Tata Electronics has entered a strategic partnership with Japan’s ROHM Co. to assemble and test automotive-grade power semiconductors in India, with mass production expected by 2026. This move strengthens India’s semiconductor ecosystem, reduces import dependency, and supports the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

Partnership will assemble and test automotive‑grade power semiconductors at Tata’s $3.2B Assam facility, strengthening India’s EV supply chain and global chip resilience.

Japanese property developers like Mitsui Fudosan and Sumitomo Realty are accelerating investments in India, drawn by rising office rents, low construction costs, and the country’s fast-growing economy.

Why Japan is Betting Big on Indian Real Estate

• Mitsui Fudosan, Japan’s largest property developer, entered India in 2020 through a partnership with RMZ Real Estate in Bengaluru. It is now considering fresh investments worth ¥30–35 billion ($190–225 million) in new projects.
• In November 2025, Mitsui’s management team visited Mumbai and Delhi NCR to scout opportunities, signaling a long-term commitment.
• Sumitomo Realty and other Japanese developers are also exploring India, encouraged by surging office rents and comparatively low building costs.

Drivers of the Push

• Booming economy: India’s GDP growth and expanding corporate footprint are fueling demand for office and residential spaces.
• Rising rents: Commercial rents in major hubs like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Gurugram are climbing, offering strong returns.
• Low construction costs: Compared to Japan and other Asian markets, India offers cheaper development costs, improving margins.
• Private credit inflows: India has become Asia’s hub for private credit, delivering 12–21% IRR for investors, which makes real estate particularly attractive.

Challenges & Risks

• Regulatory complexity: India’s real estate sector is notorious for bureaucratic hurdles and compliance issues.
• Market volatility: While demand is strong, oversupply in certain segments (luxury housing, office parks) could dampen returns.
• Labour law changes: New labour codes effective in late 2025 may reshape construction costs and workforce management.

Strategic Outlook

• Japanese developers are not just chasing short-term gains—they see India as a long-term growth market, potentially rivaling Southeast Asia.
• With India’s real estate sector projected to grow from $385 billion in 2024 to $1 trillion by 2030, their timing aligns with a transformative phase in the industry.

Japanese developers are pursuing a cautious but deepening entry into India’s property market, while Singaporean firms are scaling aggressively with institutional capital and Korean investors are building cultural-industrial hubs.

🇯🇵 Japan’s Strategy

• Key players: Mitsui Fudosan, Sumitomo Realty.
• Approach: Incremental investments (¥30–35 billion / $190–225 million) in office complexes and partnerships with local developers.
• Focus: Commercial real estate (office parks in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR).
• Style: Conservative, project-by-project expansion, testing regulatory waters before scaling.
• Risk posture: Careful navigation of India’s bureaucratic hurdles and labour law changes.

🇸🇬 Singapore’s Strategy

• Key players: CapitaLand Investment, Lighthouse Canton.
• Scale: CapitaLand plans to invest ₹90,200 crore (~$14.8 billion) by 2028, doubling its funds under management in India.
• Lighthouse Canton: Targeting $1.5 billion in India, split between private credit ($1 billion) and real estate ($500 million).
• Focus: Institutional-grade assets, private equity in real estate, and large-scale fund management.
• Style: Aggressive scaling, leveraging Singapore’s global capital networks.
• Risk posture: Higher tolerance, betting on India as a top global play for alternatives.

🇰🇷 Korea’s Strategy

• Key players: Hyundai, LG, Samsung, Mirae Asset, plus niche developers.
• Scale: Smaller M&A footprint (USD 228 million in 2024), but strong industrial presence.
• Unique hub: “Mini Korea” in Talegaon (near Pune), blending cultural identity with real estate growth.
• Focus: Industrial parks, manufacturing-linked real estate, expat communities.
• Style: Community-driven, tied to industrial expansion and cultural soft power.
• Risk posture: Moderate—less speculative, more tied to operational expansion and diaspora needs.

