Retail News CRM

Tag: Japan

  • Starbucks Taiwan Recycled Shipping Containers Shop Opened

    Starbucks Taiwan Recycled Shipping Containers Shop Opened

    Starbucks Taiwan has opened a store made entirely of shipping containers in Hualien Bay Mall.

    The 29 containers have been stacked as building blocks designed to resemble the uneven foliage of a coffee bush at the yet-to-open mall that will launch as a tourist spot with views of the Pacific.

    The new Starbucks Taiwan cafe is constructed following the “Starbucks Greener Stores” initiative for sustainable store building using reclaimable materials and green design principles. The interior features a large mural celebrating the aboriginal Amis people of Hualien.

    According to the brand’s press release, “The stacking of the shipping containers created a much taller space and provides natural sunlight throughout the various skylights found throughout the structure.”

    Starbucks has now opened 40 locations built from shipping containers. This 320sqm structure is the first to be designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, known for his reinterpretation of traditional styles. Kuma has designed multiple iconic locations for Starbucks.

    Lees ook:

  • Alibaba Cloud and OBS Unveil Innovative Cloud Solutions for the Olympic Games

    Alibaba Cloud and OBS Unveil Innovative Cloud Solutions for the Olympic Games

    Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, announced the launch of OBS Cloud, an innovative broadcasting solution that operates entirely on the cloud, to help transform the media industry for the digital era. Set to be in place for Tokyo 2020, the OBS Cloud aims to offer all the necessary cloud components, in specialized configurations, that can support the extremely demanding content production and delivery workflows of the broadcasting of the Olympic Games.

    Tokyo 2020 will be a game-changer for broadcasters as it showcases new possibilities for the industry by presenting solutions on the cloud. The use of cloud technologies has been gradually adopted for content creation and distribution purposes in broadcasting, however the extremely demanding requirements for volume, speed and latency that are inherent in live sports broadcasting of major events have kept the use of the cloud at a very low level, despite its multiple advantages. Apart from providing inherent flexibility and scalability, the use of the cloud may also help with the limited time frame that broadcasters have to set up, test and commission their on-premises systems. Traditionally, broadcasters of the Olympics have only been able to implement and test their equipment upon arrival at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in the host city, and the physical space dedicated to broadcasters on site has always been in high demand.

    As the host broadcaster, OBS can now provide most of the visual and audio assets of the Olympic Games to all Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHBs) through the new cloud platform efficiently, effectively and securely. Broadcasters can also set up their own content creation, management and distribution systems on OBS Cloud, a solution that has been optimized to address the particular needs of the most demanding live multi-sport workflows.

    The proprietary OBS Cloud leverages Alibaba Cloud’s services featuring best-in-class technology infrastructure to create an optimal media broadcasting environment for all RHBs of the Olympics. The OBS Cloud which will run on the most advanced Intel® Xeon® scalable processors, offers a suite of solutions including super computing capabilities, high-speed connectivity directly from the IBC, easily accessible cloud storage considering the demanding Olympic requirements, real-time monitoring, live video and audio broadcasting services and media processing.

    Also announced today was a partnership aimed at advancing the digital transformation of the Olympics and delivering volumetric content over the OBS Cloud for the first time at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Intel, also an Olympic TOP Partner, will collaborate with Alibaba and OBS to explore a more efficient and reliable delivery pipeline of immersive media to RHBs worldwide that will improve the fan experience and bring them closer to the action via Intel’s volumetric and virtual reality technologies.

    Additionally, the live media service on OBS Cloud allows RHBs to experiment with new program ideas in a secure sandbox environment or conduct interactive event broadcasts, accelerating the digitization of the coverage during the Games.

    After the Games, RHBs will also have the flexibility to move their deployment home or keep the asset within the OBS Cloud for future Olympic events.

