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Z Holdings Corporation, the owner of Yahoo Japan Corporation, successfully merged with LINE Corporation on March 1, 2021. At a press conference and briefing for investors to mark the integration, the two Co-CEOs, Kentaro Kawabe and Takeshi…
Constantly taking up new challenges and continuing to evolve are key to SoftBank’s DNA. Going beyond the boundaries of a telecommunications carrier, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) is committed to pioneering transformative services, and resea…
Constantly taking up new challenges and continuing to evolve are key to SoftBank’s DNA. Going beyond the boundaries of a telecommunications carrier, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) is committed to pioneering transformative services, and resea…
The Institute for AI and Beyond, a world-class AI research institute established by the University of Tokyo, SoftBank Corp., SoftBank Group Corp. and Yahoo Japan Corporation that has been conducting joint research since July 2020, held its…
On February 4, 2021, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its earnings results briefing for the nine months ended December 31, 2020 in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 (Q3 FY2020) at Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba, home of SoftBank’s new headq…
Whether in cities, the mountains, or on islands, people are used to living in a world where they are always connected to the Internet. But what about when they are at sea? Out in the oceans, network connectivity is greatly limited by compa…
Since it launched on the airwaves in 1979, the anime series “Mobile Suit Gundam” has built a dedicated following in Japan, and across the world as well. It has long been a dream of Gundam fans to see the gigantic manned humanoid machine fr…
In September 2020, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) began the process of moving to its new headquarters located in Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba, a next-generation smart building complex, and the transition will be complete by January 2021. SoftBan…
A central tenet of SoftBank Corp.’s (TOKYO: 9434) human resource policy is “creating a strong organization by combining the capabilities of diverse individuals.” With the belief that the promotion of diversity is key to company growth, Sof…
On November 25, the Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS won the “SMBC NIPPON SERIES 2020,” the championship of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)’s 2020 season. The victory marked the 4th consecutive title for the HAWKS in Japan’s highest level of base…
In May 2020, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) announced it was making the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a top managerial priority. To learn more about how SoftBank’s business activities are contributin…
On November 4, 2020, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its earnings results briefing for the six months ended September 30, 2020 in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 (Q2 FY2020). At the event President & CEO Ken Miyauchi reviewed finan…
On August 21, 2020, Japan-based publishing major Kodansha Ltd. held a press conference to showcase Mixalive TOKYO, a new pop culture complex located in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district. “Mixalive,” which stands for a mixture of live content with…
On October 2, 2020, UK-based mobile analytics firm Opensignal announced its Global Mobile Network Experiences Awards 2020, and in its report SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) was ranked the global no. 1 carrier for Voice App Experience and no. …
HAPSMobile Inc., a SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) subsidiary launched in 2017 with the mission of bridging the digital divide, marked two major milestones on September 21, 2020. First, the solar-powered, unmanned aircraft “Sunglider” took fl…
When typhoons, earthquakes, landslides and other types of natural disasters strike, mobile phones serve as an important lifeline for people to get information and to stay in touch with their family, friends and colleagues. SoftBank Corp. (…
All five members of Japan’s top-selling boy band Arashi appeared at a SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) press conference held at Tokyo International Forum on August 5 to unveil a 5G-based project that promises to open up new entertainment possi…
Over the years, mobile communication technologies have evolved in cycles lasting approximately 10 years, as evidenced with commercial 3G and 4G services launching around 2001 and 2010, respectively. The world is now witnessing the full-fle…
On August 4, 2020, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its earnings results briefing for the three months ended June 30, 2020 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 (Q1 FY2020). At the event President & CEO Ken Miyauchi took the opportuni…
After an almost three month delay caused by the spread of COVID-19, professional baseball in Japan this season got off to a start in June, first with empty stadiums and then limited spectator admittance from July 10 in line with government…
SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its 34th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) on June 24, 2020, its second since listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2018. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the meeting was held o…
5G is expected to redefine industries with its ultra-fast speeds, high capacity, low latency and massive device connectivity. The transportation and logistics sector, which is expected to utilize autonomous driving in the future, is likely…
June 5 is a very special day. Why? Because it’s Pepper’s birthday! Since Pepper’s unveiling in 2014, Pepper has come a long way. In Japan, Pepper can be found in homes, at retail establishments, restaurants, medical institutions and care f…
Building on its past efforts to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN), SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) announced the promotion of SDGs as a top managerial priority on May 11, …
On May 11, 2020, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its earnings results briefing for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 (FY2019). On a consolidated basis, revenue was 4,861.2 billion yen (a 4% increase year-on-year), operating income was…
