Toyota offers safety upgrades for used vehicles through dealership network
Plus: Seven & i welcomes major tech investors including SoftBank, while foreign-born rugby players challenge eligibility rules.
TL;DR
- Toyota launches retrofitting program adding driver assistance and anti-theft tech to older vehicles, targeting 550,000 used-car sales by 2030.
- Seven & i Holdings receives ¥300 billion ($1.9 billion) investment from SoftBank and payment companies to modernize 7-Eleven stores.
- Naturalized international rugby players file complaint challenging new eligibility restrictions that could exclude them from domestic competition.
- Bayern Munich women's team plays preseason friendly in Saitama with Japan international Momoko Tanikawa.
Politics
Foreign-born rugby players take legal stand
Naturalized internationals contest new domestic eligibility rules they say could force them out of competition.
Approximately 24 naturalized Japanese rugby players filed a Fair Trade Commission complaint over eligibility requirements restricting competition access. New Zealand-born Timothy Lafaele of Kobe Kobelco Steelers is among challengers arguing new rules "could force naturalized internationals out despite years representing the country." The dispute asks whether revised regulations inappropriately prioritize citizenship over athletes' long-term commitment to Japanese rugby. (via Nikkei Asia)
Business and economy
Seven & i secures ¥300 billion in strategic investment
SoftBank and payment firms join forces with 7-Eleven operator to modernize convenience retail across Japan.
Seven & i Holdings announced Friday that it will receive ¥300 billion ($1.9 billion) in investment from SoftBank Corp. and other partners in a major capital tie-up aimed at revamping Japan's convenience store operations. The restructuring effort signals a shift toward digital innovation and modernization of the retail experience as 7-Eleven faces evolving consumer demands and competition. Strategic partners include telecommunications and payment industry players looking to reshape the convenience store sector. (via Nikkei Asia)
Technology
Toyota expands used-car appeal with retrofitted safety tech
The automaker taps a growing market by adding modern driver assistance and anti-theft features to pre-owned vehicles.
Toyota Motor launched a retrofitting program allowing buyers to add modern safety technologies to older vehicles sold through its dealership network, including driver assistance systems and anti-theft features. The initiative targets Toyota's roughly 350,000 used vehicles annually, with the company aiming to lift that to 550,000 by 2030. The dual strategy expands the appeal of pre-owned vehicles while creating additional revenue streams in Toyota's growing used-car business segment. (via Nikkei Asia)
Sports
Tanikawa shines as Bayern Munich visits Japan
Japan international Momoko Tanikawa plays in a preseason friendly against RB Ōmiya Ardija in her homecoming with the Bundesliga champions.
Bayern Munich's women's team defeated RB Ōmiya Ardija 4-1 in a preseason friendly in Saitama, with Japan international Momoko Tanikawa appearing in Bayern colors during her return home. Tanikawa has been thriving in Germany since joining the Bundesliga club, developing rapidly while contributing to the European champion's success. The match marked Bayern Munich's stop on its Allianz Women's Tour in Japan, showcasing the club's talent in front of enthusiastic Japanese fans. (via The Japan Times)