    “We are very pleased that Alibaba Cloud has come up with this innovative and powerful approach to Olympic broadcasting. As the host broadcaster of the Olympic Games, we at OBS see ourselves as a leader in transforming the media industry,” said Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of OBS. “Tokyo 2020 will be an opportunity for the International Olympic Committee to champion digital transformation in the media industry, as well as empowering broadcasters around the world with a cloud platform that delivers new possibilities for how the Games are enjoyed by fans around the world.” Joey Tan, General Manager of Global Strategic Accounts and Sports Business Unit, Alibaba Cloud said, “The future of the Olympic Games is in cloud technology and Alibaba Cloud is fully committed to contribute to the digital transformation of the Olympic Games through innovation. This partnership with OBS is an exciting initiative to expand the reach and accessibility of the Olympic Games content and ultimately stimulate a rethink on how the media industry operates in a digital era. We are excited to create a new standard in broadcasting and a more enjoyable experience for audiences around the world during Tokyo 2020.”

    Jay Sankar, CTO and Head of Product of Intel Sports, commented, “Sports fans today are seeking more immersive and engaging experiences. Intel’s partnership with Alibaba Cloud and OBS is aimed at delivering these ground-breaking experiences to Rights Holding Broadcasters and fans in a seamless, efficient manner over the OBS Cloud, powered by the most advanced Intel Xeon Scalable processors”.

    The partnership between Alibaba Group and the International Olympic Committee began in January 2017 when the two parties signed a long-term strategic agreement that will help transform the Olympic Games for the digital era. Alibaba is now serving as the official “Cloud Services” and “E-Commerce Platform Services” partner.

    Lees ook:

  • Docomo invests in semiconductor startup QD Laser

    Docomo invests in semiconductor startup QD Laser

    Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo, through its subsidiary NTT Docomo Ventures, has invested in QD Laser for an undisclosed amount.

    QD Laser – which was founded in 2006 as an offshoot of Fujitsu Ltd with funding from Mitsui Ventures – develops and manufactures semiconductor lasers, retinal scanning laser eyewear, and other products based on quantum dot laser technology.

    By leveraging its nanocrystal technology, the Kanagawa-based firm achieved mass production of quantum dot lasers capable of operating stably even at high temperature.

    In 2018, QD Laser applied its technology to incorporate a compact laser projector with extremely small output into a spectacle-type device, and commercialized what was claimed to be the world’s first retinal scanning laser eyewear that directly projects an image onto the user’s retina for image display.

    The technology for projecting a direct image onto the retina using a laser does not require the user to focus their eyes to see an image, so it is expected to improve the quality of life of patients with ametropia or corneal opacity and weak-sighted individuals.

    The technology can also be applied for realizing natural-looking augmented reality (AR) that people with normal vision can experience.

    Docomo said it has high expectations for potentials of the retinal scanning laser eyewear developed by QD Laser for resolving various social issues and contribute to creating new services through AR.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Softbank said to pick banks to lead $27b mobile IPO

    Softbank said to pick banks to lead $27b mobile IPO

    Japan’s Softbank has reportedly selected the banks that will serve as lead underwriters for the IPO of its domestic mobile business. The operator has picked banks including Nomura Holdings, Mizuho Financial, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank to underwite the offer for around 3 trillion yen ($26.82 billion) worth of shares, citing unnamed sources. This would make the IPO the largest ever, beating Alibaba Group’s $25 billion IPO from 2014.

    According to the sources, Softbank currently plans to start marketing the IPO next month and could list shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by mid-December, but this timing is subject to change.

    Softbank’s founder Masayoshi Son is seeking to squeeze value from its telecoms assets to raise funds for his Vision Fund, which aims to raise $100 billion from global investors every two to three years to invest in promising startups and emerging technologies.

    The operator is expected to market most of the shares on offer to Japanese investors.

    Lees ook:

  • Furla growth report slowing down

    Furla growth report slowing down

    Italian handbag label Furla has posted a 5.8 per cent rise in sales for the first half of the year, down from 23.5 per cent growth during the same period last year.

    Furla sales growth in Asia has similarly slowed, showing a 27 per cent growth in the Asia-Pacific region as opposed to last year’s 63 per cent increase. Furla recently assumed direct control of retail distribution in the greater China region.

