The EU-Japan Centre is pleased to start a new weekly service by publishing brief summary of the latest information from the Japanese governmental organizations & private companies/organizations. A couple of minutes reading to be informed about what is happening in Japan's policy, economy, EU-Japan relations, and innovation.

*Information is collected at the time of confirmation.

JAPANESE INDUSTRY AND POLICY NEWS

Capable of reducing crude oil sludge by more than 50%
Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., and Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd., announced on November 2 that they have successfully developed crude oil sludge volume reduction (SVR) technology that can reduce sludge by more than 50% and recovered useful oil from sludge. Sludge is a mixture of oil, water, and solids (sand, rust, etc.) contained in crude oil that settles and accumulates at the bottom of the tank. In the past, it was discharged outside the tank during regular tank open inspections and disposed of as industrial waste.

JOGMEC website (in Japanese):
https://www.jogmec.go.jp/news/release/news_08_00024.html

Euglena developed next-generation biodiesel fuel using 100% Euglena-derived raw materials
On November 2, Euglena Co., Ltd. announced it has confirmed that the 100% derived raw material fuel which is a next-generation biodiesel fuel made only from fats and oils extracted from the microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: MIDORIMUSHI), has the same performance as diesel oil derived from petroleum by the demonstration test conducted by Isuzu Motors Ltd.
Currently, used cooking oil is used as the main raw material for the production of biodiesel fuel in Japan and overseas, but there are concerns about a shortage of supply.

Euglena website:
https://www.euglena.jp/en/news/20221102-2/

Sumitomo Chemical and two universities develop "soft solid" type solid state battery
Sumitomo Chemical announced on November 7 that it has jointly developed a "soft solid" type battery with Kyoto University and Tottori University. This time, by using a new material, they succeeded in achieving a capacity of about 230 Wh/kg in a non-pressurized method, and succeeded in making the solid electrolyte flexible, which had been an issue until now. This battery can eliminate the parts required for pressurization, so it is expected to significantly reduce the weight and cost of the battery. And the early commercialization of highly safe solid-state batteries for EVs, etc, is also expected.

Sumitomo Chemical website (in Japanese):
https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/news/detail/20221107.html

The current account surplus in the first half of this fiscal year decreased by 58.6% year-on-year
According to the balance of payments statistics (preliminary report) for the first half of fiscal 2022 (April to September) released by the Ministry of Finance on Nov. 9, the current account balance, which indicates the status of transactions of goods and services with foreign countries and investment income, is a surplus of JP\ 4.8458 trillion. The surplus decreased by JP\ 6.8627 trillion (58.6%) from the same period of the previous year, marking the largest decline in the first half since 1985. The main reason for this was the depreciation of the JP\ and rising fuel prices, which pushed up the amount of imports, turning the balance of payments into the red.

MOF website:
https://www.mof.go.jp/english/policy/international_policy/reference/balance_of_payments/release_date.htm

Fast Retailing trains Rohingya refugees in sewing skills
Fast Retailing, which operates the UNIQLO brand, announced on Nov. 9 that it cooperates with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to train women Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on sewing skills. They make sanitary cloth napkins that can be used repeatedly as a paid volunteer so that they can earn living expenses. The reward is 50 taka (approximately JP\ 72) per hour, and participants work 4 hours a day, 5 times a week. The plan is to train 1,000 people by 2025.

Fast Retailing website:
https://www.fastretailing.com/eng/sustainability/news/2211091300.html

Subsidies for Promotion of Introduction of Clean Energy Vehicles and of Charging and Filling Infrastructure, etc. to Promote the Spread of Clean Energy Vehicles
METI released new details on the subsidy program for vehicles running on clean energy. The subsidies cover cars running on hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric vehicles. The subsidy also specifically targets vehicles that can support power supply in times of disaster. Furthermore, 20 billion yen is made available in subsidies for the charging and filling infrastructure for hydrogen-powered vehicles and battery-electric vehicles. This subsidy can cover construction of the infrastructure, maintenance, and operation costs, as well as costs related to the external purchasing of the needed equipment.

METI website (in Japanese): https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2022/11/20221108005/20221108005.html