SoftBank Group announced it will invest about 300 billion yen in U.S. semiconductor giant Intel, which has been struggling in the competitive chip industry. (News On Japan)

With the AI development race intensifying and Meta announcing a trillion-yen investment, data centers are gaining increasing attention. (News On Japan)

McDonald's Japan announced it will impose purchase limits on the second phase of its Pokémon-themed Happy Meal campaign, starting tomorrow. For the first three days, each group will be limited to a maximum of three sets. (News On Japan)

Paypay, a leading smartphone payment service, has begun preparations for a stock market listing in the United States. On August 14th local time, the company confidentially filed documents related to an initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. (News On Japan)

Japan’s gross domestic product for the April to June period rose at an annualized rate of 1.0%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth. (News On Japan)

The Nikkei Stock Average rose for the second consecutive day to reach a new record, surpassing 43,000 yen for the first time on August 14th. The rally was fueled by expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut as early as next month and relief that the worst-case scenario from planned Trump tariffs had been avoided. (News On Japan)

Tokyo's Nikkei surpassed its previous all-time high set in July 2024 when trading resumed this week, a move attributed to eased trade concerns, a weaker yen, and investor momentum driven by fear of missing out. (News On Japan)

The Nikkei Stock Average closed at a record high of 42,718 yen on August 12th, surpassing the previous peak of 42,224 yen set on July 11th last year for the first time in over a year. The benchmark index gained more than 1,100 yen at one point before ending the day 897 yen higher than last Friday’s close. (News On Japan)

Tesla has opened its first direct store in Okinawa, located in the city of Tomigusuku. (News On Japan)

The iconic stick-shaped chocolate snack Pocky has been officially registered as a three-dimensional trademark, marking a major milestone for manufacturer Ezaki Glico. (News On Japan)