J-STORIES | Solutions-Focused News from Japan

well-being

One-of-a-kind marriage certificates strengthen marital bond

Tokyo company provides artistic certificates that remind couples of their happy day

A wedding, the beginning of a new life together, is an event filled with celebration and happiness. And many couples look for ways to remember that special occasion and hold on to those feelings.（Read More)

In partnership with D・WORKS GROUP

sustainability

An egg substitute with the texture and umami of real egg

Containing konjac flour and other ingredients, the plant-based powder is healthy, sustainable, and delicious

Chicken eggs are used in cooking all over the world, but climate change and soaring commodity prices are a serious threat to chicken farming. (Read More)

sustainability

Eco-friendly next-generation laundromat that doesn't use detergent

Startup from Japan takes on the challenge of "zero wastewater"

sustainability

The Future of Biomass Plastics : From Rice to Plastic

Japanese biomass plastic company connects environment and agriculture

sustainability

Quake-resistant coating gains international attention【Update】

A Japanese construction company has developed a paste-on resin that can provide earthquake resistance and save lives

sustainability

Taking a bite out of unwanted food【Update】

Superheated steamer turns discarded vegetables and scraps into profitable powder

environment / sustainability

Raising fish on land: environmentally friendly aquaculture in Fukushima

Inland fish farming project provides a new solution to overfishing, food scarcity, and pollution

sustainability

ReBirth wool : Reviving tradition and sustainability in Japan's textile industry

Mitsuboshi group's innovative project recycles wool with collaboration from producers and users"

sustainability

Tea leaves' second life: Ito En's sustainable legacy

Recycled tea products enhance the environment and embrace tradition

sustainability

Preserving heritage and combating fast fashion – A centuries-old craft envisions a sustainable future for clothing Industry

Reviving tradition: Kyoto Montsuki breathes life into used clothes with sustainable black dyeing

diversity

Weaving history: Japanese kimono artisans enter India's sari market

An artistic journey across cultures and centuries

The Indian sari, worn by females in the world's most populated country, is emerging as a beacon of hope for Japan's famed Kimono artisans struggling against declining sales at home.（Read more）

diversity

Exhibition promotes diversity through art

Works by artists with disabilities used in show and commercial partnerships to raise awareness and incomes, adding a dash of color to various settings and products throughout Japan

diversity

Japanese joint venture launches world's first wearable tech 'smart' underwear

Wearable device helps detect women's health issues at that cyclical and critical time of the month

diversity

Japanese startup empowers refugees through Zero PC project

Combating environmental impact while providing opportunities for displaced communities

diversity

Soup Stock Tokyo's free baby weaning food service draws mixed reactions and highlights barrier-free dining

Japanese 'soup for all' restaurant broadens diversity mantra by embracing even the youngest of the young

diversity / sustainability

Purging PC footprint

Company recycles computers, employs refugees in quest to reduce environmental and human impact

diversity

A leisurely approach to ordering food

Cafes staffed by people with speech disfluency pop up in Japan, use novel ways to relay communication issues

diversity

Taking action for peace

Japan-U.S. singer Ai gives voice to SDGs movers, taps power of music to promote global understanding

diversity

‘Smart' panties put periods first

Wearable device helps detect women's health issues at that cyclical and critical time of the month

well-being

"It's okay to cry" campaign counters negativity towards crying babies

The Japanese duo working towards a more supportive child-rearing environment

“Mom with crying baby asked to leave” is a headline that made the global news this year. To show that negative opinions towards crying babies are not the majority, two Japanese women started the “It’s okay to cry” campaign. (Read More)

well-being

One-of-a-kind marriage certificates strengthen marital bond

Tokyo company provides artistic certificates that remind couples of their happy day

In partnership with D・WORKS GROUP

well-being

An app that lets tourists travel ‘for free’

New service aims to lure travelers to less visited destinations in Japan, combatting the effects of rural depopulation

well-being

‘Wearable muscle’ restores mobility to elderly people and those with disabilities

Simple and effective device can also be used for sports rehabilitation and training

well-being

‘Magic floor’ helps prevent fall injury among the elderly

Japanese researchers develop flooring material that is firm and stable to walk on, yet absorbs impact from falls

well-being

Japanese company develops innovative portable barricade to counter vehicle threats

Inexpensive, portable, and powerful: A new era in combating vehicle threats

well-being

Harmonizing tradition and technology with immersive sound experience

Japanese tatami mat producers develop spine-tingling sound system

well-being

Revitalizing regional economies through cancer treatment tourism in Japan's geothermal springs【Archive】

Japan's Pioneering Heavy Ion Therapy Facility Explores Therapeutic Tourism

well-being

Allergy product not to be sneezed at

Acupressure band offers less intrusive alternative to relieving hayfever symptoms

science・it

Wooden satellites touted as an eco-friendly alternative to polluting aluminum

Japanese carpenters hope their timber cubes will boldly go where no timber has gone before