    Furla generates 23 per cent of its sales in Japan against 7 per cent in the US. Revenue growth for Japan was 9.5 per cent, while growth for the US market was 24.2 per cent. E-commerce sales are up 24.1 per cent.

    Furla’s GM Alberto Camerlengo said: “For us, 2018 is a year of consolidation.” He described the firm’s plans to strengthen its delivery organisation via the adoption of a more advanced IT system as better suited to the company’s increased size.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • UNIQLO and Alexander Wang Collection Launched

    UNIQLO and Alexander Wang Collection Launched

    UNIQLO announced a new collaboration with top New York fashion designer Alexander Wang. The line brings Alexander Wang’s signature design and styling to UNIQLO’s HEATTECH functional apparel – LifeWear that has kept people warm and comfortable in winter since its debut in 2003.

    About the new collection, Alexander Wang said, “When I look into expanding into additional categories, I seek out partners that really can innovate the product we make and how our fans can access it. UNIQLO are the ideal partners for this collection of innerwear because we share an appreciation of functionality and utilitarianism, and I am thrilled our collaboration has resulted in developing a new HEATTECH line; the perfect place to pick up from where we left off ten years ago.”

    Yuki Katsuta, Group Senior Vice President of Fast Retailing and Head of UNIQLO R&D, commented, “Alexander first collaborated with UNIQLO ten years ago on the UNIQLO Designers Invitation Project. At the time he greatly impressed me with his ability to identify trends. I hope that consumers can enjoy this new dimension in HEATTECH, which takes our long-selling line beyond its innerwear origins by augmenting its functionality with Alexander’s inspiring design.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vietjet Inks Financing Agreements for Fleet Expansion Worth US$1.2billion

    Vietjet Inks Financing Agreements for Fleet Expansion Worth US$1.2billion

    Vietjet signed and exchanged an aircraft financing agreement with Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited (MUL) – a member of Japan’s leading finance group Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), and France-based banking group BNP Paribas. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and several high-ranking Japanese and Vietnamese dignitaries. The agreement paves the way for MUL and BNP Paribas to finance Vietjet’s acquisition of up to five brand new aircraft, worth US$614 million, according to the manufacturer’s listed price.

    Additionally, Vietjet also signed a Memorandum of Understanding valued at US$625 million according to the manufacturer’s listed price with France-based banking group Natixis and some Japanese equity underwriters to facilitate the financing for five additional aircraft.

    These deals were made under a financing plan for Vietjet’s future ownership of the aircraft.

    The acquisition of these aircraft is part of a new-and-modern aircraft contract signed earlier between Vietjet and Airbus, including A321neo aircraft, which incorporates the latest in engine design, advanced aerodynamics and cabin innovations. According to the aircraft manufacturer, A321neo engines offer a significant reduction in fuel consumption — at least 16 percent from day one and 20 percent by 2020 — as well 75% reduction in noise and 50% in emissions.

    All aircraft financed will be delivered to Vietjet in the last quarter of 2018 or early 2019.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vietjet’s Vice President Dinh Viet Phuong said, “The critical financing agreements signed once again confirms the confidence of leading Japanese financiers in Vietjet as the airline prepares to launch new routes to Japan soon. Also, these deals will greatly contribute to Vietjet’s plan for fleet expansion and network growth in the coming time, thus helping to better connect Japan and Vietnam. We are proud to have leading and renowned financing partners accompany us on the airline’s growth path. Together we are all fully committed to bring greater added values to the community.”

    Under the terms of the agreement, Vietjet and all financing partners will also work together to share best practices for the operation and management of the airline, boosting effectiveness and encouraging sustainable growth.

    Vietjet currently operates the latest generation narrow body aircraft fleet, which has helped the airline achieve an impressive operation performance rating of 99.66% for technical reliability.

    The airline’s flight safety performance and ground operation indicators are also amongst the top in the region while operating costs are among the lowest in the world.

    Vietjet was recently listed by Airfinance Journal as one of the world’s 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations, achieving a better ranking than many of the world’s most prestigious airlines.

    Lees ook:

  • The theme for Uniqlo’s UTGP 2019 T-shirt design contest is… Pokemon!

