Category: JCN Newswire

KAWASAKI, Japan, Jan 9, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu Limited today announced that it has jointly developed a new digital learning platform with Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) to support educational training improvements at JAL's airport sites. The platform, which leverages Fujitsu's digital learning solution Advanced Teaming Experience Service powered by UMU, began full-scale operation in April 2025.Since the initial roll-out, approximately 15,000 employees across roughly 100 locations across the JAL Group have adopted this platform which enables staff to conduct preparatory and review work on their assigned tablet devices. Furthermore, it has significantly reduced the workload associated with managing training participation and certifications, thereby contributing to enhanced productivity among frontline staff.Fujitsu will continue to contribute to the JAL Group's educational improvements through this platform. Furthermore, by applying the knowledge gained from this project, Fujitsu will continuously enhance Advanced Teaming Experience Service powered by UMU and actively promote its deployment not only in the aviation industry but also in other sectors requiring high safety standards and specialized expertise, such as manufacturing. Fujitsu remains committed to supporting organizations in maximizing the effectiveness of their educational improvements and human resource development initiatives by empowering their workforce through learning.Platform featuresThe platform delivers educational content optimized for each JAL Group employee's proficiency level and job responsibilities. Employees can easily access learning content via tablet devices and review the necessary items through training videos even after courses are completed, ensuring a culture of self-directed learning among employees. Furthermore, by digitizing and automating the management of employee training records and qualification information, the platform significantly reduces the workload of education administrators. This allows them to focus on more strategic tasks, such as redesigning educational content and developing human resource development plans.The JAL Group will expand the variety of training at airport sites and also broaden the use of this platform beyond learning to include safety awareness initiatives, promoting mechanisms that support the proactive growth of each employee and the safety and security of flights. Through these efforts, JAL will continue to deepen its human resources and training to contribute to high fundamental quality and productivity.BackgroundThe airport environment is constantly evolving due to the advancement of services through smart airport initiatives and the active participation of diverse talent. However, education has long been designed for uniform, in-person delivery, posing a challenge to provide more flexible learning opportunities that adapt to individual employee circumstances and changing environments. Moreover, to ensure safe and secure flights, the JAL Group has traditionally maintained rigorous management of employees’ training status. However, in light of recent work-style reforms and the anticipated decline in the future workforce, JAL decided to transition from manual processes to a more efficient digital system.To address these challenges, Fujitsu collaborated with JAL to analyze the issues and design the operational framework for the digital learning platform. Leveraging Fujitsu's expertise gained from implementing and operating large-scale educational platforms, including those for financial institutions using Advanced Teaming Experience Service powered by UMU, the deployment process, which typically takes about three months, was completed in approximately one month.About FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. global.fujitsu Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Jan 7, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) today announced that, to return to its founding principles, it is reverting to the name "GAZOO Racing" to strengthen its motorsports-bred making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is reverting its name to "GAZOO Racing".The role of GAZOO Racing will be to strengthen the motorsports-bred making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent.GAZOO Racing will compete in top-category motorsports, such as the WRC, as well as in customer motorsports using production vehicles.The journey of GAZOO RacingA challenge born of humiliationTOYOTA GAZOO Racing has promoted the making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent by taking on the challenge of competing in various motorsports categories both in Japan and abroad.GAZOO Racing traces its origins back to 2007, when Akio Toyoda (then executive vice president) competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race alongside driving mentor and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Master Driver Hiromu Naruse and several other colleagues.At the time, because competing in the race was not recognized by TMC as an official company activity, the team was not permitted to use "TOYOTA" in its name, and thus entered under the name "Team GAZOO". Furthermore, as Toyoda's intention to drive in the race was unable to gain much understanding, his only choice was to compete under the driver name "Morizo". Although the team managed to finish the race, the achievement immediately came with a sense of humiliation. That was because, while many other, mainly European, competitors were putting under-development cars through their paces in the race, Toyota did not have such a car, let alone any sports cars in its sales lineup, and was on the verge of losing its ability to pass on its car-making skills and expertise. When overtaken on the track by other manufacturers' development vehicles, Toyoda felt as if he could hear rivals say: "No way that you guys at Toyota could build a car like this!", igniting a sense of humiliation that he still vividly recalls to this day.The Shikinen Sengu of car-making sustained by convictionSports car development demands an approach to manufacturing that not only improves a car's characteristics and fundamental performance by also strives to make a car failure-proof even in harsh environments. All such efforts also contribute to the development of mass-production cars. At the same time, the front lines of motorsports provide numerous opportunities to hone car-making skills and foster talent.At Ise Shrine in Japan's Mie Prefecture, traditions and skills are passed down through a ritual known as "Shikinen Sengu", which entails all of the shrine's structures being rebuilt every 20 years. Similarly, sports car manufacturing has traditions and skills that cannot be passed down once they are lost. Armed with a sense of crisis that TMC would become a company incapable of building sports cars, Toyoda initiated the development of the Lexus LFA, choosing the Nürburgring course as the car's main development site.Launched in 2010, the LFA was TMC's first authentic sports car developed in-house in approximately 20 years. It was the result of a project that faced enormous difficulties, including a lack of wholehearted support within the company for car-making that was deemed by some to be unprofitable, as evidenced by the fact that development was permitted to proceed under the condition that only 500 units would be sold.Just before the LFA's release, the unthinkable happened: Naruse passed away in an accident near the Nürburgring. The calamity occurred not long after LFA development had concluded and Naruse, as master driver, had given his approval by saying, "Let's go with this." For Toyoda, suddenly being without his driving mentor and TMC's master driver came with an immense sense of loss.However, Toyoda, remaining steadfast in his conviction that cars and talent are honed on the front lines of motorsports, continued to pursue sports car development. Then came the revival of the 86 in 2012 and the GR Supra in 2019. However, the development of these models relied on Subaru and BMW, respectively, meaning that TMC was not able to achieve the complete in-house creation of a sports car.The launch of TOYOTA GAZOO RacingIn April 2015, TMC decided to consolidate its in-house motorsports activities, including those under the banners of "TOYOTA Racing", "LEXUS Racing", and "GAZOO Racing", under the unified "GAZOO" name, upon which it adopted the logo "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing". It was a development that marked the moment when activities that could not use "TOYOTA" back in 2007 could finally bear the company's name. However, even though those activities had officially come under the umbrella of a large corporation, the original sense of humiliation that had driven Toyoda and Naruse began to fade.The never-ending pursuit of making ever-better carsToyoda, then as president, decided that TMC would return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to further evolve its activities to make ever-better cars. Returning to the WRC, in which competing vehicles are based on production vehicles, marked a major turning point in TMC's motorsports activities.Until then, TMC had developed its motorsports vehicles based on already completed production vehicles. However, after returning to the WRC, it began a new approach to car-making that reversed the conventional order by first creating a car capable of winning in the WRC and then turning that car into a production vehicle. This led to the launch in 2020 of the GR Yaris, a Toyota in-house-developed sports car, under the philosophy of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars.The GR Yaris, which was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January of that year and recorded its maiden victory in a Super Taikyu Series 24-hour race that September, began to be seen in action in motorsports events around the around, eventually leading to the development and launch of the GR Corolla. It was exactly this achievement that revived TMC's in-house production of sports cars capable of winning in motorsports.In 2025, Toyota returned to the Nürburgring 24 Hours race for the first time in six years, fielding a GR Yaris. While behind the wheel, Toyoda, who is TMC's current master driver, says that he conversed with Naruse. Only TMC's two master drivers know what they talked about.For Toyoda, the next challenge was to conduct a true Shikinen Sengu in the form of TMC creating the ultimate in sports cars. As such, the GR GT, GR GT3, and LFA Concept premiered in 2025.TGR's journey of the motorsports-bred making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent is without end. It will soon be 20 years since Team GAZOO came to be in 2007."No way that you guys at Toyota could build a car like this!" The humiliation felt by Hiromu Naruse and Akio Toyoda was the starting point of it all.TGR would like to extend its sincere gratitude to everyone in the world of motorsports, its partners, and its fans for their unwavering commitment.Together with all stakeholders, TGR - under the name "GAZOO Racing" - intends to continue making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and fostering the talents of drivers, engineers, and mechanics.TGR looks forward to everyone's continued support.TOYOTA RACINGMotorsports activities specializing in powertrains and technologyFurthermore, TMC's research and development center in Cologne, Germany (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe), under the new name "TOYOTA RACING", is to specialize in motorsports activities through its advanced development technologies, promoting long-term technological development in engine development and other areas. The technologies that it develops are to continue to be introduced in various motorsports scenarios, including the world's top on-track races as well as rallies, in the pursuit of further improvement.TGRRTGRR (TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing) is to continue its current activities. As an entity that bears in its name the "T" of TOYOTA Racing and the "G" of GAZOO Racing, it intends to serve as a bridge between the two, honing in motorsports as a racing team the products and technologies each develops, while also functioning as a practical training ground (dojo) that fosters talent.Logo transition is planned for completion in stages by January 2027.Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.SDGs Initiatives: https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/ Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Jan 7, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TANAKA MIRAI Lab., an in-house innovation organization of TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd. (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Group CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), launched the Precious Fragrance Project in fiscal year 2025 as part of its initiatives in the new "Precious Things" field, where it seeks to create new value.The first fruit of this project is a new perfume (limited series of 1,000 bottles, not for sale) with a unique fragrance, developed by TANAKA MIRAI Lab., that expresses the essence of gold (Au). Gold has always been a key product for TANAKA, which constantly pursues the rare and exceptional value of precious metals, ever since its foundation.TANAKA engages in ultra-long-term corporate management that looks to 2085, the 200th anniversary of the Group's founding, and beyond. TANAKA MIRAI Lab. was created to lead the Group in everything from the creation to the realization of new paradigms. It believes that the rare and exceptional value that will remain through 2085 lies in the domains that make us human, so it is engaged in the pursuit of "Precious Things" that link to the "Embodiment" and "Emotion" uniquely inherent to people.Precious Fragrance is one of the fruits of its efforts to realize these “Precious Things”. The goal of this project is to embody sensibilities through “fragrance”, which directly acts on the human cerebral limbic system and remains in the form of memories.In fiscal year 2025, TANAKA began working together with fragrance experts to develop fragrances from the ground up, led by the concept of "Authentic Uniqueness," derived from the metal that is synonymous with TANAKA: gold (Au). The culmination of these efforts was the perfume "The TANAKA 2025." Only 1,000 bottles of this perfume, which is not for sale, have been made. They will provide an unparalleled fragrance experience, a signature of the TANAKA brand.We plan to expand the “Precious Fragrance” collection in the future by focusing on the development of fragrances based on metals such as silver (Ag) and platinum (Pt).The TANAKA 2025's fragrance designThe theme of this fragrance is "Radiant Golden Glow," a noble floral oriental scent, luxuriously composed of vibrant natural rose and elegant natural iris, accented with a chic touch of oud. The moment someone puts it on, the fragrance unfolds with a radiant golden glow, evoking the dazzling brilliance of gold.Design and appearanceFragrance was not the only thing lavish attention was paid to—the utmost care was also paid to The TANAKA 2025's design. The triangular glass bottle is unique, made using newly created molds. The logo's motif is "田," the first character in "田中" ("TANAKA"). It is iconic, calling to mind the image of a Japanese family crest. The base colors of the packaging and label are a deep midnight blue and gold, imparting a sense of exceptional grace and discernment.About TANAKA MIRAI Lab.TANAKA has been advancing a transformation of its overall business toward the year 2085, the 200th anniversary of its founding, with the aim of “creating a future that no one has ever seen before.” As part of this initiative, TANAKA launched TANAKA MIRAI Lab, an organization to advance this transformation and create the future.TANAKA MIRAI Lab.’s mission is to envision an unseen future and realize various possibilities by conducting research derived from “kisho (precious and rare) value.”Official Websitehttps://mirailab.tanaka.co.jp/About TANAKASince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volume of precious metals it handles. Over many years, TANAKA has manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry and provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and worldwide collaborate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,591 employees, the group’s consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended December 2024 were 846.9 billion yen.TANAKA Industrial Precious Metal Materials Portalhttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.comPress inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/Press release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20260107.pdf Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Jan 7, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and TOYOTA RACING GmbH have changed the company name of the European research and development center and subsidiary "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe GmbH" (Cologne, Germany) to "TOYOTA RACING GmbH" and will start to use the new name from January 7, 2026 onwards.TOYOTA RACING GmbH will strengthen the foundation that supports Toyota's technological development in the long term through cutting-edge motorsports technology.Toyota competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing" from 2016 to 2025. Starting from the 2026 season, the team will participate under the new brand "TOYOTA RACING" and will introduce the updated "TR010 HYBRID" Hypercar. The bond between customers and Toyota products will be further strengthened by GAZOO Racing (GR) through activities such as its participation in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and customer motorsports with the GR YARIS Rally2 and GR Supra GT4. TOYOTA RACING GmbH will continue to support GR's activities by supplying engines for rally vehicles and producing GT4 cars. Going forward, TOYOTA RACING GmbH will promote Toyota's motorsports activities using production vehicles, honing both cars and people in the demanding competitive environment.TOYOTA RACING GmbH will accelerate its contribution to advanced automotive technology, expand the joy of motorsports, and create the future together with new fans and partners.Official Website: http://www.toyota-racing.com/TOYOTA RACING Media Website: http://www.toyota-racing-newsroom.com/Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.SDGs Initiatives: https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/ Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif, Jan 7, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, "Hitachi") today introduced HMAX by Hitachi at CES 2026. HMAX by Hitachi is a suite of next-generation solutions that brings the power of AI to social infrastructure. By harnessing vast data from physical and digital assets, integrating advanced AI, and applying Hitachi’s unmatched domain expertise, HMAX tackles the most complex social infrastructure challenges—maximizing outcomes and value for our clients and society. These solutions are derived from the formalized HMAX design principles, integrating a dynamic collection of advanced technologies, and a robust partner ecosystem that helps elevate end-system reliability and performance.HMAX combines data collected from physical and digital assets such as sensors, industrial equipment, and machinery with Hitachi’s domain knowledge accumulated through years of deploying operations and maintenance systems. Advanced AI technologies—i.e., perception AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and physical AI—are then applied to deliver new powerful solutions to organizations worldwide.Hitachi’s portfolio of HMAX solutions has expanded across three key categories that will truly benefit from the power of AI:- HMAX Mobility: Powering smarter, better optimized transportation systems, autonomous operations, and IoT-enabled mobility.- HMAX Energy: Helping ensure secure, reliable, and sustainable operation of mission-critical energy infrastructure across the entire value chain. Through a suite of digitally enabled services, HMAX Energy predicts and prevents issues before they arise—maximizing uptime, extending asset lifetime, and optimizing performance and efficiency.- HMAX Industry: Advancing safety, productivity, quality, and environmental sustainability in buildings and factories, driving innovation for frontline workers and improving people’s wellbeing. Hitachi plans to extend HMAX into other mission‑critical domains such as data centers and financial institutions.Bringing the Power of AI into the Physical WorldLabor shortages and aging equipment challenges are increasingly more severe in physical domains like manufacturing and social infrastructure. Physical AI addresses these problems by collecting, analyzing, and operationalizing field data in real-time. Whereas traditional AI focuses primarily on information and creative generation, physical AI creates value in the tangible world through applications such as predictive maintenance, complex systems optimization, robotics and more. As such, the physical AI market is expected to reach approximately 124.77 billion USD by 2030.Hitachi’s strengths in technology, data, and management of physical systems align perfectly with the world of physical AI. Drawing on over 110 years of OT experience and accumulated domain knowledge in mission-critical fields such as railways, energy, and manufacturing―Hitachi is uniquely positioned to bring the next generation of AI-powered solutions to the physical world."Hitachi is advancing its vision of ‘Lumada 3.0,’ which aims to lead social innovation to the next stage by integrating domain knowledge with AI,” said Jun Abe, Executive Vice President of Hitachi, Ltd., General Manager of the Digital Systems & Services Division. "HMAX is the realization of this vision, and as a true ‘One Hitachi’ initiative that transcends sector boundaries, we will bring together the collective wisdom and technology of the entire group to create unprecedented synergies. By transforming field data into actionable intelligence through advanced AI, we will powerfully drive the resolution of complex social challenges and deliver tangible value that supports the next generation of social infrastructure.”Jun Taniguchi, Senior Vice President and Executive Officer, CEO of the Strategic SIB Business Unit at Hitachi, Ltd., added, “For many years, Hitachi has worked alongside customers in the field, overcoming numerous challenges together. Through HMAX, we aim to empower people and infrastructure, unlocking the latent potential of individuals and society. For example, HMAX delivers innovative solutions to our customers’ most complex challenges, such as enhancing operations in railway and manufacturing sites facing shortages of skilled workers and ensuring stable operation of power grids essential for the introduction of renewable energy. With the expansion of HMAX, we are pleased to take a step forward together with our customers toward realizing a harmonized society where the environment, well being, and economic growth are in balance.”*1 Grand View Research, Inc., Artificial Intelligence in Robotics Market (2024 – 2030), cited as the reference for the market size of AI-powered robots.HMAX Design PrinciplesHMAX is built on four pillars that help customers apply AI to solve problems in physical environments:- Data from Digitalized Assets: Assets such as power grids, railways, and manufacturing equipment generate vast amounts of data that feed into HMAX datasets—creating the ideal foundation for AI which enables HMAX’s capabilities. This is a unique strength that only Hitachi, with its formidable global install-base, can deliver.- Domain Knowledge: Hitachi’s deep domain expertise in these physical systems is applied to the data—creating mission-appropriate AI-ready models.- Artificial Intelligence: HMAX is designed to leverage a range of AI technologies, from data recognition to insight generation to autonomous execution. For example, perception AI detects and reports railway infrastructure faults by analyzing acoustic and vibration sensor data. Generative AI is used to accelerate energy optimization algorithms for power grids. Agentic AI is used to autonomously plan and execute optimal maintenance schedules. And finally, physical AI can control power grids or smart building systems reacting to inputs in real time.- Partner Ecosystem: HMAX solutions are created using Hitachi’s wide-ranging partner ecosystem—bringing state-of-the-art technology from industry leaders to create robust and dependable solutions that withstand the rigors of the physical world. HMAX Use Cases and DeploymentsThe expansion of HMAX across multiple domains is already delivering tangible results.HMAX MobilityCurrently deployed on 2,000+ trains, HMAX was first introduced by Hitachi Rail in 2024 as a comprehensive digital asset management solution seamlessly integrating a vast array of live data from the train, signaling and surrounding rail infrastructure into a single platform.