Web Japan > Trends in Japan > Archives > Sci-tech 2005-2006
Giant Satellite
(December 21, 2006)
On the afternoon of December 18, 2006, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Engineering Test Satellite KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)
, Japan's biggest satellite to date. The satellite was loaded with two record-large antennas, each as big as a tennis court.
Music That Comes When You Call
(December 15, 2006)
There is now a robot that will come over to you and play music with just the push of a button on a remote control.
Hot New Hair Dryer
(December 8, 2006)
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s latest model in the Nanocare series of hair dryers has been making waves since its release in July 2006. Thanks to its "nanoe ion" generator, which reduces frizz and makes hair strong and lustrous, it has become a hot seller.
Now Where Was That Movie?
(November 16, 2006)
Makers of HDD/DVD recorders and PCs continue to compete over how many hours of recorded video can be stored on their products. In response to feedback from users, NEC has developed what it claims is an unprecedented system that makes searching for specific content much easier and faster.
Come See the Future
(November 8, 2006)
Japan's science museums are attracting attention around Asia. The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, located in Tokyo's Koto City, has become a destination for school trips for students from China and other countries.
Math the Japanese Way
(October 4, 2006)
Japanese math textbooks are being translated into English and other languages and are gaining popularity in countries like the United States and Singapore.
Battery-Powered Plane
(September 29, 2006)
A propeller aircraft took to the air while powered by nothing more than commercial dry-cell batteries this past July. The flight was the fruit of a joint project by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and undergraduates at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Deeper Than Ever
(September 14, 2006)
The deep-drilling vessel Chikyu began test drilling off the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture in August 2006. Through this record-breaking deep drilling, researchers are hoping to achieve such results as clarifying the ecology of microorganisms that live deep underground.
Electricity from Seaweed
(August 24, 2006)
Japanese researchers have developed a biomass fermentation system that uses seaweed dredged from the shore to produce fuel for generating electricity.
The Mind-Reading Robot
(July 11, 2006)
Honda Motor and the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) have jointly developed new technology that enables a robot to mimic the movements of a person by reading the patterns of activity in the person's brain.
Help for the Heart
(July 4, 2006)
A string of recent technological developments in Japan are holding out hope for patients awaiting heart transplants, particularly children. The goal of the researchers involved in these developments is to improve ventricular assist devices (VADs).
Seeing Inside Cells
(June 29, 2006)
Scientists observing the world of microscopic organisms will soon be able to obtain real-time images with exceptional levels of clarity and magnification, thanks to a Japanese invention. The breakthrough is a new type of laser microscope.
Early Warning
(June 9, 2006)
Recent technological advances mean that it may now be possible to warn people of an earthquake before the most destructive tremors strike.
See-Through Stadium
(May 22, 2006)
When the opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup gets underway in Germany, Japanese technology will help fans enjoy the action on the pitch. The Allianz Arena is constructed from panels containing a fluoropolymer film called ETFE foil, which was developed and manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Talking Paper
(May 8, 2006)
Electronic paper and other paper with innovative functions is now coming into use. Paper is finally entering the IT age through a fusion with digital technologies.
Super-Powered Cable
(May 8, 2006)
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. has developed a type of superconductive cable that can carry up to 200 times as much power as copper cable - and with electrical resistance of zero.
Easy As Pie
(March 20, 2006)
Fruit consumption in Japan has been on the decline in recent years, but all this may be about to change, thanks to a number of new fruit varieties that not only taste good but are much easier to eat, too.
A New Kind of “Dry” Cleaning
(March 13, 2006)
Sanyo Electric Co. has developed a household washing machine like no other: It can use air to wash clothes.
The Running Robot
(March 1, 2006)
Japanese firms continue to set the pace in the development of multifunctional, interactive robots. The work to improve ASIMO, the world's most advanced autonomous bipedal humanoid robot, continues at Honda Motor Co.
Hybrid Goes Mainstream
(February 24, 2006)
The age of the hybrid car has finally arrived. The latest models boast vastly improved engines and other features that leave their predecessors in the dust.
Battery Breakthrough
(January 19, 2006)
NEC recently announced the development of an ultra-thin, flexible, rechargeable battery. A mere 0.3 mm thick, this wafer-thin battery holds great promise for wearable computers and other applications.
Painless Injections
(December 20, 2005)
Though injections are vital for preventing and treating diseases, they are almost universally disliked. The fear of injections, however, may soon be a thing of the past. In July 2005, a painless needle went on sale to hospitals and other medical facilities.
Toyota Develops Eco-Friendly Shrub
(November 28, 2005)
Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest car manufacturer, has developed a new type of cherry sage shrub that can absorb airborne pollutants much more effectively than existing varieties.
