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- EUDR Likely to be Postponed, Impact on Natural Rubber Oct. 15, 2024On October 2, the European Commission announced that it would propose a one-year extension of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was originally scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2024 for large companies and on June 30, 2025 for small and medium-sized companies. Japanese domestic tire manufacturers and others have been taking steps to […]
- Showa Glove Launches Gloves for Touch Panel Operations Oct. 11, 2024Glove manufacturer Showa Glove has in October released AP800 smartphone compatible nitrile palm gloves, which allow operation of smartphones and other touch panels while wearing gloves. Increasingly, in logistics, manufacturing, cleaning, service, and other workplaces, smartphones and tablet terminals need to be operated for inspection and picking work, inventory control, customer service, and other tasks. […]
- Kuraray Raises Prices of Septon and Other Elastomers Oct. 10, 2024Kuraray will raise the prices of its hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomers Septon and Hybrar as well as TU polymers globally, beginning with shipments on October 15. The price increase is $0.22 per kilogram. Regarding the price increase, the company said, “The increase in costs for the subject products, including key raw materials, utility and logistics […]
- Lanxess Sells Urethane Systems Business to Ube Oct. 10, 2024Lanxess signed an agreement to sell its Urethane Systems business to Ube. The value of the business is equivalent to 460 million euros ($503.3 million), and the sale price is expected to be approximately 500 million euros. With this transaction, Lanxess will exit its last polymer business. The Urethane Systems business has five manufacturing sites […]
- Sumitomo Rubber Concludes Share Transfer Agreement for Dunlop Sports Wellness Oct. 9, 2024Sumitomo Rubber has resolved at a meeting of its board of directors to conclude a share transfer agreement for the transfer of all shares of its consolidated subsidiary, Dunlop Sports Wellness, to Nagase Brothers. The transfer is scheduled to take place in early December 2024. Regarding the share transfer agreement, the company said, “Dunlop Sports […]
- Nitta Moore Moves Korean Plant Oct. 8, 2024Nitta’s consolidated subsidiary Korea Nitta Moore relocated and expanded its plant in Gumi, Korea, and began operations at the new plant on October 1. The investment was 23 billion won ($17.1 million). With a land area of 30,312 square meters and building area of 21,705 square meters, the new plant is 2.3 times larger than […]
- Bridgestone Ends Olympic Contract Oct. 7, 2024Bridgestone has decided and agreed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to continue its Worldwide Partner Agreement for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which expires at the end of December 2024. Based on its mission of contributing to society with the highest quality, the company shares the IOC’s vision of creating a better world […]
- Nitta Says Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Drives Tubes and Fittings Oct. 4, 2024Nitta’s Moore Division’s first quarter (April-June) financial results showed sales were flat year-on-year and operating profit increased. In the general industrial business, sales increased year-on-year. Sales of tubing and fittings, which are components of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, improved as customers began to place orders for such equipment. “The semiconductor manufacturing equipment production started in the […]
- Bridgestone Looks to India for High-Pressure Hose Business Oct. 3, 2024Bridgestone’s hose business reported higher sales and profits in the first half of fiscal 2024 (January-June 2024) compared to the same period last year. Sales of high-pressure hoses for construction machinery were strong, especially in overseas markets, and exceeded the double-digit sales growth of the same period last year by several more percent, reaching a […]
- Sumitomo Riko Adopts Thermal Barrier Coating to Reduce Carbon Emissions Oct. 2, 2024As part of its carbon neutral initiative to achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions by 2050, Sumitomo Riko has adopted heat shield paints that prevent heat radiation in molds used in the production process and reduced the power consumption of the molds, thereby reducing CO2 emissions for the entire group by approximately 1,000 tons per year […]
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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 […]
