71 Metaverse
The metaverse refers to a virtual 3D environment created on the internet. Users immerse themselves in this space as avatars (alter egos) and do not necessarily require VR goggles; they can also access it through their smartphone screens. Each metaverse is built and maintained by a platform, and it is increasingly gaining popularity as a hub for online gaming.
It is anticipated that the distinct use of virtual reality, separate from the real world, will become more common in various scenarios. These include transforming into an avatar to experience things that are impossible in reality and facilitating communication when face-to-face interaction is challenging.
In business and education, the metaverse is being utilized more actively. In September 2022, the University of Tokyo launched a platform called ‘The Department of Metaverse Engineering,’ which offers opportunities for anyone to learn about digital technology. This initiative promotes greater adoption of the metaverse by offering programs developed in partnership with corporations such as the Sony Group and Mitsubishi Electric.
Currently, leveraging the advanced technology of blockchain, referred to as Web3, Japan is working to create a new system that allows the purchase of goods in the metaverse using crypto assets.
72 HealthTech and Lecanemab
HealthTech refers to an initiative to create new value by merging the fields of medicine and health with those of digital technology. The term is a portmanteau of ‘health’ and ‘technology.’
The new medicine that has recently garnered significant attention is Lecanemab, a dementia drug developed by Eisai Co. in partnership with American pharmaceutical companies. It is designed to eliminate the protein that builds up in the brain and leads to dementia. While this medication represents a major breakthrough, its development spanned nearly two decades.
What is most anticipated to accelerate the development of new medicines and drastically increase the success rate is the adoption of AI technology, which can process enormous amounts of data with speed and precision. Domestically, ‘Federated Learning,’ which enables competing companies to collaboratively develop AI technology, is becoming increasingly popular.
Health-tech encompasses more than just technical domains like the drug-discovery industry. Everyday examples of health-tech include digital charts and digital medical notebooks. By digitizing patient data related to their medications and health, it becomes easier to share, store, and access this information. In situations such as natural disasters, having this data stored in the cloud allows for quick access to medical history and medication details, ensuring better care and coordination.
Remote medical care services are another example of health-tech. Patients receiving home care can get medical treatment from doctors in remote areas using digital devices like smartphones. These services are enabled by high-speed communication networks and advanced technology.
Health-tech is expected to play a major role in addressing the shortage of medical professionals while simultaneously improving the quality of healthcare services.
認知症新薬「レカネマブ」とは従来の治療薬とは異なり、認知症の原因となる脳内に蓄積したアミロイドβというタンパク質を除去することで、症状の進行を直接抑制する効果が期待される画期的なものです。 「アルツハイマー型認知症による軽度認知障害（MCI）」および「アルツハイマー型認知症による軽度の認知症」の患者が対象となります。
73 EKOKAA (Eco-Friendly Car)
The Japanese term ‘Ekokaa’ originates from ‘ecology car’ and refers to vehicles designed to be environmentally sustainable and supportive of ecological preservation. Gasoline and diesel cars, which release carbon dioxide through the combustion of fossil fuels, are among the leading contributors to global warming. As the global community works toward a decarbonized society, eco-friendly cars—especially electric vehicles powered by electricity—are gaining widespread adoption.
The EV shift, referring to the transition from gasoline-powered cars to electric vehicles (EVs), is being actively promoted, particularly in Europe and China. The International Energy Agency (IEA) report Global Overview of EVs 2024 revealed that global sales of EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) reached 13.8 million, marking a 35 percent increase from the previous year. Regionally, China led with 8.1 million sales, a 37 percent increase, with EVs making up around 60 percent of the total. Europe followed with 3.3 million sales, a 22 percent increase, while the U.S. recorded 1.39 million sales, a 40 percent increase. Emerging markets like India are also seeing significant growth in EV adoption. In contrast, Japan’s EV sales in 2023, as reported by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA), totaled just 96,000, placing it far behind Europe, the U.S., and China.
Countries around the world have established targets for electric vehicle (EV) adoption to transition toward a decarbonized society. In Japan, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that all new cars sold should be electric vehicles by 2035. To support this goal, the government has introduced policies such as tax incentives for eco-friendly vehicles. Similarly, China aims to fully transition to electric vehicles by 2035, while the U.S. is working toward a 50 percent EV adoption rate by 2030.
To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), cutting-edge technologies like all-solid-state batteries and wireless power transfer systems are being rapidly developed and implemented.
74 Renewable Energy and Next-Generation Energy
‘Renewable energy’ is a collective term for non-fossil fuel resources in nature, including sunlight and wind power. In principle, it can be reused without being depleted. Each country is very active in adopting more renewable energy as a countermeasure to address global warming. The ‘Sixth Basic Energy Plan,’ which was approved by the Diet in 2021, set a goal of achieving a renewable energy ratio of 36 to 38 percent, but it remained as low as about 20 percent in FY 2022.
What is notable for making renewable energy more widespread is the ‘perovskite solar cell’ and offshore wind power. The former was invented by Miyasaka Tsukasa, a tenured professor at Toin University of Yokohama, in 2009. The cell is a thin, light film that can adhere even to curved surfaces. It is possible to generate power by sticking the cells onto places where it was previously impossible to install them, such as the walls and windows of high-rise buildings. Offshore wind power plants generate electricity using ocean winds, which are stronger than those on land. Additionally, they do not cause any noise problems. A floating type can be placed in deep-sea areas, which is anticipated to promote greater adoption of offshore wind power.