Comparative Divergence

Country	Scale of Investment	Focus Areas	Style of Expansion	Risk Posture
Japan	$190–225M (per project)	Office complexes, commercial	Incremental, cautious	Conservative, regulatory-sensitive
Singapore	$14.8B (CapitaLand by 2028); $1.5B (Lighthouse)	Institutional real estate, private credit	Aggressive, fund-driven	High tolerance, global capital play
Korea	$228M (2024 M&A) + industrial hubs	Industrial parks, expat communities	Community + industry-led	Moderate, tied to manufacturing

Strategic Insight

• Japan: Testing waters, prioritizing stability and long-term partnerships.
• Singapore: Treating India as a core global growth market, scaling aggressively with institutional capital.
• Korea: Building industrial-cultural ecosystems (like Talegaon’s “Mini Korea”), less about speculative returns, more about embedding presence.

Japan’s risk-managed entry contrasts sharply with Singapore’s capital-heavy bets and Korea’s community-industrial integration. 

In a bold move to redefine urban connectivity and sustainability, SoftBank Corp. has partnered with Cisco to launch Japan’s first All-Optical Metro Network. The initiative, announced in October 2025, marks a major leap in telecom infrastructure—one that promises to cut energy consumption by up to 90% while preparing Japan’s cities for the data demands of the AI era.

The Technology Behind the Transformation

Scope of All optical network deployment

• Cisco 8000 Series Routers: Built for scale and efficiency, supporting 400G and beyond. These routers enable massive throughput with minimal energy draw.
• Cisco Silicon One Q200 Chips: Custom-built ASICs delivering up to 7x the switching capacity of previous generations while consuming half the power.
• Segment Routing and EVPN: Advanced routing protocols optimize traffic flow, reduce latency, and simplify operations across metro domains.

Why It Matters: Energy, AI, and the Future of Connectivity

• Massive bandwidth for data-intensive applications
• Lower latency for real-time services like autonomous vehicles and smart cities
• Reduced operational complexity through converged infrastructure

Deployment and Roadmap

The first phase of the rollout was completed in Osaka Prefecture in September 2025. SoftBank plans to expand the network nationwide by 2027, building on its nationwide core optical network completed in 2023. This metro layer will serve as the connective tissue between core and access networks, enabling seamless, high-speed data flow across Japan’s urban centers.

A Strategic Alliance

This collaboration deepens the longstanding relationship between SoftBank and Cisco, who have worked together on multiple network modernization efforts. According to SoftBank’s CTO Keiichi Makizono, “This next-generation network will not only support our growing data demands but also contribute significantly to our sustainability goals.”

Kevin Wollenweber, SVP and GM of Cisco Networking, echoed the sentiment:

State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, today, announced the successful completion of the divestment of a 13.18% (approx.) stake in Yes Bank Limited (YBL) to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). SMBC is a Japanese multinational financial services company belonging to the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and is amongst the leading foreign banks in India. SMFG is the second largest Banking Group in Japan with Total Assets of US$ 2.0 trillion (approx.).

Mr. C. S. Setty, Chairman, IBA & SBI

India’s Fabless Chipmaker Accelerates Global Expansion with Japan Deal

In a move that signals India’s rising ambitions in the global semiconductor arena, L&T Semiconductor Technologies (LTSCT) has acquired the power module design assets of Fujitsu General Electronics (FGEL) for ¥2 billion (₹110 crore). The acquisition includes proprietary IP, patents, and R&D infrastructure focused on high-efficiency power electronics—critical for electric vehicles, industrial automation, and energy systems.

The deal, approved by FGEL’s board on June 9, is expected to close by September 23, pending regulatory clearance under Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. LTSCT’s manufacturing partner, Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd, will simultaneously take over FGEL’s production facilities, creating a dual-pronged expansion into design and fabrication.

This acquisition marks a pivotal step in India’s journey toward semiconductor self-reliance,” said Sandeep Kumar, CEO of LTSCT and Chair of India’s Semiconductor Product Leadership Forum. “We’re not just buying assets—we’re inheriting decades of design excellence.