Companies and organizations around the world have turned to telecommuting as a way to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) is no exception. Since the beginning of March 2020, SoftBank strongly encourag…
OYO Ryokan inns are furnished with newly designed furniture and accoutrements In Tokyo on March 18, 2020, OYO Hotels Japan announced “OYO Ryokan,” a new brand for Japan that follows the ethos of omotenashi--the country’s unique approach to…
On March 5, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held a press conference in Tokyo to announce the launch of commercial 5G services. 5G LAB to deliver immersive entertainment experiences Jun Shimba, Representative Director & COO and Head of the Con…
Emperor Akihito’s ascension to the throne in May 2019 marked the start of the Reiwa era in Japan. 2019 also marked the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Palau’s independence and the start of diplomatic relations between Palau and Japan. …
In this day and age, we benefit from a multitude of Internet-based services, and the sharing economy, or XaaS—an abbreviation for ‘X (anything) as a Service’—in particular is getting a lot of attention recently. Among XaaS offerings, ride …
SoftBank Academia headmaster Masayoshi Son and Kingdom manga creator Yasuhisa Hara To celebrate its 10th anniversary, on January 15 SoftBank Academia held a special fireside chat event between Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Academia’s headmaster,…
Not far from the hustle and bustle of Shibuya’s “Scramble Square,” one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, lies “Pepper PARLOR,” a café that offers a completely new dining experience. Pepper PARLOR is nestled among the array …
On February 7, 2020, at a Tokyo hotel, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its earnings briefing for the third quarter (nine months ended December 31, 2019) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020. President & CEO Ken Miyauchi opened his pr…
Henri Coron (left), CBDO of NAVYA, Masahiro Hashimoto (center), Mayor of Sakai, the town that will introduce Japan’s first self-driving buses on public roads, and Yuki Saji, (second from right) SB Drive Corp. President & CEO, at press even…
Pepper lectured students about marine pollution at an open classroom event held at Yoshikawa Elementary School in Kameoka City, Japan On November 19, 2019, Pepper —the humanoid robot developed by SoftBank Robotics Corp.— taught elementary …
From January 14 to 17, 2020, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government conducted a test trial for multi-modal commuting in Tokyo Bay. MONET Technologies, a SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) and Toyota Motor Corporation joint venture developing on-deman…
Lippo Karawaci CEO John Riady and SoftBank Corp. Vice President and Head of Global Business Strategy Hidebumi Kitahara announce their cooperation in Jakarta PT Lippo Karawaci Tbk, the largest listed property company in Indonesia, and SoftB…
From left: SoftBank Corp.'s Representative Director & CTO Junichi Miyakawa and Chairman Masayoshi Son, The University of Tokyo's President Makoto Gonokami and Executive Vice President Teruo Fujii On December 6, 2019, the University of Toky…
In April 2019, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) launched the “Randsel of Love Donation Project” as a CSR initiative. About 20,000 of these leather school backpacks used by elementary school children in Japan made their way across the ocean to …
Installing an e-kakashi device With an aging population of farmers and a labor shortage, among other issues, Japan is facing an agricultural crisis. Other countries are facing similar problems as well. On the other hand, the use of robotic…
SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held a press conference on November 5, 2019 to present its earnings results for the first six months (H1) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (FY2019). President & CEO Ken Miyauchi, summarizing the results…
Starting from December 2018 through to March 2019, in Japan's Aichi Prefecture SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) conducted testing of its “Smart Highway” concept, which uses 5G to improve the driver experience. Some of Japan's expressways have …
On October 23, the Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS won the “SMBC NIPPON SERIES 2019,” the championship of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)’s 2019 season. The victory marked the third straight title for the HAWKS in Japan’s highest level of baseba…
Photo of the award ceremony For the third year in a row, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) was awarded a gold rating--the highest ranking-- in the ‘PRIDE Index’ for its LGBT-friendly workplace policies. A conference was held on October 11, 2019…
Okinawa, a chain of islands in the southernmost part of Japan, is famous for its pristine beaches and colorful coral reefs. Due to climate change, however, these reefs have recently seen severe coral bleaching, a phenomenon that greatly di…
HAPSMobile's HAWK30 successfully completed its first test flight at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center on September 11, 2019 Imagine an unmanned aircraft circling the stratosphere, acting as an airborne base station to smoothly transm…
This summer, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO:9434) deployed pre-commercial 5G services at Japan's largest outdoor rock music event, FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL ‘19. The annual event took place from July 26-28 at Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture. SoftBa…
On August 5, 2019, SoftBank Corp. held its earnings results conference for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020. President & CEO Ken Miyauchi discussed financial highlights, including the impact of consolidating Yahoo…
“This daily rush hour commute is such a grind...” That's an often-heard comment from commuters in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, which is world famous for its packed trains during the morning and evening rush hours. In certain areas, passeng…
MONET Technologies Inc., a joint venture with SoftBank Corp., Toyota Motor Corporation and other Japan-based automotive manufacturers that is working to promote MaaS (mobility as a service) business development, held its first MONET Consor…