Japan Industry News

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• Japanese Workers Union Confederation Holds 2025 Convention Sep. 12, 2025
  The Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation (Gomu Rengo) held its 21st Regular Convention for 2025 on September 4–5 at Hotel Associa Toyohashi in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture. The convention was conducted in a hybrid format, with some delegates attending online. The agenda, including the union’s operational policy and the financial budget proposal, was reviewed and approved […]
• Yokohama Rubber Holds Test Drive for New Studless Passenger Car Tire Sep. 11, 2025
  Yokohama Rubber launched on September 1 its new studless passenger car tire, the iceGuard 8, the eighth generation of its Yokohama studless tire lineup and the first to incorporate its new winter tire technology concept Fuyu Tech. To showcase the product, the company held a test drive event on February 10–11 at its Tire Test […]
• Rubber Hose Production and Shipments Increase in First Half Sep. 10, 2025
  According to statistics compiled by the Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association based on data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), rubber hose production and shipment results for January–June 2025 showed year-on-year growth. Production volume (new rubber consumption) reached 16,326 tons, up 2.7% from the same period last year, while shipment value totaled […]
• Michelin Japan Launches New All-Season Tires from CrossClimate Series Sep. 9, 2025
  Michelin Japan announced that it will begin rolling out two new all-season tires from October 1: the Michelin CrossClimate 3, designed to deliver stable driving performance regardless of the season, including heavy summer rains and sudden winter snowfalls, and the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport, the first in the all-season category to feature sports performance. Both […]
• Sumitomo Rubber Establishes Co-Creation Research Hub at Hokkaido University Sep. 8, 2025
  In August, Sumitomo Rubber opened a new research hub, the Sumitomo Rubber Innovation Base Sapporo, within Hokkaido University’s Data-driven Research and Development Center for Emergent Systems (D-RED). At this hub, the company will promote research and practical applications of advanced technologies such as Physical AI, which makes autonomous decisions and actions in the real world. […]
• Kuraray Reports Lower Sales and Profits in First Half Sep. 5, 2025
  Kuraray announced results for the first half of fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Consolidated net sales came to 399.95 billion yen ($2.70 billion), down 2.7% year on year. Operating income fell 42.2% to 26.26 billion yen, ordinary income dropped 51.7% to ¥21.28 billion, and net income declined 53.9% to 14.04 billion yen. In segment […]
• Japan Belting Industry Association Releases First-Half Sales Breakdown Sep. 4, 2025
  The Japan Belting Industry Association recently announced the sales breakdown by end-use industry for conveyor belts and resin belts during the first half of 2025 (January–June). For conveyor belts, Japanese domestic sales accounted for 85.8% of the total on a value basis, down 7% year on year. Exports made up 14.2% of the total, but […]
• Odaka Rubber Sees Demand Potential from U.S. Steel Acquisition Sep. 3, 2025
  For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Odaka Rubber Industries posted higher sales and profits compared with the previous year. Although sales of winding cores for film products were sluggish, sales of rolls for steelmaking—accounting for about 70% of total revenue—remained firm. The steady replacement of existing products with higher-value-added alternatives drove operating profit […]
• Top Interview: President Tomio Ueno of Bando Chemical Sep. 2, 2025
  In an interview with Tomio Ueno, President of Bando Chemical, we discussed the company’s current business performance, the progress of its medium- to long-term management plan Creating New Value for the Future 1st Stage (CV-1), and the status of its overseas production bases. Regarding the situation overseas, Ueno explained that market conditions in Asia vary […]
• Sumitomo Rubber to Fully Expand Dunlop Brand Overseas Sep. 1, 2025
  Sumitomo Rubber will accelerate the rollout of its Dunlop brand tire products in Europe, North America, and Australia. Since dissolving its global alliance with Goodyear in 2015, the company had been unable to use the Dunlop brand in those regions and instead focused on expanding the Falken brand. However, in May 2025, Sumitomo Rubber acquired […]