Alliances & Technology Transfer

Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Hino Motors have signed on to a joint venture between SoftBank Corp. and Toyota Motor, the companies announced in a statement on Thursday.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. on Wednesday said they planned to produce electric vehicles (EVs) and compact cars for each other to better compete with fast-changing technologies in the global auto industry.

Japan and China have agreed to launch talks to facilitate cooperation on infrastructure development projects in third countries amid a recent thaw in bilateral relations, diplomatic sources said Friday.

Japan and the United States are working toward the joint development of a new radar system for Aegis-equipped U.S. Navy warships, as part of efforts to improve defense capabilities, diplomatic sources said Sunday.

India’s new ambassador to Japan believes the two countries can complement each other in terms of talent and technology, and that cooperation could lead to new innovations.

Japan is planning to request help from other countries to operate the Subaru Telescope, located near the top of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano, in order to increase available funding and widen the scope of research activities, officials said Thursday.

With plastic waste having an evermore serious impact on the oceans, the Environment Ministry is from April to start providing technical support for Southeast Asian countries — the major sources of the pollution — to contain dumping of such waste, it has been learned.

Leaders of the scandal-hit global auto alliance between Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Tuesday they will strive for a balanced and stronger partnership to excel against rival carmakers.

Toyota is teaming up with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on a planned mission to the moon, with the auto giant expected to develop a lunar rover, officials and local media said Wednesday.

Japanese financial services company Orix will set up a joint venture with Toray Industries and a Chinese partner in March to make and sell equipment aimed at making China's low-quality tap water drinkable.