MasterCard and NTT DOCOMO have announced that MasterCard has been selected as a partner to expand contactless payments options for consumers in Japan. "The collaboration will connect DOCOMO’s domestic payment network to the world, enabling customers using iD mobile credit payments with compatible DOCOMO smartphones to make contactless payments outside of Japan, anywhere MasterCard PayPass is accepted."

PayPal and SOFTBANK announced that the two companies plan to establish a joint venture company, "PayPal Japan", to build a digital payments business in Japan.

The joint venture will bring together the strengths of both companies - PayPal's global online and mobile payment solutions with 110 million active accounts in 190 markets and 25 currencies, along with the SOFTBANK Group's local market knowledge, 29 million mobile subscribers and vast distribution network including thousands of retail outlets and sales staff across Japan.

On the web:

• A Year Later, Google Wallet is Nowhere - Here's Why - Business Insider

On the wires:

• 2012 NACHA Operating Rules & Guidelines Now Available as eBook
• National Family Mortgage Originates $30 Million in Peer-to-Peer Mortgage Loans
• MoneyGram and ICBC Expand Direct-to-Account Service to Money Sent from Japan into 200 million ICBC Accounts
• Elastic Path Partners with Aria Systems, Enables Enterprises to Capitalize on Subscription Economy
• Tabbedout Continues Expansion; Makes Mobile Payment a Reality in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
• Front Flip "Mobile Engagement" Solution Launches Nationally

On the web:

• Tablet Computers Take Wait Out of Waiting Tables - San Francisco Chronicle
• KDDI Launches NFC in Japan - NFC World

On the wires:

• New Mercator Report on POS Terminal Market
• NCR Unveils Cloud-Based Point of Sale for Independent Retailers at NRF 2012
• AisleBuyer Accelerates the Mobile Retail Revolution with Version 2.0
• AJB to Offer PayPal for Retail Payment Processing

On the web:

• Mobile Payments Are a Mess - Huffington Post

On the wires:

• New FICO Solution Helps Banks Grow Bankcard Portfolios in a Dynamic Environment
• SafetyPay Obtains European Payment Services Directive License
• InCOMM Launches Prepaid Cards Utilizing POSA Technology at Toys”R”Us Japan
• ACI Worldwide Boosts Fraud Prevention Services With ACI Financial Crime Consultancy
• CardFlex to Provide Merchant Processing Services to Tabulous Cloud Mobile Customers
• BBVA Compass Adds Person-to-Person (P2P) Payment Option With ZashPay

InComm has announced that it is teaming up with Don Quijote, Japan's largest discount store chain, to launch a suite of point-of-sale activation (POSA) prepaid products utilizing InComm's Fastcard technology at all of its retail locations.

While most retailers in North America regularly use POSA technology to enable display merchandising of gift and prepaid cards, the Don Quijote launch represents the first roll out of this technology in the major discount store industry in Japan.

Celent has published a new report titled "Lessons from the Mobile Payments Leader: What the World Can Learn from the Japanese Market" that identifies ways for the US and other countries to learn how to lay the groundwork for faster, more successful implementations of mobile NFC payment solutions - based upon the experience in Japan. From the abstract:

Within industry pundits' persistent predictions about the imminent advent of mobile near-field communication (NFC) contactless payments, the Japanese market is frequently cited as proof that such payments have a future. However, Japanese market reality is not as much of a straightforward success as many believe. Based on primary research with leading mobile carriers, banks, payment services/brands, and technology vendors, Celent estimates that there are 28 million registered mobile payments accounts in Japan . Furthermore, Celent estimates that there are about 20 million active mobile payments accounts. Respectively, these constitute 24% and 17% of all contactless payment accounts.

Visa has announced the launch of the first virtual Visa Debit card program in Japan. Japan Net Bank’s (JNB) two million customers will be able to use a virtual Visa Debit card to make payments at any online merchant that accepts Visa globally. READ MORE »

mophie, a provider of "intelligent case solutions for the iPhone and other Apple devices", has announced a collaboration with Flight System Consulting and Focal Point Computer to develop a mobile payment solution for FeliCa technology that will allow users to "instantly read and write electronic money card information using only the iPhone device and marketplace FeliCa App." READ MORE »

TSYS announced today that it would begin processing Visa-branded prepaid cards for the Japanese market in July 2009. The prepaid cards will be issued by Travel Bank Inc., a financial services company that is part of the JTB Group. Consumers can use the cards to make payments at Visa merchants when traveling overseas or to withdraw cash from Visa ATMs. READ MORE »

JCB has announced the appointment of Mr. Koremitsu Sannomiya as President and Chief Operating Officer at its annual shareholders' meeting in Tokyo. Mr. Sannomiya succeeds Mr. Kenji Seto, who has served in the position since June 2007. Mr. Sannomiya will report to Mr. Tamio Takakura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. READ MORE »

InComm has announced that, beginning today, Seiyu shoppers can purchase a range of iTunes Cards at all 392 retail locations throughout Japan through in-store technology powered by InComm's Fastcard point-of-sale activation (POS) technology. Rolling out first with iTunes Cards, Seiyu will expand the offering at all retail locations offering a wide-variety of gift card selections over the next few years. READ MORE »

Celent has published a new report titled "Electronic Money: Contactless Payment in Japan".

"ONE Payment Alliance Corp., a collaborated payment processing service with ChinaPay, ECONTEXT, and INICIS, announced today it has launched an online payment processing service for China, Japan, and Korea market with a single interface, a single merchant service, and a single payment gateway to reach out to online consumers in the three largest economies in Asia. This alliance service is available to begin online payment processing services to many global merchants wishing to conduct online business in China, Japan and Korea immediately."

NEC Corporation and Valista International have announced forming a "strategic partnership to target payments solutions business opportunities in Japan with secure and flexible payments offerings." The two companies also said that "the partnership also has sights beyond the Japanese domestic market aiming to expand into the global telecommunications market combining NEC's proven strength in system integration and Valista's global experience in payments, settlement, and merchandizing solutions."

On the Digital Money blog, Dave Birch digs into the impact that contactless mobile payments are having on the levels of cash in circulation in Japan. "The Feds say that the Bank of Japan reported that the total amount of cash in circulation has started to fall for the first time on record."

Reuters reports that NTT DoCoMo and McDonald's have announced they will be forming a new joint venture company to facilitate acceptance of mobile payments at McDonald's locations in Japan.

JCB is holding its 10th JCB World Conference from November 13th to 15th in Honolulu with a theme of 'Working
Together to Shape the Future of Payments'.

Yuka Hayashi reports for the Wall St. Journal on the shift that's taking place as Japanese consumers begin to move away from paying with cash to increasingly pay using credit cards. Among other factors, the popularity of shopping online is behind the behavioral shift - as cash payments aren't possible online. On the other hand, the use of revolving credit - the mainstay of US credit card issuer economics - is a second behavioral shift that's still on the horizon.