Neowin News Feed for: Japan

Apple, Google make big changes as another country greenlights alternate app store & payments

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:58:01 +0000

Apple and Google have introduced major changes to app store billing and user choice in another country to comply with competition laws. Read more...

"Stop ripping off manga and anime," Japan's government warns OpenAI

David Uzondu — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:32:01 +0000

Looks like Japan has had enough of OpenAI's tools capable of generating copyrighted media. Now, the Japanese government is calling on the AI lab to stop the copyright infringement. Read more...

Report: Microsoft's latest Windows 11 24H2 update breaks SSDs/HDDs, may corrupt your data

Sayan Sen — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 12:56:01 +0000

The latest Windows 11 24H2 Patch Tuesday update is causing SSDs and HDDs to reportedly break with chances of data corruption as well. Read more...

Microsoft outlines mitigation for pesky SQL Server issue impacting Japanese customers

Usama Jawad — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 17:24:01 +0000

Microsoft has shared a workaround for a problem in Bulk Copy (bcp.exe) for SQL Server which may have been bothering its Japanese customers. Read more...

From cars to cosmos: Honda's experimental rocket aces first landing test

Paul Hill — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:36:01 +0000

Honda has performed the first flight test of an experimental reusable rocket. It's still early days for the company, but it could eventually rival SpaceX. Read more...

Microsoft, Indian police bust AI-powered tech support scam ring targeting elderly in Japan

Paul Hill — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:08:01 +0000

Microsoft has worked with law enforcement in India and Japan to take down a scam network that has been targeting the elderly in Japan. Read more...

Waymo to begin testing its driverless cars in Tokyo next year

David Uzondu — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:18:02 +0000

In 2025, Waymo will start testing autonomous vehicles in Tokyo, its first international experiment in driverless technology. Read more...

Japan sends the world's first wooden satellite into space

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:58:01 +0000

The world's first wooden satellite developed by Japan, heads to space to test the durability of the material. Read more...

Japan finally says goodbye to floppy disks, ends government use of legacy tech

Aditya Tiwari — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:46:03 +0000

Japan has finally pulled the plug on floppy disks and scrapped all use of the legacy tech in government procedures. This comes more than two decades after floppy disks started to decline. Read more...

SpaceX, China, and Japan prepare to launch satellites this week - TWIRL #171

Paul Hill — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 06:16:01 +0000

This Week in Rocket Launches we will see launches from SpaceX, Japan, and China. Be sure to check the recap to see China return lunar samples back to Earth and the Falcon Heavy launch. Read more...

Apple Vision Pro launches in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore

Aditya Tiwari — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:06:01 +0000

Apple has launched its spatial computing headset Vision Pro in more countries. The headset is now available to try out and purchase in mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Read more...

Apple and Google will have to start allowing third party app stores in Japan

Steve Bennett — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:34:01 +0000

The Japanese government has passed a law that will require Apple and Google to provide access to third party app stores and payment providers on their platforms, in a move similar to the EU's DMA. Read more...

Google and Jio-backed Android lockscreen platform Glance pilots in the US

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 05:24:01 +0000

After expanding its availability in India, Southeast Asia, and last year in Japan, the popular India-based Android lockscreen platform Glance, is reportedly commencing its pilot program in the US. Read more...

Nvidia GeForce NOW adds The Elder Scrolls Online and expands Ultimate plan to Japan

John Callaham — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:18:02 +0000

The Nvidia GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is adding more games to its library, including the MMO title The Elder Scrolls Online. It is also launching its Ultimate plan for gamers in Japan. Read more...

SpaceX to launch Odysseus Moon lander for Intuitive Machines - TWIRL #151

Paul Hill — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 05:02:01 +0000

This Week in Rocket Launches we have a fair few missions coming up. Japan will be doing the second test flight of its H3 rocket while SpaceX will be launching another company's lunar lander. Read more...

Japan earthquake causes pause at semiconductor factories

Paul Hill — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 02:26:01 +0000

TrendForce has reported that several semiconductor-related companies in Japan have factories in the earthquake zone. Luckily, the first batch of investigations reported no significant damage. Read more...

The government of Japan may make it easier to launch third party mobile app stores

John Callaham — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 15:44:01 +0000

A new report claims that the government of Japan is planning to submit a proposal for a law that would ban mobile operating systems from barring third-party app stores and payment systems Read more...

A quick look back at the MSX PC platform, including Microsoft's role, on its 40th birthday

John Callaham — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 15:24:01 +0000

40 years ago this month, the first PC that used the MSX platform launched. It was very popular in many markets outside the US, and Microsoft even had a small but important role in its development. Read more...

Google expands its Generative AI search to India and Japan; here's how you can opt in

Mehrotra A — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:28:01 +0000

Google is bringing its Search Generative Experience to India and Japan as the company further expands this experimental search feature that was first announced at I/O 2023 earlier this year. Read more...

Japanese government to subsidize Sumco factories to the tune of $530 million

Paul Hill — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:20:01 +0000

Japan has announced a 75 billion yen subsidy for silicon wafer producer Sumco. This is part of a wider 2 trillion yen earmarked for semiconductor subsidies over the next couple of years. Read more...

