Yuri Group

👋 Welcome to Yuri Group's LinkedIn Channel! We're dedicated to providing insights into business, investment, and key industry trends. With expertise spanning energy, digital tech, infrastructure, financials, and media, we're here to share valuable findings with you. On this channel, expect a wealth of content centered around two pivotal topics:  ✅　the green transformation  ✅　the integration of digital technologies into our ever-evolving world. Based in Japan, we're passionate about shedding light on opportunities within this market and bridging the communication gap with the global community. In today's dynamic landscape, knowledge is paramount. We're witnessing remarkable developments in society, government, and business, all interconnected and ripe with potential. While we may not have all the answers, our commitment to curiosity, tenacity, and analysis drives us to uncover insights that can benefit your work and beyond. Join us on this journey of discovery.  💡　What topics are you most eager to explore? Share your thoughts and feedback with us, and let's navigate the major transformations of our time.

Lunar exploration startup ispace, inc. announced this week that the Resilience lunar lander, launched in January, will arrive on the Moon’s surface on June 6 at 4:24 a.m. (JST). A successful landing could mark a major milestone in the early development of the new space economy. ispace is one of many companies applying Japanese tech to develop infrastructure beyond our atmosphere. While their lunar lander hitched a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9, Hokkaido-based Interstellar Technologies Inc. is developing its own rockets. Yes, Japanese rockets have had their share of setbacks in recent years, with failed launches of JAXA’s Epsilon rocket, the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H3 Launch Vehicle for JAXA, as well as the Kairos rocket by private spaceflight company SPACE ONE. But one reason to keep an eye on Interstellar is that Woven by Toyota recently invested 7 billion yen ($44 million) in the startup. The world’s largest automaker likely sees something special here. Rival Honda is meanwhile developing its own reusable rockets to launch satellites into low orbit. Both automakers see satellite-based navigation services and mapping capabilities as essential to future mobility solutions such as autonomous vehicles. But none of the above companies may be able to carry out their missions if orbital debris continues to grow. According to European Space Agency - ESA statistics (https://lnkd.in/gJYpvvwh), there are 40,500 space debris objects larger than 10 cm, 1.1 million between 1 cm and 10 cm, and 130 million between 1 mm and 1 cm. If that’s hard to wrap your head around, check out AstriaGraph (https://lnkd.in/eXchMFn). This 3D visualization from The University of Texas at Austin shows tracked objects in orbit. Click the box for “Show debris/rocket bodies” to see just how bad the problem is. Zoom in to watch the objects move in real time. Then zoom way out to see just how crowded cislunar space is becoming. Given the speeds that rockets and satellites travel at, a collision with even a tiny object could cause critical damage. Two promising startups developing solutions to clean up low-earth orbit are Swiss-based ClearSpace and Japanese company Astroscale. The latter became a defense contractor last month when it won a contract from Japan’s Ministry of Defense to demonstrate space domain awareness, surveillance, intelligence, and operational capabilities. For more context on what the space economy means for Japan and about startups like ispace, see our GxxD report, “To Infinity, from Japan” (PDF: https://lnkd.in/gKfUpTnG). *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #space #rockets #startups #Japan

The World Expo is coming to Osaka on April 13. This six-month event offers the chance to explore new ideas and cutting-edge technologies from a city that is often outshone by Tokyo. The focus of Expo 2025 Osaka is on making life better for humanity through a combination of innovations in digital technology and concrete steps toward achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We therefore expect to see some intriguing solutions that thread the needle between decarbonization (GX) and digitalization (DX). The grand vision of Society 5.0 falls under this theme. According to the Expo’s Master Plan, it will involve the integration of cyberspace and the physical world to balance economic advancement with solutions to society’s challenges. We’re interested to see where this idea is heading, as we covered it last June in the context of the Web 3.0 concept for a decentralized, more egalitarian internet in “Digital Citizens Wanted” (PDF: https://lnkd.in/gpGD_57q). With a highly developed manufacturing sector and trade infrastructure, plus a business-friendly culture and a government eager to spur innovation, Osaka and the wider Kansai region deserve closer examination by foreign companies seeking Japanese business partners to develop new solutions, not to mention investors on the lookout for profitable opportunities. But one big question for investors will be whether Osaka can flip the narrative on Japan’s reputation for shunning inward FDI. A further reason to check out the Osaka Expo: official mascot Myaku-Myaku (pictured). *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #Osaka #Expo #Kansai #innovation #SDGs Photography by Alexander Farrell

