[September 01, 2008]

Kyodo economic news summary -5-+

(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOKYO, Sept. 1_(Kyodo) _ ---------- Japan's digital content market grows 3.4% in 2007

TOKYO - The size of the Japanese digital content market is estimated to have increased 3.4 percent from the previous year to a record 2,694.7 billion yen on growing distribution of music and images on the Internet and mobile phones, an industry body said Monday.

The Digital Content Association of Japan said high-speed data communications on cellphones and wider use of broadband networks were behind the increase in distribution of music and images.

---------- Toto to repair nearly 170,000 water heaters due to oil leakage

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Toto Ltd. said Monday it will voluntarily replace defective parts in 169,975 oil-fired heaters free of charge following 74 cases of burning inside the heaters caused by oil leakage.

The heaters in the Hi Acty series were mostly manufactured between May 2000 and August 2004, including about 16,000 units Toto made for Takagi Industrial Co. and five other firms under their names, the sanitaryware maker said.

---------- Sharp eyes 1 tril. yen sales in health, environment sector for FY 2012

OSAKA - Sharp Corp. said Monday it aims to quadruple its group sales from the fiscal 2007 level to 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2012 by active marketing of home appliances with high-bacteria-killing effect in its health and environment business.

The Osaka-based consumer electronics maker plans to foster the health and environment business as one of its key pillars along with flat-panel televisions and solar battery businesses by enhancing marketing in the public sector and overseas.

---------- Matsushita to appoint ex-BOJ chief Fukui, 3 others as global advisers

OSAKA - Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Monday it will set up a panel of four "global advisers" including former Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui to provide advice on its new global strategies.

The first panel meeting will be held in Tokyo on Sept. 11 with Matsushita President Fumio Otsubo and other executives in attendance, the leading Japanese consumer electronics maker said.

---------- Paloma reports 485 flawed water heaters remain uncollected

TOKYO - Paloma Industries Ltd. told the industry ministry Monday it has found that 485 units of its potentially dangerous water heaters remain uncollected, the Nagoya-based manufacturer said.

The findings were the result of a review ordered by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in June. Since Paloma water heaters caused 21 deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning between 1985 and 2005, METI first ordered the company in August 2006 to recall seven types of water heaters due to possible product flaws.

---------- Microsoft to cut price of Xbox 360 to vie with Wii, PS3

TOKYO - The Japanese unit of Microsoft Corp. said Monday it will cut the price of its Xbox 360 home video game console by up to nearly 30 percent for the domestic market, aiming to take a larger share in the market where the more popular Wii from Nintendo Co. and PlayStation 3 from Sony Corp. dominate.

Struggling to catch on in the Japanese market, Microsoft said it will lower the price of the Xbox 360's Arcade model by 8,000 yen to 19,800 yen on Sept. 11, making the device the first among competing consoles to carry a price tag of less than 20,000 yen.

---------- Yamaha Motor to set up factory to manufacture motorcycles in Cambodia

TOKYO - Yamaha Motor Co. said Monday it will establish a motorcycle production plant in Cambodia jointly with Toyota Tsusho Corp. and a Cambodian firm, with operations scheduled to start next July.

Yamaha and other companies launched a new company in Phnom Penh on Sunday for the plant, it said, adding the new company will begin operations Oct. 1.

Copyright ? 2008 Kyodo News International, Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Discussions: