Science and Technology Trends News from Japan

Space, Astronomy & Marine

Energy & Environment

Natural Resources & Materials

Space, Astronomy & Marine

Successful Launch, H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 35 Encapsulating MICHIBIKI No. 3 (19 August 2017)
Successful Launch of H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 34 Encapsulating MICHIBIKI No. 2 (01 Jun 2017)
Japanese technology can help remove dangerous space junk from orbit (06 Jan 2017)
JAXA, 2nd launch of new solid fuel rocket puts satellite into orbit (21 Dec 2016)
UN & Japan, To Cooperate CubeSat Deployment from the International Space Station (ISS) Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) "KiboCUBE" (26 Sep 2016)
JAXA and the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, Republic of Turkey sign a Cooperation Agreement (09 Sep 2016)
JAMSTEC, International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 370 "T-Limit of the Deep Biosphere off Muroto" (05 Sep 2016)
JAXA: H-3 rocket more powerful, cost-effective than H-2A (21 July 2016)
JAXA, developed waterproof aircraft technology (09 April 2016)
Valuable earth element-rich crust discovered at new ocean depths (16 March 2016)
Made-in-Japan H-2A rocket set to be mothballed in fiscal 2023 (09 March 2016)
JAXA successfully launches intelligence satellite (26 March 2015)
Manila's microsatellite set to start Japan-proposed Earth-observation network (14 January 2016)
JAXA unveils super-satellite to explain mysteries of the universe (13 January 2016)
Akatsuki probe captures images of stripy clouds on Venus (19 December 2015)
Hayabusa 2 throws itself toward target asteroid in Earth swingby (04 December 2015)
Gigantic gravitational wave telescope unveiled in Gifu (07 November 2015)
Scientists discover ‘under-seabed forest’ dating back 20 million years off Aomori (28 July 2015)
JAXA shows off orbiting space probe bound for Mercury in 2016
Japan's space agency unveiled its Mercury probe on March 15 here that will be launched in 2016 on a mission to unlock the mysteries of the planet closest to the sun.
(16 March 2015)
Manned submersible being developed that reach deepest point of world's oceans (25 February 2015)
JAXA and JST, Mutual Cooperation Agreement (19 February 2015)
Japan to develop remote-controlled underwater probe (15 February 2015)
Hayabusa 2 in great shape (03 Feb 2015)
Japan successfully launches backup intelligence satellite (01 Feb 2015)

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Life Sciences

Impact of Climate Variability on Malaria Incidence in South Africa (30 May 2017)
Otuska Hodlings, South Africa to try Japanese drug against resistant form of TB (25 Mar 2017)
Japanese team steps up attack on cancer with iPS cell method (14 Dec 2016)
RIKEN, new compound targets colorectal cancer stem cells (26 August 2016)
Clinical research starts on slowing aging process in humans (31 July 2016)
Riken, Learning from the mussel, scientists create a biologically active titanium surface (11 July 2016)
Japanese research team to resume iPS cell transplants (07 June 2016)
Crickets cast as the future of food in project to beat global hunger (29 May 2016)
Scientists create chickens free of egg allergy substance (05 May 2016)
Alzheimer’s hinders memory retrieval, not memory storage (30 March 2016)
Human heart grown in lab may improve new drug tests (28 March 2016)
Scientists organize micro-organisms to help Japan win Olympic gold (08 January 2016)
Japanese team cracks crocodile egg mystery of how sex is decided (20 December 2015)
Study: Chimps' special care enables disabled infant to survive in wild (02 December 2015)
Happy part of human brain found by Kyoto scientists (21 November 2015)
Imaging Technique for Performance Distribution of Organic Transistor Arrays (14 July 2015)
TiO2-coated Glasses Prevent Damages to Eyes (10 November 2015)
Scientists develop technique to track flu virus without killing test animal
Japanese researchers have found a way to observe the spread of the influenza virus inside living tissue without the need to dissect, a development that may herald more effective treatments for conditions like pneumonia.
(26 March 2015)
Japan makes strides toward stem cell therapy (19 March 2015)
New laser system allows for prolonged examination of living cells (13 March 2015)
Japanese drug shows positive effects in trial on some Ebola patients (25 February 2015)
Drink more black tea for stronger bones, researchers say (24 February 2015)
Kyoto Univ. Hospital to open iPS cell therapy center in 2019 (23 February 2015)
Synthetic biology puts artificial organisms within reach (10 February 2015)
Kyoto University opens up iPS cell stockpile (17 January 2015)
Kyoto researchers show gene fix may work (27 November 2014)

