The Land of the Rising Sun has always been at the forefront of high technology. Since the Japanese live on small (relative to other countries) islands, which, among other things, are constantly exposed to seismic activity, it is difficult to fight nature without developments in technology. Japanese culture is famous for its love of technology: not only is the country constantly developing the latest technology, but even the toilets in residential buildings are equipped with the latest technology.
We have all heard about people like kamikazes. There was no end to those who wanted to try their hand at this matter, because for their people they were heroes, and they terrified the enemy. What else was connected with the mass nature of such a phenomenon, what imprint does it leave on the modern inhabitants of the island state, and which manufacturers had their hands in it? In this article we will talk about other kamikazes -. Not everyone has heard of them, but this page was also in the Japanese history book.
This week, Japanese railway company JR East unveiled a new high-speed bullet train, the Alfa-X, capable of a top speed of 400 kilometers per hour, which promises to make it the fastest commercial passenger train in the world. As the Ars Technica portal notes, during daily operation the train will transport passengers at a speed of 360 kilometers per hour. This Friday, JR East conducted the first tests of the Alfa-X without passengers on board.
The market for household appliances and electronic devices is crowded with manufacturers from different countries. For many years, leading positions have been occupied by Japanese companies, whose products are distinguished by high quality and reliability. Repairing TVs from Japan is a rather rare case. But, like any equipment, sometimes they fail. In this case, of course, you should contact a professional. After which your favorite device will last for a very long time.
The popularity of Japanese products in the electrical engineering market speaks of their advantages. The companies have been in demand among consumers for more than 50 years. And some manufacturers from Japan were founded in the last century. Sharp, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Nintendo and other well-known brands are the pride of this niche.
The path to technical success
Today, such companies are considered the backbone of the Japanese economy. But they were once small businesses with an unknown name. However, it took Japanese appliance manufacturers much less time to achieve the desired result than many large corporations. For example, Mitsubishi's current profit is about 10% of the country's GDP.
There are companies that focus exclusively on the domestic market. Others produce household appliances for export. For example, Sega, Sony and JVC are companies that have several branches in other countries. They have entered into cooperation agreements with local manufacturers for more efficient business development.
Japanese companies have managed to achieve great success not only in the production of electronic equipment, but also in innovation. Repair of household appliances in Kazan is a service that extends the service life of such equipment. Experienced craftsmen can handle both cheap Chinese goods and expensive Japanese equipment.
A striking example is the Casio company. It was its employees who created the first calculator, which became an indispensable assistant for representatives of many fields of activity. Canon, for example, produces innovative photography equipment. And Toshiba produces high-quality TVs and laptops.
Innovative Japan has faded from focus in recent years, yet it remains the world's third-largest economy behind the United States and China, an impressive achievement for a country of just 120 million people. The great Asian power is not stopping on its path to creating the innovations of the future. This overview highlights the latest developments in 13 areas where Japan continues to lead the way.
Disposal of radioactive waste of rare metals
The Japanese government has created a fund worth more than $530 million to help the country become more competitive. From 12 research projects, one group of researchers was selected who are looking for a way to dispose and reprocess highly radioactive waste. As part of this project, scientists are extracting rare metals from radioactive waste.
Plastic from natural gas
Higher oil prices hit Japan harder than the United States because Japan does not have any natural reserves. Mitsubishi Rayon, tired of struggling with high prices and the problems they cause, is planning to build a plant along the US Gulf of Mexico to make plastics from gas.
As part of this project, Mitsubishi is collaborating with Mitsui & Co., one of Japan's largest trading companies, and will invest $490 million in construction. When the plant is finally operational in four years, it will be able to produce an annual capacity of 250,000 tonnes.
Clean room salad
Supercomputer maker Fujitsu is working on a digital patch to create a "Kirei Yasai" line of pure vegetables and herbs.
The company's facility in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, in northern Japan, covers approximately 2,000 square meters; there is a special clean room for crop production. This is the largest center of its kind, engaged in the production of low-potassium vegetables.
Fujitsu grows lettuce that contains 100 micrograms or less than 100 grams of potassium (regular lettuce contains 500 micrograms). Fujitsu's salads are intended for people with chronic kidney disease who physically cannot digest this amount of potassium.
High-tech freezer
Some foods cannot be frozen as easily as fruit without losing nutrients. This happens because during the freezing process, ice crystals destroy the cell walls and texture.
ABI Co. from the Japanese city of Chiba have developed CAS - Cell Revitalization System, which actually changes the physics of freezing. CAS uses 30% less energy than conventional freezers and can, depending on the product, freeze up to five times faster. Oxidation is reduced by 98%, so fruits, vegetables and rice can be frozen without losing flavor.
