Yaqeen Blog

Japan has spent the last decade quietly building a massive moat in Robotics, Space, and Material Science. In 2026, Tokyo is where you go to see what actually works when the software hype clears. With the government’s trillions of yen pouring into the "Startup Five-Year Plan," the archipelago is now a factory for the next generation of deep-tech titans.

1. Sakana AI: The New Nature of Intelligence

Sakana AI is Tokyo’s answer to the global AI race, but instead of just following the "bigger is better" trend, they are re-engineering the very nature of foundation models. Founded by former Google researchers who were key architects of the Transformer model, Sakana AI (the name means "fish" in Japanese) uses "evolutionary" and "nature-inspired" methods to develop AI models that are smaller, faster, and significantly more efficient than traditional LLMs. By 2026, Sakana has become a unicorn, valued at over $2.6 billion, following a massive Series B round backed by Nvidia and major Japanese banks. Their focus is on "model merging" and "evolutionary optimization," which allows them to "breed" specialized models that outperform giants like OpenAI’s GPT-4 in specific domains while using a fraction of the compute power.

Their collaboration with Nvidia has given them early access to high-performance GPU clusters in Japan, allowing them to scale their evolutionary algorithms. In 2025, they released groundbreaking research on "Continuous Thought Machines" and the first-ever AI to write a peer-reviewed paper, signaling a shift toward AI that can independently reason and experiment. For the Japanese market, Sakana is the "national champion" that ensures Japan remains a sovereign player in the AI era, rather than just a consumer of Western or Chinese technology. They are effectively building an AI ecosystem that mirrors the resilience and collective intelligence of a school of fish.

• Website: https://sakana.ai

2. ispace: The Lunar Logistics King

ispace is the primary architect of the "Lunar Economy." They aren't just sending probes to the Moon; they are building a high-frequency, cost-effective lunar transportation system designed to support human habitation and resource development. Following their successful 2025 "Resilience" lander mission, ispace is preparing for Mission 3 in 2026, which will deliver the APEX 1.0 lunar lander to the Schrödinger Basin on the far side of the Moon. This mission is critical for the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, as it seeks to map lunar water ice—the "oil" of the space age that will provide fuel for missions further into the solar system.

In 2026, ispace is no longer viewed as an experimental startup but as a vital infrastructure provider for the Artemis program. Their business model—"Lunar-Transportation-as-a-Service"—allows governments and private companies to send payloads to the lunar surface without building their own rocket and lander systems. With partnerships spanning from the UAE’s Rashid rover to JAXA’s robotics, ispace has established itself as the global hub for lunar logistics. They are moving toward their long-term "Moon Village" vision, where the Moon becomes an industrial platform for mining and energy production, effectively turning the "Dead Moon" into a thriving 21st-century colony.

• Website: https://ispace-inc.com

3. Rapidus: The 2nm Semiconductor Rebellion

Supported by over 1 trillion yen ($5.5 billion) in government subsidies, Rapidus is Japan’s "all-hands-on-deck" attempt to reclaim its throne in the global semiconductor industry. They aren't just making chips; they are building the foundry for the 2-nanometer (2nm) era, a frontier currently only occupied by TSMC and Samsung. In 2026, their state-of-the-art "IIM-1" facility in Hokkaido is moving from prototyping to detailed production preparation, with the goal of full-scale manufacturing by late 2027. This project is a matter of national economic security, ensuring that Japan has a domestic supply of the AI-ready chips that power everything from autonomous cars to supercomputers.

In 2026, Rapidus has expanded its "RUMS" (Rapid and Unified Manufacturing Service) concept, unveiling a suite of AI-agentic design tools that reduce chip design time by 50% and costs by 30%. By integrating advanced AI agents into the design process, they allow customers to go from specification to silicon faster than any traditional foundry. Their partnership with IBM for GAA (Gate-All-Around) technology has given them a technological leap, making them a primary alternative for global tech giants looking to de-risk their supply chains away from Taiwan. Rapidus is essentially a national "moonshot" that has become the backbone of the global AI hardware race.