*2HMAX leverages advanced AI and analytics using NVIDIA Metropolis Blueprint for video search and summarization (VSS) with Cosmos Reason vision language model to generate predictive insights and decision-support recommendations, such as identifying emerging asset degradation patterns, forecasting optimal maintenance windows, and highlighting opportunities to improve resource planning. These insights support operators and maintenance teams in making informed, timely decisions, which are then implemented through existing operational processes.The platform also leverages the upcoming NVIDIA IGX Thor industrial-grade edge computing to process vast volumes of data at the edge in real time, with only relevant information sent back to the operational control centers. AI and machine learning extracts knowledge from the data and applies it to achieve operational and service enhancements including energy consumption reduction and an on-condition/predictive maintenance process.The adoption of HMAX has delivered measurable value, including up to 15% reduction in maintenance costs and 15% lower energy consumption.HMAX Energy HMAX Energy combines advanced digital capabilities with extensive domain knowledge, service excellence and installed base intelligence to ensure reliable, efficient energy infrastructure. The collective use of automated inspection, real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and virtual support maximizes uptime and availability, optimizes operations, and extends asset lifetime. HMAX Energy is built on strong reference cases: When providing digitally-enabled services for the Italian renewable energy operator ERG, Hitachi Energy has helped reduce on-site inspection time by 35% and minimized unexpected downtime. For Baltic Cable AB, the transmission operator between Germany and Sweden, the introduction of a digital twin for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems has cut incident response time by 90%, contributing to improved operational efficiency and stable performance.HMAX IndustryHMAX for Buildings enhances building operation, maintenance, and energy efficiency while also improving the wellbeing of residents, office workers, and visitors with NVIDIA Metropolis VSS Blueprint. Since 2025, Hitachi has provided digital services—including access control and HVAC management—as a service, supporting building safety, security, and comfort. These outcomes generate optimal building environments while sustainably improving a building’s value.*3Under HMAX for Factories, Hitachi and Daikin Industries, Ltd. began trial operations in April 2025 to implement an AI agent that supports equipment failure diagnostics in factories.*4 This AI agent is confirmed to identify causes and countermeasures within 10 seconds with over 90% accuracy. Starting December, Hitachi and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation also began joint verification of troubleshooting assistance using the same AI agent. Furthermore, in December, Hitachi also launched AI agent services for industrial equipment operations and maintenance in a conversational format that streamlines production sites with instant, precise information tailored to equipment status.*5Hitachi also provides comprehensive solutions across the entire value chain for battery and biopharmaceutical industries. *2 Hitachi Rail Unveils the ‘HMAX’. AI Solution, Accelerated by NVIDIA, to Optimize Trains, Signaling and Infrastructure: September 24, 2024*3 Launch of Hitachi's Digital Service, HMAX for Building: BuilMirai, as an as-a-Service Type that Transforms the Value of Buildings Beginning with a Harmonized Society: September 29, 2025*4 Through Collaborative Creation, Daikin and Hitachi Begin Trial Operation of AI Agent Supporting Equipment Failure Diagnostics in Factories: April 22, 2025*5 Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Launching AI Agent Service, Part of HMAX Industry, to Help Industrial Workers with Machine Maintenance: December 22, 2025CES 2026 ExhibitionHitachi will exhibit at CES 2026, January 6 to 9, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.*6 HMAX, the centerpiece of Hitachi’s CES experience, will be showcased with live demonstrations at Booth 8529 in the North Hall. Hitachi will also detail its HMAX vision during the CES Foundry session Pioneering AI Technologies for the Physical World on Thursday, January 8 at 11 a.m. PT at The Fontainebleau (Discovery Stage).*6 Hitachi at CES 2026: Building a Harmonized Society Through Technology: December 4, 2025To learn more about HMAX by Hitachi, visit www.hitachi.com/en-us/insights/hmax/About Hitachi, Ltd.Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.Trademark Notice: All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Jan 6, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) will exhibit at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, one of the world's largest custom car shows, to be held from January 9 until January 11 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. A total of 11 vehicles will be on display, with the customized versions of the all-new Delica Mini super height-wagon kei-car* and the upgraded Delica D:5 minivan as the centerpiece.With the theme “Delica Festival — unleash your playful spirit,” Mitsubishi Motors sets the stage for a showcase with custom vehicles that highlight the strength and versatility of the Delica D:5 and Delica Mini. Adding to the excitement, the actual rally car that claimed overall victory at the Asia Cross Country Rally 2025 (AXCR 2025) and the Delica D:5 support car will also be on display.Visitors will be welcomed into a vibrant, Japanese-inspired festival setting complete with themed decorations. Appearances by Delimaru, the official mascot inspired by the Delica Mini, will bring the playful spirit of the “Delica Festival” to life as it greets guests throughout the booth. Delica Mini Delimaru FestaTo express the booth’s “Delica Festival” theme, this model is decorated with playful touches of decals and wraps featuring the beloved mascot, Delimaru. To match the lively, festive atmosphere of the booth, a giant Delimaru riding on the Delica Mini is also dressed in a traditional Japanese happi coat, bringing the festive spirit to life. Delica D:5 Ultimate GearThis model takes the toughness of the Delica D:5 to the next level, expressing the power to push forward even in harsh environments. With its body lifted by 30 millimeters (mm), it is fitted with bumper guards and side steps designed for rugged terrain. To complete the look, the entire vehicle features a special rugged textured coating that makes scratches less noticeable, creating a bold and off-road-ready Delica D:5. Delica Mini Ultimate GearSpecially prepared for Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, this Delica Mini features an exclusive two-tone finish, enhanced with a rugged textured coating for added boldness and toughness. Equipped with a roof rack, front grille guard, and rear ladder, along with a 20-mm suspension lift, this customized model embodies Mitsubishi Motors’ adventurous spirit — ready to tackle challenging terrain. Delica D:5 Active Camper Featuring a warm, white birch wood-grain finish paired with a soothing brown interior, this model is a collaboration with the outdoor brand LOGOS. It introduces a premium outdoor style while maintaining the versatility of the Delica D:5 and its 4WD capability, making it the perfect companion from everyday driving to weekend adventures. Delica Mini Active Camper This Delica Mini is equipped with a pop-up roof, a front skid bar, and mud flaps — customized to inspire outdoor adventures with friends. A lift kit of 25 mm enhances off-road capability, making this model a true companion for those who want to fully embrace the outdoor experience. Delica Mini x “DALI” with DAMD This original custom car — finished with accessories from DALI, a new brand by custom parts manufacturer DAMD Inc. — pays homage to the Pajero through its front grille and lights. While preserving Mitsubishi Motors’ signature profile, it blends retro charm with a cute yet rugged styling, catering to customers seeking a car that stands out and showcases uniqueness. Delica D:5 Wild Adventure style Equipped with genuine Mitsubishi Motors accessories, this model features exclusive enhancements for its appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon. With a newly designed flat roof carrier, large mud flaps with rally-inspired straps, and a stainless-steel rear under cover for a rugged look, this model brings out the full robustness of the Delica D:5. Delica Mini Wild Adventure style Also equipped with genuine accessories, this customized Delica Mini showcases camouflage‑pattern decals, a dedicated roof rack and mud flaps that create a tough, adventurous look. In line with the Delica D:5 Wild Adventure style, it features exclusive exterior accessories in special colors, creating a unique edition for this year’s exhibition. Delica Mini TOMICA 55th Anniversary Edition This rally‑inspired Delica Mini was created as part of TOMICA’s 55th Anniversary Auto Manufacturer Collaboration Project, celebrating the legacy of Japan’s beloved die‑cast miniature car brand. Its energetic graphics evoke smoke rising from magma‑like red tones, flowing from the front of the vehicle to the sides. To mark this milestone, the special 55th Anniversary logo appears as a rally plate, while the iconic TOMICA logo is styled like sponsor decals — giving the car an authentic rally aesthetic.Triton rally car - AXCR 2025 ChampionBased on the Triton pickup truck, this AXCR 2025 competition vehicle has been enhanced through weight reduction, suspension tuning, and improvements to engine performance and durability to withstand the extreme demands of cross‑country rallying. Driven by Chayapon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutwong, this Triton battled through eight days and approximately 2,300 kilometers of rugged terrain to reclaim the overall championship title for the first time in three years.Delica D:5 - AXCR 2025 support carLeveraging the Delica D:5’s inherent durability, handling, and off‑road capability, this vehicle served as a vital support car throughout the entire AXCR 2025 rally. The model on display is the actual vehicle driven by Team Director Hiroshi Masuoka during on‑site operations, navigating between start and finish points, mid‑stage service areas, and rugged course‑side terrain.Mitsubishi Motors’ special website for Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 (in Japanese only)https://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/lineup/delica_custom/About Mitsubishi Motors Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) — a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan — is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 28,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan and the ASEAN region. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification — launched the i-MiEV, the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV, the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. With a target of increasing the sales ratio of electrified vehicles to 100% by 2035, Mitsubishi Motors will deliver models that embody Mitsubishi Motors-ness and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website at https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Xforce Xforce Launch at Taipei Auto Show* TOKYO, Jan 6, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that China Motor Corporation (CMC), its production and sales partner in Taiwan, is scheduled to begin sales of the Xforce compact SUV in January. Manufactured at CMC’s Yangmei Plant, this launch marks the first time in nine years that Mitsubishi Motors has introduced a newly developed, locally produced model to the Taiwanese market.The Xforce is a five-seater compact SUV that was developed based on the concept "Best-suited buddy for an exciting life." Following its launch in Indonesia in November 2023, the Xforce was introduced to other ASEAN countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. As one of Mitsubishi Motors’ global strategic models, with cumulative sales of approximately 62,000 units, it has earned praise for its stylish yet robust SUV design, offering a spacious and comfortable five-passenger cabin while maintaining a maneuverable, compact body size.Produced locally in Taiwan by CMC for the Taiwanese market, this newly introduced Xforce meets the country’s Euro 6c emissions standards and offers distinctive features, including an integrated Level-2 equivalent advanced driver assistance system that combines Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA) , a large 10.25-inch digital display, and a blue body color developed specifically for Taiwan.“We have developed a special version of the Xforce for the Taiwanese market, where we have worked alongside CMC for more than 60 years, to further strengthen our presence and enhance product value,“ said Tatsuo Nakamura, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors. ”After careful local research, we have created a model with greater value that we proudly stand behind. Reservations have already exceeded our initial projections, and we are truly excited to deliver this model to our customers in Taiwan.”*From left to right: Tatsuo Nakamura, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors; Hsin-Cheng Tseng, president at CMC.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) - a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan - is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 28,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan and the ASEAN region. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification - launched the i-MiEV, the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV, the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. With a target of increasing the sales ratio of electrified vehicles to 100% by 2035, Mitsubishi Motors will deliver models that embody Mitsubishi Motors-ness and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website at https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan 6, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) and Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB, Corporate headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, CEO: Christopher A. Viehbacher, “Biogen”) announced today that the Biologics License Application (BLA) for the subcutaneous formulation (subcutaneous autoinjector: SC-AI) of “LEQEMBI®” (generic name: lecanemab), an anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody, has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China. If approved, the SC-AI of 500 mg (two 250 mg injections) could be used to administer a once-weekly dose at home from the initiation of treatment, as an alternative to the current IV administration every two weeks in a hospital setting. The potential approval of SC-AI would expand the option for patients and care partners to receive LEQEMBI treatment at home. The injection time for each autoinjector (250mg injection) is approximately 15 seconds. The SC formulation also has the potential to reduce healthcare resources associated with IV dosing, such as preparation for infusion and nurse monitoring, while streamlining the overall AD treatment care pathway.Eisai estimates that there were 17 million patients with MCI or mild dementia due to AD in China in 2024, which is expected to increase with the aging of the population.Eisai serves as the lead of LEQEMBI development and regulatory submissions globally with Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority. Eisai will distribute the product in China and will conduct information provision activities through specialized Medical Representatives.*Protofibrils are believed to contribute to the brain injury that occurs with AD and are considered to be the most toxic form of Aβ, having a primary role in the cognitive decline associated with this progressive, debilitating condition.(1) Protofibrils cause injury to neurons in the brain, which in turn, can negatively impact cognitive function via multiple mechanisms, not only increasing the development of insoluble Aβ plaques but also increasing direct damage to brain cell membranes and the connections that transmit signals between nerve cells or nerve cells and other cells. It is believed the reduction of protofibrils may prevent the progression of AD by reducing damage to neurons in the brain and cognitive dysfunction.(2) MEDIA CONTACTSEisai Co., Ltd.Public Relations DepartmentTEL: +81 (0)3-3817-5120Eisai Europe, Ltd.EMEA Communications Department+44 (0) 797 487 9419Emea-comms@eisai.netEisai Inc. (U.S.)Libby Holman+1-201-753-1945Libby_Holman@Eisai.comBiogen Inc.Madeleine Shin+1-781-464-3260public.affairs@biogen.comINVESTOR CONTACTSEisai Co., Ltd.Investor Relations DepartmentTEL: +81 (0) 3-3817-5122Biogen Inc.Tim Power+ 1-781-464-2442IR@biogen.comAbout LEQEMBI (generic name: lecanemab)Lecanemab is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. It is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble (protofibril) and insoluble forms of amyloid-beta (Aβ). Lecanemab has been approved in 52 countries and is under regulatory review in 8 countries. Following the initial phase with treatment every two weeks for 18 months, intravenous (IV) maintenance dosing with treatment every four weeks was approved in the U.S., China, the UK, and others, and applications have been filed in 4 countries and regions. The U.S. FDA approved Eisai’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for subcutaneous maintenance dosing with LEQEMBI IQLIK in August 2025. A rolling Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for initiation treatment was initiated under Fast Track status in September 2025, and completed in November 2025. In November 2025, an application for a subcutaneous injectable formulation in Japan was submitted. In December 2025, Lecanemab has been included in the “Commercial Insurance Innovative Drug List”, recently introduced by the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) of China.Since July 2020 the Phase 3 clinical study (AHEAD 3-45) for individuals with preclinical AD, meaning they are clinically normal and have intermediate or elevated levels of amyloid in their brains, is ongoing. AHEAD 3-45 is conducted as a public-private partnership between the Alzheimer's Clinical Trial Consortium that provides the infrastructure for academic clinical trials in AD and related dementias in the U.S, funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, Eisai and Biogen. Since January 2022, the Tau NexGen clinical study for Dominantly Inherited AD (DIAD), that is conducted by Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is ongoing and includes lecanemab as the backbone anti-amyloid therapy.About the Collaboration between Eisai and Biogen for ADEisai and Biogen have been collaborating on the joint development and commercialization of AD treatments since 2014. Eisai serves as the lead of lecanemab development and regulatory submissions globally with both companies co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority.About the Collaboration between Eisai and BioArctic for ADSince 2005, Eisai and BioArctic have had a long-term collaboration regarding the development and commercialization of AD treatments. Eisai obtained the global rights to study, develop, manufacture and market lecanemab for the treatment of AD pursuant to an agreement with BioArctic in December 2007. The development and commercialization agreement on the antibody lecanemab back-up was signed in May 2015.About Eisai Co., Ltd.Eisai's Corporate Concept is "to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides." Under this Concept (also known as human health care (hhc) Concept), we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.In addition, we demonstrate our commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases(NTDs), which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working on various activities together with global partners.For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global headquarters: Eisai Co.,Ltd.), and connect with us on X, LinkedIn and Facebook. The website and social media channels are intended for audiences outside of the UK and Europe. For audiences based in the UK and Europe, please visit www.eisai.eu and Eisai EMEA LinkedIn.About BiogenFounded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patient’s lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.The company routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its website at www.biogen.com. Follow Biogen on social media – Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.For more details, please visit: https://www.eisai.com/news/2026/pdf/enews202601pdf.pdf Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Jan 5, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Group CEO: Koichiro Tanaka) announces that, with the aim of becoming a company in which each individual can truly derive a sense of the joy and satisfaction of working and envision a bright future and new possibilities, it has established a new company, TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT Co., Ltd., effective January 5, 2026. The company plans to apply for certification as a special subsidiary* under the Act to Facilitate the Employment of Persons with Disabilities.*A special subsidiary refers to a subsidiary established for the purpose of promoting and stabilizing the employment of people with disabilities, certified by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. Once certified, it is treated as the same place of business as the parent company for the calculation of the mandatory proportion of disabled workers.TANAKA considers the individuality of each employee a source of value and positions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) as a key management strategy to be advanced company-wide. With the establishment of the special subsidiary, TANAKA will further foster innovation for a brighter future and ensure the happiness of employees.Reference: DE&I at TANAKAhttps://www.tanaka.co.jp/english/sustainability/dei/Special subsidiary overviewCompany NameTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL NEXT Co., Ltd.Establish DateJanuary 5, 2026Executive OfficersCEO: Tomohiro ToiDirector: Koichiro TanakaDirector: Kazuharu YoshidaAudit & Supervisory Board Member: Akihito SatoLocation2-6-6, Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0025, JapanCapital10 million yenBusiness DescriptionRecruitment support and workplace retention support for employees with disabilities across the TANAKA group companiesInternal training and awareness-raising activities to promote understanding of the employment of people with disabilitiesDevelopment of employment models in collaboration with government agencies, support organizations, and special needs education schoolsDevelopment of new businesses that promote the employment of people with disabilitiesBack-office operations centered on administrative support tasks (including issuing invoices, replenishing and ordering supplies, and cleaning) About TANAKASince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volume of precious metals it handles. Over many years, TANAKA has manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry and provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and worldwide collaborate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,591 employees, the group’s consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended December 2024 were 846.9 billion yen.TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.TANAKA Corporate Websitehttps://www.tanaka.co.jp/english/Press inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.https://www.tanaka.co.jp/support/req/other_contact_e/index.htmlPress Release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20260105_2.pdf Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, January 5, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held on Monday, 26 and Tuesday, 27 January 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This year’s AFF introduces a brand-new tagline, “Finance Empowering Business”, bringing a fresh perspective to all stakeholders. Under the theme “Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape”, AFF brings together over a hundred global business and political leaders and financial experts, to analyse geopolitical shifts and macroeconomic trends. AFF will also explore the development of financial markets and identify potential investment opportunities, fostering collaboration among financial experts to navigate change and create win-win scenarios, further highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial centre.Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, said: “Over the past 18 years, the Asian Financial Forum has grown significantly, expanding from a one-day agenda to two days covering a broader range of topics. To date, it has brought together over 1,000 prestigious speakers and attracted some 60,000 participants, becoming the flagship financial forum in Asia and worldwide. In response to evolving market dynamics, this year’s Asia Financial Forum features the inaugural Global Business Summit, which will focus on the deep integration of finance and the real economy. This new initiative expands the conversation beyond financial topics to the core of the real economy, aiming to unlock the potential of high value industries and drive a wave of innovation for stronger economic growth. The two-day forum will gather more than 100 global political and business leaders to share insights, while also featuring the AFF Deal-making to foster more substantive collaborations. These efforts actively reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a superconnector and super value-adder, consolidating its position as an international financial centre.”Maggie Ng, Chairperson of the Asian Financial Forum Steering Committee, and HSBC Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Officer and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth, said: “As the global economic landscape evolves and industries and supply chains are reshaped, AFF partners, including HSBC, have been dedicated to strengthening Hong Kong’s international connections and reinforcing its unique role as a superconnector. This year, we expect to welcome over 3,600 participants from 60 countries and regions. Delegates will engage directly with industry leaders driving transformation across technology, consumer, healthcare, and finance sectors, while exploring Hong Kong’s latest advancements in key areas.”Distinguished guests to discuss global hot topicsThe two-day agenda will feature multiple discussion panels, keynote speeches, thematic luncheons and breakfast sessions. Highlights include Global Economic Outlook, CIO Insights, Asset & Wealth Management, Trade Finance and Supply Chain Management, and Gold Exchange. These sessions will explore global economic trends, economic forecasts and other hot topics across finance and industry. Financial and business leaders will evaluate the new economic landscape, discussing key topics such as macroeconomic trends, the investment outlook, retirement and endowment funds, financial technology and more.Global Business Summit to focus on the integration of finance and the real economyThe inaugural Global