Editor

If there is one guarantee in the media business, it's change.

If there is one guarantee in the media business, it's change. And true to our mission of bridging Japan to the outside world, we're morphing to meet the needs of the moment.

In November 1999, the needs were to help US VC investors enter the Japan market and nurture Japan's own mini dotcom revolution. We were first with many breaking stories, and many of the start-ups we covered have now grown to become vigorous listed companies.

However, 2001 and 9/11 changed things forever, and interest in traditional media is still slow to revive. We're rapidly moving the company to become a general consulting business, both in terms of online trade and Japan inbound/outbound investment. Our publishing activities will continue, and the remake of the print magazine and www.japan.com are good examples of that. However, you're also going to see JI become much more focused on technology, finance and fast-growing companies. If you're in business, stay tuned.

--Terrie Lloyd, Publisher

New companies and fresh technologies are stirring in the soil of Japan's burgeoning economic recovery, and we are proud to present in these pages two of the most promising: livedoor and Sozon.

The heads of both companies speak to us in exclusive interviews, offering their insights into navigating the challenges of the Japanese market and unveiling their strategies for sustaining success. Contributor Tony McNicol gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at the method (and madness, depending on your angle) of Qrio, Sony's baseball-pitching bot, and Michael E. Stanely traces rice to its roots. Together with expert analyses of the virtues of urban renewal and the vicissitudes of global markets, we've still got you covered. Plus, we've gone partially bilingual. Read on.

--Roland Kelts, Editor