Biz Buzz Japan features the latest business trends that can impact your business and lifestyle. Our topic today is sushi. Popular worldwide, we focus on sushi innovations in Japan, both technical and culinary. We visit a sushi outlet with a new high-tech system offering the ultimate speedy service. We also meet an innovative sushi chef with a popular online video teaching sushi etiquette in English. His Tokyo restaurant is packed with visitors from abroad. Other master chefs show us and their foreign students how to create authentic sushi for their international clientele. Sushi topped with innovation; a combination always rolling forward.
The whole world's falling in love with healthy Japanese cuisine. This episode of Biz Buzz Japan presents some new ways to store food. Each makes it possible to deliver ingredients to distant diners without sacrificing quality or freshness. One technique makes use of slurry ice to keep skipjack tuna at an optimal temperature right through until it's prepared for consumption. Another fast-freezes prepared ingredients, so that even inexperienced cooks can simulate the quality of Japan's top chefs!
Japan is in the middle of an unprecedented tourism boom. In 2015 a record number of people visited Japan from overseas, and against this backdrop numerous uniquely Japanese services are emerging. In addition to simply taking people from A to B, certain trains have become destinations in their own right. Another new trend sees traditional homes converted into guesthouses, offering visitors a chance to interact with local people. This episode of Biz Buzz Japan explores some new niche services targeting tourists.
With global demand for food increasing, Japan is rising to the challenge with various innovative approaches. Fallow land is being brought back into production by renting it to amateur farmers, data analytics and other forms of high tech are boosting yields, and new markets are being developed for Japan's staple crop, rice: rice gel is even being used to make chocolate cake! This episode of Biz Buzz Japan digs into the hidden potential of Japanese agriculture, as well as "telephone farmers" in Kenya.
By the year 2025 the global robotics market is expected to triple in size relative to 2010, and Japan is at the forefront of this boom. It's not just industrial robots that are in the spotlight; robots have recently started to move away from the factory and get involved in everyday life, helping both those in need and the people who care for them. Androids, too, are making great strides. These days you'll even find them at hotel check-in desks, or complaining when they're feeling tired!
"Made in Japan" once ruled the world, and now a new image of "making" is changing the face of Japanese manufacturing as people seize fresh opportunities to develop, make, and market a diverse range of products. We meet the independent manufacturers of a stylish light, and a popular smartphone charger. We also see the maker take on the power of cute (kawaii). Our studio guests discuss the key role played by technological and network innovations and the new opportunities that exist for commercial success.
Japan is covered in forests, and wood is central to some great new businesses. One lumber company exports timbers that are used to make traditional structures with no need for expert skills. We meet the man behind a forest adventure park that is breathing fresh life into a regional community, and we learn about amazing cellulose nanofiber, a wood-based material that is much stronger than steel! Our studio guests discuss the interesting opportunities that may be concealed in Japan's forests.
The obstacles to widespread adoption of alternative sources of energy include unstable supplies and long-distance delivery. In Japan, new ways to store and convert energy are being explored as ways to address these challenges and generate new business value. One solution involves the use of recycled rechargeable batteries from electric cars. Another could improve the shipment of hydrogen in bulk. Our studio guests discuss these solutions in the context of the latest global energy developments.
Japan is in the midst of an unprecedented aged-food boom. As business explores new directions beyond aged beef, an established favorite with gourmets and gourmands, diners in Japan can now enjoy aged rice, aged noodles, aged chicken...even aged sushi. This time we present some of the foods and techniques currently drawing attention in Tokyo and in Japan's regions. Our studio guests talk about the science and appeal of fabulous foods offering a fresh appeal that has nothing to do with freshness!
The AI revolution is sweeping through diverse aspects of everyday life. Applications include self-driving cars, of course, but also financial services, medicine, education and more. A machine equipped with artificial intelligence can analyze massive amounts of data and learn through trial and error. Thanks to AI, a robot that fails when it first attempts a task can master it amazingly efficiently and effectively. But what does the future hold? Will we humans be left with anything to do at all?
