Ultra-fast freeze for fresh fish, next-gen fridge ‘HybridICE’
Japan is one of the few countries worldwide that eat raw fish. Since long ago, they have exploited various methods of eating fish as fresh as possible such as fermentation, vinegar or salt, to keep the fish fresh. (more…)
Japanese universities create glowing tree for non-electric lights
At CES 2022, held in the USA in January, two Japanese national universities: Osaka University and Nara Institute of Science and Technology, showcased their research on glowing plants.CES is one of the world's top annual high-tech electronics trade fairs. (more…)
World’s first! 7-Eleven Japan tests floating cash register
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid uptake of new technologies. (more…)
An automatic pepper harvesting robot in Japan
Japan's agriculture industry is overwhelmingly short of workers amidst what is said to be the world's worst super-ageing society. Great hopes now lie in scientific and technological innovative growth as a solution. (more…)
Edible building material from vegetable & fruit scraps
The world's growing population has led to higher demand for resources, energy and food. It caused more waste and severe environmental issues (e.g. climate change). So a transition from mass-production, mass-consumption and mass-disposal to a "circular economy"*1 is inevitable. (more…)
Tiger’s new water bottle for carbonated drinks
Thermos bottles from Japan are super popular abroad for their simple design and impressive function to keep warm/cool. Tiger, a world-leading maker of thermal control technology, launched a new product also ideal for carbonated drinks. (more…)
House Foods recycles spice waste into crayons
Japan's major food manufacturer, the House Foods Group, is making an effort to turn disused spice ingredients into crayons. (more…)
Daiso Japan to sell 100% plant-based polymer straw
The Japanese firm Daiso Industries Co., Ltd, globally famous for its 100-yen shop, recently unveiled its straw made of 100% plant-based biodegradable polymer. It will be available in more than 2,500 shops in Japan from mid-January 2022. (more…)
Toray creates 100% plant-based sustainable nylon fibre
Toray Industries, Inc., Japan's leading chemical firm, announces the commercialization of its new Nylon 510 (N510) fibre created entirely from plant-based polymers. (more…)
Japan’s zirconia cutlery brings out true flavours of food
Metallic smells can affect the taste. To let people enjoy the genuine flavours of food, ZIKICO developed cutlery made of zirconia. Its innovative design won the silver prize for the best product/technology at the Going-Global Innovations Competition. SUMU series developed by ZIKICO ZIKICO discovered that metallic Western tableware overshadows the food's flavours through examining dashi (Japanese soup stock). The flavours in dashi tastes stronger when eaten by mouth directly from the bowl rather than with a spoon. This is due to the oxidising effect of the metal, which breaks down...
SDGs mystery vending machine with the lowest prices
Daikichi sells non-standard items, such as scratched or dented bottled drinks, through its SDGs vending machines. The company avoids wasting products and reduces food waste by setting prices as low as JPY 10 (approx. 8 cents). (more…)
Unbreakable screen door for ventilation & security
Most houses have window screens. It allows the room to ventilate better in hot weather. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, airing out areas where many people gather, such as schools or restaurants, can also help prevent virus transmission. (more…)