A research team from the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and the University of Tokyo recently discovered that for power-generating bacteria, which are being studied as a microbial fuel cell technology, both fermentation and respiration occur during power generation. Working with this procedure of fermentative respiration, the team showed the mechanism through which higher...
University of Tokyo
Japanese Chemical Giants to Leverage AI, Big Data for Joint Research Into Polymer Materials
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005), Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) plan to work with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) on basic research into polymer materials. The four firms have agreed to contribute both basic research data on polyolefins and researchers in the hope of developing data...
Nippon Paper Opens World-Leading CNF Production Line
Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. (TYO:3863) announced on April 25 that the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) production line at its Ishinomaki mill in Miyagi Prefecture has gone online. The 1.6 billion yen ($14.39 million) facility has the capacity to produce 500 tons of CNF annually, making it one of the world’s largest. Regarded as the most...
Tokyo University, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Begin Research to Create iPSC-Derived White Blood Cells
Professor Mineo Kurokawa of the University of Tokyo’s Department of Hematology and Oncology has begun working with a research group from Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. (TYO:4151) on a study to create neutrophil, a type of white blood cell, from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The joint effort aims to formulate iPSC-derived neutrophils so that...
Tokyo University Develops Rice Plant That Blossoms With Chemical Spray
A research group at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Agricultural Life Sciences has developed a rice plant that blossoms 40 to 45 days after being sprayed with commercially available agricultural chemicals that induce disease resistance. Led by Senior Principal Researcher Takeshi Izawa, the team expects that continued research on this rice plant technology...
Abi Moves Into Medical Sector With Cell-Freezing Technology
Abi Co. Ltd. aims to expand into the medical and industrial sectors with its Cells Alive System (CAS) technology, which uses magnetism to align water molecules. The Chiba Prefecture firm has already achieved some success in the food industry. CAS uses magnetic energy to vibrate water molecules, minimizing the size of the ice crystals formed...
Tokyo University: GM Crop Imports Bring 1.8 Trillion Yen in Economic Benefit to Japanese Market
A research team led by Professor Masayoshi Honma and Associate Professor Katsuhiro Saito of the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Agricultural & Life Sciences has compiled the results of a study on the economic impact of genetically modified (GM) crop imports in Japan. According to the study, even the most conservative estimates put the...
Tokyo University Launches Genomic Medicine Research Targeting Cancer, Intractable Diseases
The University of Tokyo is embarking on a major research program aimed at applying genomic medicine to cancer and intractable diseases. A clinical sequencing laboratory will open at the university to analyze gene mutations and causative genes in individual patients. The results of this analysis will be used for diagnosis and therapy selection. They will...
Tokyo University Develops Translucent Membrane with Designable Surface Colors
The University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science announced on Dec. 8 that it has developed a translucent film on which different front and back surface colors can be generated. The film is virtually transparent in light of normal indoor intensity but generates color when illuminated with a stronger light, as with a flashlight or...
Tokyo University Rapidly Reduces Zeolite Synthesis Time, Production Cost
The University of Tokyo has announced that it has developed a technology for low-cost, high-efficiency synthesis of zeolite, widely used as a petrochemical catalyst in applications such as the isomerization of xylene. The synthesis can be accomplished anywhere between several and 10 seconds – at least one one-thousandth the length of time previously required. This...
Industry and Academia Join Forces, Look to Develop Stable Operation Technology for Petrochemical Plants
Some 20 Japanese companies are coming together in the joint development of soft-sensor technology as a new stable operation technology for petrochemical plants. Involving Japanese petrochemical manufacturers and engineering companies among others, the project will deploy the statistical analysis method developed by the University of Tokyo’s Prof. Kimito Funatsu. Soft-sensor technology analyzes information obtained from...
Sumitomo Chemical, University Research Group Develops Mosquito-mimicking Human Sensor
A university–industry research group has developed an odor sensor based on mosquito olfactory receptors that react to the odor elements in human perspiration. Involved in the project were researchers from Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005) and Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, in addition to Prof. Shoji Takeuchi from the Institute of Industrial Science, University...