    The theme for Uniqlo’s UTGP 2019 T-shirt design contest is… Pokemon!

    Now on its 13th year, UTGP 2019 will accept entries via smartphones and tablets to enable as many as possible to take part. The competition’s Grand Prize winner will receive USD $10,000; other winners will also receive cash prizes. All winning designs of the contest will be featured in Uniqlo Spring/Summer 2019 collection, with t-shirts being avialable for men, women, and kids.

    The competition will be judged by the following:

    • Tsunekazu Ishihara, President of The Pokémon Company
    • Ken Sugimori, Managing Director of Game Freak Inc.
    • NIGO® （UT Creative Director）

    The top three winners will be awarded in a ceremony in Tokyo, and they’ll be able to watch the 2019 Pokémon World Championships in Washington, DC. Entries can be submitted on October 23 until December 2, 2018 (10:59 PHT) at the official UTGP 2019 website.

  • MarlMarl Sanjo-Street Kyoto Open door

    MarlMarl Sanjo-Street Kyoto Open door

    Acclaimed for its abstract world view, MARLMARL, with Atsushi Suzuki / TANSEISHA as the designer, is one of the most dynamic brands of original baby clothing in Japan today, and is   continuing to expand in both domestic and overseas markets. MARLMARL worked on interior design for the brand in conjunction with the opening of a new branch in the Sanjo-street district of Kyoto, Japan’s historic capital.

    Kyoto’s Sanjo-street, featuring an attractive urban landscape characterized by a mixture of old and new, is a place where traditional architecture and modern architecture stand side by side. In these surroundings, we had to draw up a plan for the interior of a modern building highlighted by enormous and remarkably eye-catching arches. So, while honoring Kyoto’s historic landscape, we came up with a design concept that would integrate the brand’s abstract world view with the surrounding cityscape.

    Using the brand’s neutral tones and drawing on the motif provided by the building’s arches, we continued the arches inside the store, keeping the lines as simple as possible in combination with a monotone coloring to integrate the cityscape with the brand’s abstract world view. The imposing arches of the building and the light arches of the interior serve as complementary expressions, imbuing the space with a bright and airy impression befitting of a baby clothing brand.

    View the gallery below to join the mini tour to the store :

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Giant Muji Ginza flagship plan revealed

    Giant Muji Ginza flagship plan revealed

    Japanese anti-brand retailer Muji will open a new global concept store in Tokyo’s Ginza district next April.

    Besides a seven-storey Muji Ginza retail store, the company will open a Muji Hotel, a gallery and community space and a Muji-branded Diner on the site. It will close its existing standalone Tokyo flagship store at Yurakucho on December 2.

    Satoru Matsuzaki, president and representative director of Muji’s parent company Ryohin Keikaku, says the new Muji Ginza flagship will be a global statement for the brand with a focus on food.

    “Muji wants to connect the relationships between people and people, people and society, and people and nature through its goods and services,” Matsuzaki said in a statement.

    “Among the three most basic of human needs (clothing, food, and housing), food is perhaps the most critical, essential part of life. City dwellers, however, have become far removed from the farms, ranches and fisheries, where the food is actually produced, and have come to consume food as nothing more than mere merchandise. Many of them know neither the producers, the land nor the sea that grew the food.

    “The new global flagship store will dedicate more goods and services to food. We hope it helps customers think about the producers and production areas, taking another look at the relationship between food and people.”

    A dedicated food area on the store’s ground floor features vegetables and fruits delivered directly from the farms near Tokyo. The store will sell freshly squeezed juice or desserts made from in-store fruits. There will be a space to eat on site and the store will sell teas, spice and fruits by measure.

    A Muji Diner will open in the first basement level, focusing on simple food and featuring a salad bar. Dishes of fish, meat or wild game in season will be available for individual diners and groups.

    Muji Hotel Ginza and Atelier Muji Ginza

    Described as “anti-gorgeous, anti-cheap” the Muji Hotel Ginza promises “a great sleep at the right price”. It will be the third Muji Hotel after properties in Shenzhen and Beijing, featuring 79 guest rooms.

