Japan once built 40% of the world's ships and now builds 8%. The government's Shipbuilding Revival Roadmap puts about 1 trillion yen ($6.5 billion) of public and private money behind doubling annual capacity to 18 million gross tons by 2035. Imabari's takeover of JMU, the signed frigate contract with Australia, and US-Japan cooperation, alongside the labor and scale problems that could stall all of it.
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has significantly strengthened pedal misapplication prevention standards, now mandating pedestrian detection, creep-speed protection, and expanding coverage to light trucks. Based on UN Regulation No. 175 — a standard Japan helped create — these new rules roll out from 2030 for new vehicles. A deep dive into how the world's most aged society is leading global automotive safety innovation.
A Nagasaki University study reveals nanoplastics transferred through the food chain drastically reduce red sea bream larvae survival rates. With microplastic concentrations 27 times the global average, Japan's coastal waters face an invisible pollution crisis threatening fisheries and marine ecosystems.
JR East launches Japan's first cargo-only Shinkansen in March 2026. A former Yamagata Shinkansen E3 Series train has been stripped of all 394 seats and rebuilt to carry up to 17.4 tons of freight at 186 mph. Learn how the "Hako-Byun" service tackles Japan's driver shortage, cuts CO2 emissions, and creates a high-speed logistics link between rural producers and Tokyo.
Japan's abandoned bamboo forests have expanded to roughly 400,000 acres, causing landslides and destroying ecosystems. Taguchi Industrial from Okayama has answered with the "TakeKaruGon" - a domestically-made mulcher attachment for hydraulic excavators that shreds bamboo, large trees, and stumps in one machine. Discover how this innovation tackles one of Japan's most overlooked environmental crises.
Japan's first nuclear-powered ship "Mutsu," launched in 1969, was plagued by a radiation leak incident and fierce public opposition. Yet engineers cut the hull apart, removed the reactor, and spent roughly $1.3 billion (in today's value) transforming it into "Mirai" — one of the world's largest ocean research vessels. Over 28 years, Mirai sailed 2.3 million km (58 trips around Earth), pioneered Arctic research, and even surveyed Fukushima's nuclear contamination. Retired in December 2025, its story of dramatic reinvention now passes the torch to the icebreaking successor "Mirai II."
The sweet potato weevil, first eradicated from Japan's Kume Island in 2012 using the world's first successful sterile insect technique on beetles, reinvaded in 2021. A Gifu University-led team verified that rapid response with 3 million sterile insects achieved re-eradication in record time, proving the power of Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) for global pest management.
Electric scooter sharing service LUUP has achieved full coverage across all 23 Tokyo wards in February 2026. With over 16,000 ports and 5 million app downloads, Japan's largest micromobility service is booming—but rising accidents and traffic violations have sparked fierce public debate. How does Japan navigate the global micromobility challenge that led Paris to ban rental scooters?
After removing approximately 20,000 invasive American crayfish over one year, a Japanese pond saw a dramatic ecological comeback—with clear water, thriving aquatic plants, and the return of endangered species. A look at Japan's frontline battle against invasive species and the resilience of native ecosystems.
Fuji Media Holdings completed a $1.5 billion share buyback, ending a high-profile standoff with activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami. With plans to divest its profitable real estate unit, the Japanese broadcaster faces a pivotal transformation. An analysis of corporate governance and media industry shifts in Japan.
Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain began charging a €2 ($2.35) entry fee on February 2, 2026, to manage over 9 million annual visitors. Explore how this overtourism measure compares to similar efforts in Venice, Kyoto, and other global destinations struggling to balance tourism and preservation.
