Business & Economy
Smaregi to take over Casio subsidiary’s register services
Casio signed an agreement on September 25 to transfer subsidiary CXD Next’s connected cash-register services to Smaregi through a company split scheduled for December 1. Existing contract terms and services will remain unchanged, as will the planned closure during 2029. The transfer changes who supports merchants through that wind-down; it does not cancel the shutdown.
Source: Casio
Keisei plans Chiba Nisseki purchase to strengthen fuel supply
Keisei Electric Railway plans to acquire all shares of fuel retailer Chiba Nisseki, with completion scheduled for October 1, according to Nihon M&A Center’s September 24 report. The stated aims include securing fuel for the group and combining vehicle-maintenance capabilities. The purchase would expand the railway group’s services business in its home region.
Source: Nihon M&A Center
Tachibana Eletech opens talks on Korean semiconductor business
Tachibana Eletech signed a basic agreement with Koshida Tec on September 24 to discuss acquiring part of its Korean affiliate’s business involving Renesas semiconductor devices. The proposed transaction would go through Tachibana’s Hong Kong subsidiary and support its overseas expansion. Completion, structure and timing remain subject to negotiations; a final acquisition agreement has not been announced in the disclosure.
Source: Tachibana Eletech disclosure
Science & Technology
New method sharpens view of human membrane proteins
A University of Tokyo-led team reported roughly fourfold greater sensitivity in NMR analysis of human membrane proteins. Its technique enables extensive deuterium labeling using human cells, helping researchers observe molecular motion at atomic resolution. The September 25 announcement describes an advance in studying drug-target mechanisms, rather than evidence of a new treatment’s effectiveness.
Source: University of Tokyo and partners
AI study tests whether ESG reports cover material risks
Kyushu University researchers compared securities reports from 340 listed Japanese food and beverage companies with industry-specific sustainability issues over 2020–2024. Environmental disclosure was more limited than social disclosure, while coverage of emissions, human capital and supply chains expanded after 2022. The method examines the relevance of disclosures for investors; it does not directly measure companies’ environmental performance.
Source: Kyushu University
Single-cell analysis reveals overlooked chromosome weak spots
A RIKEN-led team used single-cell genome analysis to detect rare chromosome breaks that conventional methods could miss under DNA-replication stress. The September 23 announcement identifies multiple classes of fragile regions with different characteristics and mechanisms. The findings broaden the research basis for understanding genome instability associated with diseases such as cancer, without establishing a clinical test or treatment.
Source: RIKEN
Communities
Saga to begin four-month trial of bookable shared transport
Saga will trial reservation-based shared transport in its western area from October 1 through January 30, 2027. Services are planned for Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., with registration and booking by telephone or smartphone. The city is testing how to serve neighborhoods distant from bus stops and varied daytime journeys while responding to population decline and driver shortages.
Source: Saga City
Heiwado plans mobile grocery service at 44 Taga stops
Heiwado plans to start mobile grocery sales in Taga, Shiga Prefecture, on October 13. Operating from its Hikone Jizo store, the service will cover 44 stops on Monday–Saturday under cooperation with the town and its social welfare council. It addresses shopping access for residents without cars; demand and operating sustainability will only become clear after service begins.
Source: Heiwado announcement
Sports
Japan opens Asian Games volleyball campaign with straight-sets win
Japan beat Uzbekistan 3–0 on September 27 in its opening preliminary-round match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The set scores were 25–17, 25–20 and 25–17, according to the Japan Volleyball Association. The result gave the host team a winning start; it was a group-stage victory, not a medal or qualification result.
Source: Japan Volleyball Association
Culture
JASRAC posts record September royalty distribution
JASRAC reported a September royalty distribution of approximately ¥38.3 billion, up 2.4% from a year earlier and a record for that distribution period. The payment mainly reflects royalties received in January–June, with streaming and large concerts among the growing categories. It shows how music use feeds rights-holder income, although management fees and taxes are deducted before remittance.
Source: JASRAC
Mie exhibition places Lucie Rie’s ceramics in an East–West context
Mie Prefectural Art Museum opened its Lucie Rie exhibition on September 26, running through December 13. Works from her early career to maturity are presented alongside related artists and connections with Asian ceramics, drawing particularly on the National Crafts Museum and Iuchi collections. The show places the Vienna-born, London-based potter’s forms within a wider history of artistic exchange.
Source: Mie Prefectural Art Museum
