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☆ Why Japan is lagging behind in generative A.I. — and how it can create its own large language models
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

But the nation is lagging behind in the generative AI race and is trying to create its own large language models. Generative AI has been the trendiest topic in tech since OpenAI made waves with its chatbot ChatGPT. Key to generative AI development are large language models which underpin the likes of ChatGPT and Baidu's Ernie Bot, capable of processing vast data sets to generate text and other content. Japanese companies pursuing generative AIBig Tech players have also joined the fray to boost Japan's standing in generative AI. While it has yet to catch up in the generative AI space, Japan is making its first stride with these private sector efforts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Ernie Bot, Noriyuki Kojima, Kojima, Fumio Kishida, Sam Altman, Masayoshi, Son, Amir Anvarzadeh, Anvarzadeh, CyberAgent, Bloom Organizations: Getty, Japan, Technology, Reuters, Microsoft, Google, Ministry of Economy Trade, Industry, IMD, Nikkei, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, Fujitsu, Riken, Japanese, Big Tech, SoftBank Group, SB Energy, Toyota Tsusho, Fortress Investment, Vision Fund, Asymmetric Advisors, NTT, Local Locations: Japan, China, Europe, Nikkei Asia, Government, Tohoku, Hokkaido, SoftBank

☆ Argentina to push July IMF debt payments to month-end -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, July 5 (Reuters) - Argentina will push loan repayments due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July to the end of the month, a person familiar with the matter at the Ministry of Economy said on Wednesday. The payments total $2.6 billion for the month and include $1.3 billion due on Friday. Argentina struck a $44 billion loan deal with the IMF last year to replace a failed 2018 program. The IMF did not respond to a request for comment outside of business hours. Reporting by Eliana Raszewski; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eliana Raszewski, Carolina Pulice, Christopher Cushing Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Ministry, Economy, IMF, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

☆ Column: Emissions watchers wary of Japan's power saving pleas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, June 11 (Reuters) - The Japanese government has called for homes and businesses to curb power use this summer, but emissions trackers are still bracing for a sharp uptick in Japan's power pollution as higher temperatures trigger increased air conditioner use. Recent weather forecasts call for Japan's temperatures to average nearly 4% above normal in July and 3% higher than normal in August, according to Refinitiv. Japan seasonal coal use and coal emissionsThose same months are when Japan's use of coal for electricity generation also typically peaks, along with power sector emissions, data from think tank Ember shows. COAL IMPORTS LEAD POWER EMISSIONSThis year, those usage and pollution patterns look set to be repeated, regardless of the government's recent pleas to curb power use. Power production trends show Japan's energy usage tends to have two distinct periods of strength when the country's weather is at its most severe - during winter and summer.

Persons: Japan's, Gavin Maguire, Tom Hogue Organizations: Japan's Ministry, Economy, Trade, Industry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Japan, Kpler, Ukraine

☆ Japan calls for power saving for Tokyo households, industries during summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, June 9 (Reuters) - The Japanese government on Friday called for households and industries around Tokyo to save electricity in July and August to ensure a stable power supply during the peak summer season, though it did not set any numerical targets. The country's power market is predicted to be less tight this summer in most of the regions than last summer when the government asked for energy conservation across the nation, according to the industry ministry's forecast in May. But the ministry has decided to ask for the power saving "within a reasonable range" during the two months in the areas, where power is supplied by the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (9501.T), as the reserve ratio is estimated to be below 5%, close to the minimum 3% that ensures stable supply. The reserve capacity ratio below 3% risks power shortages and blackouts. Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yuka Obayashi, Stephen Coates Organizations: Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Ministry, Economy, Trade, Industry, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan

☆ Japan April factory output unexpectedly falls on weaker machinery orders
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, May 31 (Reuters) - Japan's factory output unexpectedly fell in April, government data showed on Wednesday, as production machinery orders slowed amid weakening global demand, casting doubts about recovery in the world's third-largest economy. Factory output fell 0.4% in April from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis. Output of semiconductor-manufacturing equipment fell 24.6% while flat panel manufacturing equipment dropped 66.6%. A METI official said U.S. export controls to China were not a factor in the decline in chip-making equipment shipments. Still, the METI official said there is a risk of downward adjustment in production plans due to overseas weakness.