EU and Japan to cooperate on semiconductors, cybersecurity, and undersea cables

Paul Hill — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 20:26:01 +0000

The European Union and Japan are set to begin cooperating on semiconductors and cybersecurity. A deal would facilitate the transfer of researchers and engineers to develop technology faster. Read more...

Nintendo ditched E3 but will bring its own live event in Seattle this September

Anushe Fawaz — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:16:01 +0000

After announcing that it will not be participating in the popular gaming event E3, Nintendo has introduced its very own in-person event for US residents that is scheduled to September this year. Read more...

Micron sales to China could be at risk as Chinese regulator conducts security review

Karthik Mudaliar — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:12:01 +0000

China's cyberspace regulator is going to review Micron's products amid tensions between the U.S. and China over the semiconductor industry. The move is meant to safeguard China's national security. Read more...

Japan's antitrust regulator approves Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Usama Jawad — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:32:02 +0000

Japan has become the latest country to approve Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 billion. It seems like the tides are finally turning in Microsoft's favor. Read more...

China is investing around $2 billion into country's largest memory chipmaker

Karthik Mudaliar — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:12:02 +0000

China is planning to invest $1.9 billion in its biggest maker of memory chips, Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., to renew the influx of capital into the industry that affected by US sanctions. Read more...

Japan chips in, announces restrictions on semiconductor exports to China

Karthik Mudaliar — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 11:40:01 +0000

Japan joins US and Netherlands in restricting chip exports to China. New regulation comes amid US efforts to boost domestic chip production, including subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing. Read more...

Microsoft will raise prices for its Xbox Series X|S consoles in Japan

John Callaham — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 15:16:30 +0000

The prices for Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S consoles will be going up on February 17 in Japan by around $40. This could be a prelude to future price increases in other parts of the world. Read more...

TWIRL 85: SpaceX set to take four astronauts to the ISS this week

Paul Hill — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:58:01 +0000

We have a busy schedule in rocket launches ahead. Due to Hurricane Ian, a couple of launches were pushed into this week. On Wednesday, SpaceX will fly four astronauts from three countries to the ISS. Read more...

Valve opens Steam Deck reservations in more countries

Pulasthi Ariyasinghe — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:06:01 +0000

Following its massive success in western markets, and with supply chain issues finally being resolved, the Steam Deck portable gaming PC by Valve is soon officially coming to parts of Asia. Read more...

Japan telco outage puts 40 million people offline for more than two days

Karthik Mudaliar — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 09:48:01 +0000

Japan's second largest carrier KDDI faced its worst ever outage that left 40 million customers without data and voice call options. Some areas are still affected with added limits on data transfer. Read more...

Twitter saw a record number of content takedown requests from governments last year

Usama Jawad — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:13:55 +0000

According to Twitter's transparency report for January-June 2021, the platform faced a record number of account and content takedown requests from governments, with Japan leading the pack. Read more...

TWIRL 37: Crew-3 Dragon to ISS rescheduled to this week

Paul Hill — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 02:26:01 +0000

This week we have a handful of launches to look forward to. The most notable is the Crew-3 Dragon which will take four astronauts up to the International Space Station following a delay. Read more...

Xbox Cloud Gaming comes to Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico

Pulasthi Ariyasinghe — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:52:01 +0000

Microsoft today announced Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available across 26 countries as Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico join the mix. All that's required is an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Read more...

Xbox is making a return to Tokyo Game Show this year

Usman Khan Lodhi — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 04:34:01 +0000

For players in Japan and across Asia, Xbox will be holding a virtual stream during this year's Tokyo Game Show. The stream is slated to begin on Thursday, September 30 at 6 pm JST. Read more...

Japan forces Apple to allow reader apps to link to their websites and make external payments

Usama Jawad — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 07:12:01 +0000

Apple has announced that it will soon allow reader apps to link to their websites and make purchases. The change follows the ruling from a recently closed Japan Fair Trade Commission investigation. Read more...

27-year-old arrested for selling modified save data for Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Usama Jawad — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 07:50:02 +0000

A 27-year-old has been arrested for selling altered save data for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The item had a price tag of $32 and included any perks and stats desired by the buyer. Read more...

Nokia and KDDI trial liquid cooling to help reduce CO2 emissions

Paul Hill — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:52:01 +0000

The Japanese mobile operator, KDDI, is trialling Nokia's Liquid Cooling AirScale Baseband solution to help reduce its energy costs and, by extension, its climate change impact compared to air-cooling. Read more...

You can now view popular Japanese characters in AR with Google Search

Usama Jawad — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 06:26:01 +0000

Given increasing interest in Japanese pop culture around the globe, Google has introduced 3D AR models of 14 Japanese characters to Search, including Hello Kitty, Gundam, and Pac-Man, among others. Read more...

Google Pixel 5a 5G will only launch in Japan and the U.S.

Paul Hill — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:14:01 +0000

Google has corrected rumours that stated the Pixel 5a 5G would be entirely scrapped due to chip shortages. Instead, the firm is going to bring the phone to the Japanese and U.S. markets alone. Read more...

Japan agrees to provide important Lunar Gateway components

Paul Hill — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:52:01 +0000

Japan will develop components for the Lunar Gateway's International Habitation (I-Hab) module. The I-Hab module is currently slated to be sent to space in 2026, two years after Gateway's launch. Read more...