(Yicai Global) April 24 -- Didi Mobility Japan, a joint venture between Beijing-based ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing Technology and Tokyo-based international holding conglomerate Softbank Group, announced the extension of its taxi-hailing services to 13 Japanese cities today.

Tokyo and Kyoto will be the first of these, as of today.

The company teams with cab firms to offer more flexible and efficient travel options. Riders can summon the service directly from apps like Google Maps and Yahoo Japan's routing app, and pay via leading Japanese app Paypay, which borrows technology from India's Paytm.  

Didi Mobility Japan hit the streets of Osaka in September. The number of its taxi operators has since tripled and its business has attained 60 percent monthly growth. 
Editor: Ben Armour