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."
Japanese startup AstroX has raised $15 million in Series A funding to develop its revolutionary Rockoon launch system — using high-altitude balloons to carry rockets to the stratosphere before firing them into space. Based in Fukushima's Minamisoma, the company aims to reach space by 2026 and achieve orbital insertion by 2029, challenging the global space launch industry with a low-cost, flexible alternative.
A joint team from Chiba University, NHK Science & Technology Research Labs, and Kyoto University has developed an organic EL device capable of both light emission and solar power generation. Using innovative MR-TADF materials, they overcame the long-standing trade-off between emission and power conversion efficiency, achieving the world's first blue light-emitting power-generating device. Applications include self-powered displays and battery-free sensors.
Adobe reversed its decision to kill Adobe Animate just two days after the announcement. Behind the reversal: fierce creator backlash, a 5%+ stock drop, and outcry from animation studios worldwide including Japan's Science SARU. What does "maintenance mode" really mean for the future of 2D animation?
TSMC upgrades its Kumamoto Fab 2 from 7nm to cutting-edge 3nm production, targeting mass production by 2028 with $17 billion investment. CEO C.C. Wei personally briefed Japan's PM Takaichi on the plan. We analyze what this means for Japan's semiconductor revival, AI infrastructure, and global chip supply chain diversification.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, dubbed "iPhone Fold," has had its design details leaked—featuring a 7.8-inch inner display, Touch ID, and iPad-style button placement. With a projected price around $2,400, how will this premium device impact Japan, where nearly half of all smartphone users choose iPhone? A deep dive into the leaked specs and the evolving foldable market.
Ibiden, the dominant supplier of IC package substrates to NVIDIA and Intel, has announced a massive $3.2 billion investment plan over three years to boost production capacity 2.5x. Discover how this Japanese manufacturer in Gifu Prefecture is positioning itself as the backbone of the global AI infrastructure boom.
Google's parent company Alphabet shattered records with $400 billion in annual revenue for fiscal 2025, fueled by explosive AI growth. Google Cloud surged 48% while Gemini hit 750 million monthly users. Meanwhile, Japan's corporate AI adoption rate sits at just 27%, revealing a widening gap with global competitors. From massive data center investments in Japan to the structural challenges holding Japanese businesses back, here's what Alphabet's AI dominance means for the world's third-largest economy.
As TSMC exits GaN foundry services, Japan's Rohm acquires TSMC's technology license to manufacture 650V GaN power semiconductors in-house at its Hamamatsu factory. A deep dive into the next-generation power chips reshaping the AI and EV era.
French automotive giant Valeo and Japanese test & measurement leader Anritsu have jointly developed a digital twin verification environment for next-generation SDVs. The cloud-based solution eliminates the need for physical vehicles or test tracks, enabling comprehensive virtual testing of connected car systems. Joint demo to debut at MWC 2026.
A Japanese research team has developed a single organic crystal that glows red under UV light and green under near-infrared light. This dual-mode material could transform optical sensing, energy harvesting, and medical imaging. Here's what makes it groundbreaking.
