Trouble viewing this email? View in a browser
	Japan Update January 7, 2019

	Startup funding by  Japan's major  companies shatters record TOKYO -- Corporate Japan   jumped on the startup bandwagon  in a big  way in 2018, nearly doubling investment in the enterprises in an effort to spur growth. A Japan Post Holdings venture  arm invested in about a dozen   upstarts last year, including  artificial intelligence developer  Abeja and flea market operator  Mercari, while a venture capital  fund of Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings invested in 11 startups. Overall, traditional Japanese companies' venture capital  investment reached $1.23 billion  in the year through Dec. 26,  up more than 91% from the ful l-year record set in 2017, according to data from M&A advisory Recof.
	Selected for you Abe to fight South Korea's asset seizure over wartime labor Prime minister orders countermeasures based on international law Read more Fosun aims to take on Disney with stake in Japan theme park Chinese conglomerate hopes Huis Ten Bosch investment is business classroom Read more Japan's $9 departure tax goes into effect Revenue from first new tax in 27 years will be used to promote tourism Read more Labor shortage drives more bankruptcies in Japan Lack of workers and rising costs increasingly cited in business failures in 2018 Read more