2023: Summary of the Year Across Key Energy Sectors

In comparison with the energy crisis and associated turbulence of 2022, this year has been about preparation for the future for most major energy sectors. As one industry insider joked, everyone’s fa...

Jinji Ido, the Generalist Approach

To generalize or to specialize? This is one of the age old questions of career planning and personnel development, with strong advocates on both sides. Where does Japan tend to lean? Here, the genera...

METI Welcomes New Minister Amid Cabinet Purge

On Dec 14, Saito Ken was named the new METI minister following his predecessor’s resignation over a financial scandal in the Cabinet. He replaced Nishimura Yasutoshi, who, alongside other members of ...

A New Life for Old EV Batteries: Toyota and JERA Start Sweep Energy Storage

As the energy transition leads to more renewable energy and electrification of transport, demand for storage batteries is increasing. Manufacturing such batteries, however, requires a wide array of r...

How Are Less-Loved Hydrogen Carriers — Liquefied Hydrogen and MCH — Developing?

Hydrogen is a lonely element. It can’t exist by itself and needs to combine with a partner such as oxygen, transforming into water. Because the gas is far from stable, in order to transport it on shi...