• Website: https://www.rapidus.inc/en

4. Spiber: The Architects of Brewed Protein

Spiber is leading the "Bio-manufacturing" revolution with its Brewed Protein materials. Using synthetic biology and precision fermentation, they "brew" structural proteins from plant-based sugars like sugarcane. These proteins can then be spun into fibers that mimic the properties of silk, cashmere, or wool, or cast into leather-like sheets. In 2026, Spiber’s materials are being adopted by luxury fashion houses and automotive giants (including North Face and Lexus) who are desperate to replace petroleum-based synthetics and resource-heavy animal products with sustainable, circular alternatives.

Spiber’s Thai production facility is now running at scale, and in 2025, they unveiled "protein-based surface" materials that can be applied as coatings to fabrics, adding wind resistance and moisture regulation without the toxic "forever chemicals" (PFAS) found in traditional outerwear. Their Brewed Protein is 99% more land and water-efficient than traditional paper or plastic and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 79%. For the fashion and automotive industries, Spiber isn't just a supplier; they are the architects of a new, circular material economy that turns agricultural waste into high-performance luxury goods. They are proving that the future of textiles is grown in a lab, not harvested from an animal or a forest.

• Website: https://spiber.inc/en

5. Astroscale: The Space Custodians

Space debris is an existential threat to modern life, and Astroscale is the world’s leading cleanup crew. With over 140 million pieces of debris orbiting Earth, a single collision could trigger the "Kessler Syndrome," rendering our orbits unusable for generations. Astroscale provides End-of-Life (EOL) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) services. In 2026, they are launching the final phase of their ELSA-M mission, which will attempt to remove a defunct OneWeb broadband satellite from low Earth orbit (LEO) using a magnetic docking system.

Astroscale has secured critical contracts with JAXA and the UK government to characterize and remove large pieces of historic debris, like spent rocket stages. They are also expanding into "Life Extension" services, deploying refuelers to GEO (Geostationary) orbit to keep multi-billion dollar satellites operational after their fuel runs out. In 2026, they are working with the UN to establish "Sovereign Space Regulations," making it mandatory for all satellite operators to include de-orbit mechanisms. Astroscale is effectively the "environmental protection agency" for the final frontier, ensuring that the space economy can grow without choking on its own waste.

• Website: https://astroscale.com

6. Telexistence: The Avatar Revolution

Japan’s labor shortage is a demographic crisis, and Telexistence is solving it with Avatar Robotics. They build AI-powered, remotely controlled robots that can perform physical tasks—like stocking shelves in convenience stores—from a remote location. In 2026, Telexistence has launched its "Motion Data Factory," a massive industrial utility that generates robotic motion datasets to train AI models in how to "grasp every single object in the world." Their "Ghost" robots are already beverage-stocking staples in thousands of FamilyMart and Seven-Eleven stores across Japan.

The big breakthrough for 2026 is their "Astra" humanoid robot, powered by a Vision-Language-Action (VLA) foundation model. Unlike previous robots that required a human pilot for every move, Astra can perform routine in-store operations autonomously, allowing employees to focus on high-value customer service. Their partnership with Seven-Eleven is the largest-scale deployment of humanoid robots in retail history. Telexistence is fundamentally redefining how labor is structured, allowing a single human to manage multiple physical locations via robot avatars, effectively decoupling "presence" from "productivity."

• Website: https://tx-inc.com/en

7. Tier IV: The Linux of Self-Driving

Tier IV is the leader of the open-source autonomous driving revolution. While Tesla and Waymo build "closed" systems, Tier IV developed Autoware, the world’s first open-source software for self-driving vehicles based on ROS2. In 2026, Autoware has become the "Linux of the car," used by over 80 organizations globally—including governments, universities, and automotive manufacturers—to build autonomous shuttles, delivery robots, and heavy-duty trucks.

