Category: JCN Newswire

Toyota City, Japan, Aug 22, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) began accepting orders today for the new GR Supra GT4 EVO2, for which vast feedback from racing teams and drivers around the world was leveraged to achieve higher levels of performance, reliability, and operability.Since the launch of the GR Supra GT4 in 2020, thanks to the support of race organizers and customers, cumulative sales(1) of the model have surpassed 120 units. The efforts of racing teams and drivers have enabled it to win GT4-series races and international races in 11 countries and regions, earn more than 500 podium finishes(2), and become the class champion in three regions: Asia, the United States, and Europe.An updated GR Supra GT4 EVO for the 2023 season featured improved braking, handling, and engine performance, making the car easier to drive for drivers of various skill levels. Yet, after that update, with there being no end to its efforts to make ever-better motorsports-bred cars, TGR continued to travel to race tracks around the world to directly receive valuable feedback from racing teams and drivers that can only be obtained under the extreme conditions of racing. Advancing its "driver-first car-making" approach for leveraging such insights into development, TGR has set the race debut of the GR Supra GT4 EVO2, with improved performance, reliability, and operability, at the start of the 2025 season.Specifically, ABS maps were meticulously re-tuned through driving by various drivers on circuits in Japan and Europe to enable optimal braking and cornering based on tire type and wear and the condition of the course. Additionally, downshifting time has been reduced by fine-tuning the rev matching through a software update, leading to enhanced deceleration control during braking for increased cornering speed. Also, in addition to improving the cooling performance of the engine, brakes, and drivetrain, cockpit temperatures have been optimized to make the car easier to drive even in harsh conditions, helping to maintain a high level of performance. These improvements make the GR Supra GT4 EVO2 easier to drive not only for professional racers but also for amateur drivers ambitiously competing in GT4 races worldwide.The GR Supra GT4 EVO2 is scheduled to make its world debut in January 2025 in the first round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, held in conjunction with the 24 Hours of Daytona.GT4 sales and customer support (spare parts sales and technical support) will be handled by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe GmbH in Europe, TRD U.S.A., Inc. in North America, Toyota Customizing and Development Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries in Asia (excluding China), and Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. in China.(1) Including the GR Supra GT4 EVO(2) As of the end of July 2024For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/41393991.html. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Aug 22, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), together with Kirin Group companies Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. and Kirin Group Logistics Co., Ltd., in August will begin a joint demonstration aimed at establishing elemental technologies for the automation of inbound and outbound processes at beverage warehouses, and the loading and unloading of trucks. The joint demonstration will be conducted at LogiQ X Lab, a demonstration facility located within Yokohama Hardtech Hub (YHH), MHI's co-creation space in Honmoku, Yokohama, and at Kirin Group Logistics sites. The demonstration is scheduled to conclude by March 2026.For this demonstration, as part of the "Smart Connections" solutions incorporating the ΣSynX (Sigma Syncs) technology(Note1) that MHI is currently researching and developing, MHI will utilize a new type of unmanned forklift that is currently under development equipped with ΣSynX, with the aim of establishing elemental technologies that enable flexible autonomous operation and safe human-machine coordination, including appropriate load assortment in warehouse work, altering of operational routes in response to changes in placement locations and storage conditions, and highly efficient storage methods. Through this joint demonstration, MHI aims for future automation of the entire cargo handling process, from the unloading of trucks to handling of inbound and outbound warehouses process, and loading onto trucks.MHI is steadily advancing efforts to utilize "Smart Connections" solutions incorporating the ΣSynX (Sigma Syncs) technology for automation and intelligence of normal logistics warehouse work, which up to now has been conducted safely and efficiently through the expertise, experience and skills of operators, focusing on the three areas of picking, inbound and outbound processes, and the loading and unloading of trucks. Following picking, which is the handling of cargo in warehouses, MHI will pursue development and verification to support the implementation of "Smart Connections" solutions for warehouse operations in the logistics industry. MHI and Kirin Group conducted a joint demonstration of automated picking from November 2022 to June 2023.