Technology Thermal power generation startup elleThermo raises $5m in Series A
elleThermo, developer of a heat-to-electricity semiconductor-sensitised thermal cell, has raised ¥830m ($5m) in a Series A led by Spiral Innovation Partners.
Michi Tohma
Technology 
Technology Letara Raises $16 Million in Pre-Series A to Develop Plastic-Fueled Rocket Engines
Hokkaido University spin-off Letara has raised $16m in a pre-Series A round to commercialise its CAMUI hybrid rocket engine, which burns plastic fuel for safer, lower-cost propulsion.
Technology Photonic quantum computing developer OptQC raises $44m in Series A2
Photonic quantum computing startup OptQC has raised $44m in a Series A2 round led by NTT, as it works towards commercial deployment of its first machine.
Opinion / Column Trial Holdings’ monetisation of Seiyu property and the future of Japan’s GMS
Trial Holdings is monetising property held by its subsidiary Seiyu. We look at what the deal reveals about margins, ownership history and the future of Japan's GMS sector.
Technology Fusion startup Kyoto Fusioneering raises $105m in equity at first close of series D
Kyoto Fusioneering has raised $105m in equity at the first close of a series D round, taking total funding to $162m including debt, to advance its UNITY fusion demonstration programme.
Business Hinoki, champion of “serial business succession”, raises $20m
Hinoki, a Tokyo-based startup, has raised $20m to acquire Japanese SMEs facing succession crises and hold them permanently — a Japanese take on Europe's serial-acquirer model.
Technology AI-powered, DPP-ready metals recycler Trash Technologies raises $1m
Trash Technologies, an AI-powered metals recycler turning Japan's urban mine into high-purity gold, silver and rare metals, has raised $1m to expand its Kawagoe plant and roll out digital product passports.
Series Vol. 23 | A Prehistory of Jodo Buddhism, Part 2
Saicho brought Tendai doctrine to Japan and Kukai brought esoteric Buddhism. Their study in Tang, their falling-out, and why Mount Hiei became the seedbed of Jodo, Zen and Nichiren Buddhism alike.
Series Vol. 22 | A Prehistory of Jodo Buddhism, Part 1
Vol. 22 of The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin traces Buddhism's arrival in Japan, Prince Shotoku's letter to Sui China, and the Nanto Rokushu — the six schools that first took root in Nara.
Series Vol. 21 | The Beginnings of Buddhism
The Jodo Ethic and the Spirit of the Ohmi Shonin, Vol. 21: the story of how Gotama Siddhattha became the Buddha, and what his life — and death — reveal about how to live.