental drops.
Oishi & Associates Co., Ltd., the Japanese distributor for Russell Hobbs, has announced the upcoming launch of the 'Fully Automatic Cafe Drip' coffee maker (8200JP). The machine automates the entire coffee-making process and offers customization for grind and strength. It will be launched first on the Makuake crowdfunding platform before its general release, targeting the growing 'home cafe' market.
Chiyoda X-One Engineering has begun full-scale operation of 'Lightblue,' an AI agent with RAG technology, to transform its extensive internal documents into explicit, usable knowledge. The goal is to enhance operational efficiency, improve quality, and promote knowledge sharing across the company.