    The Atelier Muji Ginza will open on the building’s sixth floor, beneath the hotel, intended as a “multi-purpose facility of design and culture”.  It will comprise two galleries for exhibitions featuring craftwork and design, a salon where people can talk over coffee or drinks, a library of books related to design and arts and a lounge for events and workshops.

    To bridge the gap between the old flagship’s closure and the new Ginza concept’s opening, a mini pop-up store is planned for Marronnier Gate Ginza – half way between the two sites – trading for three months from December 12. It will stock items selected from Muji’s 7000 lifestyle basics range.

    Lees ook:

  • Hypebeast launches Hypefest

    Hypebeast launches Hypefest

    Hypebeast is the prime destination for young male in their mid-2000s with a vague interest in Japanese denim or limited-colorway Nike Dunks or whatever it was that Pharrell was wearing that month.

    The fashion blog was among the first to enthusiastically document trends in sneakers and streetwear.

    Kevin Ma, who founded the blog in 2005 when he was a student in Vancouver, didn’t know much about fashion then. But 13 years later, the Hong Kong native sits quietly at the top of a publicly traded Hypebeast empire.

    His dominion includes the website, a quarterly print magazine, an online store, legions of influential fans and now a Hypebeast festival, which will take place the first weekend of October in an undisclosed location in Brooklyn with a “breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline.”

    It will be called Hypefest.

    Mr. Ma, 36, and his team have been reluctant to share too much information in advance of the festival; it might kill the hype.

    Instead, taking cues from the brands that they’ve promoted for years, they are letting news about the festival trickle out slowly, and letting intrigue build.

    Upward of 10,000 tickets will be available online next week — for free.

    But promotional materials promise that Hypefest will be a “highly curated and educational experience.” There will be booths from global clothing companies like Adidas Originals, Diesel and Moncler, as well as streetwear brands like Needles and Girls Don’t Cry.

    There will also be music, food, art and talks with fashion designers, held in a “Hypetalks panel discussion area.”

    Perhaps most notably, Hypefest will not be a merch-fest.

    “We want people to really have an experience as opposed to shopping,” Mr. Ma said. “I feel that you can shop any time. You can shop at a shop. You can go to a pop-up to shop. You can go online to shop.”

    Hypefest merchandise will primarily be sold online, which could curtail the secondhand market that is endemic to hypebeast culture, in which “drops” of merchandise from vaunted brands are snatched up quickly in person and resold.

    Scarcity is part of the aesthetic, which has been adopted by celebrities like Jonah Hill (called “a budding darling of the hypebeast community” by Dazed) and Justin Theroux (a “low-key hypebeast,” according to The Cut). Their outfits have helped to incubate an entire media ecosystem, as tabloids analyze their casual style.

    The 2018 hypebeast bears only a loose resemblance to the one whose wardrobe Mr. Ma assembled in the early days of his site.

    During a recent interview at his apartment in SoHo, he was dressed down in a loose black long-sleeve shirt, jeans and black Vans. Even the most discerning eye might have missed that the jeans were from Mr. Completely, the Los Angeles store; that the shirt was from the Japanese brand N.Hoolywood; that his frames were from Gentle Monster, the Korean glasses retailer.

    Though Mr. Ma’s understated, globally sourced look spoke to the style ideology he has long tried to inculcate in his readers, Hypebeasts are now more easily identified by flashy, recognizable brands.

    But Mr. Ma understands, he said, that the term is now mostly out of his control.

    “It can be anything nowadays I feel,” he said. “Which is kind of cool.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Docomo launches prepaid Wi-Fi for travelers

    Docomo launches prepaid Wi-Fi for travelers

    Japan’s NTT Docomo has introduced a new prepaid Wi-Fi service for travelers to the nation, offering easy access to its national network of public wireless LAN hotspots.

    The new functionality is being added to the operator’s Japan Welcome SIM prepaid SIM service for tourists and business travelers.

