Food & Beverage
$1 bubble teas fuel Chinese drink chain Mixue's rise to the top
With over 21,000 shops, market leader brews IPO plan and overseas expansion
Consumer
Consumer
Chinese 5G smartphones in focus as India's festive season roars back to life
Holiday spending forecast to top $32bn, approaching pre-COVID level
Consumer
Shiseido 'Sidekick' hones in on skin care concerns for Gen Z men
Japanese cosmetics maker chases new fans with sneaker-inspired designs
Electronics
$50,000 turntables amp up tunes for affluent vinyl fans
Success of niche manufacturer Esoteric rescues parent Teac from financial abyss
Climate Change
Asics develops sneakers with world's smallest carbon footprint
Japanese maker joins global race for low-carbon shoemaking
Aerospace & Defense
JAXA recruits companies to develop space toothpaste, body wipes
Japanese astronaut to test 9 products by Kao, Lion, others while on ISS mission
Business deals
South Korea's Naver to buy U.S. fashion app Poshmark in $1.6bn deal
Deal allows expansion into North America's e-commerce market
Companies
Top Vietnam steelmaker Hoa Phat cranks up appliances with new factory
Diversifying group's $41m domestic plant to produce air conditioners, air purifiers
Food & Beverage
McDonald's switches to paper straws, wooden utensils across Japan
Hamburger chain's shift to eliminate 900 tonnes of plastic waste annually
Retail
Seven-Eleven, Speedway to drive record profit for Japan's Seven & i
Retail group's convenience stores enjoy post-pandemic rebound
Business deals
Japanese pen feud nears end as Kokuyo moves to sell Pentel stake
Failed hostile takeover created opening for white knight Plus, the new buyer
Food & Beverage
ThaiBev stays course in Vietnam to regain regional market lead
CEO wants Hanoi to sell 36% stake in Sabeco on public exchanges
Consumer
Japanese e-scooter built for two makes transporting a dog a cinch
Tokyo-based Good Shape gives pet owners new options
Life
Vintage guitar prices soar in Japan as boomer buying outlasts pandemic
Sought-after Gibson, Martin models are 'something between a hobby and an investment'
Media & Entertainment
PlayStation takes back seat to PCs at Tokyo game expo
The rise of Steam heralds the sunset for console games
Consumer
ByteDance and Sony challenge Meta in Japan's VR market
Tech heavyweights go on offensive after Facebook owner raises prices
Food & Beverage
Coca-Cola Japan and Kirin in tie-up to develop health drinks
Companies to explore growing market for products that claim to boost immunity
Retail
Japan retailer Aeon tries on fast fashion in Vietnam with $6 T-shirts
New private brand is part of growth strategy in 'most important' overseas market
Startups
How China's fast-fashion app Shein beat Uniqlo's market value
Network of local suppliers and focus on overseas markets pay off
Retail
China's economic uncertainty fuels boom in soon-to-expire food
Middle-class shoppers hunt for bargains as concern grows over jobs and pay
