"Climate Tech Day" conference was held in Tokyo with a lot of inspiration and enthusiasm.

Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 60 of "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter??, which curates Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022. Thanks to your support, the number of subscribers is now more than 1,500?? ???? ! You can subscribe by clicking on the?Linkedin page, or via the substack link - [https://japanclimatecuration.substack.com]

The highlight of the past week is the event I participated in on June 25 at University of Tokyo, called Climate Tech Day, which FoundX, a startup accelerator program of The University of Tokyo, organized. Around 40 speakers, including science & climate professors, climate tech startup founders and executives, venture capitalists, a national diet member shared the cutting edge trends of technologies, business and policy. Estimated 500 participants actively engaged with the discussion and networked each other.

I believe this is a rare and the first opportunity to hold such a large scale event focusing on the theme of climate tech in Japan. It has been difficult to hold large-scale in-person events for a long time due to the pandemic-prevention measures, but it is truly wonderful that such an opportunity has arisen. There are many other climate tech events scheduled in the near future, and I feel that the landscape has changed dramatically over the past year or so.

As a matter of fact, I came across an English interview video of one of the keynote speaker of Climate Tech Day, Mr Shimizu Shinya , founder and CEO of Elephantech, a Tokyo-based startup that develops an eco-friendly printed circuit board (PCB) , which uses inkjet printing-based electronic circuit manufacturing technology to reduce carbon emissions. (Credit and Thanks to Mr. Mark Sadovnick who produced the video). I thought it's worth sharing to highlight the inspiration and dynamism of climate tech scene in Japan.

OK, Eleven news articles were curated this week, covering topics such as carbon neutrality strategy, "resources diplomacy", EV shift, and more.

I hope you find the list of articles below useful for reading (or skimming)!

[Note]: I am available to offer my research and consulting services for your Japan-related climate or net-zero business. The first 30 minutes of Zoom chat is free, and I could work at an hourly rate starting at $50. Please fill out your request using?this link. Thank you!

[????????Japan Climate News Headlines]

【1】Japan to map out strategy to facilitate shift to carbon neutrality [6/27 NHK WORLD-JAPAN News]

• Japan's government is developing a carbon neutrality strategy spurred by a newly enacted "green transformation" law. NHK has learned that Japan's government plans to map out a strategy by the end of July to speed up the shift to carbon neutrality. The strategy includes a carbon pricing scheme, market-based mechanisms for CO2 reduction credits trading, encouraging private sector investments through new government bonds, and setting up a new entity for emissions credit trading by 2024.

【2】Japan draws up draft policy on 'resources diplomacy' [6/27 NHK WORLD-JAPAN News]

• Japan's government has drafted a "resources diplomacy" policy, targeting stable supplies of critical resources for industries, focusing on hydrogen fuel and electric vehicle battery minerals. Amid fierce competition, Japan seeks to strengthen ties with 25 "key nations" for resource procurement and plans to invest in their resource development projects, simultaneously promoting Japanese technologies.

【3】How much CO2 does a forest absorb? Aerial lasers can find out [6/26 Nikkei Asia]

• Eneos, Japan's top oil refiner, partners with surveyor Pasco to use aerial lasers for measuring carbon absorption in Japanese forests, thus easing the application process for the government's J-Credits scheme. The initiative provides revenue to woodland owners and aids Eneos in offsetting its CO2 emissions. However, deploying such technology remains challenging due to high costs and limited coverage of smaller woodland areas.

【4】Team Japan bets on next-gen floating wind turbine to slash costs [6/24 Nikkei Asia]

• A group of Japanese companies and a university are testing a next-generation floating axis wind turbine which could reduce set-up costs by 50%. The turbine eliminates the need for large, expensive platforms by using a submerged body for stability, making it cost-effective and more suitable for Japan's deep coastal waters. The project aims to compete in the global market by 2032.

【5】Japan's renewables drive sparks new investment by Sumitomo Electric [6/24 Nikkei Asia]

• In alignment with Japan's drive to upgrade its renewable power infrastructure, Sumitomo Electric Industries plans to invest about $278 million to expand its power transmission line production. A new factory, poised to boost domestic production capacity by half, is expected to begin production by 2026. This move aligns with the government's call for utilities to invest in enhancing inter-regional power transmission capabilities.

【6】The Tearful Executive Who Tapped the Brakes on Electric Cars at Toyota [6/24 Wall Street Journal]

• Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda resists the pressure to transition fully to electric vehicles, promoting a diverse range of eco-friendly models. He overcame early adversity as a leader and now connects with those skeptical about the EV focus. Toyoda successfully navigated Toyota through the financial crisis, diversifying its global offerings. Despite opposition to his EV stance, he retains strong support within the company. Toyoda's son is being groomed for future leadership as he mentors new President Koji Sato.

【7】Hyundai, CCC team up on EV sharing in Japan? [6/22 NHK WORLD-JAPAN News]

• Hyundai Motor is collaborating with bookstore chain operator, Culture Convenience Club, to start an electric vehicle-sharing service in Japan. The partnership will utilize CCC's bookstores, co-working spaces, and massive customer database to promote zero-emission mobility. Hyundai’s move underlines the growing interest of global automakers in the Japanese EV market.

【8】Japan, an economic leader in Asia, lags on renewable energy [6/21 by Mr. Bill Spindle / Cipher News ]

• Despite its G7 membership and commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, Japan's continued reliance on fossil fuels and lack of ambitious renewable energy targets have drawn criticism from environmental advocates.

【9】Media view system for releasing Fukushima Daiichi treated water into sea [6/26 NHK WORLD-JAPAN News]

• Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has revealed a system designed to safely release treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean. The system includes an emergency shut-off valve that halts water flow if safety standards are breached. As part of the operation, TEPCO is training workers with simulators and plans to discharge the water, which will be diluted to meet WHO safety standards, later this summer.

【10】Haruki Murakami pleads for keeping Tokyo park and baseball stadium that inspired his writing [6/26 Associated Press]

• Author Haruki Murakami strongly opposes the redevelopment plan of Tokyo's Jingu Gaien district, which includes tearing down a historic baseball stadium and removing trees from the park. The project has faced criticism from various groups and lacks transparency. Murakami pleaded to preserve the park and stadium that inspired his writing.
• The first court hearing on a lawsuit to suspend the work will be held later this week.

【11】Japan is nostalgic for a past that was in part worse than its present [6/22 The Economist]

• Japan is witnessing a nostalgic revival of the Showa era (1926-1989) characterized by robust growth and societal dynamism. However, while the era is remembered for its economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy, it also signifies outdated norms like sexism and hierarchical structures.?
• Despite the present being the safest and richest in Japan's history, many perceive stagnation and relative decline. The enduring Showa mindset, held by older leaders, obstructs societal advancement.

??That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) ??. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!

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ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)