According to The Asahi Shimbun, Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it will roll out a prototype of a new model of its fuel-cell vehicle Mirai at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, which will open on Oct. 24.
The automaker aims to extend the driving range of the new model by about 30 percent by completely redesigning the fuel-cell system of the current Mirai model, released in 2014.
Toyota is planning to sell the new Mirai in Japan, North America, Europe and other regions from late 2020.
The prototype has lower lines, more elegant proportions and improved ride comfort, compared to the current model.
“We need to aim for developing a model that appeals to consumers with an excellent performance to encourage more people to buy fuel-cell vehicles,” said Yoshikazu Tanaka, chief engineer of the Mirai.
Fuel-cell vehicles run on electricity generated using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air.
The automaker regards the vehicles as the “ultimate eco-friendly cars” since they don’t emit carbon dioxide while on the road.
Global sales of the current Mirai model stood at around 10,000 by August. More hydrogen stations are needed to promote the wider use of fuel-cell vehicles.
Meanwhile, Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand announced that it will unveil its first concept car that runs on electricity at the Tokyo Motor Show, which continues through Nov. 4.
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http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910110049.html

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/fcv 
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According to The Nikkei Asian Review, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has become the first Japanese financial institution to issue green bonds denominated in Australian dollars, hoping to attract the Pacific country's more environmentally conscious investors.
MUFG issued a total of AU$500 million (US$ 337 million) in fixed- and floating-rate bonds. The maturity was set at five years.
The issuance was oversubscribed by almost two times, and most of the bonds were purchased by Australian institutional investors.
MUFG plans to apply the proceeds toward Earth-friendly businesses, like buildings with low carbon footprints and renewable energy projects.
The financial group is also considering issuing foreign-currency-denominated social bonds by year-end so that it can invest in health care, education and disaster relief. It seeks to obtain an environmental, social and governance rating from ratings agency Sustainalytics.
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https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Environment/MUFG-floats-Japan-s-first-green-bonds-in-Aussie-dollars

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/ufj 
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According to The Nikkei Asian Review, Australian packaging maker Orora Ltd said Thursday it will sell its local fiber materials business to Japan's Nippon Paper Industries for A$1.72 billion (US$ 1.15 billion), simplifying its operations and sending its shares up 20%.
The deal is the latest in a crop of Japanese buyouts of Australian companies which includes Japan's Nippon Paint's takeover of the country's best known paint firm, DuluxGroup, for A$3.8 billion earlier this year.
The sale would be the third-largest Australian acquisition by a Japanese company this year, according to Refinitiv data.
Orora, which plans to return the bulk of the funds from the sale to shareholders, said it would focus on its higher growth Australasian glass and aluminum beverage and North American businesses.
"(The sale) fully values the fiber business and provides a streamlined opportunity for the Orora business going forward," Chief Executive Brian Lowe told a media call.
Shares of Orora surged as much as 20.2% and were set for their strongest one-day percentage gain since the stock's debut in 2013.
The deal highlighted renewed interest in businesses such as cardboard, which is now widely used by delivery services such as Amazon to transport product, and allowed Nippon to take advantage of a weak Australian dollar, said James McGlew, executive director of corporate stockbroking at Argonaut.
"With the Australian dollar at low levels at the moment, it means they're getting bigger bang for their yen out of acquisitions in Australia," McGlew said.
Australian Paper, a wholly owned unit of Nippon Paper, welcomed the sale.
"(The deal) will allow us to expand into new sectors such as box and carton manufacture along with paper bags and sacks ... bringing us closer to end markets," Peter Williams, chief operating officer of Australian Paper, said in a statement.
Orora said it expects a net gain of about A$225 million from the deal, which is set to close in early 2020, pending regulatory approval in Australia and New Zealand.
The sale will make net cash proceeds of about A$1.55 billion from an enterprise value of A$1.72 billion and Orora intends to return about A$1.20 billion of that to shareholders through capital management initiatives.
Orora also flagged some job cuts, saying there may be some reduction in roles going forward.
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https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Australia-s-Orora-to-sell-fiber-arm-for-1.2bn-to-Nippon-Paper

