funding

Osaka University spin-out Power Laser Technology has raised around $7.5m to develop power lasers for space-debris tracking and laser-fusion power generation.

elleThermo, developer of a heat-to-electricity semiconductor-sensitised thermal cell, has raised ¥830m ($5m) in a Series A led by Spiral Innovation Partners.

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.

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.

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.

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.

TriOrb, the Kyushu-based startup behind a sphere-driven AMR platform, raised $1.9M in a Series B second close backed by JBIC, Toyota Tsusho and SMBC, following its KEYENCE PLC integration.

cosmobloom, born from Nihon University's Miyazaki Laboratory, raises $2 million to advance its NEDA-powered gossamer structures — including the LEAF de-orbit device now heading to space.

Tokyo-based JIJ raises $5m led by Global Brain, adding gate-based quantum computing to its optimisation platform as it deepens ties with KOBELCO and JR Central.