Takeshi Niinami, President and CEO at Suntory Holdings, says Japanese companies need to increase wages to retain good talent. (Bloomberg)

Osaka City has handed over land for the Integrated Resort (IR) project, which will include a casino, after signing a contract to lease the land to the developer for 35 years at a monthly rent of 2.1 billion yen. (News On Japan)

Bankruptcies of yakiniku restaurants in Japan have surged to a record pace this year, largely due to the rising costs of imported beef fueled by the prolonged depreciation of the yen. (News On Japan)

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is set to introduce new mobile phone numbers starting with '060,' possibly as early as December, marking the first addition of a new number in 11 years. (News On Japan)

Panasonic has announced that it will end production of fluorescent lamps in 2027 when an international ban comes into force prompted by the health risks and environmental pollution from mercury used in them. (NHK)

SoftBank Group is advancing its investment in artificial intelligence (AI) by making AI the core of its strategy. According to U.S. media reports, SoftBank Vision Fund, an investment fund under the SoftBank Group, has agreed to invest in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. (News On Japan)

In Japanese business culture, a 'playing manager' refers to a manager who oversees the team while also performing as a front-line player. This role is commonly assumed in the mid-managerial phase, often at the section chief level, where the experience and knowledge gained significantly impact the individual's career trajectory. (News On Japan)

Yukan Fuji will end more than half a century of serving as a prominent voice in Japan's evening news landscape, with declining print sales ultimately leading to the decision to cease publication. (News On Japan)

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced on the 1st that the nationwide unemployment rate for August dropped by 0.2 percentage points from the previous month, reaching 2.5%. This marks the first improvement in two months. (News On Japan)

Yamaha Motor announced that its President, Yoshihiro Hidaka, 61, resigned Monday following an attack by his daughter on September 16th that left him with severe cut wounds on his left arm. (News On Japan)

Starting October 1, Japan's major banks will raise their variable mortgage rates, sparking a surge in demand at housing sales sites. (News On Japan)

Tokyo's benchmark stock index plunged on Monday following Friday's vote for the leadership of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The election of Ishiba Shigeru as party president has investors reconsidering their bets for economic policy. (NHK)

Toyota's global production has seen a decline for the seventh consecutive month. In August, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that its worldwide production totaled 709,571 units, an 11.2% decrease from the same period last year. (News On Japan)

Suzuki plans to increase its car dealerships in India by 70% to around 6,800 stores by the fiscal year 2030, according to a report by the Nikkei. The automaker has been contracting with local companies to expand its network, adding approximately 200 dealerships annually in recent years. (News On Japan)

The president of Nippon Steel says he cannot be optimistic about its takeover of US Steel due to opposition from the United Steelworkers union, or USW. (NHK)