(Note2) This demonstration verified its effectiveness at logistics sites, and an automated picking solution is scheduled to start operation at Kirin Group's Ebina Logistics Center in Kanagawa Prefecture from December 2024. This new joint demonstration being conducted by the two companies will accelerate the response to the challenges posed to the logistic industry by regulatory changes implemented in 2024.Going forward, through coordination with Kirin Group for this demonstration program, MHI will work to provide solutions for the various issues faced by the beverage industry due to regulatory changes, such as the shortage of logistics operators, the need for improvement in working conditions, and reducing truck driver working hours and wait times.(1) ΣSynX (Sigma Syncs) is MHI's standard platform for synchronizing and coordinating various types of machinery systems. It consolidates a host of digital technologies that enable optimized operation by making machinery systems intelligent. For more information, please refer to the following press release. www.mhi.com/news/23100501.html(2) For more information on the joint demonstration with Kirin Group for an automated picking solution, please refer to the following press release. www.mhi.com/news/22112101.html Overview of the Joint DemonstrationImplementation period: August 2024, through March 2026Demonstration sites: MHI's LogiQ X Lab demonstration facility at Yokohama Hardtech Hub (YHH), MHI's demonstration facility at Kobe Shipyard, and Kirin Group Logistics facilities such as Nishi-Nagoya and Amagasaki.Content for the demonstration- Determining of operational processes, including manned work, assuming the introduction of warehouse inbound and outbound process solutions- Determining of operational processes, including manned work, assuming the introduction of unmanned forklifts for loading and unloading trucks- Determining of safety concepts, rules, operating conditions, and other standards for collaborative work with manned and unmanned forkliftsTags: Sigma SynX,Smart InfrastructureAbout MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Aug 22, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Techstars Tokyo Accelerator powered by JETRO and Mitsui Fudosan is proud to announce the 12 startups selected for the Class of 2024. These promising, early-stage companies are addressing challenges in categories such as Women’s Health, Gaming, Animation, Productivity Enhancement, B2B Business Intelligence, Robotics and more.Taking place in the rapidly growing tech ecosystem of Tokyo, the three-month mentorship-driven program is bringing together founders from across the globe from countries of Finland, India, Indonesia, U.S. and Vietnam along with six Japanese companies. The 2024 class was chosen for innovative products and solutions in areas that will revolutionize how entertainment industries work, how the companies manage their data, and how people live and work better.“We are thrilled to welcome the very first class of Techstars Tokyo Accelerator program,” said Yuki Shirato, Managing Director at Techstars. “This exceptionally talented and diverse group of founders demonstrates tremendous potential and we’re eager to offer our full support leveraging our network of mentors, investors and talents locally and globally and growth-focused tools and workshops, to propel them towards success.”Demo Day is scheduled on November 12th, 2024, where founders will have an opportunity to pitch their businesses to a community of mentors and potential investors.Introducing our inaugural class for the Techstars Tokyo Accelerator!- Aman (Jakarta, Indonesia)Supercharges customized employee health benefits for micro, small and medium enterprises- Amatama (Nagoya, Japan)Optimizes hierarchical computational technology development for humanoids to completely replace labor- Assethub (California, US)Provides an easy way to create unique 3D models from pictures using AI- Digital Will Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)Democratizes gaming with our AI-enhanced platform, WORTAL, for game developers- Dondon Technologies, Inc. (New Jersey, US)Accelerates 2D anime production with AI-assisted drawing tools- InfraHive (Rajasthan, India)Develops data intelligence for finance, analytics and customer teams of enterprises- March Health (California, US)Revolutionizes women’s health (endometriosis) with an AI-first clinic in your pocket- Pioneerwork (Tokyo, Japan)Automates and expedites dropshipping for retail e-commerce- Samaria Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)Unleashes the potential of Japanese manga to the world with AI- Saner.AI (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam)Revolutionizes knowledge management for knowledge workers, particularly people with ADHD- StoryDrops (Helsinki, Finland)Builds a platform of authenticity