Persons: Issei Kato TOKYO, Kota Suzuki, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim, Christian Schmollinger, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Ministry, Economy, Trade, Industry Official, Manufacturers, Daiwa Securities, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan, China

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears for their safety in a city under Russian occupation. But there is concern in the international community that the six-reactor nuclear plant, Europe's largest, could be caught up in fighting, particularly as military analysts expect Ukraine to try to push Russian forces back in Zaporizhzhia region. In April, Japan contributed 2 million euros to the U.N.'s watchdog to help its effort to secure the safety of Zaporizhzhia power plant. Kotin said Russian forces would have to retreat if it looked like that road was going to be cut off. He added that he believed Russian forces had already been conducting drills at the plant to practise pulling out.

☆ Micron poised to get $1.5 bln from Japan for next-gen chips - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 17 (Reuters) - Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) is poised to get about 200 billion yen ($1.48 billion) in financial incentives from Japan to help it make next-generation memory chips in the country, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Micron will use the funding to install advanced, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) chipmaking equipment from ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) at its Hiroshima facility to fabricate DRAM chips, the report said. DRAM chips are memory chips that lose the memory when the power is off. Micron is also expected to contribute its own capital to the Hiroshima expansion with some support from the city, Bloomberg added. Micron, ASML and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

☆ Japan's Honda, GS Yuasa to invest $3 bln for battery development, build plant -Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, April 27 (Reuters) - Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) and battery maker GS Yuasa Corp (6674.T) will invest over 400 billion yen ($2.99 billion) and team up to produce batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and homes, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday. The companies will start by building a new plant in Japan, targeting a production capacity of at least 20 gigawatt hours (GWh), the Nikkei added, without citing sources. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry would provide a subsidy of about 150 billion yen, the newspaper added, without specifying whether that would be only for building the factory. GS Yuasa could not be immediately reached outside of regular office hours. ($1 = 133.9700 yen)Reporting by Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki and Elaine Lies; Editing by Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The country nationalised its copper sector in 1971, provoking international outrage, particularly in the United States. President Gabriel Boric's lithium "nationalisation" is a more benign version, using an even earlier copper model. THE COPPER MODEL - GOOD AND BADIf President Boric's lithium policy is an echo of past copper policy, the comparison is with the "Chileanisation" programme of the Eduardo Frei Montalva administration in the late 1960s. Even the neo-liberals of the Augusto Pinochet regime kept the national jewel in the crown as they opened the rest of the country's' copper sector up to the private sector. It is now Codelco that is tasked with taking control of the country's lithium sector.

☆ Japan nuclear disaster: Fukushima's fishing industry fears Tokyo's next move may finish it off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Emiko Jozuka Krystina Shveda Junko Ogura Marc Stewart Daniel Campisi | Emiko Jozuka | Krystina Shveda | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Ocean currents have since dispersed the contaminated water enough that radioactive Cesium is nearly undetectable in fish from Fukushima prefecture. A year before the 2011 disaster, government data shows Fukushima’s coastal fishing industry landed catches worth around $69 million. At the same time, ground and rainwater have leaked in, creating more radioactive wastewater that now needs to be stored and treated. This isotope is radioactive tritium, and the scientific community is divided on the risk its dissemination carries. He argues TEPCO should build more storage tanks to allow for the decay of the radioactive tritium, which has a half-life of 12.3 years.

☆ Japan to restrict chipmaking equipment exports as it aligns with US China curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japan, home to major global chip equipment makers such as Nikon Corp (7731.T) and Tokyo Electron Ltd (8035.T), did not specify China as the target of those measures, saying equipment makers will need to seek export permission for all regions. Japan and the Netherlands in January agreed join the U.S. in restrict chipmaking equipment exports to China that could be used to manufacture sub-14 nanometre chips, but did not announce the pact to avoid provoking Beijing, sources earlier said. The Netherlands' government in a letter to parliament this month said it plans to restrict chipmaking equipment exports. The ministry said it will impose export controls on six categories of equipment used in chip manufacturing, including cleaning, deposition, lithography and etching. Tokyo Electron and Screen were little changed.