Japanese carpenters are developing wooden satellites that will help pave a way to reducing "space waste" (Read more)

science・it

Wearable robot helps patients with mobility problems walk again

Japanese company's HAL bot suit at center of new society where humans and technologies support one another

science・it

Research in Japan unveils evidence of how ‘neo-self’ antibodies can cause complications during pregnancy and childbirth

Discovery could lead the way to new vaccines and treatment for autoimmune diseases

science・it

The world’s first drug that helps patients ‘grow new teeth’

Japanese researchers to start clinical trials of revolutionary denture- and implant-replacing dental treatment

science・it

The energy-free cooling breakthrough redefining thermal comfort

From reflective technology to radiative cooling, a new era in temperature management

science・it

Japan's deep-tech startup Flosfia offers next-gen power chips that allow EVs to travel farther

New materials such as gallium oxide provide much better performance than traditional silicon

science・it

Astroscale: Pioneering space debris cleanup technology for a sustainable future

Japanese company develops world-first tech to remove satellite parts and other debris floating in space

science・it

Japanese startup launches ChatGPT for multilingual customer service: An AI-powered solution to address hotel staff shortages

A Japanese hotel is using the generative AI chatbot ChatGPT to help guests and improve their stay

science・it

Sky high dreams: Japan's pioneering role in eVTOL technology and the future of flying cars【Update】

Japanese companies among those developing zero-emission electric 'air taxis'

environment

Sustainable Harvest: Japanese Students Harness Tech for Agriculture's Future

Innovative projects and smart farming initiatives signal a new era in Japanese agriculture

Agriculture is facing a challenging time as farm workers around the world are getting fewer and older. Thankfully, the kids and tech are here to save the future. （Read more）

environment

Upcycling "troubled" water plants into biofuel and craft gin【Update】

Japanese company promotes new recycling in Cambodia

environment / sustainability

Raising fish on land: environmentally friendly aquaculture in Fukushima

Inland fish farming project provides a new solution to overfishing, food scarcity, and pollution

environment

Company creates unique food education program incorporating algae in school lunches

Nannochloropsis genus provides tasty, protein-rich alternative in quest for nutritional and environmentally friendly ‘superfood’

environment

From rooftop to table: Aquaponics farming enriches Tokyo's culinary landscape

Coffee shop chain uses aquaponics to grow sustainable products and welfare goal

environment

Japanese researchers fight global warming tide with ‘Blue Carbon’

Revival of seaweed and sea grass beds seen as key to boosting ocean carbon storage

environment

Fighting climate change

Japanese startup's material made from tiny crystals has huge potential in global warming battle

environment

Greening the desert with trash

Japan research helps green Niger desert, improving the environment and reducing conflict

environment

Easy supply of hydrogen energy in cartridges

Japanese startup develops lightweight, compact cassettes to make refueling hydrogen cars far easier

on-a-mission

[Interview] Shining behind the scenes of media: Interns with diverse backgrounds supporting J-Stories

Interview with student interns taking a new step in the media industry.

Since the launch of Japan's first solution-focused media "J-STORIES", many student interns have joined. We interviewed these student interns, who usually support J-STORIES as behind-the-scenes helpers. (Read More)

on-a-mission

Endo Manufacturing forges ahead in Japan’s golf world and beyond

Clubheads made in Japan's traditional metalworking powerhouse are in high demand among top professional golfers.

In partnership with Endo Manufacturing Co.

FEATURED / on-a-mission

J-STORIES begins distributing news content to Refinitiv’s global information network

Investors and market players across the world can now access J-STORIES content through financial news terminal Eikon

on-a-mission

[Discussion] Japan’s first solutions-focused news outlet seeks to help connect those in need

J-STORIES places emphasis on solutions rather than hurdles and supporting Japanese businesses expanding overseas

on-a-mission

[Podcast] Legal AI will shatter your perspective on legal advice

Transforming your outlook on legal counsel

on-a-mission

[Interview] Longtime startup watcher predicts more 'unicorns' in Japan

Japan needs more entrepreneurial 'role models,' urgency and a sense of community to improve startup share, says Tim Romero, founder of startup podcast Disrupting Japan

on-a-mission

Redefining gender roles to bridge 'dream gap' and unleash female ambitions

'What you want to be' exhibition inspires Japanese girls to seek strength from Barbie's versatility and break free from conventional gender roles

on-a-mission

[Interview] Bogdan Parkhomenko's vision for Japan's assistance in Ukraine's reconstruction

Restoring infrastructure, protecting lives, and cultivating prosperity

on-a-mission

[Podcast] How one innovative startup is selling true bionic legs

A startup founder launched BionicM as a way to replace the limb that he lost when he was a child

video

video / on-a-mission

[Interview] World famous architect Kengo Kuma calls Japanese culture "a kind of environmental technology"

In the 'age of the environment,' Japanese culture should promote itself to the world through its special focus on the five senses, says Kuma

In this interview, renowned architect Kengo Kuma discusses the unique Japanese cultural sensibility and Japan's opportune position in the 'age of the environment.' （Read）