Why This Matters: Power Electronics as a Strategic Frontier

• Design patents and IP for high-voltage, high-efficiency modules
• R&D equipment for prototyping and testing
• A foothold in Japan’s advanced semiconductor ecosystem

FGEL, a legacy player in precision electronics, expects to record an extraordinary gain of ¥2 billion in its Q1 FY26 earnings.

Global Strategy: Fabless, Focused, and Expanding

• Targeting $500 million in revenue before considering an IPO
• Exploring entry into China by FY27, with outsourced production
• Investing ₹300 crore in R&D, with over a dozen products in development

This acquisition complements LTSCT’s broader strategy to become a global supplier of industrial and automotive chips, while anchoring India’s position in the semiconductor value chain.

India’s Semiconductor Vision: 100 Design Firms by 2035

As Chair of the Semiconductor Product Leadership Forum, Kumar is spearheading a national initiative to launch 100 new chip design firms by 2035. The goal: transform India from a backend service provider into a global IP powerhouse.

We’re building an ecosystem where design leads, not follows,” Kumar emphasized. “This deal is proof that Indian firms can compete—and win—on the global stage.

What’s Next

• Expand product portfolio across energy, mobility, and industrial sectors
• Deepen global partnerships in Japan, Europe, and the US
• Accelerate India’s transition from chip consumer to chip creator

As the world races to secure semiconductor supply chains, LTSCT’s strategic bet on design-first innovation could be a blueprint for India’s tech future.

In a breakthrough that could transform how electricity reaches homes in crowded cities and remote villages, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL), in collaboration with Japan’s Nissin Electric, has launched India’s first micro substation in Rohini, Delhi.

Traditionally, power travels through large substations that occupy a lot of space and require complex infrastructure. But this new micro substation is different. It's compact, efficient, and smart—small enough to fit into tight urban spaces yet powerful enough to deliver electricity directly from high-voltage transmission lines to regular households.

At the heart of this setup is something called a Power Voltage Transformer (PVT). It steps down electricity from very high voltages (like 66,000 volts) straight to the low voltage we use at home (around 240 volts), without needing the usual multi-tiered infrastructure. Think of it as a shortcut that saves land, cuts costs, and speeds up power delivery.

This pilot project—supported by Japan’s energy research body, NEDO—is currently lighting up around 20 to 30 homes, but each unit can serve 50 to 60 families. It’s especially promising for areas where building traditional substations is difficult or too expensive.

The micro substation is considered plug-and-play as it dramatically simplifies the traditional power infrastructure setup.Instead of building a full-scale substation with multiple transformers and switchyards, this unit taps directly into high-voltage lines and steps down the power to household levels in one go.

Capgemini and Dai-ichi Life Holdings have signed a multi-year agreement to establish a Global Capability Center (GCC) in India. This initiative aims to accelerate Dai-ichi Life’s digital transformation by leveraging India's skilled talent pool to enhance IT and digital strategies.

The GCC will focus on advanced software development, AI and data solutions, infrastructure modernization, and cybersecurity. It will initially support operations in Japan, the United States, and Australia, with plans to expand further. The partnership follows a Build-Operate-Transfer model, allowing Dai-ichi Life to gradually internalize critical digital functions.

Capgemini will bring its global expertise to co-innovate solutions that streamline operations and enhance customer service. Dai-ichi Life’s CEO, Tetsuya Kikuta, emphasized that this collaboration will strengthen in-house capabilities in AI, data, and cybersecurity, setting the foundation for long-term innovation.

The specific location of the Global Capability Center (GCC) in India hasn't been publicly disclosed yet. However, given Capgemini's strong presence in cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad, it's likely to be in one of India's major tech hubs.

Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. is a major Japanese life insurance company, founded in 1902 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It operates globally, offering insurance, asset management, and financial services across multiple markets.

