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Asia DX Companies that Solve Social Issues in Asia (2)
2023-3-16
Once best known a world-leading maker of photographic film, Fujifilm has reinvented itself as a provider of healthcare products and services. Today, with approximately 30% ...
Introducing an Asia DX Company that Uses Digital Technology to Solve Social Issues in Asia
2023-1-16
Made-in-India drones are just one of the success stories for Asia DX Project. Launched by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in 2019. this Project ...
2022-11-7
In September 2022, the Ministerial Discussion of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for Prosperity was held in the United States, where the ministers from ...
SME White Papers Reveal Challenges and Recipes for Success
2022-9-1
Two new whitepapers cast light on how small and medium enterprises can stay resilient despite the impact of global issues including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, soaring crude oil and raw material prices and supply-chain disruption ...
2022-8-31
The Green Transformation Technologies Inventory (GXTI) is a new technologies inventory developed by the Japan Patent Office (JPO), to help companies make evidence-based analyses of GX technologies based on patent information. Released in June ...
Make Delivery Smart with Automated Delivery Robots
2022-8-2
Traveling on the sidewalk next to you is an automated delivery robot—such a future is on the horizon. In April of this year, a law was passed to partially revises the Road Traffic Act, adding a provision on the use of ...
METI Shares the Health and Productivity Management Scores of 2,000 Japanese Companies
2022-6-15
For the first time, this March, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released a report revealing the detailed Health and Productivity Management scores of 2,000 Japanese companies. Health and Productivity Management scores track ...
Can the Internet of Things (IoT) Reduce Food Waste?
2022-5-13
Eliminating waste in the production and consumption of food is one of the key targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To solve this issue, we need to track people’s patterns of ...
Fukushima Is Becoming the "Hub" of the Wind Industry! – Challenges for Affected Municipalities
2021-12-15
Renewable energy: it's becoming increasingly important to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Some local governments are trying to develop wind power as a next-generation renewable energy industry ...
Introducing the SMEs Supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Games! (3); Be Better
2021-9-9
The concept for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games was "Be better, together." The Games showed the world that Japan cares about diversity and the environment, and has the technology to make society ...
2021-9-9
The 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were hosted by Tokyo facing unprecedented challenges. Behind the athletes' great performances, a variety of technologies and goods that make use of Japan's ...
Introducing the SMEs Supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Games! (1); Paralympic
2021-9-2
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are underway. The stories of the athletes who have been striving for this global showcase are all captivating. But behind each of their prostheses, equipment...
Global Leaders to Discuss Their Visions for Carbon Neutrality at the NET ZERO Leaders Summit
2021-7-20
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will host a series of online events called "NET ZERO Leaders Summit (JBC2021)," starting on July 28, 2021...
"Business and Human Rights:" Towards Responsible Corporate Conduct
2021-7-6
The issue of "business and human rights" was included in the G7 Summit Statement adopted on June 13. Regulating the trade and use of goods and services that carry a risk of forced labor, child labor, and other human...
2021-4-23
For small-to-medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and freelancers, digital platforms such as online shopping malls and App Stores offer tremendous benefits. They can make it easier for them to access markets and attract...
METI Unveils Green Growth Strategy to Support Japan’s 2050 Carbon Neutral Goal
2021-2-08
In October 2020, the Japanese government declared its ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, setting Japan on course to become a carbon-neutral society. The Green Growth Strategy is key to helping ...
Feature article: Insights into “Key Points of Economic and Industrial Policies ” (4)
2021-1-15
Utilize digital technology and bring innovation to education. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has been promoting the...
Feature article: Insights into “Key Points of Economic and Industrial Policies” (3)
2021-1-15
In order to promote digitalization throughout Japan, national and local governments must first realize such digitalization internally. It is necessary to realize government infrastructures that allow people to complete administrative governmental procedures...
Feature article: Insights into “Key Points of Economic and Industrial Policies” (1)
2020-12-18
On September 30, 2020, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) compiled the “FY2021 Key Points of Economic and Industrial Policies.” This compilation is an annual report on METI’s prioritized efforts for showing ...
