Business & Economy

Japan's perovskite solar cell market is projected to surge to nearly $26 billion globally by 2040, with key materials exceeding $9.5 billion. This flexible, lightweight technology invented in Japan could revolutionize renewable energy by enabling installation on walls, windows, and curved surfaces previously impossible for traditional solar panels.

UK aerospace startup Aeralis is developing a modular jet trainer that could succeed Japan's aging T-4 aircraft. With interchangeable components enabling basic to advanced training in one platform, and potential ties to GCAP cooperation, this innovative British design may transform pilot training worldwide.

An estimated 5 billion tons of gold are dissolved in Earth's oceans—20,000 times what humanity has ever mined. IHI's biosorption technology using algae has successfully extracted gold from hot springs and deep-sea vents. Could this breakthrough eventually set a ceiling on gold prices? We examine the science, economics, and challenges.

At CES 2026 Bosch demonstrated sensors that give robots a delicate sense of touch, combining its BMP585 pressure sensor with an inertial measurement unit so that even the brush of a feather is detected. A look at the frontier of humanoid touch and a MEMS sensor market projected to reach 19.2 billion dollars by 2030.

Hitachi's Physical AI strategy targets a roughly $125 billion market by 2030. Learn how Japan's manufacturing giant is using AI to preserve skilled workers' tacit knowledge and address labor shortages in social infrastructure.

The Pokémon Company's licensing division has no sales targets. Decisions rest solely on whether an idea is "interesting," sometimes greenlit regardless of profitability. Discover how this brand-first philosophy, prioritizing 30-year longevity over short-term gains, built the world's highest-grossing media franchise, worth an estimated $90 billion.

Under Mitsui Fudosan's &CRUISE project, Japan's first fully electric passenger boats, the Nihonbashi e-LINER, began scheduled service between Nihonbashi and Toyosu on April 26, 2026. A look at zero-emission, quiet urban water transport that can also carry people and supply power in disasters.

Generative AI doubles computing demand every 5.5 months. Far from a 'bubble,' this is a structural transformation of the semiconductor industry. Explore NVIDIA's dominance, Japan's strengths in equipment and materials, and how Rapidus and TSMC Kumamoto are shaping the future of Japanese semiconductors.

Japan's print book and magazine sales fell below ¥1 trillion for the first time in 50 years. Yet major publishers are posting strong profits through digital, IP licensing, and gaming ventures. Crisis or evolution? A deep dive into Japan's publishing transformation with Japanese public reactions.