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June 20, 2026
 

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Min Jeong Lee
SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son
BUSINESS / Companies
May 13, 2026
SoftBank profit jumps, emboldens Son to bet more on OpenAI
SoftBank earned a net income of ?1.83 trillion in its fiscal fourth quarter, compared with the average analyst estimate of ?295.2 billion.
Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, is considering a multibillion-dollar investment in France for an AI data center project, people familiar with the matter says.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 12, 2026
SoftBank in talks for major data center project in France
CEO Masayoshi Son is considering a multibillion-dollar investment in the country as part of SoftBank¡¯s broader buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
SoftBank will partner with South Korea¡¯s Cosmos Lab and DeltaX to enable mass production of large-scale battery cells from the fiscal year starting next April.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 11, 2026
SoftBank plans to make large-scale batteries for AI data centers
SoftBank Corp. will partner with South Korea¡¯s Cosmos Lab and DeltaX to enable mass production from the fiscal year starting next April, the firm said.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is driving a plan to establish a standalone artificial intelligence robotics and data center company in the United States.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 30, 2026
SoftBank to create and list AI firm Roze in U.S.
The investment firm aims to create and float such a vehicle as soon as this year, though the timing on that could slip to 2027, people familiar with the matter said.
Softbank Corp. CEO and President Junichi Miyakawa
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 24, 2026
SoftBank prepares to manufacture batteries for AI data centers
The Tokyo-based group is one of the world¡¯s foremost supporters of AI, having committed hundreds of billions of dollars to investment in data centers, cloud services and startups.
SoftBank Group's mega loan highlights how much debt founder Masayoshi Son is willing for the company to take on as it seeks to secure the firm¡¯s pivotal role in the global AI race.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 15, 2026
SoftBank lenders ask more banks to join $40 billion OpenAI loan
The move forms one of the biggest tests yet of creditor sentiment toward the Japanese conglomerate¡¯s debt-fueled push further into artificial intelligence.
Integral AI, which has worked with Denso since 2021 to help teach industrial robots new skills, is holding discussions with other major Japanese companies to pitch them on how artificial intelligence can advance manufacturing processes.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 9, 2026
Former Google AI researcher sets up AI robotics startup in Tokyo
The startup is holding initial discussions with Toyota, Sony Group, Honda, Nissan and Mitsui Chemicals to pitch them on how AI can advance manufacturing processes.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son (left) and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attend an event in Tokyo in February 2025. SoftBank¡¯s investment gain on OpenAI stood at an estimated $19.8 billion as of December.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 13, 2026
SoftBank swings to profit on valuation boost from OpenAI bet
As of December, SoftBank¡¯s investment gain on OpenAI stood at an estimated $19.8 billion.
Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute Priority Asia conference in Tokyo in December.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 26, 2026
SoftBank hits the brakes on talks to buy data center firm Switch
The two sides remain in active discussions about a partial investment or a partnership.
Ting Cai, head of Rakuten Group¡¯s artificial intelligence team, has the task of creating AI systems that would augment the company¡¯s many businesses at a minimal cost.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 23, 2025
Rakuten AI boss diverges from Big Tech in prioritizing low cost
The Tokyo-based company is expanding its AI team under the stewardship of a Google veteran and building models with a focus on cost efficiency.
SoftBank Group Chairman Masayoshi Son speaks in Tokyo earlier this month. Sources have said the group is considering acquiring data-center operator Switch. The move would give it outright ownership of a large portfolio of the facilities at a time when demand for their computing power is growing rapidly.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 12, 2025
SoftBank may acquire Switch data-center group deal in AI infrastructure bid
The Japanese company has also been in advanced talks on a potential purchase of one of Switch¡¯s main private equity backers, according to recent reports.
Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute Priority Asia conference in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 2, 2025
SoftBank¡¯s Son ¡®cried¡¯ about Nvidia stake sale to fund AI bets
Son, addressing for the first time the surprise disclosure that SoftBank had unloaded its stake in the world¡¯s most valuable company, also slammed talk of an AI investment bubble.
SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is aggressively seeking to capitalize on booming investment in AI and chips, even as he scales back other investments.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 12, 2025
SoftBank sells Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion to fund AI bets
The Tokyo-based company now boasts a portfolio that includes some of the world¡¯s most sought-after names in artificial intelligence: OpenAI and Oracle.
