Takara Holdings updates, upgrades a treasured legacy
In December 2024, a surge of joy ran through Japan’s sake industry. The process of making Japanese alcoholic products — including rice wine itself, shōchū (a distilled liquor similar to whisky) and mirin (a sweet cooking wine) — was registered as a UNESCO Intangible ...
In recognition of the group’s steadfast determination and advocacy, Nihon Hidankyo received the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10, 2024, in Oslo. With 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, this honor is a tribute to decades of unwavering commitment ...
Nothing beats the special ambience of enjoying a finely crafted cocktail at a high-end bar in your favorite part of town. However, less is known about how bartenders develop the specialized skills needed to make these elegant and delectable concoctions. The history of bar culture ...
Potential future market transformers to keep an eye on
Startups, whose key objectives revolve around innovation and market disruption, have the potential to drive economic growth and generate significant numbers of jobs. The Japanese government’s Startup Development Five-Year Plan, formulated at the end of 2022, aims to increase the amount invested in startups ...
Heralbony takes the art of those with intellectual disabilities global
Heralbony is an art agency that specializes in licensing artworks produced by artists with intellectual disabilities for a variety of purposes, including commercial products, advertisements and events. The company was established in 2018 by Takaya and Fumito Matsuda, twin brothers who have an older ...
Zeals’ social chat commerce platform: Engaging conversation plus AI
Zeals is a company that provides a social chat commerce solution that leverages a combination of artificial intelligence and conversation-design skills on various social media channels like Instagram, Messenger and Line. Established in 2014, it now has offices in Tokyo and San Francisco and ...
JETRO is pivotal in driving Japan’s startups to global success
The Japan External Trade Organization is playing a pivotal role in the international expansion of Japanese startups. By offering a robust suite of services — including mentoring, warm introductions to global stakeholders, acceleration programs and business development guidance — JETRO has established itself as ...
Bioworks’ plant-based PlaX is a recyclable drop-in replacement for polyester
While the textile and apparel industry provides products that enhance people’s lives with color and style, it also has a significant environmental impact. One Japanese startup is gaining recognition at home and abroad for its innovative solutions to this problem from the perspective of ...
Tokyo University of Science’s support ecosystem for startups
The Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan’s largest private general university for science and technology, punches above its weight in the number of startups launched by faculty, researchers and students, argues President Masatoshi Ishikawa. “As of 2023, TUS has provided support to 191 ventures. ... ...
As countries around the world continue to invest extensively in the semiconductor sector, Japan is accelerating the revival of its own chip industry, aiming not just to catch up with its peers, but to become a major chipmaker that can contribute to ensuring the ...
The Japanese semiconductor industry is on the cusp of a revival, with major national backing for players including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a world-leading chipmaker that is setting up plants in Japan, and Rapidus, a new cutting-edge domestic chipmaker. The Japan Times interviewed University of ...
There is no doubt about the fact that digital technologies will continue to play a central role in making society work as far into the future as one can imagine. But how to effectively use digital technologies has always been a major concern. Hideki Wakabayashi, ...
