TOKYO & JAKARTA, Mar 22, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - PT JCB International Indonesia, a subsidiary of JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCB), and PT AEON Credit Service Indonesia have launched the AEON JCB Precious Card, targeting the premium segment and focusing on family needs. The credit card is designed to help Indonesian families meet their basic daily needs and still enjoy a life with the card’s dining and travel benefits.AEON JCB Precious Card consistently prioritizes customer satisfaction and remains committed to providing the maximum benefits to ensure an exceptional customer experience. In line with the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr shopping and Indonesian holiday season, AEON JCB Precious Card has launched a special loyalty program. With a minimum transaction of IDR 10 million within the first 2 months of card approval, the first 100 cardmembers will receive a travel e-voucher worth IDR 1 million. On top of that, the first 500 approved applicants will receive an IDR 50k AEON Store discount voucher. Customers can easily apply for the AEON JCB Precious Card and approved applicants receive the card within one hour at the AEON Service Counter at all AEON Malls in Indonesi...

TOKYO, Mar 22, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Japan’s only international payment brand JCB Co., Ltd. (“JCB”) has issued a white paper on the carbon impact of individual transactions made using various payment methods in Japan. The carbon emissions were calculated by Your Arbor Inc. (“Arbor”).The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action outlined by the international community are gaining momentum, and are being systematically implemented in Japan. Simultaneously, there is a substantial increase in interest at the individual consumer level. However, JCB acknowledges that further discussion is needed on how this can contribute to the SDGs and climate action.Given this, JCB believes it is important to objectively and quantitatively demonstrate how cashless payments can contribute to achieving a better society for consumers and the associated ecosystem.As a first step in this effort, JCB and Arbor have conducted joint research to calculate and analyze the carbon dioxide (CO2e) emissions associated with consumer payment activities.Following the recommended guidelines for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)*1 methodology, this white paper uses a comprehensive life cy...

TOKYO, Mar 22, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) and NTT Corporation (NTT) today announced that they have successfully conducted a first-of-its-kind transoceanic-class 7,280km transmission experiment using a coupled 12-core multicore fiber(1), which consists of 12 optical signal transmission paths in a standard outer diameter optical fiber (0.125 mm). This achievement is expected to be a next-generation transmission infrastructure technology that will contribute to the realization of large-capacity optical networks, including future optical submarine cables.Figure 1: Cross sections of a single-core fiber (left) and a coupled 12-core multicore fiber (right)BackgroundWith the spread of 5G globally and increased communications between data centers, international Internet traffic increased at an average annual rate of 30% from 2018 to 2022 (*2), and this trend is expected to continue. In order to meet the strong communication demand, there is a growing need to increase transmission capacity per optical submarine cable system in addition to increasing the number of optical submarine cables.Existing optical submarine cables use single-core fiber, which...

TOKYO, Mar 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - LIFENET INSURANCE COMPANY and Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that they have co-developed Dementia Insurance “be”, a dementia insurance that supports early detection and treatment of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (hereafter, “MCI”) as one of the initiatives under the capital and business alliance agreement concluded in August 2022 for collaboration in dementia and other areas. Environment Surrounding Dementia Prevalence of dementia is increasing year-by-year amid an aging population, among other factors. In Japan, it is estimated that approximately one in five people aged 65 or older will be living with dementia by 2025*1, and it is a common disease that could affect anyone. In addition to medical and nursing care costs, dementia can also cause financial burden to family members who are responsible for nursing and other forms of care, such as transportation costs due to long distance commutes required for care and reduced income due to decreased work hours. Background Behind the Development of “be” In August 2022, Lifenet and Eisai entered into a capital and business alliance agreement to collaborate in dementia and ...

Toyota City, Japan, Mar 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has clarified the roles of and expectations for outside members of the Board of Directors and the Audit and Supervisory Board (hereinafter referred to as "outside executives"), revised criteria for assessing outside executives' independence (hereinafter referred to as the "Independence Assessment Criteria"), and announced the changes to members of the Board of Directors and Audits and Supervisory Board members following the 120th Ordinary General Shareholders' Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the "General Shareholders' Meeting").1. Clarification of the roles of and expectations for outside executives and revision of the Independence Assessment CriteriaBased on the Toyota Philosophy, TMC is working to strengthen corporate governance with the aim of achieving sustainable growth, increasing corporate value over the medium to long term, and resolving social issues. To ensure our outside executives participate in decision-making from an independent standpoint and reflect the opinions of more diverse stakeholders in management, TMC has clarified the unique roles of and expectations for...