Dai-ichi Life has expanded internationally, including subsidiaries like Protective Life Corporation (U.S.), Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, and Dai-ichi Life Cambodia. It also has a presence in India through Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance (SUD Life), a joint venture with Bank of India and Union Bank of India.

Maruti Suzuki has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to foster innovation and create business opportunities for startups in India and Japan. This collaboration aims to provide Indian startups access to Japan’s innovation ecosystem while enabling Japanese startups to explore opportunities in India.

Startups selected through Maruti Suzuki’s four innovation programs—Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge, and Nurture—will be eligible to participate in networking events and activities facilitated by this partnership. The initiative aligns with India's Make in India and Startup India programs, reinforcing cross-border innovation.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki, emphasized that startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth, and this MoU will help promising Indian startups explore the Japanese business landscape. Meanwhile, Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General of JETRO India, highlighted that Maruti Suzuki exemplifies the successful partnership between India and Japan, and this collaboration will further strengthen business ties.

Infosys has officially completed the sale of a 2% stake in HIPUS to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). This move strengthens Infosys' presence in Japan and deepens its collaboration with MHI, which has been a long-standing client of HIPUS. The transaction was finalized ahead of the expected Q1 FY26 timeline reinforcing Infosys' commitment to supporting Japanese enterprises with next-generation digital solutions.

Established in 2019, HIPUS is a Japan-based procurement solutions joint venture led by Infosys. It specializes in procurement solutions for Japanese corporations, leveraging digital platforms and sourcing expertise. MHI's investment signals a broader push toward data-driven procurement strategies and expanded business opportunities in the region.

Infosys holds a majority stake in HIPUS, and the venture has attracted strategic investments from major Japanese industrial players, including Hitachi, Panasonic, and Pasona. Recently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) acquired a 2% stake in HIPUS, deepening its collaboration with Infosys and expanding its procurement capabilities.

Infosys shares responded positively, closing at ₹1,592.60, up 1.50% on the BSE.

In a move that promises to reshape India's defence manufacturing landscape, the Indian government is reportedly exploring the incorporation of Japanese technology for the co-production of next-generation engines for fighter jets and tanks. This strategic dialogue, initiated at the historic Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, was marked by a high-level meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani.

Tapping into a Legacy of Engine Excellence

IHI F7 engine for test (Source - Wikipedia)

These engines, built using advanced materials like high-temperature alloys and precision machining techniques, are used in some of the world's most demanding aviation and armored applications.

By collaborating with Japan, India intends to leverage this deep technical know-how to overcome persistent bottlenecks in its indigenous engine programs, such as those for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Tejas Mark II.

Engine Technologies: From Fighter Jets to Tanks

On the other hand, tank engines require immense low-end torque and efficient power delivery to support heavy armor and unpredictable terrains. They must also deliver consistent performance across long operational periods without compromising on durability.

By joining forces, India and Japan hope to combine India’s robust manufacturing practices—evident in its success in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contracts for US warships—with Japan’s innovative engine design capabilities, creating a synthesis that could set new standards for military propulsion technologies.

Enhancing Broader Defence Capabilities

General Electric GEnx engine, specifically designed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Japan's IHI has responsibility for the design, manufacture and assembly of about 13% of the engine, which primarily include the rotating members of the low pressure turbine, the aft part of the high pressure compressor airfoils, and fan mid-shaft. GEnx is a trademark of GE

Such initiatives not only bolster the immediate technological edge but also set the stage for long-term transfer of cutting-edge technology and skills—a critical component in India's "Make in India" vision for self-reliance in defence production.

Geo-strategic Implications and Future Prospects

F7-10 Turbo fan engine rear, at Iwaguni Air Base.

Over the coming years, joint production ventures like the engine co-development project could catalyze further innovation in both nations’ defence sectors and stimulate a ripple effect across related high-tech industries.

Moreover, the successful fusion of Japanese technological finesse with India’s robust industrial base may pave the way for additional collaborative projects and enhance not only combat performance but also the resilience of supply chains in critical defence domains.