Japan is said to have the world's most advanced aquaculture techniques. Recent years have seen a rise in farm-raised fish, which are said to be even more delicious than those caught in the wild. Red sea bream (tai), flounder (hirame) and yellowtail (hamachi/buri) are among the species now being farmed in Japan to target niche markets. Even bluefin tuna can now be raised in a complete cycle from egg to mature fish. Our guests discuss the secrets of good aquaculture, and Japan's success stories.
2016 has been referred to as "year zero" of the virtual reality industry in Japan, with new platforms and headsets setting the stage for new forms of entertainment and novel applications in fields as wide-ranging as tourism, medicine, electrical work, and disaster prevention. New facilities, smartphone apps, and affordable cameras are bringing VR content to a wider audience. But as these experiences become more and more immersive, where do we draw the line between reality and virtual reality?
The Japanese beef called wagyu is used to create everything from steak to sukiyaki. With its exceptional melt-in-your-mouth texture and marbling, wagyu has been referred to as "an edible work of art", and its popularity outside Japan is booming. But the wagyu business is facing challenges, including competition from abroad and retiring cattle farmers at home. How are wagyu producers working to combat those challenges? Join us as we bite into the business of Japanese beef.
Green tea has been enjoyed in Japan for more than 1,000 years. It is available in many forms -- from thick matcha for the tea ceremony, to tea leaves for home brewing, to the ubiquitous bottled varieties. Over the past decade it has become renowned around the world for its potential health benefits and refined flavor. What are the latest Japanese green tea innovations wowing consumers, and how are producers making their products stand out? Our guests discuss the challenges facing Japan's tea culture.
With earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons, Japan is a hotbed for disasters. That has led Japanese businesses to create some of the world's most advanced technologies and techniques for disaster prevention. Today we'll look at some of those innovations, including a device that helps prevent post-earthquake fires, a unique form of food stockpiling, and even some fashionable disaster prevention items aimed specifically at women.
As technology becomes able to collect and process ever-increasing amounts of information, Japanese businesses, governments and researchers are discovering revolutionary ways to employ so-called "big data". From a firm tracking the movements of foreign tourists to a farm using technology to train young farmers to a police force using software to predict crimes, join us as we take a look at the exciting - and sometimes controversial - world of big data in Japan.
Sake is a rice-based alcoholic beverage with a long, distinguished tradition. Over the past several decades, the drink has lost favor with young consumers at home, and brewers have responded by introducing premium brews, developing new varieties and expanding into foreign markets -- where consumption is rising. What are the latest sake trends and how are breweries promoting their products overseas? Our guests discuss what sets sake apart, and the importance of education and awareness.
Japan is a treasure trove of traditional crafts that have been cultivated and refined over generations and centuries. As we've gradually shifted to lifestyles of convenience and commodity, these industries have dwindled in scale -- and are in danger of being lost to the sands of time. How are contemporary craftsmen updating these designs, and innovating new applications to complement how we live today? Our guests discuss the hurdles ahead and how these traditions can survive in the modern market.
In recent years, ramen has become a global phenomenon. Despite its humble beginnings as a street food -- or abroad, a college dietary staple -- innovators have elevated the food into an art, and the experience of a bowl into a kind of spiritual indulgence. We look at the latest offerings on the scene, visit a ramen school that trains chefs, and sample the latest innovations of the instant variety. Our guests offer insights they've gleaned from the many bowls they've enjoyed. Expect to leave hungry.
Safe water for drinking, bathing, farming and more: it's said to be Earth's most precious resource, but due to factors like climate change, it's under increasing threat. On this episode of Biz Buzz Japan, we take a look at how Japanese businesses are using innovative technologies, from advanced filtering membranes to high-pressure pumps to a "magic powder" made from a surprising source, to tackle the impending water crisis and bring clean, safe water to Japan and the world.
Japan is an aged society, with the largest proportion of people aged 65 or older in the world. Businesses catering to the senior set are growing rapidly. We meet a dietician making appetizing, easy-to-chew food, observe how technology can provide comfort and peace of mind, and find out how Japanese companies are taking their ideas to graying markets overseas. Our guests tackle this topic from both a statistical and a human point of view, and suggest some guiding principles for moving forward.
