Is Japan’s high-speed Shinkansen rail a solution to 2024 logistics problem?
The Shinkansen bullet train was developed as passenger transport, but in recent years there have been trials to use this high-speed rail for cargo deliveries as well. With a shrinking labor force, particularly in the freight industry, and recent overtime limits imposed on truck drivers, there is a pressing need for a modal shift towards rail cargo.Read more
Housing starts plummet near Kumamoto's semiconductor plants despite strong demand
Despite the excitement surrounding the new semiconductor plants in Kumamoto, new housing starts in Kikuyo and Ōzu towns have dropped drastically. In February of 2024, housing starts were over 30% higher than they were 12 months prior, but in March they had dropped 50% y-o-y.Read more
Raffles to open luxury hotel in Tokyo in 2028
On July 22, the World Trade Center Building, Kajima Corporation, Tokyo Monorail, and JR East announced that Raffles will be opening their first hotel in Japan in the World Trade Center Building redevelopment project.Read more
Sharp to repurpose LCD factories for AI and semiconductor-related use
It might have seemed like the end of the line for Sharp’s LCD factories, as strong offshore competition saw the electronics maker face a second year of losses in 2024. With LCD production winding down, the company is repurposing some of its plants across Japan by collaborating with other manufacturers, especially those in the AI and semiconductor space.Read more
Mitsubishi vacating Yokohama office tower
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is relocating its head office operations from Yokohama to central Tokyo, joining related companies in aggregating its operations in one central location.Read more
Rental apartments in Tokyo see a drop in deposits but a rise in key money
Residential rental listings offering no deposit are on the rise across greater Tokyo, but those offering no key or gift money are becoming less common at certain price points.
Why would landlords be reducing deposits but increasing gift money?
It’s a combination of both market forces and maximizing total rental income for a landlord.Read more
Locals oppose luxury hotel plan for Miyajima, Hiroshima
Residents of Hiroshima's Miyajima island are vehemently opposed to government plans for a luxury hotel. The proposed hotel site is 3 kilometers or 10 minutes by car from the island's famed Itsukushima Jinja Shrine, a popular sightseeing spot for its giant 'floating' torii gate that sits in the bay.Read more