Tuna farming
The Japanese are very fond of bluefin tuna (maguro). The problem is that due to its popularity, bluefin tuna is on the verge of extinction.
Bluefin tuna does not breed in captivity, but the Japanese have found a way out. A team of researchers from Toyota Tsusho and Kinki University determined the right combination of salinity, water temperature and sunlight under which they were finally able to breed tuna in captivity.
These two organizations will create a new center in Nagasaki Prefecture, where they will organize the entire process: from the stage of artificial incubation to breeding.
Promoting Entrepreneurship Development
Life-Is-Tech is a camp for high school students who want to create a software or service company in the virtual space in the future. There, these talented guys will be helped to develop a business plan and launch a company to bring their business project to the market. About 100 participants, boys and girls, live in the camp at a time, who attend classes, participate in various entertaining games and join teams to develop their own application.
Life-Is-Tech teaches courses such as iOS and Android Platforms, Game Design, Framework written in the Ruby programming language, and HTML5. As part of the joint launch of some programs, Life-Is-Tech even collaborates with institutes and technology companies.
Return to the aviation business
Japan is back in the airline business. Mitsubishi, the same company that created the A6M Zero combat aircraft during World War II, is preparing to launch the first commercial aircraft 50 years later.
Mitsubishi will release its new product in 2017, and, according to a press release, it will be the quietest and most environmentally friendly aircraft. American customers already include SkyWest and Eastern Airlines.
Japan is changing the airline business
The Japanese didn't invent carbon fiber, Thomas Edison did. But they've definitely improved it. Three companies - Toray, Teijin and Mitsubishi Rayon - control 70% of the global carbon fiber market. Toray owns 40% of the market, thanks in part to Boeing. To meet growing demand, Toray is now building a $1 billion plant in South Carolina.
Unicube: the best Segway
Segway has not yet conquered the world, as its creators would like. Possibly because you'll have to stand on it anyway. Honda has come up with a solution: the Uni-Cube. The Uni-Cube is a self-balancing, zero-turn radius, battery-powered seat that makes it more suitable for pedestrian areas because the new device is not much larger than a person.
Androids: Kodomoroid and Otonaroid
The Tokyo National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation has two new employees. These are Kodomoroid and Otonaroid - two androids that look frighteningly realistic.
Androids can be controlled remotely, but they cannot yet walk independently. Mostly they sit at tables and communicate with visitors. Android creator Hiroshi Ishiguro (employee of Osaka University and the Institute of International Advanced Telecommunications Research (ATR)) has already created an android clone of himself and called it Geminoid.
Robotics: Pepper
Like many Japanese firms, Softbank operates in many industries simultaneously, and now robotics has expanded into its portfolio. The company recently unveiled its latest development, Pepper, a robot that can communicate through emotions, words or body language. It has special microphones and sensors - they not only understand what you say, but also sense the intonation of your voice, which helps them recreate a picture of your mood. The robot's vocabulary is 4,500 words, currently only Japanese.
FabCafe: Starbucks with a 3D printer
Don't have access to a 3D printer but have some cool ideas? Then if you are in Tokyo, be sure to visit FabCafe. It looks like any other coffee shop until you notice the unusual equipment installed in the room, which can allow you to create anything from a phone case to greeting cards.
Adoption of HPC RISCs
Most of the world is moving away from RISC computer systems, with the exception of some IBM customers. Of course - after all, this is a whole iron tank-processor engaged in sales. Many giant computers are being created in Japan. For example, the RIKEN Institute of Advanced Computing Sciences in 2011 created its main monster computer - the famous K., which (as of today) is located in 864 rooms and has 88,000 processors.
Japan is rightfully considered a leading country in the field of technology and electronics. Over the past years, both in the press and on television, you can increasingly hear about stupid, funny and completely incomprehensible inventions of Japanese engineers. And this is true, since the world market is occupied in most cases by impractical and useless “inventions” of craftsmen from the land of the rising sun. However, some will be able to influence human life and the lives of future generations in one way or another. They amaze Western society with engineering.
8. Revolutionary vending machines
It is unlikely that vending machines, attributes of the past two centuries, can be considered as examples of innovative technologies that can change the world. But we must pay tribute to the Japanese, who improved the machine gun and adapted it to different areas of life, making us appreciate the power of comfort and convenience. While the world enjoys using vending machines to buy snacks and coffee, the Japanese have taken things a step further and created a new generation of machines that can be used to purchase everything from umbrellas and eggs to fresh salad and underwear. This may not be an outstanding invention for humanity, but it has found its niche in the market.
