Alliances & Technology Transfer

Japanese wireless carrier NTT Docomo's venture-capital arm is investing in an American startup that offers cashierless checkout systems for retailers in the U.S. and Brazil and looks to expand into Japan.

SoftBank Corp. and the University of Tokyo have agreed to open artificial-intelligence centers staffed with specialists from the university and around the world, to swiftly turn research into profitable business ventures so Japan can keep up with the U.S. and China.

Japan's Astellas Pharma Inc on Monday agreed to buy Audentes Therapeutics Inc for approximately $3 billion in cash as it looks to bolster its pipeline of genetic medicines for rare neuromuscular diseases.

Japan became a full-fledged participant Monday in NATO's cybersecurity war games, as Tokyo and Western nations eye potential hacking threats from China.

The automaker alliance of Nissan Motor, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors are in talks to set up a new company to jointly develop technologies for next-generation vehicles, such as artificial intelligence and electric propulsion.

In a partnership of sprawling conglomerates, Japan's Softbank Corp. on Thursday announced it will work with the real estate arm of Indonesia's Lippo Group to promote smart city projects.

Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. and Chubu Electric Power were selected as preferred buyers for Dutch energy company Eneco, as the partners seek know-how on downstream distribution of renewable power in Europe -- expertise that also could be applied in the U.S. or Asia.

Facebook is set to work with telecom KDDI to develop content targeting the Japanese market in a move aimed at tapping a growing market after the rollout of 5G mobile networks.

Sumitomo Corp. is looking to cash in on Japan's growing cybersecurity concerns with a roughly $7 million investment in U.S. software encryption startup PreVeil.

Yahoo Japan operator Z Holdings Corp. and Line Corp. said Monday they have reached a basic merger agreement that will forge an internet conglomerate boasting over 100 million users in Japan with the aim of challenging U.S. and Chinese online behemoths.