The initiative signals a new era where international co-production is not merely about sharing costs but is fundamentally about integrating complementary strengths. For India, this is not just a stop-gap measure to overcome current challenges in fighter jet and tank engine development—it is a strategic investment in future technological capabilities.

By harnessing the established expertise of Japanese manufacturers, India can fast-track its journey toward building world-class defence hardware that meets the rigorous demands of modern warfare. In doing so, the Indo-Japan partnership is setting a gold standard in defence innovation—one that will undoubtedly capture the attention of global defence analysts and industry leaders alike.

Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) invests in a holding structure of the special purpose company established jointly by GPS Renewables Private Limited. (“GPSR”) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (“IOCL”), which designs, constructs, operates, and provides maintenance for biomethane plants in India (“GPSR-IOCL Biomethane Platform”). Through this strategic investment, Sojitz will foray into biomethane production and sales in India.

Sojitz will work in collaboration with IOC GPS Renewables Pvt. Ltd. (IGRPL), a joint venture between GPS Renewables and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, to develop and operate biomethane production facilities using agricultural waste as feedstock. IGRPL plans to establish 30 biomethane plants by FY 2026 - FY 2027 with a production capacity of 160,000 tons of biomethane annually. These projects have a total outlay of over USD 400 Mn. EY was the exclusive M&A investment banker and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas led by Partner Alok Sonkar was the transaction advisor representing GPS Renewables.

GPS Renewables and Sojitz Corporation

Japan Airlines faced a cyberattack that disrupted more than 20 domestic flights. The attack, which occurred on December 26, 2024, was identified as a denial-of-service (DDoS) attack designed to overwhelm the airline's network with massive data transmissions. Ticket sales for same-day flights were temporarily suspended.

Fortunately, the airline managed to halt the attack and restore its systems within hours, ensuring that flight safety was not compromised.

The cyberattack disrupted both internal and external systems, leading to delays of over 30 minutes for 24 domestic flights. Despite the disruption, Japan Airlines confirmed that no customer data was compromised. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges and vulnerabilities in cybersecurity, especially as Japan strengthens its defense strategies and collaborations with international partners.

Japan Airlines took immediate action by shutting down the affected router to prevent further damage. Systems were restored later in the day, and flights resumed normally by December 27.

This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in today's digital age.

In the past year, Japan has experienced several high-profile cyberattacks.To recall, in June 2024 Japanese space agency, JAXA, reported a series of cyberattacks since 2023. Although no critical data related to rockets, satellites, or defense systems was compromised, the agency took steps to bolster its cybersecurity measures.

Last year, a cyberattack paralyzed operations at a container terminal in Nagoya city of Japan, for three days. This incident highlighted the vulnerabilities in Japan's digital infrastructure.

In 2018, Cathay Pacific Airways of America suffered a data breach that compromised the personal data of 9.4 million customers, including credit card information and passport details. The breach continued until May 2020.

These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the aviation industry to protect operations, passenger safety, and organizational reputation.

Tata Electronics has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) to purchase semiconductor equipment and services.

This strategic partnership aims to accelerate the semiconductor equipment infrastructure for India's first Fab being built by Tata Electronics in Dholera, Gujarat, and its assembly and test facility in Jagiroad, Assam.

The collaboration will focus on both front-end fabrication (creating semiconductor wafers) and back-end packaging (assembling and testing semiconductor chips).

Additionally, Tata Electronics' workforce will receive training on TEL equipment. Tata Electronics' workforce will receive specialized training on Tokyo Electron's equipment, ensuring high-quality production and maintenance.

The collaboration will also support ongoing R&D initiatives to improve semiconductor manufacturing processes and technologies

Further, TEL will explore opportunities to leverage India's talent to establish engineering services in India. TEL plans to leverage India's talent pool to establish engineering services in India, supporting its global product development efforts.

This collaboration is expected to strengthen the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India and drive innovation across multiple technology nodes.

