Asia's largest satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT has unveiled plans to build a 100-satellite constellation combining Earth observation and communications. With a $230M investment in Planet Labs' Pelican satellites and expanded partnerships with QPS Institute, the company is positioning itself as a 'space solutions provider', taking a fundamentally different approach from SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Leo broadband networks.
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.
SmartHR, Japan's leading cloud HR platform, had targeted a Tokyo Stock Exchange listing at a ¥160B (about $1B) valuation. In July 2026 Bloomberg reported the IPO was pushed to 2027 at the earliest after investors balked at the price. We look at the ARR trajectory to ¥30B, the General Atlantic and KKR backing, and what the delay says about how AI is repricing SaaS.
Osaka University startup QuEL has demonstrated 24-hour stable operation of its quantum bit control device QuEL-1 SE, achieving amplitude standard deviation of 0.15% and phase standard deviation of 0.39°. Published in Review of Scientific Instruments, this breakthrough in device-level temperature control clears fault-tolerant thresholds crucial for scaling quantum computers toward the million-qubit era.
Four Japanese companies formed J-HRTI, a consortium to accelerate humanoid robot deployment in factories. With Japan's first private data collection center opening in July 2026, the initiative takes a unique approach focused on industrial data and real-world implementation amid fierce US-China competition.
Japan's Startale Group secures $50M from SBI Holdings, completing a $63M Series A round. The funding accelerates development of JPYSC, Japan's first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, and Strium blockchain for tokenized securities. We compare Japan's stablecoin regulations with the US GENIUS Act and EU MiCA.
AT Tokyo and elleThermo successfully demonstrated waste heat power generation using Semiconductor-Sensitized Thermal Cells (STC) in a live data center. This Science Tokyo-born technology generates electricity directly from low-grade heat at just 30-40°C — no temperature differential required. A look at how this could reshape data center energy efficiency amid soaring AI power demands.
Japan's top drone company Terra Drone has announced its full-scale entry into the defense equipment market, establishing U.S. subsidiary 'Terra Defense.' The move comes amid Japan's record defense spending, the SHIELD coastal defense initiative, and growing global demand for military drones post-Ukraine.
Japanese fusion startup Helical Fusion announces the construction site for its demonstration device 'Helix HARUKA' Phase 1, while completing critical coil case components with precision manufacturer Ryoki Tool. Explore how Japan's unique helical stellarator approach and the HTS superconductor boom are reshaping the global fusion race.
Japan is seeing new momentum in chip design. Fabless startups like TRIPLE-1 and Socionext challenge Chinese giant Bitmain's dominance in mining ASICs. We explore Japan's emerging role in chip design, Rapidus's 2nm mass production plans, TSMC partnerships, and positioning amid the US-China semiconductor rivalry.
Japanese space startup Synspective successfully launched its 8th StriX SAR satellite via Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from New Zealand. The company is building a 30-satellite constellation and holds a role in a 283.1 billion yen Japanese defense program, competing with Finland's ICEYE and America's Capella Space in the global SAR market.
Bio-venture Spiber's financial crisis delivers a fatal blow to Japan's Cool Japan Fund, pushing cumulative losses beyond $2.5 billion. With its third missed target triggering dissolution discussions, we analyze Japan's structural challenges in government-backed startup investment compared to Singapore's Temasek and other sovereign wealth funds.
Tokyo conducted Japan's first operational-scenario flight test of the domestic eVTOL 'SKYDRIVE' at Tokyo Big Sight, featuring facial recognition boarding and a mobile vertiport terminal. With Tokyo targeting commercial urban flights by 2030, we compare Japan's progress with US rivals Joby and Archer in the global air taxi race.
Tohoku University spinoff Space Quarters has successfully demonstrated electron beam welding in simulated zero-gravity and lunar gravity environments aboard an aircraft. The company achieved a world-first by welding sintered lunar regolith — the sandy material covering the Moon's surface. With its ultra-compact 7 kg welding system and JAXA partnership, this breakthrough brings humanity one step closer to building infrastructure in space.
Japanese space laser startup Orbital Lasers has closed a $20 million Series A round backed by nine investors including Keio Innovation Initiative and JIC Venture Growth. Spun out from satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT in 2024, the company develops compact, high-efficiency space lasers for debris removal via laser ablation and high-precision 3D terrain mapping via satellite LiDAR. We explore how it compares to Astroscale and SpaceX, and what it means for Japan's booming space startup ecosystem.
Rapidus's AI design agent 'Raads' is already in use by 3 companies — 2 domestic, 1 overseas. This LLM-based EDA suite enables natural language chip design, cutting design time by 50% and costs by 30%. We compare it with TSMC and Intel's AI tools and examine Rapidus's path to 2nm mass production.
Power Diamond Systems demonstrated the world's first actual power conversion using a diamond MOSFET in a DC-DC converter circuit. Following their recent 200V/1A switching milestone, this breakthrough advances diamond semiconductors from device-level testing to real circuit operation.
Japanese startup DOT P unveiled PONKEY, a solenoid-powered instrument robot, at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas. Featuring 16 custom-designed keys that light up, produce sound, and physically pop out, PONKEY functions as a drum machine, digital synthesizer, and AI communication device. Backed by Tokyo's TOKYO SUTEAM program, it's set for public release in 2027.
Japan's Power Diamond Systems, a Waseda University spinoff, achieved the world's first 200V/1A switching operation with a diamond MOSFET. With 550V breakdown voltage and 0.8A drain current in a single device, diamond semiconductors could surpass SiC and GaN as the ultimate power semiconductor for EVs and renewable energy.
Japanese fusion startup Helical Fusion has announced that Phase 1 of its final demonstration device Helix HARUKA will be built at the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). With energization tests planned for 2027, the company is betting on Japan's unique helical approach to beat global rivals including Commonwealth Fusion Systems and TAE Technologies in the race to commercial fusion power.