By 2026, Tier IV’s software is powering Level 4 autonomous shuttle services in over 50 Japanese cities, solving "last-mile" transportation problems in aging rural areas. Their "Web.Auto" platform provides a full DevOps suite for autonomous driving, allowing companies to simulate, test, and deploy self-driving fleets at a fraction of the cost of developing proprietary software. By democratizing the "brain" of the autonomous vehicle, Tier IV is ensuring that the future of mobility is collaborative rather than monopolized, allowing even small cities to deploy sophisticated autonomous transit systems.

• Website: https://tier4.jp/en

8. GITAI: The Space Robotics Foundry

If we are going to build a permanent base on the Moon, we aren't going to use humans; we are going to use GITAI. This startup builds high-dexterity robotic arms and autonomous rovers designed specifically for the vacuum and regolith of space. In 2026, GITAI is launching a demonstration mission to the lunar surface where their rover will attempt to assemble a communication antenna and solar panels autonomously. This is a critical step in their mission to reduce space development and labor costs by 100 times.

GITAI’s "Inchworm" robots, equipped with tool-changeable end effectors, are already being tested on the International Space Station (ISS) for extravehicular assembly and manufacturing. In 2026, they are working with DARPA and major U.S. launch companies on the "LunA-10" project to build modular lunar infrastructure. By providing robotic labor that is safer and 1/100th the cost of human astronauts, GITAI is the "construction crew" for the orbital and lunar industries. They are the reason that building a "Moon Village" is no longer a sci-fi dream but a 2026 budget line item.

• Website: https://gitai.tech

9. Kyoto Fusioneering: The Clean Energy Holy Grail

Nuclear fusion is the "holy grail" of clean energy, but the world has struggled to build the hardware to contain a miniature sun. Kyoto Fusioneering (KF) doesn't build the reactors; they build the components—the heating systems, blankets, and fuel cycles—that make fusion possible. In 2026, their "UNITY-1" facility is scheduled to generate electricity from heat captured in liquid metal, a landmark demonstration of how to convert fusion-generated thermal energy into usable power.

In 2026, KF is the global "picks and shovels" play for the fusion industry, providing gyrotron systems to major projects in the U.S. (DIII-D), the UK (UKAEA), and Germany (IPP). They are also a key member of the FAST project, Japan’s flagship effort to build a Fusion Pilot Plant. Backed by strategic investment from General Atomics and the Japanese government, Kyoto Fusioneering is solving the "engineering gaps" of fusion—like how to breed tritium fuel and extract high-temperature heat—making them the most vital partner for any nation or company trying to win the fusion race.

• Website: https://kyotofusioneering.com/en

10. SmartHR: The Efficiency Engine

Don't let the name fool you; SmartHR is the most influential SaaS powerhouse in Japan. In 2026, the Japanese SaaS market is valued at over $13.8 billion, and SmartHR is its "killer app." By automating the notoriously complex and paper-heavy labor and social insurance procedures of Japan, they have become the central hub for employee data for thousands of Japanese companies. They are the definition of "Boring SaaS" that is a goldmine because it solves a high-friction, legally-mandated problem.

In 2026, SmartHR has expanded beyond HR into a broader platform service, leveraging its accurate employee data to manage IT identity (IAM), internal workflows, and organization-wide back-office automation. By digitizing everything from onboarding and payroll to year-end tax adjustments, they are liberating millions of hours of administrative time for a workforce that is rapidly shrinking. SmartHR is the "efficiency engine" that is helping Japanese corporations survive the demographic cliff by making their operations digitally native and frictionless.

• Website: https://smarthr.jp/en

The 2026 Strategic Takeaway

Japan’s 2026 dominance is rooted in Physical Tech. While the rest of the world fought over social media algorithms, Japan perfected the robotic arms, the space landers, the 2nm foundries, and the fusion blankets. Japan is making the hardware rails that the rest of the world's software will eventually run on.

