Japan

64 Articles

Artificial intelligence

CEATEC 2026 Highlights Physical AI and Industrial Task Technologies

The organizers of CEATEC 2026 announced the participation of 821 exhibitors, with a strong focus on generative AI and physical AI. Among the featured technologies is the TUSS system from the Mitsubishi Electric Group, which aims to enable models to perform multiple tasks in industrial environments.

2026-10-07

Electric Cars

Suzuki Competes with BYD with a Small Electric Car Starting at $13,500

Suzuki is preparing to launch the e SKY, its first kei-class electric car in Japan, with a starting price of approximately 2.12 million yen, a range of up to 310 kilometers, and LFP batteries supplied by BYD.

2026-10-06

Technologies

UEL Launches CADmeister 2026 with Generative AI Capabilities to Improve Mold Design and Manufacturing

UEL has launched CADmeister 2026, an industrial CAD/CAM/CAE suite that integrates generative artificial intelligence into CAD data analysis and automates certain design and manufacturing tasks. The release adds tools for CAM, 3D model inspection, and mold data management.

2026-10-06

Cybersecurity

Two Nikkei Email Accounts Hacked, One Used to Send 9,000 Phishing Messages

Nikkei revealed that a Google Workspace account was hacked in July and a Microsoft 365 account in September, potentially exposing the data of 1,646 people and resulting in the second account being used to send 9,000 phishing messages.

2026-10-06

Robotics and Automation

KDDI and RLWRLD Develop AI Models for Robots Under the GENIAC Project

KDDI and RLWRLD announced the start of a collaboration to develop foundation models for robots that combine real-world training data with environmental simulations, with the aim of improving robots’ ability to learn and perform tasks. The collaboration is part of the NEDO-supported GENIAC project, with plans for proof-of-concept tests and expansion of the available data.

2026-10-05

Artificial intelligence

NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS Focuses on Three Areas to Expand Its AI Business by 2030

NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS unveiled its business strategy for fiscal 2026, placing artificial intelligence at the heart of the ICT platform it is developing, while targeting a doubling of revenue to 2.6 trillion yen by fiscal 2030. The plan includes computing and data centers, network services, and partner management, along with expanding cybersecurity capabilities and developing talent.

2026-10-02

Artificial intelligence

How AWS Supports STRADVISION’s Transition from Startup Idea to Physical AI Solutions

A MONOist interview with executives from AWS and STRADVISION examines the role of AWS startup programs and cloud infrastructure in developing computer vision and physical AI solutions. The company explains how it uses AWS services, including infrastructure dedicated to training and running models, to expand its applications in automotive and robotics.

2026-09-30

Technologies

Altair Engineering Launches ADVENTURECluster2026 with an AI Expert Engine to Accelerate CAE Model Setup and Verification

Altair Engineering announced the release of ADVENTURECluster2026 on October 1, 2026, adding the AI Expert function to help configure analysis settings and verify results, along with improvements in multidisciplinary optimization, AMG, and contact analysis.

2026-09-29

Cybersecurity

Ransomware Attack Disrupts Business Systems at Japanese Railway Operator Keio

Japanese company Keio confirmed that its group servers were hit by a ransomware attack on September 26, 2026, disrupting some business systems, particularly in the hospitality sector, with no indications that train operations were affected. The company is still investigating the extent of the damage and the possibility that customer and partner data was accessed.

2026-09-28

Robotics and Automation

PLC Software Solutions Enter the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Camera and Software Agent Integration

Automation companies at the Industry Open Network 2026 exhibition showcased solutions that connect programmable logic controllers with artificial intelligence and cameras, aiming to simplify monitoring, program modification, and fault recording. The demonstrations indicate that the PLC is shifting from a standalone controller to an element connected to a broader operating and analysis system.

2026-09-25

Artificial intelligence

Preferred Networks and ACSL Develop Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Autonomous Drone Operation

Preferred Networks and ACSL announced that a research project supported by NEDO has entered a phase enabling drones to make operational decisions autonomously using artificial intelligence. The work includes developing technologies for perception, planning, and responding to environmental changes, along with updates to the SOTEN drone and an open software platform.

2026-09-24

Electric Cars

Toyota Enters the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle Race with Chinese Production Starting in 2027

Toyota plans to produce its first extended-range electric vehicle in China starting in spring 2027, with a plan to produce 200,000 units during the same year and approximately 400,000 units in 2028. The company is betting on this type to avoid the price war in China’s electric vehicle market and benefit from local components and software.

2026-09-21

Electric Cars

Factorial Builds an Industrial Alliance to Develop Solid-State Batteries for Electric Vehicles

Factorial Energy is bringing together companies specializing in materials and battery manufacturing to accelerate the rollout of solid-state batteries, rather than developing all their components internally. The company is working with Mitsui Kinzoku and other partners, while its batteries are still awaiting entry into production vehicles.

2026-09-18

Artificial intelligence

NEC Launches AI Agent Platform for Supply Chain Management

NEC has unveiled the NEC SCM AI Agent solution for managing supply chain tasks through an orchestrating agent that relies on seven sub-agents, while keeping final decisions in the hands of employees. The annual price starts at 18 million yen, and the company aims to sell the solution to 100 companies within five years.

2026-09-18

Chips and Semiconductors

日本ガイシ Presents Ceramic Solutions for Dissipating Heat from AI Chips and Improving CPO Signals

日本ガイシ presented ceramic technologies targeting cooling and signal-loss challenges in semiconductor packages used with AI workloads, including an aluminum nitride substrate for 300 mm sizes and a packaging architecture for co-packaged optics (CPO) applications.

2026-09-18

Cloud Computing and Data Centers

Panasonic Energy Expands Data Center Battery Business to Keep Pace with AI Load Demand

Panasonic Energy aims to raise revenue from its energy storage systems business for data centers to 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2028, three times the 2025 level, with investments of 350 billion yen between 2026 and 2028. Growth is focused on lithium-ion battery-based BBU units, which provide backup power and reduce peak loads in AI data centers.

2026-09-17

Artificial intelligence

Where Should Companies Run Their AI? 日本HP Explains How to Balance the Cloud and On-Premises Environments

日本HP believes that the decision to run AI in the cloud or on-premises should begin with data sensitivity and the nature of the processing, not with a fixed technical preference. The company’s experience shows that the number of users, service continuity, operating costs, and how results are approved are no less important than the choice of model or device.

2026-09-16

Robotics and Automation

AI-Powered Vision Solutions Expand the Use of Robots in Flexible Manufacturing

Industrial companies at Factory Innovation Week 2026 showcased solutions combining 3D vision and artificial intelligence to enable robots to pick up a variety of parts, including irregularly shaped and shape-changing objects. The demonstrations included machine vision systems, smart sensors, and solutions that can be integrated with robots and industrial controllers.

2026-09-16