Core Viewpoint - Huawei has maintained its position as a leading innovator in the field of patents, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence and technology development, reflecting its commitment to open innovation and intellectual property protection [2][4][5]. Group 1: Patent Achievements - Since 2014, Huawei has ranked first globally in annual patent applications, except for 2016, with a total of approximately 150,000 international patents [5]. - In 2024, Huawei applied for 6,600 patents under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), showing a slight increase from the previous year [4][5]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In 2024, Huawei's patent licensing revenue is projected to reach $630 million, representing a year-on-year growth of about 10% [2]. - The company's research and development expenditure for 2024 is approximately $28.5 billion, which is a 9% increase year-on-year and accounts for about 21% of its sales revenue, up from around 10% in previous years [5]. Group 3: Technological Innovations - Huawei has introduced high-performance AI server clusters utilizing self-developed AI semiconductors and the Harmony operating system, which is integrated into its self-developed smartphones [5]. - The company emphasizes the importance of open innovation as a driving force for social development and technological advancement, while also respecting the intellectual property rights of others [4].

Core Insights - The "Double 11" shopping festival in China has evolved into a prolonged promotional period, with consumers becoming accustomed to discounts and promotions, leading to a decline in consumer enthusiasm [2][6] - Consumer confidence remains low, with the consumer confidence index at 89.6 in September, below the optimistic threshold of 100, indicating ongoing economic challenges [6] - Japanese brands are facing tough competition in the Chinese market, with a notable shift towards domestic products and a slight recovery in sales for certain categories [7][8] E-commerce Trends - E-commerce companies have extended promotional periods to over a month, with JD.com starting promotions three days earlier than in 2024, and Alibaba's promotions lasting until November 14 [6][10] - The trend of "emotional consumption" has emerged, with increased sales in outdoor sports products and cartoon-themed items during the early phase of the Double 11 promotions [6] Japanese Brands in China - Japanese brands are experiencing a decline in circulation on major e-commerce platforms, but there are signs of recovery with a 1% increase in circulation for the first ten months of the year [7] - Specific categories such as sports and outdoor products have seen significant growth, with a 19% increase, while clothing and skincare products grew by 4% [7][8] Consumer Behavior - Consumers are increasingly price-sensitive, with a focus on finding the lowest prices for everyday items, reflecting a shift in purchasing behavior [4][6] - The concept of "fail-proof shopping" is gaining traction among Chinese consumers, emphasizing the need for brands to provide value beyond discounts [10]

Core Viewpoint - ASICS forecasts a 41% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit for the fiscal year 2025, reaching 90 billion yen, which is an upward revision of 3 billion yen from previous expectations [1][2]. Financial Performance - The net profit slightly exceeds recent market average expectations (Quick Consensus) of 89.8 billion yen. Operating profit is expected to increase by 4 billion yen, with a projected year-on-year growth of 40%, reaching 140 billion yen [2]. - Sales revenue is expected to remain unchanged at 800 billion yen, representing an 18% year-on-year increase [2]. Stock Buyback - The company announced a stock buyback plan with a maximum of 30 billion yen, equivalent to 1.4% of the total issued shares (excluding treasury stock), with a limit of 10 million shares. The buyback period is from November 13 to January 31 [2]. Recent Sales Performance - For the first three quarters of 2025, ASICS reported a 19% year-on-year increase in sales revenue, reaching 625 billion yen, and a 33% year-on-year increase in net profit, amounting to 86.3 billion yen [2]. - The high-end brand "Onitsuka Tiger," popular among visiting tourists, continues to grow, and promotional activities for "Sports Style" casual sports shoes have also been effective [5].

Core Insights - SoftBank Group's net profit for the period from April to September increased to 2.924 trillion yen, a 2.9 times rise compared to the same period last year, marking a historical high for this timeframe [2][4] - The Vision Fund's investment returns significantly increased, driven by the rising stock prices of Coupang and Didi Chuxing, as well as the valuation increase of OpenAI [2][4] Financial Performance - The Vision Fund's investment returns reached 3.5361 trillion yen, a substantial increase from 610.3 billion yen in the same period last year [4] - SoftBank's investment in OpenAI contributed 2.1567 trillion yen to the investment returns, with a total investment of 10.8 billion USD as of September 30, and a fair value of 26.5 billion USD based on market prices [4] - The company reported a profit of 354.4 billion yen from its investment in NVIDIA, and subsequently sold all its NVIDIA shares for 5.83 billion USD [4] Net Asset Value (NAV) - As of November 10, SoftBank's NAV reached 36.2 trillion yen, the highest level in history, with a market capitalization of 32.4 trillion yen, reflecting a discount rate of approximately 10% [5][7] - The recent years saw SoftBank's market value hovering around half of its NAV, but this discount has largely been eliminated [7] Corporate Actions - SoftBank announced a stock split, converting one share into four, effective January 1, 2026, with a planned dividend of 5.5 yen per share for the fiscal year ending March 2026 [7]

Core Viewpoint - Sony has adjusted its consolidated operating profit forecast for the fiscal year 2025, reflecting strong performance in its entertainment business, particularly in gaming and film sectors, with a notable contribution from the successful film "Demon Slayer" [2][4]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The operating profit forecast has been raised by 12% year-on-year to 1.43 trillion yen, an increase of 100 billion yen from August [4]. - Revenue and net profit forecasts have also been adjusted to 12 trillion yen and 1.05 trillion yen, respectively [4]. - The strong performance is attributed to the music business and semiconductor business, particularly the image sensor supply to Apple's iPhone 17, with the music business and semiconductor business forecasts raised by 250 billion yen and 300 billion yen, respectively [4]. Group 2: Gaming Business Insights - Despite a one-time expense of 49.8 billion yen related to asset impairment for the game "Destiny 2," the annual operating profit forecast remains at 500 billion yen, indicating strong momentum [6]. - The newly released game "Soul of the Sheep Mountain" for PlayStation 5 sold 3.3 million copies in its first month, suggesting a positive start [6]. - The gaming business is significantly supported by "Add-On Content," which has generated 592.4 billion yen in revenue, surpassing game software and subscription services [6][7]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Challenges - The competition between PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2 is intensifying, with the latter offering similar processing power to PS4, leading to an increase in cross-compatible software [9]. - Sony has faced challenges in launching new self-developed Live Service games, with only four out of the planned twelve games available as of now [8][9]. - The delayed release of the game "Marathon" may impact future revenue, highlighting the need for Sony to regroup and address this issue [9].

