Full coverage: Japan

25.02.2008 Japanese telecom leader NTT DoCoMo unveiled an innovative Bluetooth handset, the “Sound Leaf Plus” at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The light-weight mobile works when pressed against the bone below the ear and has a high frequency switch for improved sound articulation.

16.12.2005 The outbreak of the Minamata disease in 1956 started a process of transformation in the Japanese chlor-alkali industry. Since then the industry has undergone two significant technological transformations. The first was from the mercury-based process to the diaphragm process while the second was from the diaphragm process to the ion membrane process.

31.08.2005 While US and Japan are preparing to equip the WTO’s Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) Agreement with provisions to safeguard national biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge, developing countries are lagging behind in their entrepreneurship in this regard.

07.07.2005 As much as one-fifth of Japanese business has adopted open source operating system, according to a report by the Japanese Government.

13.05.2005 Japan provided 134.5 billion yen ( approximately 5,600 crore)
Yen Loan to India in 2004.

04.11.2004 The Japanese government will hold its first meeting to discuss counter-measures against spam spread through emails. This meeting will also consider tightening the existing legislation on spam according to international law.

23.09.2004 The United States has urged Japan to drop its recent proposal of tax on local high-bandwidth Wi-Fi networks. Though Japan has been arguing that a tax on Wi-Fi helps it bolster efforts to bridge the digital divide, the US infotech industry says this goes against international practice.

22.03.2004 Japan, Poland and Ukraine are partnering to set up a network of distance learning centres at Ukrainian universities, using digital technology to boost the number of computer science graduates.

13.07.2003 The Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) received a $ 2-million grant for its radio project to be implemented in parts of Africa and Central Asia over two years. It will be used to finance co-productions between IRIN and local radio stations, enabling partners to learn new production and digital editing techniques.

21.01.2003 Participants of the Communication Rights Workshop held during the Asian Regional Conference for the WSIS criticised the Japanese government for not inviting delegates from North Korea to the meeting.

02.06.2002 A recent survey in Japan showed a wide regional digital divide despite government efforts to spread Internet use. The survey, sponsored by the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, is the first to include questions on information technology.

06.11.2001 Japan has contributed US$5 million to help narrow the digital divide which threatens to exacerbate social and economic inequalities between countries and communities, with recent estimates showing that developing countries account for less than 15 per cent of ICT and Internet users.

01.11.2001 Japan has contributed US$5 million to a UNDP Trust Fund for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Development. Many developing countries are convinced of ICT's potential, but recent estimates indicate that these countries account for less than 15 per cent of ICT and Internet users. This digital divide threatens to exacerbate social and economic inequalities between countries and communities.

04.01.2000 A group of Japanese maverick intellectuals is heralding a new era in cyber-politics with the launch of the Internet Rebel Party which aims to tackle corruption in mainstream politics.