Learn how a Japanese smart agriculture startup is testing a solution that applies automotive technology to make greenhouse agriculture both cleaner and more profitable. More details in our GxxD report, "From Carbon to Table." Access the full PDF document here: https://lnkd.in/gUPgP4Be #smartagriculture #automotive #greenhouse #agriculture #carbondioxide

SpaceX is the undisputed leader in reusable rocket technology, but competitors will surely enter the market with their own variations of the concept. Interstellar Technologies Inc. is one such up-and-coming rival. The Hokkaido-based startup is the first private company in Japan to develop a rocket that reached space. Along with plans for a reusable heavy-lift rocket, Interstellar is trying to make spaceflight greener with bio-methane liquid fuel. SpaceX also employs methane, along with oxygen, in its Super Heavy booster for the Starship launch system. Eventually, the company plans to use the two gases for on-orbit refilling before Starship’s departure for Mars. Interstellar may not have Elon Musk’s deep pockets, but the startup has received significant funding in the past couple months, with Woven by Toyota investing 7 billion yen ($44 million) in January. And just this week, it won further funding of 1.44 billion yen from Japan’s science and technology ministry (MEXT), bringing the government’s total assistance to around 8 billion yen. Another 6 billion yen could come by spring 2026. Another factor favoring Interstellar: a shortage of launch capacity that indicates plenty of room for new players to enter the market. Companies like Interstellar and ispace, inc., which we recently covered in-depth in our GxxD report “To Infinity, from Japan” (PDF: https://lnkd.in/gYc5_S47), could play an integral role in building out the infrastructure of the space economy. ispace listed its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2023. Interstellar is still private and has yet to announce any IPO plans. *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #space #rockets #startups #spaceindustry

What might seem like a nonsensical business decision to an outsider can become perfectly reasonable once you delve into the details. Take greenhouse heating systems, for instance. Many of those in Japan use older boilers running on fuel oil. You might assume that fuel oil must be a cheaper source of energy, but the oil itself is more expensive on a per-megajoule basis than both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Fuel oil is also dirtier. (See table below.) So why not upgrade to LPG or LNG to reap the long-term savings? Because the cost of storing LNG cooled to -162°C or pressurized LPG, plus the permits involved, make these systems too expensive for Japan’s small farms, which average 3.4 hectares of tillable land. That compares to 188 hectares in the U.S. This is one reason why Type A fuel oil accounted for 61.9% of all energy consumption by Japan’s agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector in FY2021. This is where Denso, the massive auto parts maker in the Toyota Group, smells an opportunity. The company has a 49% stake in AgriD, a smart agri startup in Mie Prefecture that is piloting an affordable system to potentially save Japan’s greenhouse operators billions of yen by recycling the CO2 and heat in boiler emissions. Ironically, the core technology behind this solution comes from the internal combustion engine. Learn all about it in our latest GxxD report, “From Carbon to Table.”(PDF: https://lnkd.in/gUPgP4Be) *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #agriculture #environment #greenhouses #reuse #Japan

