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News from Japan

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 5-Jul-2025 04:10 ET (5-Jul-2025 08:10 GMT/UTC)

Rare rearing: Japanese collaboration to save near-extinct herons in Bhutan takes wings

Hosei University

The critically endangered White-bellied Heron faces extinction due to habitat disturbance from human activities and predation. Professor Satoshi Shimano and his team from Hosei University, Japan, collaborated with the White-bellied Heron Conservation Center in Bhutan, to revive the species through direct intervention. With Japanese know-how and the uninterrupted support of Japanese experts, the major hurdle of successfully rearing chicks was overcome, and two healthy chicks were hand-reared, bringing the total captive population to five.

Deep Nanometry reveals hidden nanoparticles

University of Tokyo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo developed Deep Nanometry, an analytical technique combining advanced optical equipment with a noise removal algorithm based on unsupervised deep learning. Deep Nanometry can analyze nanoparticles in medical samples at high speed, making it possible to accurately detect even trace amounts of rare particles. This has proven its potential for detecting extracellular vesicles indicating early signs of colon cancer, and it is hoped that it can be applied to other medical and industrial fields.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: JST CREST, JST A-STEP, JST GteX

Team compares degree of housing damage resulting from great east Japan earthquake and all-cause mortality

Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists know that natural disasters have negative health effects on survivors, but long-term observations are lacking. To help fill this gap, a Japanese research team has investigated the connection between the degree of housing damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and all-cause mortality, using the data from a cohort study conducted by the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project. Using long-term observation periods, this research project shows no significant relationship between the degree of house damage and all-cause mortality.

Journal: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

In ancient stellar nurseries, some stars are born of fluffy clouds

Kyushu University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at Kyushu University have found that stars in the early universe may have formed from “fluffy” molecular clouds. Using the ALMA telescope to observe the Small Magellanic Cloud—whose environment is similar to the early universe—they observed that about 60% of the observed clouds had the common filamentary structure, while the remaining 40% had a “fluffy” shape. Thes results could provide new insights into the formation of stars in the universe.

Journal: The Astrophysical Journal
Funder: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Quantitative evaluation method for energy resilience in disasters

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Recently, global warming and more frequent natural disasters have emphasized the need for low-carbon and resilient energy systems. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a composite quantitative evaluation method for disaster resilience in energy systems for individual buildings.

Journal: e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering Electronics and Energy

Patients with diabetes who recognize the doctor's recommendations are more likely to undergo diabetic retinopathy examinations

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Patients with diabetes who recognize their healthcare provider's recommendation for an ophthalmology consultation are more likely to undergo a diabetic retinopathy examination (fundus examination). Moreover, individuals who understood the recommended frequency of ophthalmology visits have a higher likelihood of undergoing fundus examinations. Enhancing patient awareness of these recommendations may improve diabetic retinopathy screening rates.

Journal: Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism

vmTracking enables highly accurate multi-animal pose tracking in crowded environments

Doshisha University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Understanding the movement patterns of animals is crucial for analyzing complex behaviors. However, accurately tracking the poses of individuals in crowded and densely populated environments remains a major challenge. Researchers from Doshisha University have developed ‘Virtual Marker Tracking’ (vmTracking), which assigns virtual markers to animals, enabling consistent identification and posture tracking even in crowded environments. Their findings offer a simple, effective solution for tracking multiple animals in complex spaces for precise behavioral studies.

Journal: PLOS Biology
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology

Closing the recycle loop: Waste-derived nutrients in liquid fertilizer

Osaka Metropolitan University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have succeeded in establishing a method for producing recycled liquid fertilizer that contains high concentrations of phosphorus.

Journal: Chemosphere
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency

Unveiling the intricate mechanisms behind oxysterol-induced cell death

Doshisha University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Oxysterols, molecules derived from cholesterol, play crucial roles in our bodies but can also contribute to various diseases. Now, researchers from Japan have discovered that 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OHC) triggers a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis in nerve-supporting cells. The study reveals that 25-OHC disrupts cellular protective mechanisms and antioxidant systems. These findings could lead to new diagnostics and treatments for conditions, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, where elevated 25-OHC levels have been observed.

Journal: Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Friend-enemy divided thinking ignites flames of conflict

Kyushu University

An interdisciplinary study led by Kyushu University combining political science and psychology shows that individuals who view the world through a "friend or foe" mindset are more likely to perceive outsiders as a threat. They tend to believe more in conspiracy theories, and hold more negative attitudes toward international relations. Researchers hope to contribute insights that lead to more effective conflict management and lasting peace.

Journal: SAGE Open
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

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