Gaining access to control the human brain is a pipe dream for most inventors. Japanese engineers have developed a portable camera, Neurocam, which records waves emanating from the activity of neurons in the human cerebral cortex and transforms them into a digital image. The camera is powered by a connected iPhone, which is attached to a special cuff and placed on the head, and special sensors receive brain signals. The Neurocam device interprets the received signals using developed algorithms and displays digitized images on the iPhone screen. This technology, although not yet fully perfected, was the first step towards major developments in the visualization of dreams, memory and ideas, which in turn would have a major impact on the way we communicate and transmit information.
Obtaining and using environmentally friendly energy sources has become the number one problem in the era of the global struggle against dramatic climate change on Earth. That's why Power Japan Plus became interested in creating environmentally friendly power sources in the form of a fully rechargeable Dual Organic Carbon Battery. It is more powerful than conventional analogues and lasts longer. Its charging time is 20 times faster than most modern batteries. In addition, the housing is environmentally friendly and can be easily disposed of or recycled.
What can really help people with disabilities is a robot that will become an indispensable assistant when walking, running and at work. Japanese company Panasonic is improving exoskeletons, specially designed robots that people can wear on their bodies like a suit. What was previously only available in the field of military technology will now serve ordinary people in everyday life. This exoskeleton costs $7,000 and weighs 40 kg. This lightweight, compact and strong suit could revolutionize the way people work and recover from physical injuries in the near future.
Imagine a television screen with such a clear image that you feel the reality of the images and want to touch them. Revolutionary ultra-high-definition technologies are available from companies such as Sharp and Sony, whose TVs feature 1080 ppi concave screens for improved picture quality. When these TVs become available to the masses, they will completely replace traditional analogues. Japan became the first country in the world to begin broadcasting 4K digital television in July 2014, previously scheduled for 2016.
3. Androids: Kodomoroid, Ontonaroid, Telenoid
Robots have the potential not only to change our understanding of everything we know, such as communication and work, but also to provoke philosophical questions about human consciousness. Hiroshi Ishiguro and his team from Osaka University have created three female robots, Kodomoroid, Ontonaroid, Telenoid, whose skin color, hair, facial features and even clothing are identical to human ones. The robots are presented in different age categories and are delegated the functions of an information bureau regarding the museum’s work. Information is available in different languages. In addition to being able to speak, robots can move like humans, gesture, pick up objects, blink and smile.
Japan has been a leader in the construction of robotics for 15 years. Honda's ASIMO robot is a giant leap forward in this area (and it doesn't look as shocking as Kodomoroid). The robot is capable of performing many different human actions, including greeting visitors, opening bottles, and serving drinks. In 2014, it was improved and received additional functions - now it can jump and run at a speed of 5 km/h. It is difficult to say how the world will change culturally, socially and economically with the advent of robots of this class. One thing is clear: they will become indispensable for people with disabilities.
There is an unspoken rivalry in the world regarding the creation of the first space elevator. During the 19th-20th centuries, Russian scientists were concerned with this issue. American scientists also contributed to the development of its creation. In 2007, a prize of $500,000 for the best development was announced, but there is still no nominee. Since then, Japan has also decided to tackle the problem of creating the first functional space elevator. The Tokyo-based Obayashi Corporation plans to create a working device by 2050. With the help of this elevator, space tourists will be delivered to space stations through a block system of carbon nanotubes. Using only solar energy, the elevator will be able to carry up to 30 people into orbit at a speed of 200 km/h. If the project is successfully completed, this innovation will revolutionize the fields of engineering, tourism and space exploration. Well, for now you'll have to use the services
Not being at least some kind of specialist in Japan, especially its history in the twentieth century, I can still say that it is difficult to name one single reason. We can only summarize some of the main trends.
Perhaps the main point is the fact that the Japanese archipelago is poor in natural resources. This has played out many times and in different ways over several centuries, so we need to dig a little deeper into history.
Japan essentially made a technological breakthrough back in the Meiji era, at the end of the 19th century, when the country was forced at gunpoint to open up to the rest of the world and end a quarter of a millennium of isolation, during which invention was banned. The ban on invention, by the way, did not mean a lack of progress at all - the Japanese, for example, independently developed mathematics and almost reached the creation of differential calculus, and also created karakuri automata from wood and whalebone, the movements of which were so natural that they could be confused with real people. Additionally, by the mid-19th century, Japan, still isolated, was one of the countries with the highest literacy rates in the world. So with the opening to the world, Japan only used this reserve of education.