Notably, Tata Electronics is building India's first semiconductor fabrication unit (Fab) in Dholera, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 91,000 crore. Additionally, they are setting up an assembly and test facility in Jagiroad, Assam, with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore.

This strategic collaboration aims to create a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India, driving innovation and supporting various applications such as automotive, mobile devices, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.

Originally established as Tokyo Electron Laboratories, Inc. in 1963, Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) is a leading global company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It specializes in providing solutions for the MAGIC market (Metaverse, Autonomous Mobility, Green Energy, IoT & Information, Communications). The company operates in Japan, Taiwan, North America, South Korea, Europe, Southeast Asia, and China.

TEL has a presence in India primarily through its collaboration with Tata Electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing project. While TEL's direct operations in India are focused on this partnership, their advanced semiconductor equipment and solutions are being utilized to build India's first semiconductor fabrication unit (Fab) in Dholera, Gujarat, and an assembly and test facility in Jagiroad, Assam.

The TEL-Tata Electronics collaboration is expected to enhance India's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and contribute to the growth of the electronics and technology sectors in the country.

Maruti Suzuki has started exporting its award-winning SUV, the Fronx,— which is its ‘Made-in-India’ SUV— to Japan. This marks the first time Maruti Suzuki is launching an SUV in the Japanese market, highlighting the success of the 'Make in India' initiative. The Fronx is exclusively manufactured at Maruti Suzuki’s advanced facility in Gujarat.

The award-winning Fronx is the second model from Maruti Suzuki to be exported to Japan, after Baleno in 2016. Fronx is planned to be launched in Japan by Suzuki Motor Corporation, Maruti Suzuki’s parent company, in the autumn of 2024. The historic milestone symbolizes the growing strength and global reach of the Indian manufacturing industry.

The first consignment of over 1,600 vehicles has already been shipped from Gujarat’s Pipavav port. This move not only showcases Maruti Suzuki's manufacturing capabilities but also underscores India's growing strength in the global automotive industry.

NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader, recently launched Tsuzumi through the Microsoft Azure AI Models-as-a-Service (MaaS) offering. This development represents a significant milestone in their 25-year collaboration, dedicated to pioneering technological solutions that drive sustainability and innovation.

Tsuzumi is a Large Language Model (LLM) with robust capabilities in both Japanese and English. It's designed to address environmental and financial challenges typically associated with LLMs. By adjusting model size without compromising performance, Tsuzumi makes advanced AI technologies, including Generative AI, accessible to a wider range of users and applications. One of its key features is operational adaptability, allowing it to quickly adjust to specific use-case requirements and reduce service provisioning costs. Initially available in Japan on the Azure MaaS platform, plans are underway to expand Tsuzumi's availability to other regions.

Initially available in Japan on the Azure MaaS platform, plans are underway to expand Tsuzumi availability to other regions. Advancements also are planned in multimodality, which will further enhance Tsuzumi's sophisticated capabilities and ensure it meets the evolving needs of businesses across the globe.

Tsuzumi is available in two versions: an ultra-lightweight version with a parameter size of 600 million (0.6B) and a lightweight version with a parameter size of 7 billion (7B), which are 1/300 and 1/25th the size of Open AI's GPT-3's 175 billion (175B), respectively. The lightweight version is designed to perform high-speed inference on a single GPU, while the ultra-lightweight version can do so on a CPU. This design significantly reduces the costs required for training, inference, and tuning.

The word Tsuzumi is a Japanese hand drum with an hourglass-shaped body and two drum heads. The heads are taut and have cords that can be tightened or loosened to adjust the tension. The tsuzumi is used in Japanese traditional music, including Noh, Nagauta, geza, and folk music. Some types of tsuzumi include the ko-tsuzumi and the san-no-tsuzumi, which is played with a wooden stick.

