Painless syringes, therapeutic planetariums, cards embedded with IC chips that allow cashless payments, and a singing duo who inspired a U.S. cartoon were among the products and people winning honors Wednesday for innovation.
Now in their fourth year, the Innovator Awards were created by major publisher Nikkei Business Publications Inc. to inspire creativity in a nation whose people are known more for conformity than individuality.
Analysts say new technologies and ideas -- embodied in the work of the award winners -- are critical to the country's nascent economic revival after nearly 15 years of stagnation, by providing new business opportunities and giving products an edge in global competition.