Toyota City, Japan, Mar 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) announced today that sales of its evolved GR Yaris are to start on April 8 through Toyota vehicle dealers across Japan. It also announced the start today of accepting applications in its purchasing lotteries for the GR Yaris RZ "High performance・Sébastien Ogier Edition" (Ogier Edition) and the GR Yaris RZ "High performance・Kalle Rovanperä Edition" (Rovanperä Edition)―two evolved GR Yaris special editions supervised by TGR World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) members Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä―limited to 100 units each through GR Garage locations nationwide.The GR Yaris RZ "High performance" (6-speed manual transmission) (left) and GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDThe GR Yaris RZ "High performance・Sébastien Ogier Edition" (left) and GR Yaris RZ "High performance・Kalle Rovanperä Edition"Ever-better motorsports-bred carsTGR has continued to compete in various motorsports following the debut of the GR Yaris in 2020. It has been implementing "driver-first car-making" through repeated "breaking and fixing" in extreme environments and reflecting feedback from professional race drivers and evaluation driver...

TOKYO, Mar 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that it has been selected for the first time by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) as one of the Nadeshiko Brand 2024, as a listed company excelling in the promotion of women in the workplace.The Nadeshiko Brand initiative aims to introduce certain Tokyo Stock Exchange(TSE)-listed enterprises that are outstanding in terms of encouraging women’s empowerment in the workplace as attractive stocks to investors who place emphasis on improving corporate value in the medium- and long-term, thereby further raising investors' interest in such enterprises and accelerating the encouragement of women's empowerment and information disclosure in outstanding enterprises. The initiative has been co-conducted by METI and TSE since FY2012.Eisai’s Articles of Incorporation defines employees as one of the major stakeholders and specifies that Eisai endeavors to "respect human rights and diversity," "providing full opportunities for growth in support of self-fulfillment," and "create an employee-friendly environment" in addition to "ensuring stable employment". In ...

TOKYO, Mar 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Lexus Luxury Yacht, LY 650, will take the next step in its evolution as the new LY 680 with some exciting, new enhancements. Starting from March 21st, 2024, orders will be accepted only in Japan through Toyota Marine sales offices and other select dealers(1).Lexus aims to be a luxury lifestyle brand and the flagship Luxury Yacht is the embodiment of the Lexus design philosophy "Crafted." The LY 680 expresses this philosophy by thoroughly paying attention to every single detail, in order to exceed customers' expectations and create a unique experience that stimulates their senses, even while at sea.The concept for the Luxury Yacht is "to feel like a hideout in the middle of the sea, providing a space where discerning customers can feel free and at ease." The exterior embodies the Lexus design philosophy of L-finesse, and the interior has been meticulously crafted down to the smallest details to provide a comfortable living space. In terms of performance, Lexus aims for confidence inspiring cruising performance, offering stable maneuverability, excellent ride comfort, and quietness.Production was carried out by the Horizon ...

TOKYO, Mar 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have developed a technology to support self-care for chronic non-specific lower back pain (CLBP) by using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze image and interview data taken with smart devices. This will enable individuals with chronic back pain to easily check their lower back condition and to see possible causes and recommendations for customized exercises, regardless of the time or location.AI Technology to Support Self-Care for CLBPBackgroundAccording to a study conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2022, lower back pain is the leading subjective symptom of illness or injury in Japan for both men and women. Lower back pain often becomes chronic and is a major health problem that significantly impairs life functions, and at the same time, it may also cause problems such as increased social security costs for medical and nursing care benefits. However, in order to improve the symptoms of CLBP, it is necessary to visit the clinic several times a month continuously, and many people are unable to receive adequate services due...

NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) and Skyloom Global Corporation have joined forces to revolutionize space communications with the development of cutting-edge optical communication equipment for multi-orbit satellite networks. The collaboration aims to commercialize and make available on the open market one of the world's fastest space optical terminals, achieving remarkable high-speed inter-satellite communications of 100 Gbps and more, propelling the space industry into a new era of connectivity."This marks a monumental milestone in global internet and space communications," said Eric Moltzau, Chief Commercial Officer of Skyloom. "In partnership with NEC, we are committed to the joint development, testing, and manufacturing of the groundbreaking 100 Gbps WARP Optical Communications Terminal (OCT), slated for completion by the end of 2025. Our plan is to launch the product into space by 2026 and rapidly scale up production to meet the escalating demand from domestic and international customers in the latter half of the decade."Traditionally, space communications have relied on wireless technologies using radio waves. However, the collaboration between NEC and Skyloom represents a signif...

