Japanese companies expand operations in metals, media, and recruitment

Various Japanese companies are expanding their business operations and market presence. In the industrial sector, Toho Zinc is establishing facilities in Gunma Prefecture to recover rare earth and rare metals from lead production byproducts. Additionally, Sumitomo Metal Mining has increased production of rare earths used in fuel cells by 20 percent using materials from the Philippines.

In the digital and entertainment sector, BitStar announced the 6th anniversary of its YouTube animation ‘Peke Peke! Peketz-kun’. To celebrate, the company is launching three special projects, including a commemorative video, a physical pop-up shop at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, and a new gaming channel titled ‘BitStar Anime Games’.

In the healthcare recruitment sector, KANTAN! is expanding its matching service from nursing to the caregiving field starting in September 2026. The company aims to implement its ‘Narashiwork’ model, which allows workers to experience a job through spot shifts before committing to formal employment, addressing the need for better matching in the caregiving industry.