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The Mainichi
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Global Perspective: Expectations rising for African economic growth, democratization
By Akihiko Tanaka, Emeritus Professor, The University of Tokyo From Aug. 20 to 22, the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) will be held in Yokohama south of the Tokyo. Since TICAD's first gathering in 1993, Japan has been jointly organizing this conference with the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank, and the African Union Commission (AUC). TICAD 9 unfolds as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian crises and the danger of war in the Middle East raise concerns about the future of the international order. In such a world situation, what is the significance of thinking about Africa's development? What are Africa's challenges and possibilities? TICAD in August Africa is not a small region that can be described in short. On a Mercator projection world map, which looks small around the equator, Africa does not look so vast. However, the actual area is 30.1 million square kilometers, which is not much different from all of Asia, which is 31.96 million square kilometers. Africa is larger than North America, South America, and Europe, respectively. This comparison is based on the regional classification of the United Nations, in which Asia spans China, India, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, but not Russia. If it is difficult to talk about such a diverse Asia in one go, similar difficulties exist for Africa. Among African countries, Nigeria has the largest population of about 220 million, while the island nation of Seychelles has just 120,000 people or so. Algeria, the largest in area, is 5,178 times larger than the smallest Seychelles. Africa is also diverse in terms of climate, with rainforests and deserts, as well as savannah and Mediterranean climates. Some countries stand high above sea level -- Uganda and Rwanda are just below the equator or south of it, but the climate is cool. Poverty, conflict challenging With such diversity in mind, I would like to consider the economic and political challenges facing Africa. The first issue is the seriousness of poverty. Although the main purpose of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to reduce poverty, about 30% of people in Africa are estimated to live in extreme poverty (living on less than $2.15 a day). The situation has improved from 2000 when the figure was 47%, but there remains a large gap with the global average of about 10%. The second is the threat to human security due to armed conflicts and political crises. The Tigre conflict in Ethiopia, which broke out in 2020 and has since seen a rise in the number of casualties, reached a peaceful settlement in November 2022, but unstable areas still remain in the east African country. In Sudan on April 23 of this year, aA civil war broke out in Sudan in April, 2023, and the fighting continues to date. Coups have occurred in Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and there has been no transfer of power to the civilian government. The armed conflict involving Rwanda continued in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), but a peace agreement was signed on June 27 this year. In South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, internal forces continued fighting until they gave agreed on seeking peace but elections have not been held so far and the situation remains fluid. In addition, Somalia, northern Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Fado, among other countries, face terrorist activities by Islamic extremists. While poverty and armed conflict continue, positive movements are seen in a significant number of countries. The first instance is economic growth. According to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) "World Economic Outlook" released in April this year, the real gross domestic product (GDP) of the entire world economy is estimated to grow by 2.785% in 2025. In Africa, 41 countries are expected to grow above the global average. There are also political improvements. In some countries, democracy is taking root. According to Sweden's V-Dem Institute, which studies democracy globally, 15 African countries were classified as "democracies" in 2024, from 13 in 2000. The number increased even though it is modest. In addition to Senegal and Ghana in West Africa, it is impressive that many countries in Southern Africa, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia in southern Africa, and Malawi, which is one of the poorest countries in terms of per capita income, have established maintained stable democracy. The advantage of young people Needless to say, the common characteristics of African countries are the momentum of population growth and the large number of young people. This is a factor that, if not managed well, can lead to poverty and conflict. However, if we can take advantage of the large young population, we can promote economic growth which can lead to political democratization. What is attracting attention is the increasing number of young African businessmen working on startups that creatively utilize information and communication technology (ICT) and other technologies to create new industries. Some of them have studied in Japan and started new businesses in Africa, and they have the potential of co-creating innovation through interaction with Japan entrepreneurs. I believe that Africa, with its diversity, is a region where the challenges and expectations of the world as a whole are concentrated. Japan has been addressing Africa's challenges and possibilities for more than 30 years through TICAD. Through development cooperation, Tokyo has made useful contributions to local communities in the areas of agriculture, public health, safe water supply, and education, as a support for human security. Improving the income of smallholder farmers and increasing rice production are projects unique to Japan has been promting in many African countries. Some countries, including Egypt, are trying to introduce Japan-style primary education. Africa is Japan's western partner in the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy. We must also steadily advance the construction of infrastructure to strengthen the overall connectivity of the Indo-Pacific. There is no continent with as many landlocked countries as Africa. Japan has contributed to the construction of corridors from the coast to the inland there, but cooperation should be continued further. It is very encouraging that private companies are increasingly interested in Africa. I think that by co-creating with young African power, we can further expand Africa's potential. People-to-people exchange is the foundation of co-creation. The activities of the Overseas Cooperation Volunteers of Japan are highly regarded in African countries, and after returning to Japan, the members are also active in regional revitalization in various parts of Japan. The ABE initiative and other invitations to international students from Africa to Japan have also been effective, connecting Japanese private companies and Africa. It is hoped that exchanges will be further expanded, including among young people in Japan.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NTT Research's Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima Receives MEXT Young Scientists' Award
