Magazine No 77

May/June 2008

On the cover:

The Capital of Asia

PLUS:
The End of Architecture?
The Japanese PR industry
Travel in Shikoku

Regional real estate specialists and loan experts:
Capital Services Group

Mitsuo Sawada:
The man who reinvented the wheel

May/June 2008
No. 77

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Terrie LloydAs many readers will know, apart from publishing this magazine, I also write a weekly column (48 times a year for the last 11 years) called Terrie’s Take. Writing this column takes dedication and forbearance—the dedication not to do a ‘couch potato’ impression on Sunday nights, and forbearance from the family not to intrude while “Daddy is writing his newsletter.”

Peter HarrisDear Readers -- While some sectors remain cautiously quiet, real estate in Japan has remained dynamic and vibrant—particularly from the point of view of foreign investment. Last year Morgan Stanley bought 13 ANA hotels and most recently they purchased Citibank’s Tokyo headquarters. In March this year, GE’s property division were reported to be looking at investing US$10 million into Japanese real estate while Goldman Sachs has also been aggressive in acquiring real estate related products and companies.

Dear Editor -- Joseph Greenberg’s fine article on The Father of Invention erred in one point, in the first paragraph. That is, the ownership of the famous blue LED patent was not at issue. The issue was how much money Nakamura was entitled to as compensation for an invention made by him as a company employee.

Gordon HattonBy Brad Frischkorn -- How the real estate meltdown is affecting Japan -- With the break of the subprime mortgage crisis in the summer of 2007 and the global scale of its spread, the parade of negative real estate related news has been relentless as financial institutions fall, central banks launch massive credit-easing campaigns, and home foreclosures put many on the street—all with shocking swiftness. After experiencing its own real estate market collapse through the 1990s, Japan is certainly no stranger to this kind of pain. Should the country brace itself for another round of carnage?

Carl EverettBy Peter Harris -- The story of Capital Services Group -- Capital Services Group talked to J@pan Inc about how their business has grown from Japan to the whole of the Asia region and about resetting the agenda in integrated loan servicing, real estate asset management and servicing technology solutions. -- With billion-dollar investors as its clients, CSG can be said to have the last decade of Asian financial history imprinted upon its development. While growth has been driven by the ambitions and triumphs of such investors, the group’s decision to focus on Asia, and build a niche for itself as regional experts, is a success story in its own right.

J@pan Inc is pleased to present our comprehensive Real Estate Directory. For all your property related ventures and queries find the help you need right here.

Jun MitsuiBy Anna Kitanaka -- A common perception about Japanese architecture is that there is an extraordinary mix of old and new styles—from temples dating back a thousand years to Odaiba’s infamous sci-fi Fuji TV building, there exists a unique blend of ancient and modern, Asian and Western, sublime and ridiculous.

By Greg Lane -- What's new and what's hot -- Morpho exhibits a rare case of a Japanese tech company receiving attention from overseas investors. -- In a similar vein, Israel based Gizmoz announced that it has raised $US6.5 million in second round venture funding. -- Monolithic steel maker Kobe Steel has shown that it can be as innovative as the next company with the announcement that they have developed a type of steel sheet that significantly reduces electromagnetic wave emissions. -- Producer of the US$2,500 ‘People’s car,’ Tata Motors of India announced that it will tap into Japanese capital markets with a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. -- Kakaku.com, a comparative shopping website that attracts more than 6 million users each month, has launched a photo sharing service ‘PhotoHito.’ -- The convenience store operator has announced that they will begin selling an enormous range of alcohol online from late June. -- Trends: When it comes to digital points of sale in Japan, the goal to increase efficiency and provide a better customer experience will always come first.

By Ken Worsley -- Hard industry facts -- The Environment -- Labor and Wages -- Household Budgets and Finance

By Sarah Noorbakhsh -- Analysis on retail venture QB House: QB House -- A trip to the barbershop that was inundated with loads of extra services and carried a price tag to match was the original motivation for Kuniyoshi Konishi, founder of QB Net Co Ltd, to develop the wildly successful QB House. This no-frills bare-bones barber service offers a 10-minute haircut for ¥1000, with a brand image marked by its ubiquitous presence in shopping malls and train stations across the nation.