TOKYO, March 31 (Reuters) - Japan, the world's fifth-biggest carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter, will begin a carbon pricing scheme in stages from April to encourage companies to curb emissions and achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The country is the latest among Asian nations to formulate plans to create a carbon pricing mechanism and emissions trading system. The scheme, based on METI proposals and approved by the cabinet this year, consists of emissions trading and a carbon levy. The carbon levy will be introduced from around 2028/29 on fossil fuel importers such as refiners, trading houses and electricity utilities. The introduction of emissions trading and carbon surcharges mark "a significant shift in Japan's climate change policy", said Tohru Shimizu, senior researcher at the Japan's Institute of Energy Economics.

☆ Japan, Canada in talks over collaboration in battery metals supply chain
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, March 14 (Reuters) - Japan and Canada are discussing collaboration on building strong supply chains for battery metals, Japan's industry minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, said on Tuesday. A public-private mission led by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and including 16 companies that work with batteries visited Canada last week for talks on building sustainable and resilient supply chains, he said. "Canada has an abundance of battery metals and good market access to the United States," Nishimura told a news conference. "Canada is one of the most important countries for Japan when it comes to strengthening our supply chains of storage battery metals," he said. He declined to give details of the talks but said he would take various opportunities, including an upcoming G7 ministerial meeting, to reinforce cooperation with Canada.

☆ Japan's factory output posts biggest fall in 8 months on weak autos, chips sectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In contrast, retail sales posted their fastest growth in nearly two years, separate data showed, highlighting the divergent paths between soft manufacturing and robust service-sector activity. Factory output fell 4.6% in January from a month earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, government data showed on Tuesday. Separate data showed Japanese retail sales rose 6.3% in January from a year earlier, beating a median market forecast for a 4.0% gain and posting an eleventh consecutive month of expansion. Despite the production cuts, retail sales of autos rose 19.3% year-on-year, suggesting strong pent-up demand among domestic consumers caused by delivery delays. Compared with the previous month, retail sales expanded 1.9% in January, following a 1.1% rise in December, the data showed.

☆ Japan's factory output suffer biggest fall in 8 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Summary Jan output -4.6% m/m vs forecast -2.6%Manufacturers see Feb output +8.0%, Mar +0.7%Jan retail sales +6.3% y/y vs f'cast +4.0%Retail sales +1.9% m/mTOKYO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Japan's factory output shrank at the fastest pace in eight months in January as shrinking overseas demand amid a global economic slowdown took a heavy toll on business activity. Factory output fell 4.6% in January from a month earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, government data showed on Tuesday. The contraction was much larger than economists' median forecast of a 2.6% decline and followed an upwardly-revised 0.3% increase in December. Separate data showed Japanese retail sales rose 6.3% in January from a year earlier, beating a median market forecast for a 4.0% gain and posting an eleventh consecutive month of expansion. Compared from the previous month, retail sales expanded 1.9%, the data showed.

☆ Japan to promote gas, LNG, hydrogen investments during G7 presidency - METI
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Japan plans to emphasise the importance of investments in natural gas, liquefied natural gas as well as cleaner fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia during the country's presidency at the G7 summit later this year, a senior energy official said. Takeshi Soda, director, petroleum and natural gas division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), told a conference on Tuesday that such investments would be central to solving potential future energy shocks. Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine plots post-war rebuilding effort with JPMorgan Chase as economic advisor
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A closer shot of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ministry of Economy (MoE) meeting with senior members of J.P. Morgan. Ukraine's government signed an agreement with JPMorgan Chase to help advise the war-afflicted country on its economy and future rebuilding efforts. It also ignited a corporate exodus from Russia, and has helped galvanize support for Ukraine. "The full resources of JPMorgan Chase are available to Ukraine as it charts its post-conflict path to growth," CEO Jamie Dimon said in a statement. Dimon added that the bank was proud of its support to Ukraine and was committed to its people.

[1/3] South Korea's 1st Vice Minister of Economy and Finance Bang Ki-sun speaks during an interview in Seoul, South Korea, February 9, 2023. The Ministry of Economy and Finance/Handout via REUTERSSEOUL, Feb 9 (Reuters) - South Korea's plans to loosen restrictions in its currency market will raise the won's status globally and boost business opportunities for local financial firms, a vice finance minister told Reuters on Thursday. South Korea's economy contracted in the December quarter but Bang said the most recent information indicated it would return to growth in the January-March period, without providing specific data. House prices in South Korea fell 1.98% in December from a month earlier, the fastest drop since data releases began in late 2003 and a seventh consecutive month of decline. The comment contrasted with a long practice of South Korean authorities expressing their concerns about the adverse effect on price competitiveness of their export goods abroad.