Think Japanese alcoholic beverages, and the first that comes to mind might be sake. But Japan also produces a range of beverages that originate in the West. This time on Biz Buzz Japan, we explore some of the beverage businesses taking the world by storm, including a craft beer brewery specializing in made-in-Japan flavors, a distillery whose whisky has been called the best in the world, and a winery whose acute business sense and grape growing methods have brought it acclaim with wine experts.
Soy sauce, miso paste, skipjack tuna flakes, sake ... it's no exaggeration to say that fermentation is a bedrock of Japanese cuisine. But how are fermented food producers adapting to the 21st-century Japanese palate and foodies abroad? We explore several new business ventures, including a healthy, non-alcoholic beverage made by sake brewers, a modern take on miso soup, and a new version of the infamous fermented beans called natto engineered to be more palatable to non-Japanese consumers.
Japanese fruit is famous for its quality and high prices. Meanwhile other farmers are returning to traditional crops, while still others are exploring ways to grow food on polluted or unsuitable ground. This time on Biz Buzz Japan we explore high-end fruit varieties and the innovative new packaging designed to protect it, Tokyo's heirloom vegetables making a comeback with new menus to match, and a new farming technology that can grow tomatoes in a desert.
Japanese confections run the gamut from Western cakes and chocolate to traditional wagashi. One patissier has created low-sugar chocolates and sweets that still satisfy. Snack manufacturers team with university researchers to create low-calorie treats that pack extra protein and fiber into every bag. Meanwhile wagashi makers are fighting a growing trend towards Western sweets by developing new fillings and opening new cafés that introduce an, or bean paste, to Japan's younger generation.
Undergoing many changes, real estate is currently one of Japan's most exciting industries. First, we explore a popular new type of housing: high-rise condominiums called "tower mansions". Next, a topic of interest to the increasing number of visitors to Japan from abroad: private B&B-style lodgings. Finally, a new business that helps owners of used homes match with buyers and breathe new life into pre-owned properties. Our panel of experts dig into the business of Japanese real estate!
With the Tokyo Olympics around the corner, Japanese sporting goods manufacturers are developing cutting-edge items for athletes and para-athletes. A super-light pair of running spikes helps a Japanese athlete beat the 10-second barrier for the first time. Robotics technology helps wheelchair athletes perfect their form while a tire manufacturer stabilizes a running prosthetic. Meanwhile a sock manufacturer has developed specialized designs for sport climbers, a new addition to the 2020 Olympics.
Japan may be one of the safest countries in the world, but even here, security is a multi-billion-dollar industry. In this episode of Biz Buzz Japan, we explore some of the nation's latest security advancements, including roving robots, AI-equipped surveillance cameras, and even personal security devices that keep users safe while looking stylish too. This time, a look into the evolving technologies that will keep Japan secure during the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and beyond.
Shochu is a distilled spirit made from sweet potato, wheat or rice. Once overshadowed by beer and whisky, it's now a major player. As a low-carb drink it attracts health-conscious drinkers, and sales now outstrip those of sake. Shochu has a vast array of flavors and finishes: from a legendary label whose buyers are chosen by lottery, to regional varieties made with onions or chestnuts. Zero-waste plants are also making a mark in the industry. Tune in for the latest on Japan's shochu business.
Japan is home to traditional musical instruments, but it's also a key player in making classical Western instruments, and in developing new, digital ones. As the number of children in Japan falls, some are looking to new markets abroad. Discover how piano makers are making a mark in China, how a new digital wind instrument was made, and explore the world of traditional Japanese instruments. Tune in for a detailed look at the extraordinarily varied world of Japan's musical instruments business.
Japanese textiles are known for their excellent quality and functionality. This applies to everything from the famous producer of denim to the latest high-tech, water-repellent fabrics. A newly developed machine has made global headlines by creating the world's first seamless knitwear, and can easily produce bespoke, customized pieces. Join us for the latest on Japan's textile business.
Even in the modern era, Japan's stationery industry is a source of fast-paced innovation, with thousands of products hitting the shelves each year. We visit a stationery fair to see how companies target certain sectors of the market, with items like masking tape and novelty sticky notes. Then we take an in-depth look at an invention which swept the globe: erasable pens. Finally, we meet a maker of traditional writing brushes, to learn how they're using classic techniques in surprising new ways.