through creating and sharing audio messages- Undesk (Tokyo, Japan)Provides a multi-player browser to improve team communication and productivityAbout TechstarsTechstars is the most active pre-seed investor in the world having invested through its accelerators in more than 3,800 companies. Founded in 2006, Techstars believes that entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to invest in an unprecedented number of startups per year enabling more capital to flow to more entrepreneurs around the world. We do this by operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, as well as by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. www.techstars.comMedia Contact for TechstarsAmalia Lytleamalia.lytle@techstars.com Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Aug 21, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, for which the company provides technical support, has won fifth place overall in the Asia Cross Country Rally (hereafter, AXCR) 2024, held in Thailand from August 11 to 17, with the Triton1 (T1 specification, or modified cross-country vehicle). The total distance covered was 2,075.54 kilometers (km), including 939.58 km2 of special stages, and Katsuhiko Taguchi finished in fifth place overall with a total time of 15 hours, 34 minutes and 52 seconds.In the overall standings, Kazuto Koide, who competed for the first time, placed 24th, and Sakchai Hantrakul placed 27th. Chayapon Yotha retired from first place overall in Leg 5, ending in 42nd overall.This year’s AXCR held its ceremonial start on August 11 at the landmark clock tower in Surat Thani, Thailand. The rally proper began with Leg 1 the following day, and Leg 2 took the participants from Surat Thani to Hua Hin, covering over 550 km and making it the longest section of the entire competition. Leg 3 was a special stage in the Hua Hin area, and with Leg 4, the rally headed to Kanchanaburi, on an undulating track through mountainous terrain. Leg 4 was the toughest special stage of the six days, as many teams struggled with the route over the mountains with rocky terrain, and more than 10 teams were penalized for failing to finish within the allowed time. Leg 5 was the longest special stage in this year's competition, covering 228.87 km in the Kanchanaburi area, and the competition concluded with Leg 6 on August 17, finishing at Skywalk Avenue, close to the new tourist attraction Skywalk Kanchanaburi.This was the second year for Katsuhiko Taguchi, who started from seventh position. Although he had a hard time with the challenging course settings, he drove carefully and steadily to complete each day's special stage and improved his position from eighth place overall last year to finish in fifth place overall.Sakchai Hantrakul started from 30th position and jumped up to fifth place in Leg 1, but was troubled by course errors and vehicle issues, finishing in 27th place.Kazuto Koide, who competed as an employee driver, struggled at first with the course, but he continued to drive steadily, demonstrating his adaptability and supporting his teammates who got stuck or had vehicle trouble. In the end, he finished in 24th place overall.The previous year's 3rd place overall winner, Chayapon Yotha started furthest forward for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart and drove steadily, setting times that placed him in the top ranks day after day. By the end of Leg 4, which was the toughest of all the special stages, the Triton's high off-road handling performance showed its true potential, putting him in the overall lead with a margin of over 20 minutes ahead of second place. However, due to vehicle trouble in Leg 5, he was unable to continue and had to retire from the rally.Comment from Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart“This year's Triton was perfected with enhanced performance, showing powerful driving that covered the displacement gap with our rivals and even took the overall lead at one point. It is unfortunate that we were unable to win, but the Triton was able to fully demonstrate its excellent off-road capabilities that Mitsubishi vehicles have honed over the decades. After returning to Japan, Koide, an employee driver who had competed for the first time, and others will reflect the valuable data and knowledge gained from this rally in the development of production vehicles, adding a new chapter to our tradition of leveraging motorsports experience for vehicle development. We will undergo rigorous tests again, and Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will make a comeback next year. We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support and our fans around the world for their enthusiastic cheering."Comment from Katsuhiko Taguchi, driving Car #107 for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart“The 2024 Triton rally car was packaged at a high level and was just easy to drive. I am happy to have improved my position from last year, but I am also disappointed because I had a good feeling that I could aim for a higher position. We