Japan's Crosscurrents: Nuclear Hurdles & Innovation Surges
Japan's Crosscurrents: Nuclear Hurdles & Innovation Surges
*Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 11/5/2024 on Linkedin.
Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 129 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 360 subscribers [ more than 2,590 on Linedin]. You can subscribe by clicking on the Linkedin page or the form below.
I hope you find the articles below beneficial for reading (or skimming)!
Found this week's news insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 3.5 has been used for summary and translation assistance 🙂
[🇯🇵📰👀Japan Climate News Headlines]
【1】Mount Fuji snowless for longest time on record after sweltering Japan summer - As of 29 October, the iconic mountain was still without snow, marking the longest period since records began 130 years ago [10/30 The Guardian]
Mount Fuji has remained snowless past October 2023, breaking the 130-year record since measurements began in 1894.
The latest snow formation date was October 26 (recorded in 1955 and 2016).
High summer temperatures continuing into September have prevented cold air formation necessary for snow.
【2】Can Quake-Prone Japan Ever Embrace Nuclear Energy Again? The government, its makeup in flux after the governing party lost seats this week, will soon need to make decisions that will shape Japan’s future nuclear policy. [11/1 The New York Times🔏 / 🎁Gift URL]
A decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan's efforts to revive nuclear power have faced new setbacks. While public support for nuclear energy had grown around 2022, recent earthquakes in 2024, particularly in the Noto Peninsula, have reignited safety concerns. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which supports nuclear power, lost its parliamentary majority, complicating plans to restart idle plants and build new ones. This political shift, combined with fresh public anxiety about nuclear safety, has created uncertainty about Japan's energy future as the country struggles to balance its carbon reduction goals with safety concerns in an earthquake-prone nation.
【3】Japan’s Nuclear Power Revival Threatened by Lack of Workers [10/30 Bloomberg Green🔏]
Japan's Onagawa nuclear plant restart reveals a critical shortage of experienced workers, with over 1/3 of technical staff having no reactor operation experience.
The Nuclear industry workforce declined 22% from 2010 to 2023, following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Despite worker shortage concerns, the government pushes nuclear revival to meet clean energy demands and increase the growth of the AI sector.
【4】Tokyo's climate goals rely on a fuel that is falling out of favor [11/3 The Japan Times]
Tokyo's ambitious vision for a hydrogen-powered society by 2050 faces significant challenges and skepticism from experts. While the metropolitan government promotes hydrogen use across various sectors, including transportation, heating, and power generation, experts argue that many proposed applications are inefficient and economically impractical compared to direct electrification.
The main issues include hydrogen's poor energy efficiency, high production costs, and infrastructure challenges. While hydrogen has essential uses in industries like fertilizer production, critics suggest that Tokyo's broad hydrogen strategy may be less effective for achieving net-zero emissions than focusing on targeted applications and electrification.
【5】Zero-carbon ammonia for shipping faces cost, safety challenges [10/30 Reuters]
The shipping industry has completed its first vessel-to-vessel ammonia transfer in Western Australia, marking a significant step towards green maritime fuel adoption. However, despite ammonia's potential as a zero-carbon fuel, significant challenges persist.
A Singapore study identified 400 safety risks in ammonia bunkering, and the fuel's toxicity poses serious health hazards. However, the cost remains prohibitive, with ammonia fuel being 2-4 times more expensive than conventional options.
Only 25 ammonia dual-fuel ships are on order globally, far behind LNG-powered vessels. Despite these challenges, experts predict ammonia could represent one-third of marine fuel by 2050.
【6】World's first wooden satellite, developed in Japan, heads to space [11/5 Reuters]
The world's first wooden satellite, LignoSat, developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, was launched into the International Space Station.
Made from hinoki (Japanese magnolia) using traditional crafting techniques, it is designed to test wood's durability in space environments.
Project aims to explore wooden materials for future space colonization, with a 50-year vision of building timber houses on the Moon and Mars
【7】Toyota takes flight: Flying taxi tested for 1st time in Japan - Aircraft provided by U.S. startup Joby Aviation has a top speed of 320 kph [11/3 Nikkei Asia🔏]
Toyota successfully conducts its first-ever flying car test in Japan with Joby Aviation's eVTOL aircraft.
The electric aircraft achieves up to 320 kph, promising 25-minute Tokyo-Susono trips.
Chairman Akio Toyoda envisions lifestyle transformation through urban air mobility
【8】The Country Where the Robot Future Is Being Built [11/1 Bloomberg🔏]
Japan showcases a harmonious integration of robots in daily life, from construction to hospitality. While leading global robot manufacturing, Japan's cultural acceptance and practical application of robotics offers a glimpse into a future where humans and machines work together.
【9】Mizuho Bank invests in U.K. climate change advisory firm - Pollination Global to bring know-how on overseas environmental regulations [11/5 Nikkei Asia🔏]
Mizuho Bank strengthens its environmental advisory capabilities through a strategic $20M investment in the UK's Pollination Global, leveraging its international regulatory expertise and networks to serve Japanese clients better and explore carbon credit opportunities.
【10】SoftBank to open startup campus in Nagoya, Japan's industrial hub - Station Ai calls on foreign players to join 700 companies on Toyota's home turf [10/30 Nikkei Asia]
SoftBank Corp. is launching Station Ai, a 23,000m² startup hub in Nagoya, hosting 500 startups and 200 supporting entities, including Toyota Motor.
The facility aims to leverage Aichi's manufacturing strengths, offering comprehensive support from office space to manufacturing tools, plus a ¥1.5B investment fund.
The goal is to double the number of startups to 1,000 in 5 years and attract more international members, addressing Japan's need for more unicorn startups beyond Tokyo.
As I support the Green Transformation initiative at Aichi prefecture through CIC Tokyo, I am helping organize the following events on #naturepositive" and #circulareconomy on Nov. 13 and Dec. 9. Please look at the details from the following links. I am looking forward to seeing you at STATION Ai🙂. *The event will be held in Japanese.
Nov. 13 | Co-creating Future Business with Nature: Exploring Nature Positive Approaches
Dec. 9 | Transforming to Sustainable Business: Unlocking the Potential of Circular Economy
11/10 - Be Part of Japan’s Largest Climate Fresk | University of Tokyo
Japan's largest Climate Fresk event at the University of Tokyo will be held on November 10th. This free, record-setting workshop offers an engaging way to learn about climate change. Part of Alter COP29, it aims to bring together 150 participants for a simultaneous climate education experience.
📬That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) 🙇. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!
Found this week's news insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
The "Climate Curation" newsletter in 🇯🇵Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin and Substack.
Please feel free to contact me via email: hiroyasu.ichikawa [@]socialcompany.org, f you have any research/consulting needs for your business or just for a coffee chat☕.
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ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)