Teshima studying self-assembly of nano and soft materials to support bio digital twin initiative News Highlights: Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima awarded national Japanese prize for research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. MEXT award recognizes young scientists "who have made notable research achievements" for studies that are "pioneering" or "based on original perspectives." Teshima leads the Munich-based office of the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics Lab and supports the lab's cardiovascular bio digital twin initiative. SUNNYVALE, Calif. & TOKYO, May 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), announced that Tetsuhiko Teshima, Ph.D., received the Young Scientists' Award from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. The award, according to MEXT, recognizes researchers under the age of 40, "who have made notable research achievements that demonstrate high research and development capabilities, such as pioneering research or research based on original perspectives." Nominated for the recognition by The University of Tokyo, Teshima received the award at a ceremony on April 15, 2025. "I am delighted to hear that Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima has received the MEXT Young Scientists' Award," said Professor Shoji Takeuchi, a project professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and Teshima's academic advisor. "Even during his Ph.D. studies, he explored novel ways to integrate thin-film technology and cell manipulation, such as folding cell-laden films using magnetic fields for unique observations. His continued dedication to interdisciplinary research has led to impressive progress in the field of bio-digital twins. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements, and I look forward to his future scientific contributions." Teshima is a research scientist with the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics (MEI) Lab's Munich office, created to support a joint research agreement with the Neuroelectronics Group within the Technical University Munich (TUM) Institute of Biomedical Engineering, where Teshima also works as a senior researcher. Focused on the design and fabrication of bioelectronic interfaces and sensor arrays, this group supports the MEI Lab's mission of advancing the medical and health sciences by empowering the application of precision-based medicine practices. Specifically, the MEI Lab is pursuing the creation and application of bio digital twins to achieve optimized, individualized therapies, beginning with the realization of a cardiovascular bio digital twin (CV BioDT) and an in vitro heart-on-a-chip digital twin platform. "Dr. Teshima has played a vital role in the MEI Lab's advancement of bio digital twin technologies, and his recognition by MEXT is very well deserved." said MEI Lab Director Joe Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.). "His leadership of our office in Munich has seamlessly enabled a global research collaboration that is producing findings fundamentally evolving our understanding of biomaterials." For example, in the 2021 paper, "Bioelectronics for Biodigital Twin," Teshima introduced the research framework of the MEI Lab's Munich office, its three main research topics—flexible bio-electrodes, soft neural interfaces, and shape-morphing electrodes—and concluded with an outlook on future technological development to achieve the ultimate goal: a bio digital twin. A 2022 paper published by Teshima, "3D and 4D Biointerfaces and Bioelectronics for CV BioDT," outlined his study of cardiomyocytes to induce electrophysiological behavior similar to that of the natural heart as well as the creation of an electrical signal amplitude and frequency database. In January 2025, Teshima co-authored the paper, "Self-Foldable Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces by Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials on Polymers," published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The research explored engineered tissues and organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional structures formed of cells mimicking the architecture and function of real organs, enabling researchers to study organ development, model diseases and test new therapeutics in a controlled and physiologically relevant environment. For more information about that research, please read the NTT Research blog post on its findings. In addition to his affiliations with NTT Research and TUM, Teshima is a member of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, he was a researcher in the NTT Basic Research Laboratories and Bio-Medical Informatics Research Center in Japan. Teshima received his Ph.D. in information science and technology from the University of Tokyo, Japan. For more information about the NTT Research MEI Lab and the CV BioDT initiative, please visit: About NTT Research NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 in Silicon Valley to conduct basic research and advance technologies as a foundational model for developing high-impact innovation across NTT Group's global business. Currently, four groups are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, and the Physics of Artificial Intelligence (PAI) Group. The organization aims to advance science in four areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; 3) medical and health informatics; and 4) artificial intelligence. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D investment of thirty percent of its profits. ### NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION View source version on Contacts NTT Research Contact:Chris ShawChief Marketing OfficerNTT Research + Media Contact:Nick GibiserWireside Communications®For NTT Research+1-804-500-6660ngibiser@
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Science
- Business Wire
NTT Research's Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima Receives MEXT Young Scientists' Award
