Japanese companies announce new retail, gaming, and entertainment expansions

Several Japanese companies have announced new business expansions and product releases. Futaba Tosho will launch the first 24-hour large-scale bookstore operations in Hiroshima Prefecture, starting October 1 at the TSUTAYA MEGA Nakasuji store, followed by the TSUTAYA Kabe Center store on October 8. The initiative uses a hybrid model combining staffed daytime hours with unmanned nighttime/early morning hours facilitated by the ‘Hontasu’ management solution, utilizing facial recognition and self-checkout.

In the gaming sector, Hobby Japan is releasing the Nintendo Switch and viviON GAMES versions of the roguelite card game ‘Queen’s Blade Re:Build’ on October 8, priced at 4,400 yen. Meanwhile, TAROKO is expanding into Japan with two new sports entertainment facilities in Chiba New Town and Utsunomiya, featuring HitTrax real-time baseball simulation technology.

In creative industries, Visual Bank CEO Masayuki Nagai has been selected for Forbes JAPAN’s ‘CULTURE-PRENEURS 30’ for his work in providing AI training datasets that protect creator rights. Additionally, Minto has launched a new Webtoon titled ‘Aishiko Vina’ on the Mecha Comic platform.