Maya Kawana, eldest daughter of SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, has become CEO of biotech startup Spiber after a private restructuring left roughly ¥36 billion in debt with the old entity. From Goldman Sachs to spider silk, we explore her rebuilding plan, the biomaterials race, and what this means for Japan's deep-tech ecosystem.
Rohm has achieved its NEDO-funded technical target for 8-inch SiC MOSFETs two years ahead of schedule, demonstrating over 50% power loss reduction versus conventional silicon IGBTs. We explore what this means for EVs, renewable energy, and Japan's power semiconductor consolidation race involving Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric, and Denso.
Sekisui Chemical has officially launched SOLAFIL, Japan's first commercially produced film-type perovskite solar cell. Lightweight and flexible enough for walls and curved surfaces, this next-gen technology positions Japan at the forefront of the global perovskite race against Chinese and European rivals.
Researchers at Osaka and Yamagata Universities have created a 'smart plastic' whose degradation can be toggled on and off with light. Using movable molecular rings, the material balances durability with biodegradability — and can even encode QR codes revealed by enzyme digestion. Published in ACS Nano.
Japan's GX Promotion Organization will guarantee up to $1.2 billion in debt for JFE Holdings' next-generation electric arc furnace. This $2.2 billion project aims to cut 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by replacing a blast furnace. How does Japan's industrial decarbonization strategy compare to the EU's CBAM and America's IRA?
Seiko Epson and Taiwan's Manz Asia have formed a strategic partnership to develop inkjet-based semiconductor manufacturing. Their 'additive' approach prints functional materials directly onto substrates without photomasks, cutting costs and environmental impact versus traditional photolithography. We explore their Lab-to-Fab equipment roadmap and Japan's edge in printed electronics.
Toyota announces mass production of water electrolysis systems by 2029, developed with Chiyoda Corporation. With 5MW domestic and 20MW international units, Toyota bets on hydrogen alongside EVs and hybrids. How Japan's multi-pathway strategy compares to the global EV-first approach.
Asahi Kasei has begun installing its Aqualyzer C3 containerized alkaline water electrolyzer in Jyväskylä, Finland — the country's first commercial hydrogen station. Backed by a Toyota-linked foundation, this marks a significant entry for Japanese electrolyzer technology into the Nordic green hydrogen market dominated by European giants like Siemens Energy and Nel ASA.
Spider silk — five times stronger than steel by weight — is finally becoming a mass-produced reality. U.S.-based Kraig Biocraft targets 10 tons per month while Japan's Spiber partners with 45+ brands. Explore Super Silk's potential in fashion, medicine, and defense, and how this bio-revolution is unfolding.
Japanese space startup Astroscale has announced its ISSA-J1 mission to realize a 'space safety patrol' service in orbit. As the space debris crisis intensifies with over 130 million pieces of junk circling Earth, this article explores how Astroscale's first-mover advantage in on-orbit servicing compares to rivals like ClearSpace and SpaceX, and what it means for Japan's growing space industry.
Agro Ludens started mass-producing CoMeat, a rice-derived mycoprotein made with koji fermentation, at its Nasu plant in Tochigi in April 2026. It uses processing-grade rice, not table rice, and Japan's agriculture ministry approved mycoprotein as a new-market rice use in March. Plus: Japan's swing from rice shortage to rice glut, Beyond Meat down 99%, and why JR East is now farming.
Shibaura Institute of Technology and AIST have measured the stable carbon isotope ratios of PFOA and PFOS, a world first for PFOS, using an Orbitrap that reads the chemical fingerprint without burning the sample. River spike tests proved it works on real environmental water, opening a path to identifying PFAS pollution sources. The bench work was a senior thesis. Japan made its 50 ng/L tap water standard legally binding in April 2026.
A Japanese research team has developed OrthologTransformer, a generative AI that treats DNA like a language and redesigns genes to work better in new organisms. The result? Plastic-eating bacteria that are up to 10x more effective. Published in Nature Communications, this breakthrough could reshape how we fight plastic pollution worldwide.
Panasonic's glass-type perovskite solar cells will be installed on the exterior of Hankyu Hanshin Properties' new headquarters—a first for new office buildings in Japan. This landmark step brings Japan-invented next-generation BIPV solar technology closer to mainstream adoption, in a building already certified ZEB Ready and DBJ Green Building 5-Star.
Japan's largest seafood company Maruha Nichiro has partnered with Singapore's UMAMI Bioworks to develop cell-cultivated bluefin tuna using cells from fully farmed fish. Targeting overseas sales by FY2027, this report covers the technical breakthroughs, commercialization challenges, and global cultivated meat market landscape behind Japan's ambitious quest to produce fish without the ocean.
Mizuno and Kaneka's co-developed biodegradable artificial turf "Re Green Grass 9" has been installed at Vantelin Dome Nagoya — a world first for professional sports facilities. Using Kaneka's "Green Planet" biopolymer that decomposes even in seawater, this innovation tackles the growing microplastics crisis in sports infrastructure.
UNESCO and Relais & Châteaux have launched sustainable gastronomy pilot projects in 4 regions worldwide. Japan's three-Michelin-star L'Effervescence chef Shinobu Namae joins the initiative at Amami Oshima World Heritage Site, combining eco-friendly fishing with seaweed forest restoration. Discover how fine dining is becoming a force for biodiversity.
Vema Hydrogen completes the world's first Engineered Mineral Hydrogen pilot wells in Quebec. With potential costs of $0.50/kg—a 90% reduction—and candidate sites identified in Japan's Tohoku and Kyushu regions, this technology could reshape Japan's hydrogen society vision and energy independence.
Discover why methanol fuel ships are emerging as a game-changer in 2026. From Tsuneishi's world-first Kamsarmax bulker to Mitsubishi's pioneering RORO vessels, Japanese shipbuilders lead the decarbonization race. Learn about methanol's advantages, IMO regulations, and the future of green shipping.
Discover why fashion subscription services are booming in Japan, with AnotherADdress reaching about 370,000 members. Learn about the appeal of clothing rental over buying, closet space solutions, environmental benefits, and cost-effectiveness of Japan's growing fashion subscription market.