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/12002800450 
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According to The Australian Financial Review, Woodside Energy expects that large-scale hydrogen production will occur around the globe by 2030, with Australia needing to invest heavily to be at the forefront of a sector which has similarities with LNG almost four decades ago.
Shaun Gregory, executive vice president of exploration and the chief technology officer at Woodside Energy, said hydrogen currently cost too much compared with other sources of energy, but the potential was vast and rapid advances are being made.
Australia had abundant resources and was well-positioned to become a major player although heavy investment in infrastructure and capacity is required, along with the right regulatory standards to accelerate the industry. Consumer acceptance also needed to be cultivated.
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https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/woodside-sees-large-scale-hydrogen-output-by-2030-20191010-p52zg0

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/2030
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According to The Asahi Shimbun, Japanese scientists have devised a simple test to evaluate cognitive functions of elderly people to determine signs of early onset of dementia.
The method developed by researchers at Osaka University involves patients watching visual images and answering questions for 3 minutes.
Team members said the beauty of the test is that it is over quickly, thereby lessening the psychological burden on patients. Typically, a medical examination by a doctor takes about 20 minutes.
Tests on 80 patients at Osaka University Hospital produced almost the same outcome as face-to-face interviews by doctors.
According to Shuko Takeda, an associate professor of dementia at the university involved in the research, eight questions are projected on the screen for 3 minutes.
For example, a patient might be asked “which one is the pentagon?” and then various shapes will appear on the screen. Infrared cameras follow the eye movements of patients. Cognitive functions, such as memorization, judgment and attentiveness, are evaluated with AI technology.
The test reduces stress levels caused by face-to-face examinations because the patients simply watch images.
“As the number of patients with dementia is increasing, it is getting difficult for doctors to find the time to carry out examinations,” Takeda said. “Our hope is to detect dementia in the early stages with simple tests."
He added that this type of test is expected to help cut down on car accidents involving elderly drivers.
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http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910070008.html

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/3-ai

According to The Asahi Shimbun, a Tokyo-based bio-venture company has developed a simple and effective test for cancer screening that requires just a drop of the subject's urine and a bunch of roundworms known as nematodes.
Hirotsu Bio Science, a venture concern with roots in Kyushu University, announced plans Oct. 1 to start trial tests this month using a urine test kit called N-Nose in conjunction with local governments in Fukuoka Prefecture.
City authorities in Kurume and Ogori will provide urine samples from employees for testing by the company. Participants will be informed of the results.
Hirotsu Bio Science said it intends to put the cancer screening kit into practical use from January.
Nematodes, a type of worm that is about 1 millimeter long and lives in soil, is known to be strongly attracted to the odor of cancer cells.
The technology automatically analyzes the worms' movements after approaching urine.
The company's president, Takaaki Hirotsu, said that even a single drop of urine was enough to detect cancer.
Once a positive diagnosis is made, doctors can examine the cancerous cell to determine what type of cancer is involved.
Hirotsu said 15 kinds of cancers can be detected, including stomach cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. He said even cancer in the early stages can be detected at a higher rate than conventional tests.
A single examination costs just 9,800 yen ($91) as nematodes are cheap to rear.
The company has conducted clinical research at 17 facilities across the nation since 2018.
In the trial test, 100 Kurume and 20 Ogori local officials will participate. The test results of cancer risks will be divided into several stages and shown to the participants.
The test also aims to examine how the results should be conveyed to participants.
Hirotsu Bio Science has contracted with other companies and local governments to receive up to 250,000 samples so it can start full-fledged operations next year.
“If low cost and highly accurate cancer screening is available, the rate of screening will surely increase,” Hirotsu said. “I want to get the message out to people by working with local governments.”
Kurume Mayor Tsutomu Okubo, a staunch supporter of the project, pledged to do his utmost to ensure the kit is put into practical application "as a world-class invention.”
Ogori Mayor Ryoko Kaji, another supporter, noted that if cancer screening can be achieved with just a drop of urine, "more people are bound to take the test as a first step to prevent cancer."
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http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910030044.html