Business Summit will be held on the second day of the forum, co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR government, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises. Trending topics such as artificial intelligence and technology, new consumer trends, biomedicine and healthcare, and green energy will be discussed. Industry leaders will provide in-depth analyses of the integration between finance and the real economy.The summit will focus on exploring the opportunities and prospects for mainland enterprises to go global, as well as helping international enterprises establish operations in the Chinese Mainland market. Several prominent corporate leaders will explore the potential for business development from multiple perspectives, leveraging Hong Kong’s international advantages to promote long-term expansion and investment, drive cross-border cooperation and innovation, and connect with global markets. Many distinguished business leaders and corporate representatives will attend in person.AFF Deal-making: Global investment matching driving real collaborationAs Asia’s annual flagship financial and business event, the Asian Financial Forum has continuously refined its offerings since its inception. In recent years, to strengthen connectivity and foster tangible cooperation, the forum successfully introduced AFF Deal-making. This global investment-matching platform provides participants with efficient, practical opportunities to form partnerships, driving deep industry collaboration and win-win development.Co-organised with the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA), AFF Deal-making has achieved remarkable results, connecting project owners, private equity firms, investors, high-net-worth individuals, intermediaries and professional service providers. To date, it has engaged over 8,000 companies and arranged more than 10,000 meetings.This year, AFF Deal Making will adopt a hybrid model, starting with in-person sessions during the forum on 26 and 27 January, followed by two additional days of online networking until 29 January, enabling investors and project owners to continue connecting globally.New FutureGreen Showcase: Seizing Opportunities for Green DevelopmentThis year's forum features four key exhibition zones, including, the FintechHK Start-up Salon, a new FutureGreen Showcase, Global Investment Zone, and InnoVenture Salon. The zones will bring together over 140 exhibitors, including knowledge partners such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), CICC, EY, HSBC, Huatai International, and Standard Chartered Bank. Exhibitors will showcase innovative business concepts, green finance solutions and technology applications, further promoting cross-sector exchange, while driving collaborative innovation and expanding global business opportunities.More details about the Asian Financial Forum, speaker list, and media registration arrangements will be announced at the press conference on 19 January.The 19th Asian Financial ForumDateMonday, 26 and Tuesday, 27 January 2026VenueHall 5B, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition CentreRelated PagesAsian Financial Forum: https://asianfinancialforum.hktdc.com/conference/aff/enMeeting Agenda: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programmeSpeaker List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakersMembers of the media interested in interviewing speakers at the Asian Financial Forum should email tleung@yuantung.com.hk or lsong@yuantung.com.hk by 21 January 2026.Photo download: http://bit.ly/4ppUvtdThe 2026 Asian Financial Forum, organised by the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 26 and 27 January with the theme of "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape". The photo is of last year's Asian Financial Forum held in last yearProf Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC (centre); Maggie Ng, Chairperson of the Asian Financial Forum Steering Committee, and HSBC Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Officer and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth (left); Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC (right)Media enquiriesYuan Tung Financial Relations:Louise SongTel: (852) 3428 5690Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hkTiffany LeungTel: (852) 3428 2361Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hkHKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Johnny TsuiTel: (852) 2584 4395Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.orgJane CheungTel: (852) 2584 4137Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.orgSerena CheungTel: (852) 2584 4272Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.orgAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Alpha Growth plc, (www.algwplc.com) a leading global financial services specialist in the multi-billion dollar market of longevity assets and insurance linked asset and wealth management is pleased to announce that one of its group companies, Alpha Longevity Management Ltd, an asset management subsidiary of Alpha Growth plc, today announced two significant developments marking the firm's continued global expansion: the launch of the Alpha Omni Funds ICAV, authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland including the Alpha Alternative Global Fund, a new flagship strategy, and the appointment of Andre Severino as Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer and Charlie Devin Smith as Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager.The Alpha Alternative Global Funds an evergreen investment vehicle designed to provide institutional and qualified investors with access to diversified portfolios of alternative and esoteric assets. The fund will target long-term capital appreciation through exposure to private market credit and specialized sectors including litigation-linked financing, structured settlements and royalties, complemented by liquid public securities to manage liquidity."This launch marks a pivotal step in the evolution of Alpha Longevity Management as a global platform for differentiated and uncorrelated investment strategies," said Gobind Sahney, Executive Chairman of Alpha Growth plc. "The Alpha Alternative Global Fund reflects our ability to identify and structure institutional-grade opportunities across private markets, offering investors unique access to uncorrelated assets, while the addition of Andre and Charlie further enhances our investment depth and leadership capabilities as we scale internationally."Mr. Severino, with over 25 years of international investment experience across fixed income, currencies, and derivatives, will lead Alpha Longevity Management's global investment strategy, expanding on the firm's existing insurance-linked and longevity-based solutions for institutional investors. Prior to joining Alpha, he served as Head of Global Fixed Income for Nikko Asset Management's London based global FI team, responsible for the company's flagship global bond strategy, and for the dramatic growth in its Japanese institutional business, launching a diverse range of progressive solutions funds to meet institutional client needs.Mr. Devin Smith, joining as Senior Portfolio Manager, brings extensive experience in global fixed income and derivatives trading. Formerly a Senior Trader at Nikko Asset Management, he managed a $5 billion global bond fund and contributed to a $16 billion platform with a focus on liquidity and quantitative strategies.Operating across the U.S., Bermuda, and EMEA, Alpha Longevity Management manages and develops investment strategies centered on longevity and esoteric assets that bridge traditional life insurance solutions with sophisticated alternative structures. The Alpha Omni Funds ICAV, domiciled in Ireland, serves as the firm's regulated fund platform, offering institutional investors access to diversified portfolios of life settlements, annuities, and alternative yield opportunities."The Alpha Alternative Global Fund underscores our commitment to delivering institutional investors an entry point into niche private market assets blended with public market instruments to deliver optimal risk adjusted returns," said Andre Severino, Chief Investment Officer. "Our approach combines actuarial precision with deep experience in global fixed income and structured products to deliver differentiated sources of return."Alpha Longevity Management Ltd - Andre Severinoas@algwplc.comCharlie Devin-Smithcds@algwplc.comUK Investor Relations - Mark Treharneir@algwplc.comAbout Alpha Longevity Management LtdAlpha Longevity Management Ltd, a subsidiary of Alpha Growth plc, is a Bermuda-based asset manager focused on longevity and esoteric asset strategies. Through its regulated fund structures in Bermuda and Ireland, the firm provides institutional and high-net-worth investors with access to uncorrelated, long-term investment opportunities across insurance-linked, private credit, and alternative yield markets.About Alpha Growth plcSpecialist in Life Insurance, Esoteric and Longevity AssetsAlpha Growth plc is a financial advisory business providing specialist consultancy, advisory, and supplementary services to institutional and qualified investors globally in the multi-billion dollar market of longevity assets and insurance linked asset and wealth management. Building on its well-established network, the Alpha Growth group has a unique position in the insurance and asset services and investment business with global reach.DisclaimerThis news release relates to the Alpha Omni Funds ICAV and its sub-fund Alpha Alternative Global Fund. The ICAV is an alternative investment fund domiciled in Ireland and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a qualifying investor alternative investment fund. The ICAV is managed in accordance with the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. Investment management services are provided by Alpha Longevity Management Ltd, licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland to act as a non-EU Investment Manager to Irish authorised investment funds.This communication is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, recommendation or invitation to subscribe for, or a solicitation to purchase, any interests in the Fund. Any such offer or solicitation may be made only in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and on the basis of the Fund's offering documents.This communication is directed solely at professional investors and qualifying investors and is not intended for distribution to retail investors. This communication is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to applicable law or regulation.This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.RNS Reach: https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/addition-to-investment-team-and-launch-of-new-fund/17397628 Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

KAWASAKI, Japan, Jan 5, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu today announced that the Tampere urban region has chosen Fujitsu Finland Oy as its partner to manage the area’s ICT services. The seven-year agreement covers, among other things, workstation services for municipal employees, as well as early childhood education and school staff and pupils, in nine municipalities. The estimated regional value of the framework agreement is approximately 22 million euros per year, with a maximum value of 250 million euros.Fujitsu Finland will be responsible for ICT services in the Tampere region, including user support services, device lifecycle management, cybersecurity, cloud services, operations and capacity services, and identity management. In addition, as part of the collaboration, Fujitsu will develop the entire IT infrastructure and information systems of the Tampere region, optimizing, expanding, and modernizing operations.Under the new agreement, 55,500 workstations across the region will come under Fujitsu’s management. Fujitsu will ensure the smooth and reliable operation of ICT environments for municipal employees, as well as early childhood education and schools, while continuously developing related services. By leveraging automation and artificial intelligence, Fujitsu will enhance the everyday user experience by streamlining routine tasks and proactively identifying and preventing technical issues.Fujitsu supports customers in achieving their climate goals by reducing environmental impact throughout the ICT service chain. Local support services will be delivered carbon-neutrally, and data center operations are optimized for energy efficiency. Device services cover logistics, recycling, and lifecycle management, with a focus on maximizing device lifecycles. Fujitsu continuously develops its operating models to promote sustainable development in close cooperation with its customers.About FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. global.fujitsuAbout Fujitsu Finland In Finland, Fujitsu offers strong local service capabilities, supported by a team of approximately 1,200 employees. Our largest offices are located in Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu and Lahti. We are an integral part of the digital foundation of Finnish society and businesses, serving industries such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare and the public sector. We also have an extensive network of subcontractors and partners, and we are one of the country’s critical companies supporting national security of supply. https://global.fujitsu/fi-fi Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