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Energy & Environment

Fukushima powers up one of world's biggest hydrogen plants
(08 March 2020)
At Tokyo meeting, ministers from around the world vow to promote hydrogen as alternative energy source
(23 Oct 2018)
The government of Japan hosted the first Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting on 23 October 2018. The purpose if the meeting was to jointly engage on the effectiveness of hydrogen use in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as the world grapples with climate change.
South Africa was represented Mr Mmboneni Muofhe, DDG: Technology Innovation and Ms Eudy Mabuza, Minister Counsellor: Science and Technology from Department of Science and Technology.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a statement which highlighted hydrogen can be a key contributor to the ongoing transition to clean energy and called for collaboration in hydrogen-related technology such as fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen storage.
A New Method for Analysis of Water Treatment Membrane Fouling by Activated Sludge (20 Jun 2017)
Toyota, Solar Power-derived Hydrogen Powers Forklifts at Toyota's Factory (25 Mar 2017)
Development of Continuous High-Pressure Hydrogen Supply Method without any Compressor (17 Nov 2016)
Nissan, Bio-Ethanol Fuel-Cell EV with 600km Range (05 August 2016)
Yamanashi Prefecture, Testing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems for Energy Self-sufficiency (27 July 2016)
HySA、ドイツ企業と燃料電池の地元製造へ (03 June 2016)
Japan Enacts Bill to Review FIT Policy (27 May 2016)
Toyota, to Develop 500Wh/kg Storage Battery (20 May 2016)
Daiwa House, Opened Largest Commercial 'Zero Energy Building' (17 May 2016)
Honda, Installed Hydrogen Station with PV to its Headquarters Building in Tokyo (13 May 2016)
Power station using biogas from sewage starts in Tochigi Prefecture (03 May 2016)
Japan’s National Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Fiscal Year* 2014 (Final Figures) (16 April 2016)
Honda Boosts Fuel Cell Output Density by 50% for FCV (09 April 2016)
Japan Announces Goal to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 80% by 2050 (29 March 2016)
New All-solid-state Battery Features 3 Times Higher Output Density (28 March 2016)
Dynamic battery for the future developed by Japanese team (23 March 2016)
Toshiba Completes Solar-powered Hydrogen Production/storage System at Hotel (19 March 2016)
Toyota to Test Hydrogen Supply Network Using Wind Power (15 March 2016)
Honda, New Platform Protects Hydrogen Tank for FCV (13 March 2016)
Honda Launches Fuel-cell Vehicle With Drive Range of 750km (13 March 2016)
Disaster-hit City Runs 2.9MW Solar Plant (13 March 2016)
Honda Installs Hydrogen Production Equipment Using Solar Electricity (29 Dec 2015)
Japan plans $10.6 billion in climate finance for developing nations for 2020 (27 Nov 2015)
Honda's eco-friendly cars power Christmas lights in Tokyo shopping area (25 Dec 2015)
Breakthrough to pave way for cheaper fuel cells requiring no platinum (09 Nov 2015)
JAEA opens Fukushima R&D center for decommissioning reactors (20 Oct 2015)
Panasonic moves closer to home energy self-sufficiency with fuel cells (02 Aug 2015)
Japan sets 26% cut in greenhouse gas emissions as target (18 July 2015)
Toyota, Nissan, Honda back hydrogen stations for fuel-cell vehicles (01 July 2015)
Taisei develops eco-friendly, 'self-sufficient' building (06 July 2015)
Mitsubishi Heavy takes step toward long-distance wireless power (16 March 2015)
Japan, Canada to pitch for SA nuclear deal (23 March 2015)
Botanists link origin of Yoshino cherry blossoms to Ueno Park tree
The majority of sakura trees that will bloom across Japan in a few weeks may have derived from one standing in Tokyo's Ueno Park, according to scientists at Chiba University.
(13 March 2015)
Biodiversity group to set up office in Tokyo (10 March 2015)
JAXA succeeded radio-wave electricity transmission, which enables to power transmission from PV panels on the space to the ground. The concept of space photovoltaic generation is to convert electricity to microwave to transmit; can produce electricity regardless of day and night as well as climate. Japan has started this project in the 1980s. (see their research project) (08 March 2015)
Surplus in wind power to produce hydrogen for fuel cells (26 February 2015)
Toyota's Mirai gives a glimpse to the future (18 January 2015)
Toshiba takes step toward large-scale electricity storage (16 January 2015)
Japan to Ease Fuel Cell Rules as Toyota Bets on Hydrogen (15 January 2015)
Toyota cagey about when fuel cell royalties will kick in (13 January 2015)
Japanese university tackles the problems of arid climates (28 December 2014)
Japan prepares for future eruptions (26 December 2014)
Can we prevent a sixth mass extinction? (01 December 2014)