Feature article: Insights into “Key Points of Economic and Industrial Policies” (2)
2020-12-18
As the novel coronavirus disease expanded, public demands at home and abroad for hygiene commodities, e.g., face masks, alcohol antiseptics and medical test equipment, grew. As a result, people faced shortages of such commodities in Japan as well...
METI Support for Asia-Wide Digital Transformation
2020-11-5
Digital Transformation (DX) is urgently required for Japan to effectively mitigate the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on business. Japan has lagged behind in the area of digital transformation compared with some emerging Asian markets.
Realizing the Virtuous Cycle of Environment and Economy - Tokyo “Beyond-Zero” Week (Part Two)
2020-10-7
As a part of worldwide carbon-neutral efforts, Japan aims to realize technological innovation to achieve the “Beyond-Zero” initiative and improvement of industrial competitiveness through the social implementation thereof, aiming for a virtuous cycle of environment and economy...
Realizing the Virtuous Cycle of Environment and Economy - Tokyo “Beyond-Zero” Week (Part One)
2020-10-7
The Paris Agreement is an international framework on the issue of climate change agreed upon in Paris in 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), a meeting to discuss international agreements on the reduction of greenhouse gases. The Paris Agreement...
Protect Yourself and Your Friends from the Perils of Counterfeit Products
2020-9-24
Due the rise of online shopping through popular marketplace applications, social networking services (SNS) and other online exchange forums, there is a growing risk of buying and selling counterfeit products…
New Guidelines for the Safe Use of Hydrogen-powered Drones
2020-9-18
The International Hydrogen-powered drones (known as “hydrogen drones”) are capable of longer flying time compared with conventional battery-operated drones. This longer flight time is expected to drive high demand for....
Welcome to the Chibanian Age! The First Geological Age with a Japanese Name
2020-5-14
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) have approved a Japanese research team’s application to register the “Chiba section”—a geological layer in Ichihara City....
2020-3-9
Carbon recycling, in which industries reuse carbon dioxide (CO2) as raw materials for chemicals, fuels, and minerals, has garnered attention as a measure for addressing climate change. ....
Japan Initiative Leads to New Safety Measures for Surgical Robots
2020-1-23
In recent years, public demand for minimally invasive surgery has grown. Patients are operated on with smaller incisions which ease the burden of surgery and allows ....
Initiatives for Enhancing Skills of On-site Personnel in the Service Industry
2019-12-18
Have you heard of “Omotenashi Skills Standards”? They are a new set of standards for the service industry that Japan’s Ministry of Economy, ....
2019-12-9
A walking trolley is a multi-wheeled, trolley-like device with a resting seat and brakes that helps the elderly to walk safely and independently Common in Japan, ....
METI to Host Three International Energy-related Conferences in Tokyo in the Autumn of 2019
2019-9-17
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will host three international conferences in the field of energy in Tokyo from September 25 to 26, 2019. Two conferences in the fields ....
Unlocking the Potential of Service Robots
2019-7-26
Japan’s aging society and declining population is driving a labor shortage, particularly in the service industry. The solution to this challenge may come in the form of commercialized ....
Japan Opens National R&D Database to Aspiring Innovators
2019-6-25
What will be the next great tech breakthrough of the Fourth Industrial Revolution? The secret may lie in a wealth of research and development (R&D) data waiting to be tapped....
2019-6-14
“The Lehman Shock plunged the global economy into chaos… climate change could be worse.”: The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meetings in 2015....
2019-6-13
As the host country of the G20 (group of twenty major countries and regions) meetings in 2019, Japan intends to exhibit leadership in deliberations on....
【The G20 – More than just a Summit Meeting!】The Fight against Data Hegemony
2019-6-10
Data is becoming known as “the oil of the 21st century.” Underestimating either its value or impact on society would be a significant error....
【The G20 – More than just a Summit Meeting!】T20 Outlines the Future of the WTO and Data Governance
2019-6-7
Interview with Dr. Fukunari Kimura, Professor, Keio University, on the issue of Japan’s approaches to addressing changes in global society....
