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- Dow Completes Expansion of Childcare for Medically Dependent Children Project Jun. 30, 2025Dow announced the completion of its Medical Care Child Nursery Expansion project, conducted through donations to Florence, a Japanese organization addressing social issues in child and parenting support. The project, which ran for about a year, ended in May. Advances in neonatal medicine have led to a growing number of “medically complex children” who require […]
- Sumitomo Rubber Addresses Presenteeism and Absenteeism: Health Management Jun. 27, 2025Sumitomo Rubber is advancing its health management strategy with a core policy of enhancing three dimensions of health: physical, mental, and social well-being. The company aims to create a work environment where employees can fully demonstrate their abilities and find joy in their work. A key focus for the company is addressing presenteeism and absenteeism. […]
- Japan Society of Seismic Isolation Releases Latest Statistics Jun. 26, 2025The Japan Society of Seismic Isolation has released its latest statistics on seismically isolated buildings. According to the report, the total number of planned seismically isolated buildings from 1985 through the end of 2023 reached 5,649 buildings, an increase of 119 from the end of 2022. The number of planned buildings typically surges following major […]
- Fujikura Composite Unveils 7th Mid-Term Management Plan Jun. 25, 2025Fujikura Composite announced its 7th Mid-Term Management Plan, covering the three years starting from fiscal 2025, at its financial results briefing for fiscal 2024 (ended March 31, 2025). The New Medium-Term Management Plan promotes the four pillars strengthening earning power, new growth strategy, shareholder return policy, and improving communication with investors. Over the three-year period […]
- Sumitomo Rubber Presents DE&I Initiatives at Public Symposium 2025 Jun. 24, 2025Sumitomo Rubber in June participated as a special member in the “Public Symposium 2025” organized by the Kyoto University Communication Design and DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Consortium. The event took place at the International Exchange Hall of Kyoto University’s Centennial Clock Tower Memorial Hall. During the poster session, Sumitomo Rubber introduced its initiatives under […]
- Bridgestone Launches Full-Scale Tire-to-Tire Recycling Jun. 23, 2025Bridgestone has recently unveiled its latest initiatives for advancing tire-to-tire recycling. The company publicly introduced its precision pyrolysis demonstration unit, a core technology in its chemical recycling efforts, for the first time. Recovered materials such as recycled carbon black and pyrolysis oil were also showcased. Bridgestone outlined its resource circulation vision toward 2050 and detailed […]
- Fuji Latex Forecasts Revenue Growth for First Time in Four Years Jun. 20, 2025Fuji Latex reported its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 2025, with net sales of 7.19 billion yen ($49.68 million), down 4.1% year-on-year, and operating profit of 208 million yen, down 52.6%. Ordinary profit fell by 55.3% to 170 million yen, while net profit increased by 2.9% to 298 million yen. This marked […]
- Nitto Kako Launches Pilot Project for Recycled Rubber Mats Jun. 19, 2025Nitto Kako has launched a demonstration project to develop a new parallel production scheme for two types of recycled rubber mats made from used tires. Through this initiative, the company aims to establish a stable manufacturing and sales system for these mats—texture mats and solid mats—and contribute to the creation of a circular resource market […]
- Zeon Establishes New Research Facility in Japan Jun. 18, 2025Zeon has established a new research facility at its Zeon Chemicals Yonezawa site in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, to develop manufacturing processes for plant-based raw materials. The two-story building has a total floor area of 590.34 square meters. The facility will advance biotechnology development for producing butadiene and isoprene, key raw materials for synthetic rubber, […]
- Bridgestone to Raise Japanese Prices of Seismic Isolation Rubber Jun. 17, 2025Bridgestone on June 10 announced a 14% average price increase for its seismic isolation rubber for Japanese domestic manufacturers, effective from June. “In recent years, rising raw material prices, coupled with domestic social and economic conditions, have driven up logistics and energy costs for production and supply. Despite efforts to improve productivity, we determined that […]
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Japan’s Political System
Japan is a large and firmly established democracy in form of a constitutional monarchy in Asia. Learn more
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Japan’s Chemical Industry
People often do not realize that almost everything they touch in daily life originates in the chemical industry. The Japanese chemical industry is the third largest in the world. And it is the second largest manufacturing industry in Japan. Learn more
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Japan’s Automotive Industry
Japan is one of the most important auto-making countries in the world. Brands like Toyota, Honda or Suzuki are household names worldwide. Learn more
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Japan’s Machinery Industry
Japan has one of the most important industrial machinery industries in the world. It is home to a broad range of famous brands, globally renowned for their history and high quality. Learn more
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Japan’s Rubber Industry
Tires, cars, or buildings: Modern life is unthinkable without rubber. And Japan boasts one of the most developed rubber industries worldwide. Learn more
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Japan’s Newspaper Structure
Most people in the West are familiar with 3-tiered newspaper structures. Japan’s 5-tier system is more differentiated. Learn more
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Fujitsu Tests AI Customer Service Solution in Japanese Supermarket Aug. 7, 2023. - Fujitsu has begun testing an innovative AI module in a Japanese supermarket that generates AI avatars and tailors promotional content based on consumer behavior. The field trial, run in collaboration with the Retail AI Institute, is taking place from August 3 to October 15 at Aruk Mitajiri stores operated by supermarket chain Marukyu in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. This […]