SoftBank explored a potential takeover of U.S. chipmaker Marvell Technology earlier this year, in what would have been the semiconductor industry's largest-ever deal.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 6, 2025
SoftBank is said to have explored potential takeover of Marvell
SoftBank explored a potential takeover of U.S. chipmaker Marvell Technology earlier this year, people familiar with the matter said, in what would have been the semiconductor industry¡¯s largest-ever deal.
SoftBank Group¡¯s Japanese mobile unit and OpenAI are set to launch AI services for local companies next year.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 5, 2025
SoftBank chases actual revenue with OpenAI in corporate Japan
SoftBank Corp. and Open AI are said to be still fine-tuning the products the two companies are co-developing for Japanese enterprises.
Regulators are ratcheting up pressure on startups to gain more scale before debuting on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, warning that the TSE will seek to delist companies that fail to reach a market value of at least ?10 billion within five years of going public.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 21, 2025
Deals for startups reach record in Japan before listing curbs
Starting in 2030, the Tokyo Stock Exchange will seek to delist companies that fail to reach a market value of at least ?10 billion within five years of going public.
An ABB robot at the Sony U.K. Technology Centre in Pencoed, Wales
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 8, 2025
SoftBank to buy ABB¡¯s robotics arm in $5.4 billion deal
The Japanese investment firm agreed to take over a business with more than 7,000 employees, which supplies industrial arms and robots.
SoftBank Group¡¯s Vision Fund is considering cutting as much as 20% of its staff.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 19, 2025
SoftBank¡¯s Vision Fund mulls 20% job cuts after Son¡¯s pivot to AI
The unit, which employed about 282 people as of the end of March, may shed more than 50 roles, a person familiar with the matter said.
Rakuten Bank CEO Tomotaka Torin is interviewed in Tokyo last week.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 14, 2025
Rakuten Bank to refrain from JGB buying as more rate hikes seen
¡°We¡¯re not going for any aggressive buying of JGBs until we¡¯ve seen at least another rate hike or two,¡± CEO Tomotaka Torin said in an interview.
SoftBank Group has emerged as the unnamed buyer of Foxconn Technology Group¡¯s electric vehicle plant in Ohio and plans to incorporate the facility into its $500 billion Stargate data center project with OpenAI and Oracle.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 12, 2025
SoftBank shares surge on AI hope and sign of Stargate progress
The firm¡¯s emergence as the unnamed buyer of Foxconn¡¯s electric vehicle plant in Ohio is spurring optimism that it may be able to kick-start its stalled endeavor.
Onitsuka Tiger pivots from Asics stripes to tap luxury market
An Onitsuka Tiger store in the Omotesando district of Tokyo. The footwear brand prepares to transform into a luxury lifestyle label distinct from Asics.
Yen hits 23-month low and Nikkei 225 breaks 71,000 for first time
The Nikkei 225 stock average broke 71,000 for the first time on Thursday while the yen remained weak.
Yen nears four-decade low, and Katayama issues warning
The yen traded above the ?161-to-the-dollar mark all day Friday in Tokyo.
Oncolys president reflects on long journey to world-first cancer treatment
Yasuo Urata, the president and CEO of Oncolys BioPharma, said in an interview Wednesday in Tokyo that he wants to develop treatments that improve the quality of life for patients.
Prices of chicken and eggs in Japan hit record highs
The national average price of a packet of 10 eggs stood at ?309, matching the highest level marked in March and May.
Music Awards Japan levels up and looks ahead
Kaze Fujii received a second consecutive album of the year award for ¡°Prema,¡± his English-language debut, at the Music Awards Japan ceremony.
Cultural aspects dominate coverage as sumo enthralls Paris
<i>Yokozuna</i> Hoshoryu waves to reporters during a news conference at the Japanese Culture House of Paris on June 11.
Japan steps on the gas in unprecedented regional defense export push
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi walks with his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, as the two inspect an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in Jakarta on May 4.
As his centennial nears, Osamu Tezuka gets a global reintroduction
Seen here in an archival shot, Osamu Tezuka&#039;s influence on Japanese anime has been monumental.
Why more bears are entering urban areas
Hikers walk past a bear warning sign in the Okutama area in western Tokyo on Sunday as local authorities urge visitors to take precautions following increased reports of bear sightings in the region.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Social camouflaging can help neurodivergent people navigate social situations, but researchers say the effort often comes with significant emotional and mental strain.
The challenge of being neurodivergent in Japan¡¯s culture of conformity
By Tomoko Otake

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