AST Research said it is opening its...

AST Research said it is opening its first sales office in Japan in response to “high demand” for its personal computer products in the Japanese marketplace. The Irvine-based computer company said the office in Tokyo will be managed by Shuji Sugimoto, formerly a project manager of corporate development and planning at Jardine Matheson K. K. in Japan. “Our presence in Japan will enable us to provide local technical support,” said Wesley F. Nelson, vice president of international sales. “We feel it will also improve our market share for systems and boards and will facilitate a closer relationship with our Japanese suppliers.”