TOKYO, Mar 19, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Group CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), the sole holding company of TANAKA Precious Metals, announced today that it constructed a new head office building in Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, the founding site of TANAKA Precious Metals, and will relocate head office functions to the new building on April 1, 2024.Perspective rendering of the new head office buildingRelationship Between Kayabacho and TANAKA Precious MetalsFounder Umekichi Tanaka trained at a pawn brokerage in Tokyo called Ejimaya and opened Ejimaya Tanaka Shoten, a money exchange firm, in 1885. Later, the company transitioned from money exchange to the bullion trading business and started melting down and refining purchased foreign currency to sell the metal. The techniques acquired during this period led to the development and manufacture of precious metal products and materials used in industrial areas. Subsequently, TANAKA Precious Metals has consistently delivered a diverse range of technologies and services tailored to meet evolving demands while exploring the expansive potential of precious metals.The founding ...

TOKYO, Mar 19, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Corporation has entered into an MOU with other large international companies to sponsor the creation of a global coalition, the e-NG Coalition, which is exclusively dedicated to electric natural gas (e-NG or e-natural gas), also referred to as e-methane. The founding members of the e-NG Coalition include: •Engie•Mitsubishi Corporation•Osaka Gas•Sempra Infrastructure•TES•Tokyo Gas•Toho Gas•TotalEnergies.e-NG is a synthetic gas produced by the combination of renewable hydrogen and recycled CO2 through methanation. With a molecular composition identical to conventional natural gas, it can be transported and stored utilizing existing infrastructures. e-NG is considered as a sustainable “drop-in” solution for gas consumers as it does not require the modification of industrial processes and applications to be used in place of conventional natural gas. The founding members of the coalition believe e-NG can provide a meaningful contribution to the energy transition by accelerating the development of renewable hydrogen. With large industrial capabilities and investment potential, the founding members are committed to the de...

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Mar 19, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Pride of Hiroshima Exhibition Executive Committee has decided to set up a permanent installation for the Pride of Hiroshima Exhibition, an event that highlighted Hiroshima's postwar recovery, current and future efforts in conjunction with the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023. The permanent exhibition will open to the general public on Saturday, April 27, 2024 on the second floor of Shimint Hiroshima located in Hiroshima Gate Park.The permanent exhibition will be a continuation of the original concept of "providing people from around the world the opportunity to experience the path to recovery traveled by the people of Hiroshima, the resplendent sight of Hiroshima today, and their dreams for the future," but will be reorganized with new displays that make the most of video technologies. The exhibition will present the path that local companies forged together with the people of Hiroshima to recover from the ravages of the atomic bomb and how their combined efforts helped create the future. The permanent exhibition also aims to revitalize the community and realize a peaceful society.The permanent exhibition is spo...

Okinawa, Japan, Mar 19, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Since concluding a collaboration agreement with the Okinawa Prefectural Police Headquarters in February last year, Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) has been working to analyze police accident data, vehicle data (passenger cars and commercial vehicles), and rental car in-vehicle app data. This work is being carried out together with TOYOTA Rent a Car Okinawa, Yazaki Corporation, JTB Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, the University of the Ryukyus, and The School of Engineering at The University of Tokyo in an arrangement involving industry, government, and academia.Currently, the data sets are being pooled to pursue various measures, such as identifying dangerous locations, investigating the causes of accidents, formulating countermeasures, and verifying their effectiveness as efforts to develop accident prevention measures progress. Additionally, efforts to reduce rental car accidents, promote tourism, and alleviate traffic congestion through in-vehicle apps continue to produce positive outcomes.The main achievements are listed below.Moving forward, TMF will advance this initiative under the name “Okinawa Yuimaru...

SANTA CLARA, CA, Mar 19, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to create a new generation of transformational artificial intelligence (AI)solutions. Hitachi Vantara will develop a portfolio of solutions, Hitachi iQ, to drive targeted AI outcomes by layering industry-specific capabilities on top of its AI solution stack, so outcomes can be more specific and relevant to an organization’s business.Click here to learn more about Hitachi Vantara’s portfolio of AI solutions:As new and exciting data-intensive technologies like generative AI are spurring a goldrush to business transformation, these technologies are exacerbating the already-strained environments in which they run. According to a recent S&PGlobal Market Intelligence report(1), “IT infrastructure is straining under the resource requirements of AI workloads. Only a third (32%) of respondents indicate their organization is always able to support internal AI workload demand.” Through this collaboration, Hitachi Vantara will be able to help address the needs of...