- Media platform serves as a “marketplace” where people can encounter the many facets of Honda, including the thoughts of development engineers, technologies, designs and corporate activities -TOKYO, Dec 26, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today launched a content curation media platform, Discover Honda, on its corporate information website(1). Discover Honda is a media platform that holistically curates and clearly communicates a wide range of Honda initiatives, including Honda products, technologies, designs, and the thoughts of Honda associates who create them, as well as various corporate activities including the environment, safety and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.Image of Discover Honda siteDiscover Honda URL：https://global.honda/jp/discover/ (Japanese) https://global.honda/en/discover/ (English)Key features of Discover HondaDiscover Honda is a newly created media platform that curates (gathers) and posts articles from multiple Honda owned media(2) platforms that currently exist within the Honda corporate information website. This will enable users to access articles that were previously scattered across various owned media in one place and in a timely manner. In addition, Discover Honda will share feature articles which will compile multiple articles related to certain selected themes. For example, by selecting a single product as a theme, the feature article will enable readers to explore a series of articles written about the product from different aspects, such as technologies, designs and the thoughts of Honda associates who were involved in the development of the product. Feature articles on Discover Honda are designed to enable the readers to gain a deeper and more multifaceted understanding of the particular themes.At its launch, Discover Honda is featuring two special articles: one on the all-new Prelude, which went on sale in Japan in September of this year, and the other on electric motorcycles. New feature articles are scheduled to be added on monthly basis.Concept of Discover HondaThe concept behind Discover Honda is creating a “marché” (marketplace) for Honda content. Just like marché or farmers' market brings together a wide variety of desirable items ranging from fresh foods to home goods and handmade items, Discover Honda was created with an image of a place where users can encounter articles on diverse themes and perspectives related to Honda.In addition to its motorcycle, automobile, power products and aviation businesses, Honda is engaging in a wide range of initiatives as a comprehensive mobility company, including the development of cutting-edge space and robotics technologies, environment and safety initiatives, taking on challenges in motorsports, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. By featuring articles that introduce such a wide range of activities, Discover Honda will strive to become a media platform where users can discover a variety of attractive facets of Honda — just like people finding a variety of attractive items at a marketplace. This new content curation media platform was named “Discover Honda” based on the desire of Honda for more people to visit this media site, explore the diverse activities Honda is involved in, and discover new facets of Honda. With participation of designers from the Honda Design team, the Discover Honda site was designed with a main color of orange that evokes a vibrant image, freshness, and positive energy of the marketplace. The Discover Honda logo features multiple cubes within the initial letter D, representing diverse themes users can encounter through this platform, and one of the cubes incorporates the Honda Red. Why Honda created Discover HondaSince 2020, as a part of its corporate information website, Honda has been operating “Honda Stories,” as one of the owned media platforms that communicates the current initiatives and future vision of Honda. It introduces Honda initiatives from the past, present and future, including the underlying thoughts and passions of each initiative, through interviews with Honda associates, executives and other stakeholders.In addition to Honda Stories, Honda has been communicating a wide range of information through multiple owned media platforms:“Honda Technology” introduces Honda technologies with more technical insights.“Honda Design” introduces initiatives related to design works“Motorsports” and “HRC” introduce various Honda initiatives in motorsports“Honda Sports Challenge” introduces various Honda corporate sports activities.The use of multiple owned media platforms has enabled Honda to present a single theme from multiple perspectives. However, having multiple owned media platforms created a challenge, making it difficult for users to find related articles on the same theme all at once. To address this challenge, Honda launched Discover Honda, a new content curation media platform that enables users to find related articles from multiple Honda owned media while leveraging the unique expertise of each medium.Initially, Discover Honda will primarily curate content from Honda Stories, Honda Technology, Honda Design, Motorsports, HRC, and Honda Sports Challenge. Moving forward, Honda is planning to expand the range of owned media included in the curation.(1) Honda corporate information website URL: https://global.honda/jp/ (Japanese), https://global.honda/en/(English)(2) Media produced and operated by Honda Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Dec 26, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) has been selected for the first time as an "A List" company in the "Water Security" category by CDP, an international non-profit organization in the environmental field. This recognition reflects the strong evaluation of Mazda Group’s initiatives and disclosures related to water security.CDP is an independent non-profit organization which operates a global environmental disclosure system. Numerous companies, financial institutions, and municipalities utilize CDP's system to manage their environmental impact. For the 2025 assessment, over 24,800 companies worldwide responded to CDP's disclosure requests, prompted by over 640 financial institutions representing more than $127 trillion in assets.In automobile manufacturing, water is indispensable for applications such as cooling (e.g., cooling furnaces in casting processes), dilution (e.g., diluting concentrated cutting fluids or cleaning solutions in machining processes), and washing (e.g., cleaning vehicle bodies in painting processes). Therefore, water security initiatives are necessary to address future risks such as water scarcity and rising water prices.Mazda has pursued the following principles: "Fully utilize water without any waste as a valuable resource that is a natural blessing" and "Circulate water as a valuable resource that is a natural blessing by treating used water so that it is the same quality as before it was used and returning it to nature." The Company aims to achieve water resource regeneration and circulation initiatives at its domestic model plant* by 2030 and across its global production processes by 2050.To achieve these goals, Mazda has set a target to reduce the total volume of water intake across the entire group in Japan by 38% in fiscal year 2030, compared to fiscal year 2013, and has been steadfastly taking actions aimed at reducing annual water intake by 2%, through expanding the use of rainwater and recycled water. As a result, a 37% reduction was achieved in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2013. These efforts, among others, are believed to have contributed to the A List rating this time.Mazda will continue striving to conserve water resources, a natural blessing, and contribute to protecting the global environment and building a prosperous society while seeking harmony with nature.Water Resource Conservation Initiatives: www.mazda.com/en/sustainability/environment/resource-circulation/#head07Signing/Participation in the Initiative and External Recognition: www.mazda.com/en/sustainability/initiatives-recognition/*The plant that implements new initiatives ahead of others. Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

KAWASAKI, Japan, Dec 26, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu today announced the development of Fujitsu Kozuchi Physical AI 1.0, a new technology designed to seamlessly integrate physical and agentic AI. The technology, which marks the first achievement of Fujitsu's collaboration with NVIDIA, announced on October 3, 2025, integrates NVIDIA’s software stack with Fujitsu's proprietary technologies. As core functions offered through the new technology, Fujitsu has developed a multi-AI agent framework that enables secure automation of highly confidential business workflows and a set of specialized AI agents based on its large language model (LLM) Takane, to support the automation of procurement operations in purchasing departments.Moving forward, Fujitsu will continue its collaboration with NVIDIA to evolve the newly developed technology for sovereign domains. By the end of its fiscal year 2025, Fujitsu plans to transform the technology into an agentic AI foundation where AI autonomously learns and evolves within customer environments. The technology will then be expanded into the physical AI domain, enabling AI agents to directly interact with the real world through physical robots. Fujitsu envisions a society where AI agents and robots seamlessly collaborate to perform complex tasks based on a deep understanding of real-world operations.Fujitsu remains committed to advancing research and development to address diverse customer needs and solve challenges in specialized business areas, thereby unlocking new possibilities for enterprise utilization of agentic and physical AI.Addressing the limitations of agentic AIAgentic AI has seen remarkable advancements, yet its adoption by enterprises remains limited, particularly in complex, inter-departmental/inter-company workflows. Achieving advanced automation requires specialized AI agents tailored to specific industries and enterprises, capable of securely processing confidential information and ensuring workflow maintainability. Similar challenges exist in the realm of physical AI, where AI agents interact with the real world via robots, necessitating secure information sharing and processing in physical environments combined with a robust understanding of on-site operations.Fujitsu Kozuchi Physical AI 1.0 was developed to address these challenges. It integrates its technologies with NVIDIA NIM microservices (NIM), which enhance maintainability by providing version control and update functionalities. Fujitsu is now offering trial environments for the two core functions within the new technology.1. Multi-AI agent framework for secure automation of highly confidential business workflows- Multi-AI agent framework provides a visual UI for building business workflows- Leveraging Fujitsu Composite AI [1], the framework automatically combines NIM-compatible core technologies from the Fujitsu Kozuchi AI platform with specialized Takane agents - Enables the rapid construction of highly maintainable business workflows using multiple AI agents, and ensuring secure workflows through Fujitsu secure inter-agent gateway(2)2. Specialized AI agents to support automation and efficiency in enterprise procurement operations- Three new specialized Fujitsu Kozuchi AI agents based on Fujitsu’s Takane LLM enable the automation of procurement workflows in enterprise purchasing departments.- Multiple agents support procurement regulation analysis, and compliance checking:Document comprehension agent: accurately interprets complex documents and converts them to structured dataProcurement regulation analysis agent: analyzes regulations to generate compliance check promptsCompliance checking agent: automated compliance verification using structured document data and prompts, with verified requests for quotations securely sent to external suppliers via Fujitsu secure inter-agent gatewayA proof-of-concept within Fujitsu's purchasing department demonstrated these agents reduced order confirmation workload by approximately 50%; NIM compatibility is also expected to boost inference speed by 50%, significantly accelerating hundreds of daily internal regulation compliance checks.(1) Fujitsu Composite AI:A technology that comprehends abstract business challenges through chat-based dialogue and automatically searches for and proposes optimal AI model-based solutions from many possibilities. It promotes the application of AI to a wide variety of businesses, including use cases that were previously impossible with single AI models.