Sci-tech | Trends in Japan

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Hayabusa Is Back

The Japanese Technology behind a Six-Billion Kilometer Journey
In June 2010, the Japanese asteroid exploration spacecraft Hayabusa returned to Earth after an epic journey into space, in the course of which Hayabusa became the first spacecraft to land on any celestial body other than the moon and bring back samples.

Japan's Revolutionary Achievements in Organic Synthesis

Cross-Coupling Reactions Win Nobel Prizes for Japanese Chemists
In 2010, two Japanese scientists won Nobel Prizes in Chemistry for their work in the field of cross-coupling reactions. The results of Japanese breakthroughs in organic chemistry are all around us today in televisions, cell phones, and computer monitors.

Robots on the Moon

In August 2010, Japan announced ambitious plans for a ground-breaking mission that will use robots to explore the moon.

Japan's High-tech Toilets

Japan’s obsession with cleanliness and high-tech culture has given birth to the cleanest and most comfortable toilets in the world.

The Evolving Shinkansen

In 2011, the new E5 Series will debut on the Tohoku Shinkansen lines in northern Honshu. When it reaches its full operating speed in March 2013 the E5 Series will be Japan’s fastest train ever, with a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour.

Unraveling the Riddles of the Deep

Using some of the most advanced drilling technology in the world, Chikyu will reveal new information about how earthquakes happen, and discover previously unknown marine resources and life forms.

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Rescue Robots

Japan is a world leader in the field of rescue robots. These remarkable machines help relief efforts after earthquakes and other disasters by navigating through wreckage that is too dangerous for people to enter.

Pagoda in the Sky

When it is finished, the Tokyo Sky Tree will be the tallest free-standing broadcast tower in the world, at a height of 634 meters. The antiseismic technologies used in the tower represent a groundbreaking fusion of traditional techniques and the latest modern technology.

Virtuous Cycles

Tokyo's Setagaya Ward has long been active in supporting environmental conservation. It is now garnering attention for its introduction of eco-friendly electric bicycles and two Solar Parking Lots powered by solar cells and lithium-ion batteries. The initiative is part of the city's efforts to realize a low-carbon society.

Robot Caregivers

Given the aging of Japan's population, public and private institutions are working to develop robots that can assist with nursing care. In recent months robots have been unveiled that are designed to help elderly and disabled people get in and out of bed and to assist with their transportation.

What Do Sounds Look Like?

Japanese researchers have developed a revolutionary type of glass that can show visually how loud a sound is and which direction it is coming from on a transparent display. Its applications include monitoring noise at electric power plants and other facilities to check for anomalies.

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