will use this years’ experience as feedback to further improve the driving performance of the Triton next year, so that we can stay competitive at the top.”Comment from Kazuto Koide, driving Car #137 for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart“The Triton rally car I drove was a 2023 model based on a production car and has a drive mode called 4LLc for rocky terrain. Using this mode, I was able to climb a nearly 40-degree incline without difficulty while towing my teammate's car, and I was reminded once again of the high off-road performance of the Triton production car. I would like to feedback what I have learned as a driver through this rally to develop future Mitsubishi vehicles that are strong and dependable on rough roads.”1st:Mana Pornsiricherd (Toyota Hilux Revo)14 hours 22 minutes 00 seconds2nd:Suwat Limjirapinya (Isuzu D-Max)14 hours 25 minutes 47 seconds3rd:Thongchai Klinkate (Isuzu D-Max)14 hours 36 minutes 24 seconds4th:Ikuo Hanawa (Toyota Fortuner)14 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds5th:Katsuhiko Taguchi (Mitsubishi Triton)15 hours 34 minutes 52 seconds6th:Olan Sornsirirat (Isuzu D-Max)15 hours 35 minutes 34 seconds・24th:Kazuto Koide (Mitsubishi Triton)23 hours 08 minutes 37 seconds27th:Sakchai Hantrakul (Mitsubishi Triton)24 hours 51 minutes 52 seconds42nd:Chayapon Yotha (Mitsubishi Triton)DNF (Did Not Finish)Comment from Kei Takeoka, an automotive journalist who accompanied Team Mitsubishi Ralliart with the Delica Mini support car“This year's AXCR had rock sections and river crossings, making it far more challenging than I had imagined. Moreover, the course itself was difficult – the vigorous plants of Thailand grew wildly from the time the roadbook was created until the actual rally, so we had to drive through areas that did not look very much like roads. That must have made navigation difficult for the co-driver. I drove the Delica Mini support car, and everywhere we went, the Delica Mini and Delimaru, its official character, were very popular. Whenever we stopped in town, a photo session would start, and many people took videos while we were driving. The Delica Mini may become a very popular model in the Bangkok area. Of course, the Delica Mini was very capable on rough roads, and it was even reliable on Thailand's red dirt off-roads, as well as cracked, pothole-filled paved roads.”Daily reportsDaily reports from August 11, the first day of the competition, to the last leg on August 17 are available on Mitsubishi Motors' special AXCR website. www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/brand/ralliart/axcr/axcr2024/1. Sold as L200 in some markets2. The actual distance was shortened due to course changes.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 www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

KYOTO, JAPAN, Aug 14, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Valuufy, a pioneering fintech startup drawn from a decades’ work in measuring and creating sustainable value at Doshisha University’s Value Research Center, has launched with its groundbreaking ValuuCompass, a comprehensive framework set to transform sustainable business practices and sustainability investing by providing a fully transparent and actionable framework for assessing and improving sustainability performance.The current state of sustainability reporting:· Confusing and inefficient for companies· Multiple different standards and metric· Emphasis on past activities rather than future strategies· Difficult to capture real impacts on people and the environment· No reliable benchmark for investors to assess sustainability risks and opportunitiesValuuCompass addresses precisely these challenges.The ValuuCompass addresses a critical gap in the market: the lack of a holistic, transparent system for assessing a company's true stakeholder impacts and sustainability risks that arise from these. At the heart of this new product is the Value Model, which has synthesized more than 1,200 individual impact measurements from leading global ESG and sustainability frameworks into a clear goal-based model to measure stakeholder impacts and value creation. With this new assessment system, Valuufy offers businesses and investors a clear, actionable view of value creation that goes far beyond traditional sustainability and ESG metrics. "In an era where 'value washing' - the pretence of sustainable value creation - poses significant financial and reputational risks, both companies and investors need a reliable compass," said Kyle Barnes, CEO of Valuufy. "Valuufy's products and services provide these capabilities, offering a level of transparency and insight that goes beyond all other existing solutions."Dr. Philip Sugai, Director of Research at Valuufy and Director at the Value Research Center, emphasized the revolutionary approach that Valuufy is taking: "The current systems underlying sustainability and ESG are fundamentally broken, focusing on backwards-looking disclosures rather than forward-looking strategies. Valuufy was established