(2) Fujitsu secure inter-agent gateway: A technology that seamlessly and securely connects AI agents developed by different vendors while protecting corporate confidential and private information, providing secure AI agent collaboration. Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 26, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NTT DOCOMO, Inc. (hereinafter, “DOCOMO”) and NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc (hereinafter, “NDV”), together with NTT FINANCE CORPORATION, are pleased to announce the establishment on January 1, 2026, of the DOCOMO Innovation Fund IV, L.P. (hereinafter, “DI4 Fund”) with a fund size of 15 billion yen. The purpose of this fund is to strengthen the cooperation with venture companies that have promising services and technology.DOCOMO has been working to strengthen partnerships with startups possessing innovative technologies and novel business models through three funds: the DOCOMO Innovation Fund Partnership (hereinafter, “DI Fund”) established in February 2013 (fund size: 10 billion yen), the DOCOMO Innovation Fund II, L.P. (hereinafter, “DI2 Fund”) established in October 2017 (fund size: 15 billion yen), and the DOCOMO Innovation Fund III, L.P. (hereinafter, “DI3 Fund”) established in April 2022 (fund size: 15 billion yen).The newly established DI4 Fund aims to help NTT DOCOMO Group achieve business growth through open innovation in the 2030s. As we continue to invest in startups in Japan and overseas, we will promote the creation of new businesses over the medium to long term through partnerships with NTT DOCOMO Group companies.As with the existing three funds, the DI4 Fund will be managed by NDV.Going forward, DOCOMO and NDV will continue to accelerate new businesses through investment and co-creation initiatives in promising startups, leading to the resolution of societal issues and the creation of new value. Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 26, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The General Incorporated Association Generative AI Japan, in collaboration with Nikkei Business, an economic media outlet published and operated by Nikkei BP, today announced the winners of the Japan Generative AI Award 2025, which recognize outstanding examples of Generative AI applications, including the Grand Prix and other awards. This is the second year the awards have been held. A judging committee composed of experts in the generative AI field conducted a rigorous review process, resulting in eight awards being presented, including the Grand Prix.The project names, organizations, and summaries for the one Grand Prix winner, two Special Award winners, and five Excellence Award winners are as follows.One Grand Prix Winner for Japan Generative AI Award 2025Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter - Pioneering New Entertainment Experiences and the Future of Creation with Generative AI, COLOPL, Inc.COLOPL, Inc. has released the game “Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter,” which places generative AI at the core of the gaming experience. Despite concerns that use of generative AI in entertainment is still controversial, they developed their proprietary AI “AI Kaneko” in collaboration with famous creator Mr. Kazuma Kaneko. This enables an experience where unique Kaneko-style cards are generated based on user actions, surpassing 1.6 million cards generated in the first two months after release. This pioneers a new genre, “Generative Games,” which explores the potential of generative AI in entertainment.Two Special Award Winners for Japan Generative AI Award 2025New Paradigms in Disability Employment: Pioneering Solutions with Generative AI and In-House BPO, SHIFT Inc.At SHIFT Inc., the Generative AI team and the Disability Employment team have collaborated to enhance the quality of work through generative AI utilization. Guided by the concept of “making AI work alongside people,” they thoroughly decomposed tasks and categorized AI-applicable operations, promoting usage tailored to individual aptitudes. This resulted in a 1.7-fold increase in productivity. Furthermore, AI enabled members to take on tasks previously considered difficult, fostering positive changes in work practices.Utilization of AI Agents Led by Operational Frontlines in Global Logistics, Shippio, Inc.Shippio, Inc., a company driving trade digitalization, is tackling operational transformation in the trade industry - where many analog processes remain - by leveraging AI agents. Through its “Multi-Layer AI Agent Concept,” where a command-and-control AI and specialized AI collaborate, it has successfully automated 70-90% of routine tasks while ensuring reliability. This is achieved through human-AI collaboration, even for high-difficulty tasks requiring veteran expertise. By realizing efficiency through practical implementation, Shippio, Inc. aims to extend these results across the entire industry.Five Excellence Award Winners for Japan Generative AI Award 2025Ututor: An Educational Partner That Cultivates Creativity Where AI Generates Questions, Not Answers, Digital Hollywood Co., Ltd.Digital Hollywood Co., Ltd. has partnered with neoAI Inc. to introduce “Ututor,” a generative AI for creative learning. It automates the analysis, evaluation, and improvement suggestions for creative work, providing high-quality feedback anytime. Beyond just the work at hand, it illuminates future choices, accompanying students as they chart their own unique paths. This aims to streamline skill acquisition and enhance educational services.Evolving “Multi-Generative AI Platform” for Agile Government Services, Machida City Office, TokyoTo keep pace with dramatically evolving generative AI and enable rapid service deployment, they introduced the “AI Navigator” multi-generative AI platform, which facilitates agile service development. By fully leveraging this innovative platform and making administrative services agile with a focus on user interface, they aim to create new user experiences and make generative AI usage commonplace.Tackling Business Succession with Generative AI: Paving the Way for the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing in Japan, Nakahara Works Co., Ltd.Nakahara Works Co., Ltd., a precision parts maker in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, is advancing an initiative to visualize and analyze the company's true value - previously difficult to grasp during business succession - using data from its proprietary manufacturing management system “Kako-ya Ken-chan” and TRANSREE, Inc.'s generative AI tool “DataTranslator.” This effort has yielded results: creating time for technical succession through operational efficiency improvements and a renewed recognition of the company's technological value. Nakahara Works Co., Ltd.’s efforts will further expand the circle of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in Japan.Generative AI-Powered Medication Guidance and Medication History Generation Support Service for Pharmacists - Utilizing Generative AI in the Next-Generation Communication Service “AnyCOMPASS”, Mitsubishi Electric Digital Innovation CorporationAgainst the backdrop of a declining birthrate and aging population, community pharmacies face the challenge of balancing pharmacist efficiency with improved patient services. Mitsubishi Electric Digital Innovation Corporation has developed a service utilizing generative AI in collaboration with mediLab Inc., a healthcare AI venture originating from the University of Tokyo. With safety considerations and measures to prevent hallucinations, they have realized a service where generative AI supports pharmacists in medication counseling and creating medication histories, has received high praise from users. They plan to continue actively utilizing generative AI to contribute to solving societal challenges.Fundamental Business Innovation Through AI-Based Process Reengineering, NEC CorporationNEC Corporation is driving company-wide operational innovation by rebuilding complex business processes using AI. It has achieved faster decision-making through its “Management Cockpit × AI” system and automated inquiry operations using AI. Underpinning this is a proprietary platform enabling employees to rapidly develop AI with specialized knowledge. This initiative has yielded results such as a 96.7% reduction in decision-making cycles. Going forward, they plan to leverage the know-how gained from internal implementation to contribute to AI deployment across society.Overview of the Japan Generative AI Award 2025Judging Criteria: Problem setting, Implementation, Impact, Governance, Potential for the future.Head of the Judging Committee: Hiroaki Miyata, Representative Director, The General Incorporated Association Generative AI Japan / Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Keio UniversityJury members:Akiko Murakami, Director, Japan AI Safety InstituteKan Suzuki, Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo / Professor, Graduate School of Policy and Media Studies, Keio University, and Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio UniversityMizuki Oka, Researcher, Center for Innovation, Chiba Institute of Technology / Representative Director, ConnectSphere Inc.Emi Tamaki, Professor, Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus / Representative Director, H2L Inc. / Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoMasahiro Sato, Professor and Assistant to the President, Digital Hollywood UniversityAkihiko Kono, Executive Officer, Vice President, CIO, and Managing Director, IT & Digital Promotion Division, Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd.Joji Noritake, President and Representative Director, Baycurrent Consulting Inc.Keisuke Kuniyoshi, General Manager, Data Solutions Department, Benesse Corporation.Eri Shirai, Executive Officer, Members Co., Ltd. / President, Member's Data Adventure CompanyShigeru Urushibara, Chairman of the Board, ULS Consulting, Inc.Tomio Kikyoubara, Fellow, Nikkei BP Research InstituteToshiyuki Sugiyama, Chief Consultant, Senior Researcher, Nikkei BP Research InstituteTakahiro Kikuchi, Senior Researcher, Nikkei BP Research InstituteTakeshi Matsui, Publisher of Nikkei BusinessOrganized by The General Incorporated Association Generative AI JapanCo-sponsored by Nikkei BusinessSupported by Nikkei BP Research InstituteSupported by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Digital Agency, Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan Institute of Information Technology, Japan Deep Learning AssociationAbout Nikkei BPCompany name: Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.Date of establishment: April 5, 1969Representative: Tetsuya Iguchi, President and CEOAddress: 4-3-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, TokyoURL: https://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/About The General Incorporated Association Generative AI JapanThe General Incorporated Association Generative AI Japan was established in 2024 with the aim of promoting the use of Generative AI through industry-academia collaboration, developing rules and guidelines, making recommendations, and more, and enhancing Japan's industrial competitiveness. The representative director is Professor Hiroaki Miyata of the Faculty of Medicine at Keio University, and 18 experts from academia and cutting-edge companies have been appointed as directors and advisors, with 80 companies as members as of November 2025.Organization name: General Incorporated Association Generative AI JapanDate of registration: January 9, 2024Representative director: Hiroaki MiyataAddress: 1-34 Ochiai, Tama City, TokyoURL: https://generativeaijapan.or.jp/ContactFor inquiries regarding this announcement, please contact the Generative AI Japan Secretariat ( jimukyoku@generativeaijapan.or.jp ) Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, December 25, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – December 22, Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. (601963.SH, 01963.HK, hereinafter “BCQ” or “the Bank”) announced it will distribute cash dividends totaling RMB 585 million based on its total ordinary share capital of 3.475 billion ordinary shares outstanding as of September 30, 2025. The dividend payout represents 11.99% of net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders.Since the release of China’s new capital market guidelines (often referred to as the “New Nine Measures”), BCQ has implemented interim dividends following the third quarter for the second consecutive year, underscoring its commitment to enhancing shareholder returns. This move further validates the resilience of its operating performance, improves its valuation recognition, and strengthens its appeal to middle-to-long-term investors.Over the past two years, the banking sector has transitioned from a “cyclical trading” approach to a “dividend-driven allocation” paradigm, with high-dividend strategies becoming a core investment theme. Supported by sustained and stable profitability, BCQ’s dividend yields for A-shares and H-shares exceeded 3.8% and 5.7%, respectively. Benefiting from both dividend attributes of bank