"tsuzumi" is currently in the process of trademark application. Focusing on the processing performance of the Japanese language, it represents the expectation for language model technology that drives industrial development, similar to how the tsuzumi drum initiates the start of a Gagaku (ancient Japanese court music and dance) ensemble.

NTT DATA remains committed to continuous innovation, ensuring that Tsuzumi stays at the forefront of AI technology. Advancements are also planned in multimodality, further enhancing Tsuzumi's capabilities to meet evolving business needs globally.

The launch of Tsuzumi comes at time when Indian IT giant Tech Mahindra has also announced the launch of Indian languages focused LLM 'Project Indic' , starting with Hindi language and its dialects.

Infosys has partnered with Nihon Chouzai, Japan's dispensing pharmacy chain, to enhance healthcare access in Japan through innovative digital solutions. As part of this collaboration, Infosys has developed a mobile application called NiCOMS, which serves as a telemedicine service enabling patients to receive remote medication guidance from registered pharmacists. This eliminates the need for physical visits to the pharmacy.

The mobile application, NiCOMS, allows patients across Japan to receive medication instructions, consultations, and make payments during video calls with pharmacists. It provides a convenient and efficient way for patients to manage their medications remotely.

Nihon Chouzai in collaboration with Infosys launched the web version of NiCOMS in September 2020. With an existing registered userbase of over 1,800,000, the mobile application will now integrate with OkusuriTechoPlus, Nihon Chouzai’s digital medication notebook, by merging the account and authentication processes. This ensures a seamless experience for users.

Infosys adopted an agile approach to develop the NiCOMS mobile app, allowing the company to nimbly adapt to evolving requirements driven by deregulation and COVID-19. The online medication guidance service on NiCOMS allows patients across Japan to receive medication instructions, consultations, and make payments during video calls with pharmacists.

NiCOMS offers a responsive user interface compatible with various terminals, operating systems, and browsers, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

This collaboration aims to make a significant impact by increasing access to quality pharmaceutical interventions and enhancing online medical services in Japan. It's exciting to see how technology can transform healthcare delivery.

IBM has signed an agreement to acquire SKYARCH NETWORKS INC., a Japan-based professional services company specializing in Amazon Web Services (AWS). This strategic move is aimed at strengthening IBM's AWS consulting capabilities in Japan.

The acquisition is part of IBM's broader initiative to enhance its hybrid cloud services and AI capabilities. SKYARCH NETWORKS, being an AWS Advanced Tier Partner, brings a wealth of expertise in infrastructure design, development, operation monitoring, and support across various industries. This aligns with IBM's commitment to an open ecosystem approach, collaborating across technology partners to deliver client-centric value.

The Japanese cloud market is expected to grow significantly, with a forecasted 17.9% CAGR from 2022 to 2027. IBM plans to train and skill 10,000 consultants globally on AWS generative AI services by the end of 2024, positioning itself to meet the increasing demand for cloud services expertise in the region.

The acquisition is expected to close in June 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals¹. This marks IBM's fifth acquisition announced in 2024 and the 18th for IBM Consulting since Arvind Krishna became CEO in April 2020.

IDC expects the Japanese cloud market will grow by 17.9% CAGR between 2022 to 2027. IBM has committed to training and skilling 10,000 consultants globally on AWS generative AI services by the end of 2024. SKYARCH NETWORKS will position IBM Consulting to address the growing demand for end-to-end cloud services expertise in the region.

Tech Mahindra has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan's Fuji TV. This collaboration is aimed at co-developing and producing content that will cater to the global entertainment industry. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signifies a significant step towards bringing diverse content to international audiences, especially in major markets like India and Japan.

The partnership will leverage Tech Mahindra's expertise in localization and animation services to adapt Fuji TV's original content for Indian viewers in various local languages. This includes dubbing, sub-titling, and animation, which are essential for engaging a broader audience. Moreover, Tech Mahindra will assist Fuji TV in licensing its content to OTT and PayTV platforms within these regions.