Factory automation is coming to a farm near you! And demographics are helping to drive the trend in Japan. That’s because Japan’s graying population and shrinking agricultural workforce are facilitating the consolidation of the country’s farms. According to the agriculture ministry, the number of farms covering less than 5 hectares has been on a steady decline, while those of 10 hectares or more are growing. The government is encouraging this trend as a means to address food security. But considering the fact that the average U.S. farm covering 188 hectares dwarfs its Japanese counterpart at only 3.4 ha, there’s plenty of room for further concentration. The combination of fewer workers and larger farms offers economies of scale for companies providing automation solutions that require a large upfront investment. One such solution is AgriD’s tomato-harvesting robot. At the smart agri startup’s massive greenhouse in Mie Prefecture, robotic arms built with Denso’s factory automation technology harvest 90% of the cherry tomato crop. Read more about the labor-saving and environmentally friendly innovations at AgriD in our latest GxxD report, “From Carbon to Table.”(PDF: https://lnkd.in/gUPgP4Be) *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #agriculture #foodsecurity #automation #automativetechnology #Japan

What does the Westernization of the Japanese diet mean for the agricultural sector and the country’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050? ✅ Rice is a major crop in Japan, but land for cultivating the grain shrank more than 5% between 2015 to 2023. This is good for cutting emissions because rice paddies are a major source of methane, which is 28 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year span. ✅ A more Western-style diet could mean increased demand for crops grown in greenhouses, such as tomatoes, but prices for fresh fruits and vegetables have been rising quickly, up around 20% year-on-year in December 2024. ✅ If greenhouse operators can reduce costs to offer more competitive prices, there could be an opportunity. ✅ The problem from a climate perspective is that year-round indoor cultivation means many greenhouses run fossil-fuel boilers in colder months. Our latest GxxD report, “From Carbon to Table,” examines a solution that addresses both the business and environmental sides of the equation for greenhouse cultivation. Explore the full document in PDF format right here: https://lnkd.in/gUPgP4Be *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #agriculture #environment #climatechange #Japan

“Japan's government has long been worried about food supply. It is particularly concerned that six countries account for nearly 60% of the value of agricultural imports. Second on the list of suppliers is China, whose territorial dispute with Japan over the Senkaku Islands has disrupted trade relations in the past. Thatʼs to say nothing of the growing geopolitical tensions between Beijing and the U.S. and its allies. “Japanʼs reliance on imported food is evident in its food self-sufficiency ratio, which stood at 38% of required calories in 2022. That figure has flatlined for several years despite the government goal to raise it to 45% by 2030…” This excerpt comes from our latest GxxD report, “From Carbon to Table,” which analyzes a solution from Denso-backed smart agri startup AgriD that could boost Japan's agricultural production while both saving on energy costs and lowering the farming sector’s carbon footprint. This would satisfy all stakeholders, including policymakers, the private sector, and environmentally conscious citizens. Explore the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gUPgP4Be (PDF) *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #agriculture #foodsecurity #governmentpolicy #agriculturalpolicy #Japan

Carbon dioxide gets a bad rap as a pollutant. But what many don’t realize, it's also an extremely valuable resource in agriculture. Greenhouse operators feed the gas to fruits and vegetables to stimulate photosynthesis. But a lot of that CO₂ is actually imported into Japan from overseas, and at great cost. This is where AgriD comes in. The Kansai-based startup is experimenting with internal combustion engine technology from Denso, a Toyota Group company that is one of the world’s biggest auto parts makers, as a way to reuse CO₂ from boiler emissions. They are also capturing the heat in those emissions to help keep these indoor farms warm in the colder months. These methods could yield billions of yen in savings for Japan’s agricultural sector. Take that solution overseas, where greenhouse land coverage has exploded, and the potential impact is significant. Read all about it in Yuri Group’s latest GxxD report, “From Carbon to Table.” View the full document here in this post or download it for easier readability in the app of your choice. *** Follow Yuri Group to keep up with Japan’s decarbonization and digitalization drives. And for more on the mega-trends, business models, and innovations that sit at the crossover between our society’s shift to digital tech and clean energy, check out our entire GxxD reports catalog (https://lnkd.in/ghESqq7w). #agriculture #greenhouses #automotivetechnology #reuse #Japan