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Natural Resources & Materials

Development of a high precision thermometer for the use at around 1000degC (19 Jun 2017)
Development of Novel Electron Microscopy Techniques to Extract Obscured Information on Material Properties (26 May 2017)
Creation of a Mathematical Method to Express Irregular Atomic Arrangements of Amorphous Materials (01 Feb 2017)
Successful real-time observation of atomic motion with sub-nanometer resolution (08 Jun 2016)
RIKEN, K computer provides new insights into fullerenes (25 March 2016)
NIMS develloped the World's Highest Magnetic Field* (1,020MHz) (01 July 2015)
Japanese companies find new ways to extract valuable commodity (18 March 2015)
Hitachi develops world's most powerful electron microscope (19 February 2015)

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ICT & Robotics

Fugaku HPC gains title as world's fastest supercomputer (23 Jun 2020)
K computer takes first place for the second consecutive time on HPCG benchmark (20 Jun 2017)
Kyocera, AI-based HEMS Controls PV System, Battery, Heat Pump (17 Feb 2017)
Japan's HPC, the K Computer to predict torrential rain (08 Jan 2017)
Test of driverless bus starts in Chiba (01 August 2016)
RIKEN, the world’s two greenest supercomputers (22 June 2016)
Fujitsu to Build Industry-First Maritime Big Data Platform for Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (06 May 2016)
AI collaborates with a robot to assist doctors in diagnostics (29 March 2016)
Venture company in Tsukuba plans city of robots (10 Feb 2016)
Government to subsidize robots to help caregivers with laborious elderly care (28 Dec 2015)
Cutting-edge robotic village on drawing board for 2020 Tokyo Olympics (16 Sep 2015)
Large, fully automated lettuce plant planned in Kyoto (15 Aug 2015)
K computer takes first place in Graph 500 supercomputer ranking (15 July 2015)
Japanese researchers develop clock accurate to 1 second in 16 billion years (10 February 2015)
Defining humanity with the help of humanoid robots (14 January 2015)
New strap-on robotic devices offer lift to aged workers, undermanned companies (05 January 2015)

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Infrastracture

RIKEN, upgraded SACLA beamline provides soft-x-ray free-electron laser (09 May 2016)
World's most powerful laser beam blasts out from Osaka (28 July 2015)
Japanese scientists go high-tech to repair ancient Indonesian temple (18 June 2015)
Exporting antidisaster technology / Govt, firms cooperate to expand field (11 March 2015)
NEC uses image processing technology to determine safety of roads and bridges (05 January 2015)

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Others

NTT Data inviting the Innovation Contest 9.0 in Cape Town
(Until 31 Oct 2018)
(18 Sep 2018)
Japanese biologist wins Nobel (03 Oct 2016)
Japan’s newest Nobel laureate, Yoshinori Ohsumi, touts importance of fundamental research (03 Oct 2016)
Japan pledges $30bn for Africa over next three years (29 Aug 2016)
Also, please see the TICAD VI Nairobi Declaration
RIKEN, IUPAC begins Public Review of nihonium and Nh, the proposed name and symbol for the new element 113 (08 June 2016)
Kyushu University plans volcanologist training center (10 April 2016)
Japan Patent Office (JPO) Compiles the JPO Status Report 2016 (March 2016)
Technological perseverance wins Japan naming rights for element 113 (04 Feb 2016)
Asahi U and Meikai U signed a MoU on academic exchanges with UWC (12 March 2015)
FOUR YEARS AFTER: There's a price to pay for university research reactor shutdowns (11 March 2015)
Fukui researchers’ discovery recognized as new dinosaur species (11 March 2015)
Global pitch contests aren't just for Tokyo. Here are the winners from Hack Osaka (10 February 2015)
The latest gadgetry of convenience (16 January 2015)

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