The case of Junko Furuta is widely cited as one of the most harrowing and depraved crimes in modern history. Occurring in late 1988 and early 1989 in Adachi, Tokyo, it remains a dark stain on Japan’s judicial history due to the extreme nature of the violence and the relatively lenient sentencing of the juvenile perpetrators.

Below is the comprehensive investigative breakdown of the "44 Days of Hell."

📅 The Victim: Junko Furuta (1971–1989)

Junko was a 17-year-old high school senior at Yashio-Minami High School. She was described as a diligent student who worked a part-time job at a plastic molding factory to save money for her graduation trip. She had no connection to her attackers prior to the abduction.

👹 The Perpetrators: The "Adachi Four"

The crime was committed by four teenagers who were dropouts and low-ranking associates of organized crime (chinpira). In court documents, they were referred to by letters to protect their identities as minors:

• Hiroshi Miyano (A): The 18-year-old mastermind.

• Jo Ogura (B): 17 years old.

• Shinji Minato (C): 16 years old. His family home served as the "prison."

• Yasushi Watanabe (D): 17 years old.

⛓️ The 44-Day Timeline

The Abduction (Nov 25, 1988)

While Junko was cycling home from work, Minato kicked her off her bicycle. Miyano, pretending to be a passerby, offered to walk her home safely but instead lured her to a park where he threatened and kidnapped her.

The "Prison" (Nov 25 – Dec 1988)

She was taken to Minato’s parents' house in Adachi. Shockingly, the parents were often present in the house but claimed later they were too intimidated by their son and his gang to intervene or call the police.

• Deception: The boys forced Junko to call her parents and tell them she had run away but was safe, specifically to discourage a missing persons investigation.

• Torture: Over the next 40+ days, Junko was subjected to over 400 instances of sexual assault. She was beaten with iron bars, burned with lighters, and forced to eat insects and drink her own urine.

The Final Days (Jan 1989)

By early January, Junko’s body was failing. She suffered from internal bleeding, severe dehydration, and organ failure. Her face was unrecognizable due to the beatings.

• Jan 4, 1989: After Miyano lost a game of mahjong, he took his rage out on Junko. She was beaten with an iron exercise ball and burned. She died later that day from a brain hemorrhage and shock.

🛢️ The "Concrete" Discovery

Following her death, the perpetrators wrapped her body in blankets, placed it in a 55-gallon steel drum, and filled it with wet concrete. They dumped the drum in a vacant lot in Koto, Tokyo.

The drum was discovered in March 1989 after the boys were arrested for a separate gang rape and eventually confessed to the murder during interrogation.

⚖️ The Verdict and Controversy

Because the attackers were juveniles, the Japanese legal system focused on "rehabilitation" rather than life imprisonment or death.

The Outrage: The public was horrified that such a barbaric crime resulted in sentences that allowed all four men to return to society while still in their 30s or early 40s.

🔗 Verified Investigative Sources

For readers researching the legal and forensic details of this case, use these direct, verified resources:

• Wikipedia (English/Japanese): Detailed Timeline and Biographies

• The Japan Times Archive: Judicial Reform Discussions Post-Furuta Case (Search "Junko Furuta" in their digital archive).

• Court Document Summaries: Aggregated High Court Appeals Data (Note: Specific Japanese juvenile records are often partially sealed but summarized in legal journals).

The Legacy of Junko Furuta

This case prompted a massive re-evaluation of the Juvenile Act in Japan. In the years following, the age of criminal responsibility and the harshness of sentencing for minors in violent crimes were significantly tightened.

In the late 1980s, a wave of terror paralyzed Japan. It wasn’t a foreign threat or a natural disaster, but a man who lived among the stacks of thousands of videotapes, retreating into a fantasy world that eventually bled into a gruesome reality. Known as "The Otaku Murderer" and "The Rat Man," Tsutomu Miyazaki’s name became synonymous with the ultimate taboo: the cannibalization and mutilation of innocent children.

This is the investigative report into the four-year-old victims, the forensic failures, and the psychological darkness that changed Japanese society forever.