to change this paradigm, helping businesses to shift their focus to creating real, and measurable value across their key stakeholders."Valuufy’s ongoing activities aim to bring this important mindset to business strategy creation for businesses of all sizes. "Today, we're not just launching a new tool; we're setting a new standard for sustainable business and investing," added Marco Koeder, Chief Marketing Officer. By 2030, we aim to establish the Value Model as the global benchmark for measuring and creating sustainable value."Benefits of ValuuCompass for Companies:· First universal, objective standard to measure real impact on people and the planet· Provides actionable recommendations for improvement· Enhances performance in the sustainability reporting framework· Transforms complex data into clear, strategic insightsBenefits of ValuuCompass for Investors:· Enables truly informed decisions on sustainability risks and opportunities· Offers rigorous, quantifiable metrics for portfolio assessment· Aligns perfectly with the financial sector's data-driven approach· Provides a competitive edge in sustainable investingDiscover how Valuufy is revolutionizing the future of sustainability at www.valuufy.com.About ValuufyValuufy Inc seeks to transform how the world understands and acts on sustainability. Founded in 2024, Valuufy is a registered Japanese startup in Kyoto, Japan, born of 10 years of academic value research at Doshisha University and the Value Research Center. Led by an international team with expertise in value research, sustainability strategies, innovative technologies, business development, and ESG assessments, Valuufy provides a suite of products and services to promote value-creation activities across stakeholders for businesses of all sizes - to set new standards in transparent, data-driven decision-making in the realm of sustainability and value creation. For more, visit www.valuufy.com.The Value Research Center was officially established at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, in November 2021 to develop a system for measuring, monitoring, assessing, and reporting on organizations' value creation and destruction impacts on various stakeholder groups. The result is the Value Model, which forms the foundation for ValuuCompass.Contact:Press/MediaE: news@valuufy.comT: +81-90-9742-0860Marco KoederE: marco@valuufy.com T: +49-175-999-8647 Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug 14, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. announced today that the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved humanized anti-soluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody “LEQEMBI®” (lecanemab) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia stage of disease (collectively referred to as early AD), the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.LEQEMBI selectively binds to soluble Aβ aggregates (protofibrils*), as well as insoluble Aβ aggregates (fibrils) which are a major component of Aβ plaques, thereby reducing both Aβ protofibrils and Aβ plaques in the brain. LEQEMBI is the first approved treatment shown to reduce the rate of disease progression and to slow cognitive and functional decline through this mechanism. LEQEMBI is also approved in the U.S., Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Israel, and is being marketed in the U.S., Japan, and China.LEQEMBI’s approval is based on the large global Phase 3 Clarity AD study. In the Clarity AD study, LEQEMBI met its primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints with statistically significant results.(1),(2) In the UAE, it is reported that 4.09% of those over 60 years old have dementia.(3) AD is considered the most common cause of dementia, typically accounting for 60-70% of cases.(4)Eisai serves as the lead of lecanemab development and regulatory submissions globally with both Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority. Biogen will commercialize LEQEMBI in the UAE.* 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.(5) 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.(6) About lecanemab (LEQEMBI®)Lecanemab is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. It is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble (protofibril) and insoluble forms of amyloid-beta (Aβ).LEQEMBI’s FDA approval was based on Phase 3 data from Eisai’s, global Clarity AD clinical trial, in which it met its primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints with statistically significant results.1,2 The primary endpoint was the global cognitive and functional scale, Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB). In the Clarity AD clinical trial, treatment with LEQEMBI reduced clinical decline on CDR-SB by 27% at 18 months compared to placebo. The mean CDR-SB score at baseline was approximately 3.2 in both groups. The adjusted least-squares mean change from baseline at 18 months was 1.21 with LEQEMBI and 1.66 with placebo (difference, −0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.67 to −0.23; P