Another possible driving force for the greater adoption of renewable energy is the preparation of wide-area power grids. Previously, each regional electric company could not transfer large amounts of electricity to areas outside its jurisdiction. Once this preparation is completed, they will have a network system to enable mutual sharing of electricity through the grids.Besides renewable energy, other clean fuels that generate power without emitting carbon dioxide during combustion are being researched and developed, including hydrogen and ammonia.
75 Quantum Technology
The world is embracing ‘Quantum Technology,’ which applies the principles of quantum physics—principles that cannot be explained by classical physics laws. In 2019, Google LLC announced the unprecedented computational speed of its newly developed quantum computer. In Japan, in March 2023, a joint research group led by the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research began operating the first quantum computer ever produced in Japanese history. In the fields of quantum communication and cryptography, which are renowned for their security, companies like Toshiba, NEC, and NTT are advancing the technology, earning numerous patents in the process.
76 Small Satellite Constellation
The term ‘Small Satellite Constellation’ refers to a communication system that connects numerous small satellites. It enables global communication, which cannot be achieved by the current system of geostationary satellites, such as those used for satellite broadcasting in Japan.In emergency situations, such as natural disasters, it can be used to communicate with affected areas and assess the disaster situation through images transmitted by the satellites. In the field of national defense, it can be utilized to guide missiles and drones remotely. The government has set a goal of establishing a small satellite constellation by fiscal year (FY) 2025.
77 Flying Car
The term ‘Flying Car’ refers to an aircraft that does not require runways, utilizing vertical takeoff and landing technology. It is predicted that the mainstream of flying cars will be electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which are powered by electricity and emit no greenhouse gases. Another key feature is their ability to transport people and goods autonomously. For the Osaka-Kansai World Expo in 2025, four companies have been selected to operate flying car services, including commercial operations and demonstrations.
78 Bio-Production
Bio-production is making significant strides through the use of Smart Cells—microbial, plant, or animal cells whose functions are enhanced via genome editing or genetic modification for specific applications. This technology has already yielded groundbreaking innovations, including biodegradable plastics that decompose naturally, stronger artificial spider silk, and cultured meat. Recognized as a pivotal area of research, Smart Cell technology holds promise for tackling pressing global challenges such as ocean pollution and food shortages, while also driving economic growth.
79 National Resilience
Following the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, the Japanese government began implementing policies to enhance anti-seismic reinforcement in infrastructure. However, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake exposed the limitations of these policies, which primarily focused on tangible measures such as seawalls. In contrast, disaster prevention education, an intangible policy, demonstrated its effectiveness by enabling people to evacuate safely and save lives. This insight led to the development of the concept of ‘National Resilience,’ through which Japan seeks to build an economic and social system defined by ‘strength and flexibility.’ Such a system would be capable of withstanding disasters without suffering catastrophic damage and recovering swiftly. In 2014, the government introduced ‘The Fundamental Plan for National Resilience’ as a policy guideline, grounded in the Basic Act for National Resilience. The plan is reviewed and updated every five years.
The government has acknowledged that national resilience policies must address both tangible and intangible aspects. On the intangible side, efforts include promoting systems for sharing disaster information and organizing evacuation drills. On the tangible side, the focus is on strengthening embankments and evacuation routes. However, new challenges have arisen, such as managing evacuation protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and reassessing policies for large-scale natural disasters in the context of a pandemic like COVID-19.
The Five-Year Acceleration Plan (which began in FY 2021) has introduced several key initiatives, including ‘Preventive Maintenance,’ a policy aimed at repairing aging infrastructure, and ‘River Basin Disaster Resilience and Sustainability by All,’ which focuses on flood preparedness across entire river basins. Much of the social infrastructure constructed during the high economic growth period is nearing the end of its useful life. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, approximately 37 percent of road bridges have already exceeded their 50-year service life. To address this, the ministry is promoting the use of drones and advanced digital technologies, such as AI, for infrastructure inspection and maintenance.
80 Noto Peninsula Earthquake
At around 4:10 p.m. on January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture was struck by a major earthquake with a maximum intensity of 7. The epicenter was located along an active fault running from off the west coast of the Noto Peninsula to the west coast of Sado Island. It was unusually intense for an inland earthquake.
In every affected district, the damage was enormous, including collapsed houses, landslides, fire disasters, and disruptions to transport networks. Notably, the conflagration that caused the collapse of over 200 houses on Morning Market Street, one of the most popular tourist spots on the peninsula, was a profound shock to the public, revealing the extent of the devastation.
In addition, liquefaction caused significant damage to infrastructure, particularly roads, water, and sewer facilities. Many families experienced water outages. Except for some areas, the situation returned to normal within half a year after the earthquake.On the other hand, areas where recovery has not progressed well due to disruptions in transport networks are severely facing the issue of population outflow. After the earthquake, approximately 5,000 people have left the Noto area, which consists of six towns and cities. This has caused a shortage of workers for recovery efforts. Additionally, the decrease in the number of schoolchildren is worsening the issue of the low birthrate and aging population in the local community.
