Nishimura

'I never lost a fight against a man': the story of the only woman to join Japan's notorious yakuza

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

These are signs of affiliation to the yakuza – Japan’s notorious criminal syndicates.

Key Points: 
  • These are signs of affiliation to the yakuza – Japan’s notorious criminal syndicates.
  • Typically a woman involved with the yakuza might be an anesan, a boss’ wife who takes care of young affiliates and mediates between them and her husband.
  • But she went one step further – Nishimura is the only woman who has ever partaken in the sakazuki ceremony of exchanging sake cups.

Joining the gang

  • Her memories revolve around her authoritarian father and the bamboo stick he would use to discipline her.
  • Her life took a turn when one night she received a call: her friend was in a fight and needed help.
  • She joined alongside a cohort of male recruits, performing daily tasks, and eventually taking part in the group’s criminal activities.

Master of finger cutting

  • As an affiliate, she ran prostitution and drugs businesses, collected debts and mediated disputes between rival groups.
  • When she cut off her own little finger to apologise for a collective mistake in a ritual known as yubitsume, she realised she had a knack for it.
  • Members who could not go through with the amputation themselves would ask Nishimura to do it for them, garnering her the nickname of “master of finger cutting”.
  • She rejoined her old group, but meth had changed the boss that she adored, and in two years she left for good.

Life after crime

  • She found a job in the demolition business and a modest home where she now lives alone.
  • She lives a quiet life, trying to be accepted by the community and to help others.
  • Her story redefines the boundaries of gender roles and allegiance in the brutal world of Japanese organised crime – a unique journey of identity and belonging.


Martina Baradel receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 101029138.

Are we about to see a rare green comet light up the sky? An expert on what to expect from Nishimura

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, September 16, 2023

As I write this, comet Nishimura is swinging past on its first visit in more than 400 years.

Key Points: 
  • As I write this, comet Nishimura is swinging past on its first visit in more than 400 years.
  • Soon after, pre-discovery images of the comet dating back to January were found, allowing astronomers to determine its path.
  • They quickly realised Nishimura would swing closer to the Sun than the orbit of Mercury this month.
  • Given the comet’s brightness at the time of discovery, it could become bright enough to see with the naked eye.

Recipe for a bright comet

    • As a comet approaches the Sun, its surface begins to heat up.
    • The solar wind then blows the gas and dust away from the Sun, which gives the comet its tail (or tails).
    • The comet we see is sunlight being reflected from the gas and dust in the coma and tails – the nucleus itself is hidden from sight.

What about Nishimura?

    • It seems likely Nishimura isn’t that large – otherwise we’d have spotted it sooner – nor is it particularly close to Earth.
    • Sadly, even at its best Nishimura will be close to the Sun in the sky.

A short window to see Nishimura from Australia

    • The best chance to see it from Australia comes in the week of September 20 to 27, when the comet’s head will set around one hour after the Sun.
    • It will be farthest from the Sun in the evening sky on September 23.
    • As twilight ends, Nishimura will be very close to the western horizon, about to set.
    • If that were to happen to Nishimura, it could become much easier to spot.

The next great comet

    • If Nishimura doesn’t turn out to be the show you hoped for, there’s a chance another comet could put on a truly spectacular show next year.
    • Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was discovered at the start of this year.
    • Read more:
      Astronomers just discovered a comet that could be brighter than most stars when we see it next year.

Nishimura & Asahi using Intapp to modernize business operations

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intapp (NASDAQ: INTA), a leading provider of cloud software for the global professional and financial services industry, announced that prominent Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi is using Intapp solutions to modernize its risk management and timekeeping practices.

Key Points: 
  • PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intapp (NASDAQ: INTA), a leading provider of cloud software for the global professional and financial services industry, announced that prominent Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi is using Intapp solutions to modernize its risk management and timekeeping practices.
  • The firm is live on Intapp Time, Intapp Conflicts, and Intapp Intake, and anticipates a go-live in Intapp Terms in the coming weeks.
  • Nishimura professionals are now capturing work in real time and can evaluate that data against engagement budgets.
  • Additionally, with Intapp Risk & Compliance , Nishimura can now quickly and thoroughly evaluate new business, onboard clients, and monitor relationships for compliance throughout their lifecycles.

Vivid Seats Announces Acquisition of Wavedash

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 7, 2023

Vivid Seats will acquire Wavedash for an enterprise value of approximately ¥‎8.7 billion, or approximately $61 million*, in cash.

Key Points: 
  • Vivid Seats will acquire Wavedash for an enterprise value of approximately ¥‎8.7 billion, or approximately $61 million*, in cash.
  • “Wavedash presents a strategically exciting and financially accretive opportunity for Vivid Seats,” said Stan Chia, Vivid Seats CEO.
  • “With approximately $35 million of revenue in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, and accretive EBITDA margins, we are excited about the strategic and financial impact Wavedash will bring.”
    Following completion of the deal, Wavedash will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivid Seats.
  • Simmons & Simmons and Nishimura & Asahi are serving as legal counsel to Vivid Seats.

