💬 Quoted…​​ "Saka Viva!"

The name of a nationwide competition funded by Japan’s central tax agency to increase youth drinking due to a drop in revenue. The country’s tax haul from alcoholic drinks dropped $800 million last year, its largest decrease since 1989 per The Japan Times.

• Citizens between the ages of 20 to 39 now have until the end of September to come up with “business plans” to kickstart demand among the younger generation. Final proposals will take place in November.

+Fun fact: Nearly a third (29%) of Japan's population is aged 65 and older, according to World Bank estimates – the highest proportion in the world.

🪙📉 Stat of the Day: Major crypto firms spent $36,000 on US TV ads in July – down from $84.5 million in February. Over that same period, the price of bitcoin has fallen ~45%.

🌎 Around the World: The US and Taiwan have agreed to begin formal trade and investment talks, aimed at deepening economic engagement in agriculture, digital trade, climate, and other areas.

🤯 Did You Know?... July was a landmark month for streaming. For the first time ever, it officially topped cable as the most popular method by which Americans consume TV content (34.8% vs. 34.4%), per new data from Nielsen.

📖 Worth a Read: Why Does Everything On Netflix Look Like That? → (VICE)