Core Insights - The article highlights a significant shift in China's export structure, moving away from reliance on the U.S. market, with a 6% overall export growth in the first nine months of the year, and notable increases in exports to ASEAN (15%) and Belt and Road countries (11%) [1][7]. Group 1: Trade Dynamics - The Canton Fair continues to thrive, with an increase in the number of participating buyers, reaching 310,000, an 8% growth compared to the previous year, and export contracts signed amounting to $25.65 billion, a 3% year-on-year increase [3][5]. - The fair reflects a changing landscape in Chinese exports, with more communication among buyers in languages other than English, indicating a diversification of trade partners [1][5]. Group 2: Regional Impact - There is a notable increase in foreign visitors to Guangzhou, with the number of tourists from Thailand and Malaysia significantly rising, doubling compared to the same period last year [6]. - The local economy is benefiting from the influx of foreign buyers, with new businesses opening in response to increased demand, particularly in the electronics market [6][7]. Group 3: Economic Shifts - China's total export value reached approximately $2.8 trillion in the first nine months, with a 6% year-on-year growth, while exports to the U.S. have decreased by 17% [7]. - The shift in export focus is evident as China seeks to establish a more balanced trade relationship, reducing dependency on the U.S. market [7].

Core Insights - The article discusses the release of "Death Stranding 2: Above the Abyss," a game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, highlighting its significance in the gaming industry and its connection to real-world events like the COVID-19 pandemic [3][5]. Group 1: Game Overview - "Death Stranding 2: Above the Abyss" is a direct sequel to the 2019 game "Death Stranding," which resonated with players due to its themes of connection during a time of isolation caused by the pandemic [5]. - The first installment has surpassed 20 million players by the end of March 2025, indicating its popularity and impact on the gaming community [5]. Group 2: Development Challenges - The development of "Death Stranding 2" faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the entire team to switch to remote work [7]. - Kojima expressed that this period was the greatest crisis in his nearly 40-year career in game development, reflecting the difficulties faced by the industry during the pandemic [7].

Group 1 - The article discusses Russia's response to Japan's "hostile policy" following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which includes imposing indefinite entry bans on Japanese officials and academics [1][3]. - Initially, in May 2022, Russia banned 63 Japanese individuals, including then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, from entering the country [1][3]. - Recently, on November 11, 2022, Russia announced an additional entry ban on 30 more Japanese individuals, including academics and media personnel, as part of its ongoing sanctions [1][3].

Core Viewpoint - Sony Group has raised its consolidated net profit forecast for the fiscal year 2025 to 1.05 trillion yen, an increase of 80 billion yen from previous estimates, driven by the success of the "Demon Slayer" movie and the depreciation of the yen [2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The expected operating revenue for fiscal year 2025 is 12 trillion yen, with operating profit projected at 1.43 trillion yen, both up by 300 billion yen and 100 billion yen respectively from prior forecasts [4]. - The profit forecast for the ongoing business, excluding the financial sector, is expected to decline by 2% year-on-year [2]. - The impact of U.S. tariff policies on operating profit has been reduced by 20 billion yen, now estimated at 50 billion yen [4]. Group 2: Business Segments - The semiconductor segment has seen the largest upward revision in operating profit, aided by yen depreciation and cost reductions [4]. - The gaming segment has the most significant increase in operating revenue, supported by strong sales of the PlayStation console, although operating profit remains unchanged due to asset impairment losses from sold software [5]. - The "Music" segment, including contributions from the "Demon Slayer" film, has positively impacted operating profit in both Japan and North America [4]. Group 3: Shareholder Returns - Sony announced a stock buyback program of up to 100 billion yen, representing 0.59% of the total issued shares (35 million shares), aimed at improving capital efficiency [4].

Core Points - The article highlights the success of two students, Yang Han and Chen Ruyue, who won the special prize at the East China regional final of the 19th National Japanese Speech Contest and will advance to the national finals in Tokyo in March 2026 [1][3]. Summary by Sections Event Overview - The East China regional final of the 19th National Japanese Speech Contest took place on November 8 at Zhejiang Gongshang University, with 29 students from 29 universities in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi participating [1][5]. - The competition consisted of a 5-minute prepared speech on a chosen theme and a 3-minute impromptu speech, with scores based on pronunciation, grammar, content, and expression [1]. Participants' Themes - Both Yang Han and Chen Ruyue chose the theme "My Ideal Hometown" for their speeches [1]. - Yang Han shared a personal experience about regretting not expressing dissent during a group discussion, emphasizing that an ideal hometown is a city free from such constraints [1][3]. - Chen Ruyue described her ideal hometown as a "city that embraces failure," reflecting on her journey from perfectionism to valuing experiences gained from failure [3]. Personal Reflections - Yang Han expressed confidence in the rewards of hard work and acknowledged her progress through continuous practice [3]. - Chen Ruyue emphasized the importance of accurately expressing one's thoughts over using elaborate language, stating her intention to speak sincerely in the finals [3].