A Legacy Of Sustainability
(November 25, 2005)
Even though the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan, has shut its gates, many of its exhibits and structures will continue to live on, thanks to extensive recycling efforts in line with the event's goal of environmental sustainability.
Super Competition
(November 22, 2005)
A project led by the Japanese government aimed at developing the world's fastest next-generation, high-performance supercomputer is about to get underway. The move is likely to intensify competition among supercomputer builders around the world.
Rice-Planting Robot
(October 14, 2005)
Rice is the staple food in Japan, and the planting of rice seedlings has been a backbreaking, yet essential, job since ancient times. Now, a group of scientists is working on a project that would hand the delicate task of inserting rice seedlings into paddies over to robots.
Hokkaido Heritage
(August 22, 2005)
Shiretoko is a peninsula of dense pristine forest that is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora and is ringed by dramatic, sheer cliffs. The area's spectacular scenery and state of preservation so impressed UNESCO that in July it put Shiretoko on its World Heritage list.
Air-Conditioned Clothes
(August 10, 2005)
Cool Biz is the title of a government campaign to persuade office workers to dispense with their ties and jackets as an environmentally friendly way of staying cool. And now an innovation called kuchofuku (air-conditioned clothing) is taking the concept one step further.
Keeping Expo Visitors Cool
(August 5, 2005)
EXPO 2005 Aichi has now passed the midway point of its six-month duration. As the summer heat rises, organizers are focusing on measures to help visitors stay comfortable in the heat.
Bathroom Innovation
(July 26, 2005)
The role of the toilet has long been limited to flushing away waste, but that may be about to change with the recent introduction of a hi-tech bathroom system that can instantly gather, compile, and analyze data about a person's physical health.
"Third Beer"
(July 15, 2005)
Beer-like alcoholic beverages that have collectively been dubbed the "third beer" because they fall into neither the regular nor low-malt beer category, are a big hit in Japan right now.
Expo 2005 Feature 6
(June 23, 2005)
From March 25 to September 25, 2005, the 2005 World Exposition is taking place in the eastern hills of Nagoya, which is located in the center of Japan in Aichi Prefecture. Twenty-two countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania are holding their exhibits in the 12 pavilions of Global Common Six.
"Place Your Hand on the Scanner"
(May 10, 2005)
Some Japanese banks have already begun installing biometric ID systems at their ATMs in an effort to combat cash-card fraud. But biometric ID has many other uses, including keeping track of who enters and leaves offices, protecting computers from tampering, and preventing unauthorized entry to apartment buildings. Manufacturers of these hi-tech security systems report that demand is booming.
Expo 2005 Feature 5
(April 28, 2005)
From March 25 to September 25, 2005, the 2005 World Exposition is taking place in the eastern hills of Nagoya, which is located in the center of Japan in Aichi Prefecture. A total of 30 countries in Africa will hold their exhibits in Global Common Five, where they will be joined by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, which will hold exhibits at the NEDO Pavilion.
Expo 2005 Feature 4
(March 29, 2005)
From March 25 to September 25, 2005, the eastern hills of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, will play host to the 2005 World Exposition. A total of 21 countries in Europe will hold their exhibits in Global Common Four.
Making the Kyoto Protocol Work
(March 28, 2005)
Now that the Kyoto Protocol on the prevention of climate change has come into force, Japan is busy seeking out innovative ways to meet its obligations under the protocol.
Expo 2005 Feature 3
(March 18, 2005)
From March 25 to September 25, 2005, the eastern hills of Nagoya, which is located in the center of Japan in Aichi Prefecture, will play host to the 2005 World Exposition. A total of 18 countries in Asia, excluding Southeast Asia, will hold their exhibits in Global Common One.
Going Green at Home
(February 24, 2005)
Several Japanese companies have begun marketing home-use fuel cells that generate electricity from hydrogen and oxygen and help to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Fish-Farming Breakthrough
(February 21, 2005)
The technology of fish farming, a practice that offers advantages in terms of food safety and conservation, is advancing rapidly.
Expo 2005 Feature 2
(February 16, 2005)
From March 25 to September 25, 2005, Aichi Prefecture will be the site of the 2005 World Exposition, which will be held under the theme of "Nature's Wisdom." Global Common Three is home to countries located in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Expo 2005 Feature 1
(February 8, 2005)
From March 25 to September 25, 2005, Aichi Prefecture will host the 2005 World Exposition under the theme of "Nature's Wisdom." Global Common Two is home to the countries of the Americas.
Back to Basics
(January 14, 2005)
Modern cell phones are a lot more than just phones. In addition to voice calls,
they can be used to send e-mail, take photos and videos, navigate the Internet,
and even conduct bank transactions. But not everyone is impressed with such a
plethora of functions.