How to Make Electric Vehicles More Pedestrian-Friendly
2019-6-5
The rise of electric drive vehicles (EVs), from fully electric to hybrid vehicles, has created an unprecedented noise problem—in fact, EVs are too quiet. At low speeds....
【The G20 – More than just a summit meeting!】 Global changes reflected in G20 meetings
2019-5-31
Japan will host the G20 Summit for the first time. A series of related meetings start full bore before the Summit in June, which will take place in Osaka City. Amid the intensifying trade ....
Japan Sets Standard for Service and Hospitality with Purple “Murasaki” Certificate
2019-5-24
Previously, METI Mobile introduced Japan’s Omotenashi Standard Certification System, a program designed to help customers recognize high-quality Japanese service at a glance....
How to Look for Service Quality in Japan
2019-5-21
Japan is known for high-quality service and hospitality, but how can you tell at-a-glance what level of service a business provides? In 2017,the Ministry of Economy....
4 Things to Know about Portable Battery Packs in Japan
2019-4-25
Portable battery packs are essential for a quick charge of your smartphone or other mobile device on-the-go, thanks to their high capacity, light weight, and wide ....
Safer crossings with electric-powered wheelchairs
2019-3-28
Electric-powered wheelchairs are important tools for the elderly and people with mobility challenges. They’re also large devices that can create safety hazards if ....
Japan Promotes Emission-Reducing Technology at COP 24 in Poland
2019-3-25
Japan joined the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 2, 2018, in Katowice, Poland........
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Where Will Flying Cars Take Us? Japan Develops World’s First Air Mobility Roadmap
2019-3-18
The distant future of flying cars might soon be arriving in Japan. Since 2018, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has partnered with the Ministry .......
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J-Startups On Display at South by Southwest (SXSW)
2019-3-13
Ten Japanese startups are traveling to South by Southwest (SXSW) 2019 in Austin, Texas in March to show off their cutting-edge products and services to creatives .......
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Building the future with humanoid robots
2019-1-24
The construction industry faces a severe labor shortage in Japan and many other countries around the world. This shortage is expected to become even more acute .......
Reducing Emissions at Gas Stations across Japan
2018-12-26
Across Japan, many gas stations are adopting new technologies to be officially designated as “Clean Air Service Stations.” Clean Air Service Stations .......
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Luminous ceramics made in Fukushima help save lives during Thai cave rescue
2018-12-19
Luna Ware, produced in Kawauchi Village, Fukushima Prefecture, was instrumental to the rescue of twelve boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave in .......
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“Dear the companies supported by INCJ”
2018-12-14
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently withdrew its request to allocate a portion of the FY2019 Fiscal Budget for Government Investment to Japan .......
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Japan’s Emergency Signs Guide Travelers to Safety During Disasters
2018-12-10
Natural disasters can strike at any time. When disaster hits, there may be many different ways to seek shelter depending on the situation. But how can you make sure you find the right ......
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Preserving the Earth for future generations through innovation
2018-12-5
The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) welcomed more than 1,000 experts in the energy and environment sectors, representing ......
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World’s first ministerial meeting on a future “Hydrogen Society” held in Japan
2018-11-28
Hydrogen stations may soon be as common as gas stations in Japan. In place of CO2-emitting fossil fuels, Japan sees hydrogen fuel as the key to de-carbonizing ......
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Japan Promotes Electrified Vehicle (xEV) Strategy ahead of 2050
2018-09-11
By 2050, every vehicle produced by Japanese automakers will be electrified. These electrified vehicles (xEVs) includes battery electric vehicles, plug in-hybrid electric vehicles,......
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Japan Advocates for a Flexible, Highly-Transparent LNG Market
2018-08-22
Japan is the world’s largest consumer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In 2012, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)......
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Fashion Tech for Better Style and Quality of Life
2018-08-16
Consumers’ lifestyles and values are changing, and goods and services providers must adapt to meet their needs. ......
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Data Privacy in the Age of Smart Cars and Appliances
2018-07-06
We live in the age of IoT, where more and more of the tools we use every day are connected online, from cars and home appliances to medical equipment. ......
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2018-05-02
In recent years, cities all over the world have been facing increasingly fiercer competition when trying to attract foreign-based companies. ......