Allied to Sell UDC Portfolio to KDDI Corporation for $1.35 Billion

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 21, 2023

TORONTO, June 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (“Allied”) (TSX: “AP.UN”) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its network-dense, carrier-neutral, urban-data-centre (UDC) portfolio in Downtown Toronto (the “Portfolio”) to KDDI Corporation (“KDDI”) for $1.35 billion, $118 million above IFRS net asset value.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, June 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (“Allied”) (TSX: “AP.UN”) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its network-dense, carrier-neutral, urban-data-centre (UDC) portfolio in Downtown Toronto (the “Portfolio”) to KDDI Corporation (“KDDI”) for $1.35 billion, $118 million above IFRS net asset value.
  • Allied has connected the properties through high-count, diverse fibre, enabling the Portfolio to support more telecommunication, cloud and content networks than any other data-centre portfolio in Canada.
  • “With global data-centre operating capability, KDDI is an ideal successor owner-operator for our UDC portfolio,” said Michael Emory, Allied’s Founder and Executive Chair.
  • “We’ll work closely with KDDI over the next 18 months to transition local expertise in relation to the portfolio.

Cepton, Inc. Announces Closing of $100 Million Investment from Koito Manufacturing

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 20, 2023

Cepton, Inc. (“Cepton”) (Nasdaq: CPTN), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance lidar solutions , announced today the completion of its previously announced $100 million investment (the “Investment”) from its long-term automotive Tier 1 partner and current shareholder, Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (“Koito”) (TSE: 7276) on January 19, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Cepton, Inc. (“Cepton”) (Nasdaq: CPTN), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance lidar solutions , announced today the completion of its previously announced $100 million investment (the “Investment”) from its long-term automotive Tier 1 partner and current shareholder, Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (“Koito”) (TSE: 7276) on January 19, 2023.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230120005052/en/
    “We’re happy to announce the closing of the preferred stock investment as we deepen our partnership with Koito,” said Dr. Jun Pei, Cepton’s Co-Founder and CEO.
  • “This is an important year for us as we work towards commercialization and scale manufacturing of our lidar products.
  • SMBC Nikko served as exclusive financial advisor to Koito and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Nishimura & Asahi served as legal counsel to Koito.

Cepton, Inc. Announces Agreement for $100 Million Investment from Koito Manufacturing

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 27, 2022

Cepton, Inc. (Cepton) (Nasdaq: CPTN), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance lidar solutions , announced today that it has entered into a binding investment agreement dated October 27, 2022 (Investment Agreement) for a $100 million investment from its long-term automotive Tier 1 partner and current shareholder, Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Koito) (TSE: 7276).

Key Points: 
  • Cepton, Inc. (Cepton) (Nasdaq: CPTN), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance lidar solutions , announced today that it has entered into a binding investment agreement dated October 27, 2022 (Investment Agreement) for a $100 million investment from its long-term automotive Tier 1 partner and current shareholder, Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Koito) (TSE: 7276).
  • Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, which has been unanimously approved by Ceptons board of directors, Koito will purchase $100 million of convertible preferred stock (the Preferred Stock), with a purchase price of $1,000 per share.
  • Dating back to 2017, Cepton and Koito have a strong history of collaboration, and this marks Koitos third investment in Cepton since 2020.
  • As a direct result of their partnership, Cepton and Koito were awarded the industrys largest known ADAS lidar series production award.

Oasis Statement on Fujitec’s Misleading Press Release

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Misleading Public Disclosure by Fujitec-- all shareholders should be put on notice

Key Points: 
  • Oasis Management Company Ltd. (Oasis) is the manager to funds that own over 9.7% of Fujitec Co. Ltd. (Fujitec or the Company).
  • Based on Oasis meetings with a Fujitec independent director on April 28 and again on May 23, we believe that the Fujitec press release contained multiple material inaccurate statements.
  • Investors should also note the press release was not approved by the Companys Board of Directors.
  • The information contained in this press release (referred to as the "Document") is an information resource for shareholders in Fujitec offered by Oasis, the investment manager to funds that are shareholders of Fujitec (the "Oasis Funds").

Launching the New GATSBY GLOBAL CHALLENGERS Project!

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Mandom Corporation (headquartered in Osaka, Japan; Representative Director and President Executive Officer: Motonobu Nishimura, hereafter referred to as Mandom), a growing brand of cosmetics for young men, has announced the launch of GATSBY GLOBAL CHALLENGERS (GGLC) project.

Key Points: 
  • Mandom Corporation (headquartered in Osaka, Japan; Representative Director and President Executive Officer: Motonobu Nishimura, hereafter referred to as Mandom), a growing brand of cosmetics for young men, has announced the launch of GATSBY GLOBAL CHALLENGERS (GGLC) project.
  • The project aims to bring energy and excitement during the time of COVID-19 to the people of Asia by working with young athletes active on the global stage.
  • Thirdy Ravena will be coming to Japan from the Philippines as the first of B.Leagues Asian Player Quota picks.
  • GATSBY has also inked a Top Sponsorship Agreement with Ravenas team, the San-en NeoPhoenix to communicate a message, EMPOWER ASIA!