☆ Big opportunity for Japan and India to collaborate on carbon neutrality: Japanese government body
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBig opportunity for Japan and India to collaborate on carbon neutrality: Japanese government bodyRyo Minami, director-general for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality at Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, says Japan has "good cooperation" with the United States, Europe and Asia.

☆ Japan Dec factory output inches down, retail sales beat forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Although retail sales, a barometer of service-sector activity and consumer spending, rose more than expected, the faltering factory activity is ill-timed as companies face calls to hike wages to sustain Japan's post-pandemic recovery. read moreIndustrial output fell 0.1% in December from the previous month, government data showed on Tuesday. The drop was less than the median market forecast for a 1.2% decrease and followed upwardly-revised 0.2% growth in November. Output of auto products was up 0.6%, posting first growth in two months. Compared with the previous quarter, factory output fell 3.1% in October-December, the first drop in two quarters.

☆ Japan's chip equipment makers in the dark about new China export restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Japanese makers of semiconductor manufacturing machinery and materials used to make chips said on Monday they had yet to hear from Japan's government about export restrictions that could directly or indirectly affect their business in China. Without knowing the details of any new restrictions it is impossible to know their impact, he said. Its statement followed a Bloomberg report that the United States had secured a deal with the Netherlands and Japan. Among them was Tokyo Electron Ltd (8035.T), Japan's biggest semiconductor manufacturing machinery maker. Shares of Japanese semiconductor equipment makers were mostly flat on Monday, with Tokyo Electron up 0.68% while Advantest Corp (6857.T) fell 0.32%.

☆ Italy, Lufthansa sign letter of intent over ITA minority stake sale
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Planes of German air carrier Lufthansa are parked as Lufthansa pilots start a strike over a wage dispute, at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany September 2, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoROME, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Italy's Treasury on Friday said it had signed a letter of intent with Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) over the sale of a minority stake in state-owned airline ITA Airways, paving the way for negotiations with German carrier. Last week, Lufthansa offered to buy a minority stake in the loss-making successor of Italy's Alitalia, saying Italy was a prominent market both for business travellers and tourists. Lufthansa said on Friday it had signed the letter of intent with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance and ITA Airways. The new right-wing administration in Rome passed a decree in December to initially sell a minority stake through capital increases, to speed up a full divestment in ITA.

☆ U.S. secures deal with Netherlands, Japan on China chip export limit- Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan addresses the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States has secured a deal with the Netherlands and Japan to restrict exports of some advanced chip-making machinery to China in talks that concluded on Friday, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Officials from the Netherlands and Japan were in Washington discussing a wide range of issues in talks led by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, earlier said the officials were talking about issues that are "important to all three of us." When asked about the Bloomberg report, the White House declined to comment beyond Kirby's earlier remarks.

☆ Japan tightens Russia sanctions after deadly missile strikes in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Japan tightened sanctions against Russia on Friday following its latest wave of missile attacks in Ukraine, adding goods to an export ban list and freezing the assets of Russian officials and entities. The decision comes after Russia launched missile attacks in Ukraine killing at least 11 people on Thursday following a pledge by Germany and the United States to supply tanks that could help Ukraine counter any new Russian offensive. Among the new sanctions, Japan will prohibit shipments of items to 49 organizations in Russia from Feb. 3 that could be used to enhance its military capability. Those will include products ranging from water cannons, gas exploration equipment and semiconductor equipment to vaccines, X-ray inspection equipment, explosives and robots, the ministry said. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Tim Kelly Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence that four AI robots killed 29 scientists in Japan or South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

There is no evidence to support claims online that four artificial intelligence robots killed 29 scientists in a lab in Japan or South Korea. “Japanese A.I Robots Murders 29 Scientists,” reads one tweet (here). Some posts say that the supposed incident happened in Japan, while others (fb.watch/i9iz5cDId7/) place it to South Korea. Reuters found no evidence that such an incident took place in Japan or South Korea. There is no evidence to support claims circulating online that 29 scientists were killed in a lab in Japan or South Korea by four artificial intelligence robots.

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