Global Trade Suffers Amid Fragmentation, Warns JETRO 2023 Report Aug. 4, 2023. - According to the World Trade and Investment Report 2023 by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), global trade is faltering due to a myriad of international conflicts and geopolitical risks. The report indicates that enduring tension in Ukraine, an uptick in trade restrictive measures, and the uncertain relationship between the U.S. and China are undermining the principles of free trade. […]Japan and Germany Co-Develop Standard for Automated Valet Parking Aug. 3, 2023. - In a significant step towards efficient urban mobility, an international standard for “automatic valet parking” co-developed by Japan and Germany has been officially issued. This system leverages autonomous vehicle technology to navigate vehicles into parking spaces in large facilities, improving utilization of parking space and user convenience, reducing accidents, and cutting CO2 emissions. Large complexes, shopping malls, theme parks, and […]
Yokohama Spearheads Japan’s First Waste-to-Energy CO2 Capture Demonstration Experiment Aug. 2, 2023. - The City of Yokohama, Tokyo Gas, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and MHI Environmental & Chemical Engineering (MHIEC) have launched a pioneering demonstration experiment aimed at capturing and utilizing CO2 emissions from a local waste-to-energy plant. The project, based in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, is the first of its kind in Japan and involves the separation and capture of CO2 from plant flue […]Mitsui Chemicals Spearheads Development of Advanced Carbon-Neutral Naphtha Cracking Tech Aug. 1, 2023. - In an ambitious move towards carbon neutrality, Mitsui Chemicals has partnered with Microwave Chemical and Chiyoda Corporation to develop a pioneering naphtha cracking technology, the M-Cracker. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) adopted this initiative under its program for advancing research, development and social implementation of energy-saving technologies to realize a decarbonized society. Japan’s petrochemical industry annually […]
Japan’s Cabinet Greenlights Strategy for Decarbonized, Growth-Centric Economy Aug. 1, 2023. - In a bid to promote energy stability amid ongoing global challenges and to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, the Japanese Cabinet approved the “Strategy for Promoting the Transition to a Decarbonized Growth-Oriented Economic Structure” (GX Promotion Strategy) on July 28. This approval follows the enactment of several key policies earlier this year, including the “GX Promotion Law” and […]
Japan’s METI Launches Committee to Accelerate Generative AI Development Jul. 31, 2023. - The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has formed an expert committee to propel the development of generative AI technology. The initiative aims to establish a support scheme for companies developing competitive base models in the fast-evolving field of generative AI. This advanced technology is predicted to have a transformative impact on industrial activities and daily life, tackling social […]
New Series of Japanese Bank Notes to Launch in July 2024 Jul. 28, 2023. - The Japanese Ministry of Finance has announced that the new series of Bank of Japan notes, designed to strengthen anti-counterfeiting measures, will start circulating in the first half of July 2024. The initiative follows the decision made by the Ministry in April 2019 to produce a new series of notes to enhance the country’s ability to prevent counterfeiting and fraud. […]
Toyota Breaks Ground on Tokyo’s Next-Gen Sports Complex, Set for Fall 2025 Opening Jul. 26, 2023. - Toyota Motor, Toyota Fudosan, and Toyota Alvark Tokyo announced the groundbreaking for the construction of the highly-anticipated Tokyo A-Arena in the Odaiba Aomi area. Toyota Fudosan hosted the ceremony to commemorate the start of this ambitious project. Expected to be completed in June 2025, the arena aims to begin operations in the fall of the same year. Situated on the […]
Mitsui Chemicals Targets Global Leadership in Pellicle Manufacturing Jul. 25, 2023. - Mitsui Chemicals has announced the inauguration of its new affiliate, Mitsui Chemicals EMS Corp., which started operations on July 1, 2023. The newly established company is built on the pellicle business acquired from Asahi Kasei. As a leading provider of FPD pellicles, used in the LCD panel exposure process, this business has established a strong market presence. The company also […]
Japan Heralds New Era of Solar Power with Launch of Grid-Scale Battery System Jul. 24, 2023. - NTT Anode Energy Corporation, Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden), and Mitsubishi Corporation officially started operations of a 1.4 MW / 4.2MWh grid-scale battery storage system in Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, marking a significant milestone in Japan’s journey toward renewable energy. The implementation of this system is expected to boost the country’s use of solar power by minimizing the necessity for solar […]
Toyo Ink Unveils Nano-Silver Sintering Paste for Enhanced Power Die Bonding Jul. 21, 2023. - Toyo Ink SC Holdings, the parent company of specialty chemicals firm Toyo Ink Group, has developed a silver nanoparticle paste for die-attach applications. This lead-free material is engineered to meet the needs of next-generation power electronics, capable of sintering at low temperatures under both pressureless and pressure-assisted methods. The silver nanoparticle paste, born from the company’s Corporate R&D Division, caters […]Denso to Negotiate Transfer of Combustion Engine Parts Operations to Niterra Jul. 19, 2023. - Automotive parts supplier Denso has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to negotiate the transfer of certain internal combustion engine parts operations to Niterra. The move comes as the automotive industry accelerates its shift toward electrification in the push for carbon neutrality. The sector continues to develop internal combustion engines, accounting for regional and country-specific energy situations and fuel usage. […]
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Bags Order for LNG Systems from Imabari Shipbuilding Jul. 17, 2023. - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a Yokohama-based subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has secured an order for 12 units of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel gas supply system (FGSS) from Imabari Shipbuilding. The order includes high-pressure systems for nine LNG-fueled car carriers and three bulk carriers. The units are set to contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the marine environment with a […]Fujitsu and IHI Collaborate on Blockchain Project for Environmental Value Exchange Market Jul. 12, 2023. - Fujitsu and IHI Corporation have made significant progress in their joint project, which aims to contribute to carbon neutrality and establish an environmental value distribution platform supporting environmental value transactions. The project, initiated in fiscal year 2022, focuses on simplifying the environmental value creation process and preparing for the issuance of J-Credit, a carbon credit system. Under the initiative named […]