2018-05-02
A growing number of overseas companies have been thinking about business development in Japan, with its positive economic prospects and attractive market. With overseas companies’ ......
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2018-05-02
Companies, whether they are domestic or global companies, can best enhance their competitiveness by obtaining new human resources from far and wide. ......
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2018-05-02
In-bound consumption,” or consumption by foreign tourists, is very brisk in Japan. In 2017, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan grew 19.3% ......
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Tokyo International Film Festival Showcases Japan’s Collaborative Media Evolution
2017-11-01
The 30th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) welcomed filmmakers and critics from around the world to the heart of Japan’s capital from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3, 2017......
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Diversity Enhances Corporate Competitiveness
2017-03-27
Japan’s newest buzzword for corporate strategy is “diversity management” leveraging untapped human resources.....
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METI Minister Joins PM Modi at Indian Investment Summit
2017-03-10
In January 2017, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshige Seko, visited Ahmadabad, the largest city in western India’s state of Gujarat.....
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Fukushima Today: Progress of Reconstruction
2017-03-06
Nearly six years have passed since a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck the coast of northeastern Japan.....
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Japan’s Mascots Promote Green Energy at EXPO 2017 Astana
2017-03-01
The official mascots of EXPO 2005 in Japan will also promote Japan’s contribution to future energy.....
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Japan and China Work Together on Energy Conservation
2017-02-20
Representatives from Japan and China met in Beijing to discuss energy conservation and environmental....
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2017-02-03
Starting February 24, workers in Japan will have another reason to celebrate the end of the week....
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Youth Volunteers Revitalizing Hometowns
2017-01-27
Young people in Japan’s regional areas are stepping up to help their towns....
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Deepening Industry-Academia Joint Research
2017-01-19
Broad and open innovation is key to optimizing new technology such as AI and IoT....
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Traditional Japanese Crafts: Beyond Modern Expectations
2016-12-26
When you hear the words “traditional Japanese crafts,” do you think of expensive art objects that exist only on a shelf?....
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A Reservoir of Mineral Resources: Japan-South Africa Cooperation
2016-12-19
In October 2016, Japan hosted a seminar for South African investment, attended by South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources....
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Japan’s First National Cybersecurity Qualification System
2016-12-12
As cyberattacks grow more frequent worldwide, Japan has introduced a new national cybersecurity qualification system....
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Tokyo International Film Festival
2016-11-30
On the sidelines of this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), buyers from around the world......
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Competition and Monopoly in Japan’s Digital Market
Smartphone OSs in Japan
2016-11-28
Top smartphone OS providers Apple and Google each have firm holds on the Japanese market......
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Creating New Technologies in Fukushima
2016-11-15
Japan’s newest frontier for cutting-edge R&D may surprise you. Fukushima Prefecture, an area devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.....
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Discover the Beauty of Japan through METI’s Free Photo Library
2016-11-10
How mu ch do you think it costs to license this photo? With the free new PHOTO METI web service from Japan’s Ministry of Economy.....
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Vietnam-Japan University Deepens ASEAN Ties
2016-11-04
In September 2016, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry delivered a celebratory speech at the newly-established Vietnam-Japan University in Hanoi.....
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Rare Metals Essential for Japan’s High-Tech Innovations
2016-11-01
The corrosion-resistant titanium plates that extend over the sea underneath Haneda Airport’s Runway D are designed to last for 100 years.....
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Japan’s Economic Cooperation with Russia
2016-10-13
The short flight from Tokyo to the city of Vladivostok, Russia only takes two and a half hours,.....
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6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) a Success in Nairobi
2016-10-04
The 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), jointly organized between Japan and its African partners.....
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Spotlight on Japan’s Young IT Creators
2016-09-26
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) partners with the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA) to organize.....
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How to Find the Best Service in Japan
2016-09-15
Have you ever stepped into a shop and been put off by uncleanliness or poor service?.....
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Japan, ASEAN Collaborate for Innovation Network
2016-08-30
On August 6, 2016, Japan’s newly-appointed Minister for Trade, Economy and Industry (METI), Hiroshige Seko, attended.....