This move is particularly exciting as it opens up opportunities for cross-cultural content creation and distribution, potentially introducing new genres and storytelling methods to different audiences. It also reflects the growing importance of the Indian entertainment market on the global stage.

Tech Mahindra and Fuji TV's partnership is set to produce content across a variety of genres for the global entertainment industry. The collaboration will focus on combining Fuji TV's original content with Tech Mahindra's expertise in localization and animation services¹. This means they will be working on adapting Fuji TV's content library to suit Indian audiences in various local languages, which includes dubbing, subtitling, and animation.

The content strategy aims to cater to major content markets like India and Japan, with a particular emphasis on genres that are gaining popularity in these regions, such as Anime and Korean dramas. Additionally, Tech Mahindra will help Fuji TV license Indian content IP and leverage its animation expertise to create fresh and captivating Japanese content for a global audience.

Harshvendra Soin, President – Asia Pacific and Japan Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “We have partnered with Fuji TV to bring their content library in various local languages to Indian audiences. This also marks a significant milestone in Tech Mahindra's growth strategy and strengthens our position in the media and entertainment industry. We see great potential in developing IPs catering to the Indian, Japanese, and other major content markets.”

This partnership is not only about expanding business in the Indian market but also about creating innovative content that has the potential for global reach. The goal is to explore content strategies tailored to the Indian market while introducing a variety of Fuji TV's content to the Indian audience². Through collaboration with creators at Tech Mahindra's subsidiary studios, known for their significant achievements in animation content production and XR & game development, they aim to co-develop unique content.

Toru Ota, Executive Vice President, Fuji Television Network Inc., 大多亮（フジテレ��専務取締役), said, “In the midst of the rapidly growing Indian entertainment market drawing global attention, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with a leading global IT company in India. As part of our initiative to expand into the global content market, we intend to collaboratively explore content strategies that are tailored to the Indian market, leveraging Tech Mahindra's extensive marketing expertise within the region. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to introduce a variety of Fuji TV's content to the Indian audience. Moreover, through collaboration with creators at Tech Mahindra's subsidiary studios, known for their significant achievements in animation content production and XR & game development, we aim to co-develop unique content. Our goal is to not only expand our business in the Indian market but also to create innovative content that has the potential for global reach.”

Fuji TV has produced a wide range of popular content across various genres. This include – First Love: Hatsukoi (2022), a romantic drama, available on Netflix; Silent (2022), A touching drama available on Viki; Mystery to Iunakare (2022), a suspenseful drama available on Viki; Alice in Borderland (2020-2022), an electrifying survival series, available on various platforms including Netflix; and Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend), The OG of android romance Japanese dramas, inspiring a Korean remake and other K-dramas.

IBM has announced a significant collaboration with RIKEN, a leading Japanese national research laboratory, to integrate IBM's next-generation quantum system with the supercomputer Fugaku. This integration is set to take place at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Japan.

The integration marks a significant step towards quantum-centric supercomputing, where quantum and classical computing resources work together. This could revolutionize how computational tasks are approached and solved.

Fugaku is a petascale supercomputer at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Japan. It was completed in 2021 and is named after an alternative name for Mount Fuji. Fugaku is among the world's fastest supercomputer and is used to solve major challenges, such as researching COVID-19 therapies and providing real-time tsunami predictions. 

Supercomputer Fugaku

At IBM Quantum Summit 2023, ‘IBM Quantum Heron’ was released as IBM’s best performing quantum processor to date, with newly built architecture offering up to five-fold improvement in error reduction.(Credit: Ryan Lavine for IBM)

Astroscale Japan Inc., a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc., has unveiled the first publicly released image of space debris captured through rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO).

This historic image was taken by their commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite called Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J).

The ADRAS-J spacecraft was selected by Japanese space agency JAXA for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) program. Astroscale Japan is responsible for the design, manufacture, test, launch and operations of ADRAS-J.

ADRAS-J is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of capturing and removing space debris from orbit. Its primary goal is to test technologies and techniques for safe and efficient debris removal.