University of Tokyo's MEVIUS2 is a Spot-sized open-source quadruped robot built from sheet metal and e-commerce parts. With full hardware and software on GitHub, LiDAR and HDR camera perception, and reinforcement learning locomotion, it aims to democratize advanced robotics, at a fraction of Spot's $74,500 price tag.
FANUC, the world's largest industrial robot maker, partners with NVIDIA for Physical AI while deliberately avoiding humanoid robots. We break down its historic open-platform shift, the NVIDIA Isaac integration, and how it plans to compete against ABB, KUKA, and China's robot surge.
Space Entry Inc. launches 'Minna no Haro,' an autonomous space robot inspired by Gundam's iconic Haro, bound for the ISS Kibo module. Designed by legendary mecha designer Kunio Okawara and running Zephyr RTOS, the project achieves three world firsts and invites public participation through crowdfunding.
A Japanese research team has achieved what was considered impossible for over a century: creating a transparent, millimeter-sized bulk piece of amorphous alumina. With a dielectric constant of 11.3, surpassing sapphire, and a novel pentahedral pyramid structure, this JACS-published breakthrough could reshape semiconductor and capacitor materials.
Renesas Electronics' Intersil-brand radiation-hardened ICs are aboard NASA's Artemis 2 crewed lunar mission, powering critical subsystems in the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket. Discover the 60+ year heritage behind these space-grade chips and what Japan's role in the $1.8 billion rad-hard semiconductor market means for the future of space exploration.
Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka explained iPS Cell 2.0 on NTV's Bankisha. From next-gen stem cell tech overcoming current limitations to universal blood platelets that bypass blood-type matching, plus Japan's historic first-ever iPSC drug approvals in 2026 — a comprehensive look at where iPS cells stand 20 years after their discovery.
NTT Docomo launches 'docomo Starlink Direct' on April 27, 2026, offering free satellite-to-smartphone communication for 22 million subscribers. Using SpaceX's Starlink constellation of 650+ satellites as cell towers in space, the service covers mountains, remote islands, and seas across Japan. We compare it with KDDI's pioneering au service and T-Mobile's U.S. rollout.
An in-depth look at Woven by Toyota, the software subsidiary steering Toyota's transformation. From the Arene platform's debut in the new RAV4 to the $1B Woven City experiment, we analyze how Toyota is fighting Tesla and BYD in the SDV era.
Japanese robotics startup Jinki Ittai unveils its Bilateral Arm — a collaborative robot that transmits force feedback to operators — at Japan IT Week 2026. Also on display: a transformable humanoid heavy machine designed by Macross anime creator Shoji Kawamori. Partnering with Advantech (42.5% global IPC share), the company pursues a distinctly Japanese approach to robotics: human-operated force control rather than full autonomy, setting it apart from Boston Dynamics and Tesla Optimus.
Microsoft announced a $10 billion investment in Japan by 2029 to expand AI data centers, strengthen cybersecurity, and train 1 million engineers. We explore the partnerships with SoftBank and Sakura Internet, Japan's sovereign AI strategy, and why US tech giants are racing to invest across Asia.
DENSO and the University of Tokyo signed a 10-year partnership starting April 2026 centered on Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). Learn how charging EVs while driving could shrink batteries, cut costs, and reshape energy infrastructure — plus how Japan's approach compares to Sweden, Israel, and the US.