And here for the first time the poverty of the Japanese Archipelago in terms of resources affected it. Unlike, say, China, Japan was not attractive to the colonial powers as a source of resources - only as a sales market. Therefore, they did not conquer Japan, but they considered selling something to it, including technology, quite profitable.
Unlike China, Japan did not suffer from a big brother complex. Therefore, the Japanese did not need to change their self-awareness at some deep level in order to reorient themselves to the European powers as a role model. And this imitation soon bore fruit: at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Japanese fleet won a victory near Tsushima; during the Second World War, for example, the Zero aircraft, built essentially according to an outdated design, was superior to new Western aircraft for a long time.
Japan's goal during the Meiji and early Showa eras (from the beginning of the latter to the end of World War II) was to create a colonial empire in the image of the European ones. In this regard, Japan succeeded, having at one time occupied vast areas of the Far East and Southeast Asia. Until 1945, this made it possible to obtain resources, compensating for their lack on the archipelago. With the end of the war and the separation of the former colonies, this opportunity disappeared, and the only way out for the Japanese economy was the development of the processing industry. Moreover, it was desirable to produce goods that would require the purchase of as few resources as possible at the input and cost as much as possible at the output. Hence, in many ways, the Japanese desire for miniaturization.
Finally, after the war, Japan was prohibited from having its own army. The lack of military spending had the best impact on production: money that would have gone to ships and tanks was spent on machine tools and televisions. Japan was the first country to introduce robotization in production.
All these reasons are quite mechanical, and do not take into account the Japanese mentality indicated by another author. However, mentality runs like a red line throughout this story.
For example, the tradition of minimalism - associated with the same limited resources and understanding of this - existed in Japan back in the era of the shogunate. After the country was almost completely deforested after the Sengoku era of civil wars, extremely strict wood consumption standards were introduced in Japan. Already in the 17th century, literally every tree in Japan was registered, and there were strict quotas for use. Not only palaces - sometimes even samurai armor was made from paper, onto which waste from the production of the same wood could be used.
The already mentioned Zero plane is also an example of Japanese perfectionism, but we should not forget that three centuries before that, Japanese muskets - right up to their actual ban with the establishment of the shogunate - were not inferior to their European counterparts, if not superior to them.
Finally, the reason why the Japanese were the first to introduce robotics may sound quite funny, but nevertheless it is a fact. In Europe and America, robots in popular culture were associated with destruction: a mad professor creates a giant evil robot, and it devastates the world. Therefore, the inventors of the industrial robot - Americans, by the way - were able to introduce their technology only in Japan, where such prejudice did not exist.
Of course, all these reasons can hardly be called a complete answer to the question, but I think that in general terms they correspond to reality.
I think this is to some extent connected with the Japanese mentality, the hallmarks of which are hard work and diligence. These two qualities are highly valued in Japan. The breakthrough may also be associated with the desire of the Japanese to somehow realize themselves after the defeat in World War II.
Japan and technology is a separate poem.
Let's start with the fact that historically the Japanese pursued a policy of isolationism, and were not particularly dependent (or, more precisely, did not depend at all) on international trade. On the other hand, the Japanese... well, let's put it this way, did not shy away from borrowing useful innovations from their neighbors (mainly in China).
And so, when the wave of technology reached Japan, the Japanese, according to the old tradition, began borrowing, the so-called. completely ignored such things as patents, copyright, etc.
And it was pointless to apply any sanctions against them because... Japan was not dependent on international trade.
Over time, Japan was integrated into world trade, and still began to pay for new technologies, and somewhere at the same time, Japan’s technological gap from European countries and the United States was reduced so much that the theft of technology was no longer particularly necessary.
In short, then: historically, Japan was a technologically backward country, and it reduced this gap by appropriating other people's technological achievements.
The second important point was and remains the hierarchical structure of Japanese society. This (and maybe not only this) led to the fact that the Japanese, at least after the Second World War, began to build their economy in an organized manner. Roughly speaking, the samurai sheathed their swords and retrained themselves as entrepreneurs, but rather unusual entrepreneurs: disciplined, responsible and with an existing hierarchy. And, IMHO, this allowed them to use other people's technologies very effectively. So effective that Japan began to look like some kind of technological miracle. For example, just-in-time logistics technology, which can significantly reduce warehouse costs, was first used not in Japan (but, it seems, in the USA by Ford, although I could be wrong here), but it has become almost a standard or even a calling card of Japanese automobile companies. Well, it’s mostly the same with other technologies: Japan is not a world leader in the development of new technologies, but it effectively adapts and uses others.