TOKYO, Mar 18, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a new joint initiative in next-generation-mobility and energy-related services utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) to contribute to solving regional societal issues and to creating vibrant future communities. Japan as a country has been addressing issues such as driver shortages due to a declining population, and difficulties maintaining public transportation services due to decreasing numbers of users. Nissan and MC have also been undertaking various initiatives to solve these challenges. Nissan’s initiatives include mobility services in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, and autonomous driving tests in the Yokohama Minato Mirai District to achieve free movement for more people. Additionally, Nissan is developing energy management systems by utilizing EV battery storage and charging/discharging functions in combination with renewable energy. MC, in collaboration with partners and local governments, has been addressing social and industrial challenges through initiatives focusing on (1) utilizing regional energy r...

TOKYO, Mar 18, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu Limited and Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced an expanded partnership(1) to accelerate the modernization of legacy applications on AWS Cloud by launching a Modernization Acceleration Joint Initiative.Launching on April 1, Fujitsu and AWS will provide assessment, migration, and modernization of legacy mission critical applications running on on-premise mainframes and UNIX servers onto AWS Cloud. The joint initiative will support customers across industries including finance, retail and automotive, as they modernize legacy applications on AWS Cloud, helping to keep up with rapidly changing business conditions with the agility and resiliency brought with modern applications.The initiative combines Fujitsu's industry-leading systems integration capabilities with AWS Professional Services, a global team of AWS experts that helps customers innovate faster and securely with AWS services including AWS Mainframe Modernization, an elastic mainframe service and set of development tools for migrating and modernizing mainframe and legacy workloads.Megumi Shimazu, Corporate Execut...

TOKYO, Mar 18, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) announced today that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding under which they will begin a feasibility study of a strategic partnership in the fields of vehicle electrification and intelligence.To further accelerate efforts toward carbon neutrality and zero traffic-accident fatalities, it will be essential to strengthen environmental and electrification technologies as well as software development. The two companies have reached the understanding based on the belief that it is necessary to combine their strengths and explore the possibility of future collaboration.The scope of the feasibility study includes automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products.Makoto Uchida, president and CEO, said: “It is important to prepare for the increasing pace of transformation in mobility in the mid-to-long-term, and it is significant that we have reached this agreement based on a mutual understanding that Honda and Nissan face common challenges. We look forward to further discussions and aim to find win-wins for s...

TOKYO, Mar 15, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), captured the top market share by megawatts in 2023 with a global gas turbine market share of 36% according to McCoy Power Reports data.(1) The company has also secured a 56% market share in the Advanced Class(2) gas turbine market, led by Mitsubishi Power's latest model JAC (J-Series Air-Cooled) gas turbines. This is the second consecutive year for Mitsubishi Power to achieve the top global market share for gas turbines, following 2022.JAC Gas TurbineMitsubishi Power's high market share is the result of the company's strong project execution track record, high performance, and product reliability. Mitsubishi Power has extensive experience with large frame gas turbines, including the F, G and J-class. The J-class (including the JAC model) has surpassed 2.3 million actual operating hours (AOH). Orders are also increasing worldwide, with cumulative orders recently surpassing 120 units.In the heavy-duty gas turbine market, which is the most popular segment for Gas Turbine Combined Cycle (GTCC) power plants, the JAC is the world's leading gas tur...

TOKYO, Mar 15, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and TIER IV, Inc. (TIER IV), a pioneer in open-source autonomous driving technology, are proud to announce MC’s strategic investment in TIER IV through a third-party allotment of shares. Through this investment, the companies will cooperatively tackle efforts to transform mobility services in regional areas with autonomous driving technology. MC has been actively engaged in the "Digital Transformation of Regional Mobility" initiative, aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency and convenience in rural areas in Japan. This initiative has involved working on AI-equipped on-demand bus and taxi services to address transportation challenges. Recognizing autonomous driving as a pivotal solution, MC participated in a proof-of-concept test with an autonomous bus at Fukuoka Airport in 2022. Subsequently, in February 2023, A-Drive Inc. (A-Drive) was established to provide a one-stop autonomous driving service, and it has been conducting proof-of-concept tests across Japan. As part of efforts to alleviate the shortage of drivers with class-2 heavy-vehicle licenses, A-Drive has conducted proof-of-concept tes...