The Japanese Government has organized a team of technological and corporate allies in an effort to take on search engine giants Google and Yahoo!, according to Times Online.
The effort, slated to cost nearly $900 million dollars or over $100 billion yen, will probably take three years to complete, according to government sources. The goal is to create the ultimate search tool for the internet, and give the Japanese an alternative to the two US search giants.
Work on the engine is expected to begin this week. Backing for the project is so fierce that rival companies Sony and
Matsushita are being brought together to help, along with other companies such as Hitachi and Panasonic.