1. The Timeline of Horror: 1988–1989

Miyazaki’s spree targeted young girls between the ages of 4 and 7. His methods were calculated, involving abduction, strangulation, and post-mortem desecration.

• August 1988: 4-year-old Mari Konno disappeared.³ Miyazaki murdered her, molested her corpse, and kept her hands and feet in his closet. 

• October 1988: 7-year-old Masami Yoshizawa was abducted. He murdered her in a wooded area and took her clothes as trophies.

• December 1988: 4-year-old Erika Namba was lured into his car. After the murder, he sent her family a series of taunting postcards. 

• June 1989: 5-year-old Ayako Nomoto became his final victim. He dismembered her body and abandoned parts in a cemetery. 

The "Cardboard Box" Incident

In a display of unparalleled cruelty, Miyazaki burned the remains of Mari Konno and placed the ashes in a cardboard box. He left the box on the doorstep of her parents' home with a note that simply said: "Mari. Cremation. Bones. Investigation. Proof."

2. The Psychology: "The Rat Man" and the Grandfather

Miyazaki was born with a physical deformity—his wrists were fused, making it impossible for him to turn his palms upward. This led to severe bullying and social isolation.

• The Loss of the Grandfather: The only person Miyazaki felt a connection to was his grandfather. When he died in 1988, Miyazaki’s fragile mental state shattered. He reportedly ate part of his grandfather's ashes in a desperate attempt to "absorb" his presence. 

• The "Rat Man" Delusion: During his trial, Miyazaki gave incoherent testimony, claiming that a "Rat Man" appeared to him and forced him to commit the murders to "sacrifice" the girls and bring his grandfather back to life.  

• The Fetishist: Investigators found over 5,700 videotapes in his small room, many containing slasher films and child pornography, interspersed with footage he had filmed of his own victims. 

3. Institutional Failures and "Otaku" Stigma

The case is often criticized for how authorities and the media handled the investigation, leading to a "Moral Panic" that marginalized an entire generation of Japanese youth.

1. Delayed Apprehension: Miyazaki was only caught by accident in July 1989 while trying to molest another girl; her father caught him and turned him in. Police had failed to link the previous four murders to him despite his proximity to the crime scenes.

2. The Birth of the "Otaku" Panic: The media seized on his collection of anime and manga, co-opting the term "Otaku" (meaning geek/shut-in) and turning it into a label for a "criminal reserve army."  

3. Coerced Confessions: Years later, Miyazaki claimed he was physically threatened by police into confessing to the murders, highlighting the intense pressure on the Hachioji Police Station to close the case.

4. The Trial and Execution: Justice at a High Cost

The trial lasted seven years, primarily debating whether Miyazaki was legally sane.

Miyazaki never apologized to the families. He spent his final years in prison writing rambling letters and drawing pictures of "The Rat Man," remaining unrepentant until the moment the trapdoor opened.

5. Data and Impact on 2025 Laws

The legacy of Miyazaki led to some of the strictest child protection and pornography laws in Asia.

• Revision of the Penal Code: Japan significantly strengthened laws regarding child abduction and the possession of harmful materials.

• Surveillance Culture: The case pioneered the use of psychological profiling in Japanese law enforcement, which was previously non-existent.

• Social Impact: The "stigma of the Otaku" lasted for decades, only beginning to soften in the mid-2010s as anime became a global mainstream export.

Was the media right to blame "Otaku" culture for Miyazaki's crimes, or was he a product of a society that failed to address severe childhood trauma?

🔗 Reliable Sources & Investigative Data:

1. The Japan Times: Serial Killer Miyazaki Executed - The End of a 16-Year Case

2. Britannica: The Profile of Tsutomu Miyazaki - The Otaku Murderer

3. Wikipedia: Detailed Timeline of the Tokyo-Saitama Serial Murders

4. The Telegraph: The Nerd Cult Murderer Who Shook Japan

5. South China Morning Post: How the Miyazaki Case Changed Japan’s Social Fabric