A joint team from Chiba University, NHK Science & Technology Research Labs, and Kyoto University has developed an organic EL device capable of both light emission and solar power generation. Using innovative MR-TADF materials, they overcame the long-standing trade-off between emission and power conversion efficiency, achieving the world's first blue light-emitting power-generating device. Applications include self-powered displays and battery-free sensors.

JTB's new immersive cultural brand

Japanese startup AstroX has raised $15 million in Series A funding to develop its revolutionary Rockoon launch system — using high-altitude balloons to carry rockets to the stratosphere before firing them into space. Based in Fukushima's Minamisoma, the company aims to reach space by 2026 and achieve orbital insertion by 2029, challenging the global space launch industry with a low-cost, flexible alternative.

Japan's first nuclear-powered ship

Japanese startup AirX has signed a binding order with Brazil's Eve Air Mobility for two eVTOL

Japan's abandoned bamboo forests have expanded to roughly 400,000 acres, causing landslides and destroying ecosystems. Taguchi Industrial from Okayama has answered with the

Researchers at Tufts University have developed a groundbreaking method to mass-produce tagatose, a rare sugar that is 92% as sweet as table sugar with 60% fewer calories. With minimal impact on blood sugar, FDA safety approval, and the ability to brown like real sugar in baking, tagatose could reshape the sweetener market. Here's what you need to know.

Shibaura Institute of Technology's

The live-action Blue Lock movie revealed Masataka Kubota as Ego Jinpachi at its production event. Led by Fumiya Takahashi, produced by CREDEUS, and releasing August 7, 2026 during the World Cup year. Full cast details and fan reactions from Japan and abroad.

A Japanese research team has discovered Mic-628, an oral compound that advances the circadian clock regardless of dosing time. In mouse studies, it cut jet lag recovery from 7 days to 4. Learn how this breakthrough could transform treatment for jet lag, shift work disorders, and beyond.

A Kyoto-based tech company TASKMATE has developed a blade-resistant tote bag that doubles as a protective shield in emergencies. Featuring their proprietary cut-resistant fiber CYGUS® and artisan sewing from Kagawa Prefecture, this Made-in-Japan security product showcases how Japanese craftsmanship is entering the personal safety market.

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics medal design is sparking debate worldwide. Its minimalist two-halves concept divided by a single diagonal line draws both praise for Italian elegance and criticism for being too plain. Here's how Japan and the world are reacting to this bold design choice.

Shibaura Institute of Technology's

A former Olympic gold medalist turned commentator was stunned by an Italian hotel's open-plan shower at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. With no partition, no bathtub, and only a thin curtain — Japanese guests face a real challenge. Explore the fascinating cultural gap between Japanese and European hotel bathroom design.

JR East launches Japan's first cargo-only Shinkansen in March 2026. A former Yamagata Shinkansen E3 Series train has been stripped of all 394 seats and rebuilt to carry up to 17.4 tons of freight at 186 mph. Learn how the

Kindai University has achieved the world's first full-cycle aquaculture of Nodoguro (Blackthroat seaperch), a high-end deep-sea fish known as the

A research team at Kanazawa University has developed a next-generation X-ray CT scanner with 5x the resolution of conventional devices (0.08–0.1mm). Capturing images in just 6.5 seconds, this compact device can visualize trabecular bone structure, opening doors for early detection of trigger finger and osteoarthritis. We explore how 20 years of clinical experience led to this breakthrough.

Japan's vinyl record production has surged from just 100,000 units in 2009 to 3.15 million in 2024 — a 30x V-shaped recovery. In an age of streaming dominance, why are analog records thriving? Discover the

The 14th GBWC (Gunpla Builders World Cup) has been confirmed for 2027, with potential new regulations and course restructuring. Since its 2011 debut, this official Gundam plastic model competition has expanded to 16 countries and regions. Explore how Gunpla culture grew into a global phenomenon with over $1 billion in annual Gundam IP revenue.

Fujikura dominates the global market for high-temperature superconducting wire essential to fusion reactors. Combined with Japan's domestic AI-powered autonomous driving, artificial photosynthesis breakthroughs, and the government's Physical AI strategy, these technologies are putting Japan back on the global innovation map.

Number_i's new single

Ahead of

Detective Conan cosplay and merchandise have been banned at anime events across China. The trigger: a collaboration with My Hero Academia, a manga boycotted in China over a character name linked to Japan's wartime Unit 731. With state media joining the backlash and even traditional Japanese clothing banned at events, we explore how anime culture collides with historical tensions between China and Japan.