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Impact of Excess Capacity in China on Global Economy?
2016-08-29
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released its “White Paper on International Economy and Trade 2016,”.....
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Japanese Private-Sector Investment in Africa?
2016-08-22
Promoting Japanese private-sector investment in Africa will be one of the key topics of....
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What Does the Brexit Mean for Japan?
2016-08-09
In a historic referendum, United Kingdom (UK) citizens voted to leave the European Union (EU)......
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Growing Japan into a Sports MVP
2016-08-05
As the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games gets the world cheering......
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Shodo Island Sells Local, Aims Global
2016-07-08
On Japan’s Shodo Island, there is a growing enthusiasm for leveraging the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) to export local delicacies internationally......
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“Fiery Ice ” Buried Under Japan’s Seabed
2016-06-30
“Fiery ice” is another name for methane hydrate, a substance confirmed to lie under the seabed around .....
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Consumer Protection through DNA Analysis
2016-06-23
The label on your scarf says “100% Cashmere,” but how do you know it’s true? .....
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2016-06-14
How does your computer verify a transaction on the internet? Until recently, online .....
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Bringing Japanese Caviar to the World
2016-05-18
The embargo on Japanese caviar exports was lifted in September 2015, through joint efforts by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Fisheries Agency (FAJ) to introduce procedures complying with international guidelines. If caviar meets the proper criteria, METI will begin issuing export permits for products of sturgeon aquaculture from areas such as Miyazaki in southern Japan.
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Kitakyushu cleans up polluted legacy with green energy
2016-03-31
Ahead of the G7 Summit on May 26-27 in Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture, ten ministerial meetings will be held throughout Japan to discuss specific issues, including foreign policy, finance, and energy. Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will join the Energy Ministers’ Meeting on May 1-2 in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
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New incentives to popularize renewable energy
2016-03-29
Japan’s Cabinet approved a bill to revise the feed-in tariff (FIT) law(*) on February 9, 2016. Under the FIT system, power companies buy electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar power, at fixed prices. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has been working to revise FIT rules to expand low-cost renewable energy offerings, advance technology and promote sustainable development.
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Japan’s aerospace tech blasts off
2016-02-25
At precisely 3:50 p.m. on November 24, 2015, a Japanese H-IIA rocket blasted off from Tanegashima Space Center into the clear blue sky. The rocket’s missions?to bring a broadcast and telecommunications satellite for Canada’s Telesat into orbit around the earth?was a resounding success.
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International businesses flock to Japan
2016-02-15
Overseas enterprises have been investing in Japan in record numbers. In recent years, investments increased 31% from 726.5 billion yen in 2013 to 954.8 billion yen in 2014, after a tenfold surge over the previous year. In a survey of more than 200 companies in 2013, Japan was also considered one of the premier location for research and development in Asia.
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Saving lives through manufacturing
2016-02-04
Worldwide demand for life-saving medical equipment has doubled in the last decade, creating opportunities for Japan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to contribute through their world-famous manufacturing technology.
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2016-01-27
What does the phrase Cool Japan mean to you? Perhaps it makes you think of anime and Japanese comics, known as manga.
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Super-strong wood fiber bears \1tn ($8.5bn) market potential
2016-01-22
Dating from the 7th century, Horyu Temple (Horyuji) in Nara contains some of the world’s oldest wooden structures. Its enduring strength and resilience come from a fiber within the wood, called cellulose.
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World Trade Organization expands IT tariff eliminations
2016-01-18
Negotiations to expand the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) successfully concluded at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 16, 2015.
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6.42 million tons per year! - food loss and waste in Japan
2016-01-08
An incredible 6.42 million tons of edible food is being thrown away every year in Japan, according to official government data.
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2015-12-25
On November 15, kimonos became standard office attire at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in celebration of Kimono Day, part of a new effort to promote Japan’s traditional attire as casual wear.
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Bringing down barriers to the movies for 650 million people
2015-12-17
Alongside the glittering red-carpet movie premiers, the 2015 Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) held from October 22-31 also showcased a new “barrier free” technology designed to bring the joys of cinema-going to the visually and hearing impaired.
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