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/1963712

According to The Australian Financial Review, Australia is the most desirable market for investment in student accommodation, according to research from real estate agency Savills.
The Savills 2019 Global Living Report ranked how "investable" countries were according to factors such as university rankings, student numbers, average age, migration and affordability.
While student numbers had fallen in other developed countries, Australia was forecast to have the strongest growth in its student-age population, the report said.
Canberra was tipped to become the most youthful city, with people aged 15 to 39 expected to account for 37 per cent of residents by 2029, according to the report.
The value of education as an Australian export to international students has grown 16 per cent year-on-year to June 2019 to $37.7 billion, according to the report.
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https://www.afr.com/property/residential/australia-crowned-best-for-student-accommodation-investment-20191002-p52wvb

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/5166215 
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According to The Asahi Shimbun, dogs in Japan with eye disease may get help sooner thanks to the introduction of a new artificial intelligence service.
Starting in October, veterinarians can access online AI assistance to help them diagnose dogs during eye examinations and identify suitable treatments.
According to leading contact lens manufacturer Menicon Co., 9 million dogs are kept as pets in Japan, where eye disease is the sixth most common disease treated by animal hospitals.
The company's subsidiary Meni-One Co. will offer a service called Fundus AI, which analyzes images of the dogs' eyes filmed during exams and notify veterinarians of diseases they might have.
By comparing images taken in eye checks with stored images of abnormal canine eyes on Fundus AI, veterinarians can reduce their chances of overlooking symptoms.
The service also provides veterinarians with explanations of diseases and reference information, and advice on treatment options. It aims to help veterinarians who do not have specialized knowledge of and skill in dealing with eye diseases.
Meni-One hopes to earn 30 million yen (US$ 277,200) annually after three years through the service, which it will charge veterinarians 15,000 yen per month to use.
It also intends to expand its projects in China, where Menicon has been developing a market.
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http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910010033.html

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/-ai2326339 
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According to The Asahi Shimbun, on this remote southern island in Japan where cats are said to outnumber humans, self-cleaning toilets powered by the sun would seem like a no-brainer.
But the facilities are not for the convenience of the felines. They're for the many visitors who come to check out the creatures.
The flush toilet facilities equipped with power sources to treat human waste started operating last month at a port on Yushima island.
With more tourists visiting the so-called island of cats, the lack of public restrooms became a concern.
The Towailet mobile flush toilet was developed by Fukuoka-based Nishimu Electronics Industries Co., a group company of Kyushu Electric Power Co.
The device breaks down excrement so that feces and urine can dissolve in the toilet's special unit using microorganisms within several hours. After the process, colon bacillus and other harmful substances are removed from the treated waste with special filtering technology, making flush water odorless.
As the processed water is circulated within the system, almost no sludge is generated, and the inclusion of a solar panel and battery makes it unnecessary for the device to be connected to outside power sources.
In the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster off Japan's northeastern coast, the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital in Kumamoto, which was involved in related rescue activities, and Kyushu Electric started research to develop a toilet and other products that could be used at evacuation centers and elsewhere both during emergencies and under normal circumstances.
Taking over the project, Nishimu Electronics Industries completed the new bathroom and is now applying for a patent for its purification technology.
The restroom still in development was introduced on a trial basis at a volunteer center after torrential rain devastated the northern Kyushu region in July 2017, receiving positive responses.
Two Towailet units--one for females and the other for use by both sexes--were recently installed on Yushima at a cost of 20 million yen (US$ 185,300).
While Towailet has been set up on the island and several other areas across Japan prior to the beginning of sales, the company plans to make the product available for municipalities and businesses in the second half of this fiscal year.
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http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910020001.html

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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/5373010 
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According to The Australian Financial Review, large batteries are successfully helping remote townships and mine sites lift renewable energy use and cut fossil fuel consumption, signalling a likely broader use within the National Electricity Market in future than is currently appreciated.
Warrick Stapleton, LG Chem’s head of grid-scale batteries in Australia, said the performance of a battery installed in Onslow in Western Australia in May made the project "a blueprint for how remote communities and miners can balance traditional generation with very high penetration of renewables in a scalable way".
The Onslow project by WA's regional utility Horizon Power involves a 1 megawatt/500 kilowatt-hour battery system installed alongside a 1 MW solar farm at a substation, working alongside an existing gas and diesel-fired generator. The equipment, partly funded by US energy major Chevron, supports a self-supporting local grid that supplies a 900-person remote coastal township, gas plant workers and a salt mine.
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https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/remote-towns-provide-blueprint-for-battery-use-lg-chem-20190930-p52w8a

If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/5066745 
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