stocks and rising market sentiment, as of December 24, the Bank’s A-share and H-share prices recorded year-to-date gains of 23.1% and 39.18%, respectively.The bank also recently announced that its personal deposit balance surpassed RMB 300 billion, reaching a historic high. This strengthened funding base enhances its earnings resilience across cycles. Continuous and milestone breakthroughs signify that the bank has ascended to a brand-new level in terms of comprehensive strength, market position, and service capabilities, paving the way for broader growth prospects in the future.Double-Digit Growth in Revenue and Net Profit, Total Assets Exceed RMB 1 TrillionAccording to its 2025 third-quarter report, as of the end of September 2025, BCQ’s total assets reached RMB 1.0227 trillion, representing an increase of over 19% YoY, and marking its entry into the “trillion-asset club” among city commercial banks.Driven by steady scale expansion, the Bank achieved a significant improvement in profitability, delivering its strongest performance in nearly nine years. Operating revenue and net profit for the first three quarters of 2025, recorded double-digit growth of 10.40% and 10.42% YoY, reaching RMB 11.74 billion and RMB 5.196 billion, respectively. Performance accelerated notably in the third quarter, with operating revenue rising 17.38% YoY to RMB 4.081 billion, and net profit attributable to shareholders increasing 20.54% to RMB 1.690 billion, indicating an accelerated growth rate and the continued enhancement of profitability. Moreover, in the first three quarters, operating and administrative expenses amounted to RMB 2.810 billion, up 9.90% YoY, lower than revenue growth. The cost-to-income ratio declined by 0.11 ppts to 23.93%, indicating steadily improving operating efficiency.Its asset quality also continued to strengthen. As of the end of the third quarter of 2025, the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declined to 1.14%, down 0.11 ppts from the beginning of the year. Risk coverage has become more robust, with the provision coverage ratio rising to 248.11%, up 3.03 ppts from the beginning of the year, providing a solid buffer for sustainable and stable operations.Strong Secondary Market Performance, Leading A- and H-shares Gains Among PeersThe combination of regional strategic tailwinds and improving fundamentals continues to drive valuation recovery for this first mainland city commercial bank listed in Hong Kong.Since the beginning of the year, the Bank has delivered strong performance in the secondary market. As of December 24, its A-shares closed at RMB 10.96 per share, representing a gain of 23.1% YTD. Its H-shares closed at HKD 7.96 per share, with a gain of 39.18% YTD, ranking among the top performers in the domestic banking sector.In terms of shareholder returns, the Bank has distributed third-quarter dividends for two consecutive years, paying RMB 1.684 per 10 shares (tax inclusive), with total cash dividends of RMB 585 million (tax inclusive), accounting for 11.99% of net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders.The Bank’s operating performance has also received positive ratings from multiple securities firms. After the third-quarter results, over ten institutions, including China Galaxy Securities, China Merchants Securities, Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, and Guotai Haitong Securities, issued research reports, generally assigning “Buy,” “Accumulate,” or “Outperform” ratings for the Bank. Shenwan Hongyuan Securities noted that, supported by both regional development opportunities and improving fundamentals, alongside proactive management and clear strategic objectives, BCQ has strong momentum for valuation recovery and maintained a “Buy” rating. Guosen Securities emphasized that the Chengdu–Chongqing region, as a convergence zone for multiple national strategies, provides a solid foundation for the Bank’s sustained growth, and, combined with improving asset quality and stabilizing and rebounding net interest margins, assigned an “Outperform” rating for the Bank upon initial coverage. Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

SINGAPORE, Dec 24, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Avantor, Inc., a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technologies industries, announced the appointment of Gladys Wang as Vice President, Bioprocessing Commercial for Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA). With over twenty years of experience in life sciences and commercial leadership, Gladys will oversee Avantor’s business expansion in the AMEA region, enhance customer success initiatives, and drive the development of strategic partnerships throughout the bioprocessing ecosystem.Gladys, based in Singapore, has extensive experience collaborating with biopharma manufacturers, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), and key opinion leaders. She is widely recognized for her expertise in delivering transformative business results through customer-centric strategies, operational excellence, and effective cross-market collaboration.Before joining Avantor, Gladys held senior leadership roles at top life sciences organizations, including Head of Global Strategic Accounts APAC and Senior Director for Bioprocessing South Asia & Oceania. She was instrumental in accelerating Asia-Pacific expansion, delivering material business growth through disciplined market-entry strategy.“The Asia, Middle East and Africa region is full of potential, and being part of a team that partners so closely with customers to advance innovation and strengthen manufacturing capabilities is truly motivating. The focus ahead will be on deepening collaboration, enhancing customer experience, and empowering teams to deliver meaningful impact across the bioprocessing value chain. Contributing to Avantor’s continued growth and supporting customers in reaching their scientific and operational objectives is an exciting prospect,” said Gladys Wang, Vice President, Bioprocessing Commercial, Asia, Middle East & Africa.Gladys holds a Master’s degree in Biology from National Taiwan University and has completed executive programs at INSEAD and Stanford University, specializing in strategic transformation and innovation.With her commitment to excellence and talent for cultivating future leaders, Gladys will further strengthen Avantor’s position as a trusted partner for bioprocessing customers across the AMEA region.About Avantor®Avantor® is a leading life science tools company and global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. We work side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities at more than 300,000 customer locations in 180 countries. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.Regional Media Contact:Swati ChhabraManager - Corporate Communications, AMEAAvantor91-9958-404-334Swati.Chhabra@avantorsciences.comGlobal Media ContactEric Van ZantenHead - External CommunicationsAvantor610-529-6219Eric.Vanzanten@avantorsciences.com Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Kawasaki and Sendai, Japan, Dec 23, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Tohoku University and Fujitsu Limited today announced their successful application of AI to derive new insights into the superconductivity mechanism of a new superconducting material. Their findings demonstrate an important use case for AI technology in new materials development and suggests that the technology has the potential to accelerate research and development and drive innovation in various industries such as environment and energy, drug discovery and healthcare, and electronic devices. The AI technology was utilized to automatically clarify causal relationships from measurement data obtained at NanoTerasu Synchrotron Light Source. This achievement was published in the Nature Portfolio scientific journal Scientific Reports on December 22, 2025.To achieve this result, the two parties used Fujitsu's AI platform Fujitsu Kozuchi to develop a new discovery intelligence technique to accurately estimate causal relationships. Fujitsu will begin offering a trial environment for this technology in March 2026. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, the two parties applied this technology to data measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) [1], an experimental method used in materials research to observe the state of electrons in a material, using a specific superconducting material as a sample.Fujitsu will begin offering a trial environment for this technology in March 2026. Moving forward, both organizations will further leverage this technology along with NanoTerasu's world-class capabilities in spatial resolution to automatically clarify the causal relationships between phenomena at the microscopic level. This will contribute to the development of new functional materials that address global environmental issues, one of Fujitsu's materiality priorities, including in the areas of high-temperature superconductivity and next-generation low-power consumption devices.BackgroundTohoku University and Fujitsu established the Fujitsu x Tohoku University Discovery Intelligence Laboratory in October 2022 as part of the Fujitsu Small Research Lab initiative which sees Fujitsu researchers stationed at universities to accelerate joint research, discover new themes, develop human resources, and build long-term relationships. The aim is to contribute to solving societal issues through the development of new technologies and human resource development, by integrating Tohoku University and Fujitsu’s technologies, achievements, and knowledge. The two parties are engaged in joint research to develop and socially implement discovery intelligence that uses AI to find solutions to various problems from data, including those in materials science.In the field of materials science, NanoTerasu Synchrotron Light Source, which began operation at Tohoku University in April 2024, enables the measurement of molecular, atomic, and electronic states with nanometer-level high spatial resolution. The facility works to develop new functional materials to drive innovation and contribute to resolving societal issues, including environmental challenges. However, as measurement performance improves, the amount of data created increases. Efficiently extracting only useful information without relying on human experience or intuition and advancing the automation of scientific research processes are key priorities for the future.Figure 1: Causal discovery from ARPES measurement dataARPES measurement data is very large. A causal graph of the data has a massive number of nodes making it difficult to find useful information. The technique developed in this collaboration significantly compresses the scale of the causal graph by performing fitting based on a model equation for the measurement data and constructing a causal graph from only the extracted parameters. In addition, the two parties developed a technique to further simplify the graphs and reduce noise impact. This technology reduced the size of the causal graph to less than 1/20 of the conventional size, enabling the efficient discovery of new insights.Tohoku University and Fujitsu applied this technology to ARPES measurement data of cesium vanadium antimonide (CsV3Sb5), a kagome superconducting material. Cesium vanadium antimonide has potential applications as a high-temperature superconductor, but its superconductivity mechanism is not yet fully understood. they found that superconductivity mechanism is due to the interaction of vanadium, antimony, and cesium electrons.Note[1] Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES):An experimental method used in materials research to observe the state of electrons in a material by irradiating the crystal surface with ultraviolet light and simultaneously measuring the energy and momentum of electrons emitted outside the crystal due to the external photoelectric effect. In recent years, ARPES technology has advanced, making it possible to determine the real-space distribution of electronic structures by irradiating with ultraviolet light focused to a sub-micron diameter. This has enabled the observation of how the electronic structure of a material changes spatially.Paper InformationTitle: Extracting Causality from SpectroscopyAuthors: Kei Fujita, Kosuke Nakayama, Yuka Fujiki, Takemi Kato, Hiroshi Suito, Hiroyuki Higuchi, and Takafumi SatoJournal: Scientific ReportsDOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-29687-8URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-29687-8About Tohoku UniversityEstablishing a World-Leading Research Center for Materials ScienceAIMR aims to contribute to society through its actions as a world-leading research center for materials science and push the boundaries of research frontiers. To this end, the institute gathers excellent researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and mathematics and provides a world-class research environment.AIMR siteAbout FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. global.fujitsu Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com