Dear Editor -- On reading the recent article on the implementation of Japan’s lay judge system, I recalled my recent call to duty in my home country (Australia). During a two-month visit back home my card was pulled for jury duty. Although in the end I wasn’t called upon to be a juror, I became fascinated by the process and ended up leaving with a sense of responsibility. I actually left the court a little upset that I hadn’t been chosen.

By Hugh Ashton -- Surviving entrepreneurs tell us about turbulent times -- Any successful business has faced pitfalls along the way, but for entrepreneurs and small-to-medium sized companies, these mistakes can prove fatal. Those who have survived tell us their story.

By Peter Harris -- Tokyo diamond broker Mark Willis and his unique business model of serving the expat community -- Like so many long-term residents in Japan, Mark Hiroshi Willis’ first job here, back in 1991, was teaching English. Although he enjoyed the job, Willis was a qualified gemologist and had always known that his professional future lay with diamonds.

By Dave Mori, President of the Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo -- How being a duck out of water can actually help you succeed -- When I first moved to Japan just 6 years ago, I was dismayed to discover that many of my Japanese friends didn’t know what an entrepreneur was. As a student I had heard compelling tales of Japan’s terrific entrepreneurial growth in post-war Japan and I couldn’t understand how entrepreneurship had seemingly disappeared from the Japanese way of life.

Tim WilliamsBy Chris Betros -- Tim Williams of ValueCommerce fame speaks about his new venture -- New Zealander Tim Williams, struck gold with Internet marketing company ValueCommerce, and is now launching his latest venture—an online wine and lifestyle portal.

By Greg Lane -- Street View lands in Japan -- Google’s controversial Street View add-on to Google Maps was launched for the larger Japanese cities in early August. -- NTT Launches strange SNS -- NTT has launched a Social Network called ‘Talk Feel’ with the honorable intention of bringing together people in Japan and China. -- Lots and lots of blood -- Tech and science news site Ars Technica reports that Japanese researchers have discovered a method to transform embryonic stem cells into red blood cells. -- Facebook has a big mountain to climb -- With 25 times more users, Mixi is still a big nasty Godzilla to Facebook. -- IPO Report -- As we go to press, there are 13 completed or forecast IPOs for the month of August.

By Michael Keferl -- The battle for wallet space heats up -- Japanese shoppers don’t get much for their money when it comes to major retail sales, especially compared to their American counterparts who can look forward to days like Black Friday, when retailers compete at dangerously low price levels. In Japan, customers are rarely rewarded if they shop around for a bargain. What they are rewarded for, however, is loyalty. Point card programs can give back 10-20% in store credits or gift offers.

By Sarah Noorbakhsh -- We talk to Manfred Hoffman, Executive Director -- The chamber performs three specific functions. In addition to the original function of a chamber, we also consider ourselves a service provider for German companies trying to access the Japanese market. Our staff of 30 employees provides info and support for small and medium, both member and nonmember, businesses.

Compiled by Ken Worsley -- Hard information on selected economic sectors and industries -- Automotive -- Consumer Electronics -- Mobile Telephony

By Sarah Noorbakhsh -- Sony Plaza is one of the surprisingly understated leaders in this foreign fetish movement -- While the streets of Tokyo are well known as international hunting grounds for the next big trends, the eyes of Japan’s youth have for decades been, ironically, focused overseas, as teens and young adults peruse magazines featuring fashionistas from Paris and New York while clutching mobile phones adorned with Mickey and Winnie the Pooh. And no matter how popular Harajuku Girls and anime may be abroad, Japanese lifestyles are littered with echoes of Europe and the Americas.