MYSTERIOUS MIRRORFrom bank machines and elevators to airplanes and parking lots, the mysterious mirrors of Komy Co., Ltd have broadened the world's view.

CARBON NANO TUBES Driven in part by Japanese research, carbon nanotube technology promises to be a major force in materials technology this century.

Bluefin FarmingResearch at Kinki University has led to the world's first successful farming of bluefin tuna ? widely regarded as the most delicious of all types of tuna.

Hideyo Noguchi Africa PrizeThe Government of Japan has established a unique and exciting new prize for individuals and organizations working in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa.

NATURAL LIGHTNature ? in the form of electroluminescent (EL) television displays ? is being made welcome in the living room with Sony’s new space-saving TV.

Inside The HeadIn the world of neurosurgical microscopes, the technological prowess and innovativeness of Tokyo-based Mitaka Kohki Co. are renowned.

Aqua PanelsWith a staff of just 75 people, Nippura Co., Ltd. commands approximately a 70% share of the world production of acrylic panels for aquariums.

Mechanized CareScience and technology are coming together in the design of RI-MAN, a robot designed for human care that is capable of lifting a person.

DesalinationAs water shortages around the world grow ever more serious, several Japanese companies are concentrating on technologies that turn seawater into fresh water through the process of reverse osmosis.

Exploring the MoonThe Kaguya lunar exploration satellite was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in September, and will spend the next year conducting a full range of lunar observations.

Painless TechnologyThe six-man operation that is Okano Industrial Corporation has created a needle designed to make the injection-phobic smile?-a needle that is painless to use.

EndoscopesA major camera manufacturer is also the world’s leading maker of gastrointestinal endoscopes.

Meetings of Minds on the EnvironmentIn advance of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, a series of ministerial meetings-predominantly on the subject of the environment-has been taking place in Japan. We review some of the meetings' main achievements.

All Eyes on iPS Cells In November 2007, Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University reported the successful derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from human cells. Yutaka Hishiyama, director of the Life Sciences Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), explains the potential of iPS cells and the range of strategies that the Japanese government is pursuing to maximize their utility.

A Year of Africa in Japanese DiplomacyIn advance of the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), to be held 28-30 May in Yokohama, The Japan Journal asked Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for TICAD IV Nobutake Odano about his hopes for the Conference and for Japanese foreign policy on Africa.

Land of Make BeliefJapan has "regained its confidence to lead the world in terms of monodzukuri," writes Yasuhiro Goto, who examines the strengths of?and challenges facing?Japan's unique, "handed down" manufacturing skills.

Strategic Visions15 million fuel cell cars in Japan by 2025! The CMOS integrated circuit to adopt biotechnology in 2020! The Japan Journal reads some of the academic roadmaps recently released by leading scientific and technological societies in Japan.

Going Underground What are the prospects for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) in Japan? Yasunobu Mizuno reports on this promising means for separating and capturing CO2 emitted from power plants and factories, highlighting ongoing and planned demonstration tests both in Japan and overseas.

Robot InvasionTony McNicol visits the International Robot Exhibition and sees a mechatronic horde take over Tokyo for a day.

Networking Asian ScienceThe Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has commissioned the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to carry out the "Strategic Program for Building an Asian Science and Technology Community," stepping up the efforts of the JSPS to build a scientific network among Asian countries by coordinating international meetings and other activities.

Forecasting the FutureThe Earth Simulator, which is located on the premises of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) in Yokohama, was the world’s fastest supercomputer when it became operational five years ago. Tetsuya Sato details the awesome predictive power of the machine, drawing on examples of some of the many projects to date.

Industrious RobotsJapan’s robot makers are preparing for the factory robot’s second coming, reports Tony McNicol.

2050: The Odyssey BeginsWe spoke to Special Advisor to the Cabinet Kiyoshi Kurokawa, a former president of the Science Council of Japan and now head of the Innovation 25 Strategy Council, about the direction of Japan’s Cool Earth 50 long-term vision and efforts to nurture the human resources needed to carry it through.

Tuning In to Organic TVTo the delight of kabuki fans nationwide, entertainment company Shochiku has transported Japan’s 400-year-old traditional theater into the digital age. Tony McNicol reports.

Hydrogen on the HorizonThe Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is successfully developing a technology whereby the high temperature gas-cooled reactor is combined with the thermochemical water-splitting IS process in the mass-production of hydrogen. Shinji Kubo of the Agency’s Nuclear Science and Energy Directorate reports.