GW-303 -- The Hottest Gizmos and Gadgets from Japan

Today's Gadget Watch takes a look at new toys for home movie makers, karaoke fans, and would-be spies.

TT-475 -- The Bonins, ebiz news in Japan

What have a species of lizard, Japan's border disputes and a small chain of islands got in common? Terrie perceives political motives in an NHK natural history documentary.

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JIN-471 -- North Korea: abductions and the nuclear threat

Japan has long viewed North Korea as an enemy and a threat. With signs of a softer approach coming from the US and a settlement of the nuclear issue looking likely, how will Japanese concerns over previous abductions of its citizens impact on its foreign policy? Read Now

Terrie's Job Tips -- Space Planning for Employees, Part IV: Recruiting Considerations

At first glance, this week’s title may sound a bit incongruous – what does recruiting have to do with space planning? Well, depending on who you talk to, there are many who say that a spacious, modern, and conveniently located office is a great recruiting tool, and that the extra cost incurred in having such an office needs to be offset against the performance benefits of getting better people.

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TT-474 -- Wine Trends, ebiz news from Japan

With prices rises across the board, has frugality affected higher end markets? Terrie uncorks the wine industry in Japan and discovers that while current economic conditions may put off the less discriminating consumer, wine appreciation is deeply entrenched among the more affluent and urbane sections of Japanese society.

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GW-302 -- The Hottest Gizmos and Gadgets from Japan

This week's Gadget Watch takes a look at the JVC Everio GZ-HD40 video camera, the Canon Kiss F friendly digital camera and the au sports support mobile phone.

JIN-470 -- Soft Power

How important is it that people over the world recognize and buy into Japanese culture? This week's JIN looks at the potential political and economic dimensions to Japan's cultural exports. Read Now

Terrie's Job Tips -- Space Planning for Employees, Part III: Practical Application

Sometimes life offers us synchronicity, and one such event happened to me a few days ago. I had just finished Part II of this series on calculating just how much space is needed to house your employees, when a client happened to ask me the exact same thing. This client is based overseas, but has a Tokyo office, complete with a local country manager and half a dozen staff. They are planning to ramp up fairly quickly, and want to have an office for 12-15 staff by the end of the year. Currently they are in a serviced office.

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MMW-122 -- Competition Heats Up For Portable Audio Recorders

This month's MMW covers the latest competition for portable audio recorders, SoftBank Mobile's forthcoming release of the 3G iPhone in Japan, Yamaha's offering online piano lessons over Skype and much much more.

TT-473 -- Mubadala Takes the Plunge, ebiz news in Japan

The activities of sovereign wealth funds have attracted a lot of attention recently. One such fund, Mudabala Development has recently partnered with the Kobe International Frontier Medical Center. Terrie questions the motivation behind this investment and raises some serious concerns about the viability of the business model.

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