Article by: Miku Kudo

Various talents emerge in various fields

　Japan has the technology and human resources, but young people have not been properly evaluated. From now on, if young people are allowed to demonstrate their potential and rewarded with fair compensation, it will be possible to astonish the world. (Professor Yasushi Ogasawara, Meiji University)

 Talent is available in the young demographic. High school student robot creator Noi Tatsuzaki is one such person: she began developing robots at the age of 9 and competed in the Robocon World Championships as a junior high school student.' In 2008, she was selected as one of the "10 Young Women Who Will Change the World.

　Yoshimi Ui, president of aba, has developed a system that uses AI to detect the smell of defecation from those in need of care and informs the caregiver of the smell.

　"Even when caring for a parent, it is difficult to watch over them all the time, but this system can tell when it is time to change a diaper and reduce the burden on them. Ms. Ui is one of the next generations of young leaders with a lot of vitality, as she launched a venture company while still in school," said science journalist Akane Tori.

Large Corporations Recognize the Power of Action

　Large companies are also beginning to embrace the power of youth. Panasonic has made a company called Shiftall a subsidiary and is trying to learn how to manufacture products with a sense of speed.

　Takuma Iwasa, the company's CEO, is a former Panasonic employee. The company he established as an independent company was acquired and he came back to work for the company. By combining Mr. Iwasa's energy and the sales power of a large company, the company has released a series of devices for the Metaverse," said Takaaki Yoda, Professor at Keio University.

Some Japanese are bringing Japanese agricultural products to compete in the United States.　

　Hiroki Koga, president of Oishii Farm, has established the world's largest strawberry plant near New York City. Japanese strawberries are popular among Westerners, and he has created a plant that grows them using only artificial light and distributes them to high-end supermarkets," said agricultural journalist Shinnosuke Kubota.

Former Professor Establishes Biocrude Oil Research Institute

　Young people are not the only ones who can change the future. Former Tsukuba University professor, 74-year-old Shin Watanabe, has established the MoBiol Algae Research Institute and proclaims, "Japan can become an oil-producing nation. Hiroyasu Kifune, a professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, says he felt "saved" when he learned of Watanabe's research.

　I am researching the electrification of ships, and there is concern that electrification will increase greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel engines. However, according to Dr. Watanabe's research, it is possible to produce bio-crude oil from algae that grow in sewage treatment plants while purifying the sewage. If realized, this should bring a bright spot to Japan."

　There are so many people, young and old, men and women, doing research that will change the future. The future of Japan is bright.