    The service supports high-speed downloads at speeds of up to 988Mbps, and also provides access to Docomo’s LTE and 3G networks. It is offered through plans starting at 1,080 yen ($10) for no bundled data allowance, or 1,836 yen with 600MB of include data.

    Customers have the option to recharge their data allowance by viewing ads or answering questionnaires, and additional data can be purchased for rates starting at 100MB for 216 yen. A free plan with no bundled data allowance is available.

    Docomo is also extending the service period of the prepaid SIMs from five to 20 days, and has introduced an XL version of the plan for 3,024 yen with 2GB of data. As a promotion, the company will offer the XL plan at 1,944 yen for the first 999 customers using a coupon code.

    Lees ook:

  • French pâtissier Christophe Michalak to open his first store in Japan

    French pâtissier Christophe Michalak to open his first store in Japan

    French patisserie Christophe Michalak is about to open its first pastry store in Japan.

    The Michalak store opens tomorrow in Tokyo’s famous fashion district Omotesando.

    Michalak Omotesando will sell small desserts, cupcakes and items created to appeal to Japanese customers such as the Monkoeur which blends chocolate and passionfruit with the local citrus fruit the yuzu, in place of lime.

    A signature dish will be Kosmik, a small jar containing layers of mousse and sponge, which customers can customise.

    It will also serve savoury dishes such as quiche.

    Michalak operates four stores in Paris and chose Japan for his first overseas foray because he believes the nation to be home to some of the world’s best pastries.

    Lees ook:

  • Rakuten completes 5G trials in 28-GHz with Nokia

    Rakuten completes 5G trials in 28-GHz with Nokia

    Japan’s Rakuten Mobile Network said it has completed over-the-air 5G trials in the 28-GHz frequency band using equipment provided by Nokia and Intel.

    The trials were carried out from June in a shielded room at the Nokia Kawasaki Technology Center located in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, using Nokia AirScale base station and the Intel 5G Mobile Trial Platform.

    During the trials, Rakuten Mobile Network and Nokia verified a number of 5G applications including 4K video and 3D 360-degree VR live streaming, the Japanese mobile carrier said in a company statement.

    Rakuten Mobile Network, which is the newly created mobile subsidiary of Japanese e-commerce giant, secured government approval to deploy 4G mobile services in the 1.7-GHz frequency band in April 2018. The company aims to launch its first mobile services as a mobile network operator in October 2019.

    Rakuten Mobile Network is teaming with a number of vendors including Nokia on the design and construction of its nationwide mobile network. The two companies will also work closely together on 5G technology testing and evaluation, Rakuten said.

    “The next generation of mobile broadband and the Internet of Things, enabled by 5G, will transform virtually all sectors of society and industry, and further accelerate the opportunities to advance in healthcare, education, energy services and agriculture, and within new industry applications,” Rakuten Mobile Network CTO Tareq Amin said.

    “The results of our trials highlight the importance of realistic 5G OTA testing and reinforce the potential of 5G networks, taking us a step closer towards actual deployment,” he added.

  • Japan’s TOKAI taps into Telstra’s global network

    Japan’s TOKAI taps into Telstra’s global network

    Japanese fixed line operator TOKAI Communications has contracted Australia-based Telstra to provide connectivity to help pursue an international expansion.

    TOKAI Communications has arranged to use the Telstra Programmable Network (TPN) to access Telstra’s networks.

    The Japanese operator will also to tap into Telstra’s subsea cable infrastructure spanning 230 countries and territories, as well as its Ethernet Private Line services, to directly connect TOKAI’s business locations on point-to-point subsea cables linking Singapore and Tokyo.

    According to the companies, the partnership will give TOKAI Communications the capability to compete in new markets and to connect customers to new overseas opportunities.

    “Telstra developed TPN to empower enterprises to meet the challenges of the future, embrace digital transformation and to quickly respond to changing market and customer demands,” Telstra head of international Oliver Camplin-Warner said.

    “With TPN, employees at TOKAI Communications will operate on a single, integrated and intelligent platform that provides flexible and dynamic access to Telstra’s high bandwidth, low latency and secure networks that allow the enterprise adapt faster to changing demands.”