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), announced that Tetsuhiko Teshima, Ph.D., received the Young Scientists' Award from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. The award, according to MEXT, recognizes researchers under the age of 40, 'who have made notable research achievements that demonstrate high research and development capabilities, such as pioneering research or research based on original perspectives.' Nominated for the recognition by The University of Tokyo, Teshima received the award at a ceremony on April 15, 2025. 'I am delighted to hear that Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima has received the MEXT Young Scientists' Award,' said Professor Shoji Takeuchi, a project professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and Teshima's academic advisor. 'Even during his Ph.D. studies, he explored novel ways to integrate thin-film technology and cell manipulation, such as folding cell-laden films using magnetic fields for unique observations. His continued dedication to interdisciplinary research has led to impressive progress in the field of bio-digital twins. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements, and I look forward to his future scientific contributions.' Teshima is a research scientist with the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics (MEI) Lab's Munich office, created to support a joint research agreement with the Neuroelectronics Group within the Technical University Munich (TUM) Institute of Biomedical Engineering, where Teshima also works as a senior researcher. Focused on the design and fabrication of bioelectronic interfaces and sensor arrays, this group supports the MEI Lab's mission of advancing the medical and health sciences by empowering the application of precision-based medicine practices. Specifically, the MEI Lab is pursuing the creation and application of bio digital twins to achieve optimized, individualized therapies, beginning with the realization of a cardiovascular bio digital twin (CV BioDT) and an in vitro heart-on-a-chip digital twin platform. 'Dr. Teshima has played a vital role in the MEI Lab's advancement of bio digital twin technologies, and his recognition by MEXT is very well deserved.' said MEI Lab Director Joe Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.). 'His leadership of our office in Munich has seamlessly enabled a global research collaboration that is producing findings fundamentally evolving our understanding of biomaterials.' For example, in the 2021 paper, ' Bioelectronics for Biodigital Twin,' Teshima introduced the research framework of the MEI Lab's Munich office, its three main research topics—flexible bio-electrodes, soft neural interfaces, and shape-morphing electrodes—and concluded with an outlook on future technological development to achieve the ultimate goal: a bio digital twin. A 2022 paper published by Teshima, " 3D and 4D Biointerfaces and Bioelectronics for CV BioDT," outlined his study of cardiomyocytes to induce electrophysiological behavior similar to that of the natural heart as well as the creation of an electrical signal amplitude and frequency database. In January 2025, Teshima co-authored the paper, " Self-Foldable Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces by Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials on Polymers," published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The research explored engineered tissues and organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional structures formed of cells mimicking the architecture and function of real organs, enabling researchers to study organ development, model diseases and test new therapeutics in a controlled and physiologically relevant environment. For more information about that research, please read the NTT Research blog post on its findings. In addition to his affiliations with NTT Research and TUM, Teshima is a member of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, he was a researcher in the NTT Basic Research Laboratories and Bio-Medical Informatics Research Center in Japan. Teshima received his Ph.D. in information science and technology from the University of Tokyo, Japan. For more information about the NTT Research MEI Lab and the CV BioDT initiative, please visit: About NTT Research NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 in Silicon Valley to conduct basic research and advance technologies as a foundational model for developing high-impact innovation across NTT Group's global business. Currently, four groups are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, and the Physics of Artificial Intelligence (PAI) Group. The organization aims to advance science in four areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; 3) medical and health informatics; and 4) artificial intelligence. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D investment of thirty percent of its profits. ### NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
Japan Today
28-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Japan is test case for Trump's tariff deals, but talks may be tortuous
U.S President Donald Trump meets with Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 16. By John Geddie, Yoshifumi Takemoto and Trevor Hunnicutt When Tokyo's top trade negotiator met U.S. President Donald Trump for tariff talks at the White House earlier this month, he presented him with a gold-colored piggy bank. One detail, seemingly unnoticed by those in the room, is that the gift was made in China, the focal point for Trump's sweeping trade war that has engulfed Japan and dozens of other countries, roiled financial markets and stoked recession fears. As Trump seeks to leverage his tariff threats to strike scores of bilateral deals in a matter of months, the well-travelled present was an unintended reminder of the complexity of the global supply chains he is seeking to redraw. Negotiating a speedy deal with Japan, a close U.S. ally that counts rival China as its biggest trading partner, has been billed as a "test case" for Trump's chances of success. There are already signs, however, that negotiations with Tokyo may prove tortuous, especially as its embattled ruling party worries about signing up to a bad deal ahead of a dicey election. "Trump needs to get some concessions from Japan so that he can show he is a 'tough president'," said Daisuke Kawai, an economic security specialist at The University of Tokyo. "He needs to create a kind of example as soon as possible." While some analysts expect Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump to announce an agreement when they meet at the G7 summit in Canada in June, others say it will be risky for the Japanese government to cede ground on thornier issues before upper house elections expected in July. Polls show the ruling coalition is poised to lose its majority in that ballot, a result that could force Ishiba's ouster after he suffered the same fate in elections for the more-powerful lower house last year. Trump has hit Japan with 24% tariffs on its exports to the U.S., although, like most of his levies, they have been paused until early July to allow room for negotiations. A 10% universal rate remains in place, as does a 25% duty on cars, a mainstay of Japan's export-heavy economy. Japan's trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is set to depart for Washington for a second round of negotiations this week. A spokesperson for the U.S. trade representative declined to comment on negotiations. The White House and Japan's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked about the gift to Trump - modeled on the otherworldly mascot Japan chose for the World Expo it is hosting in the city of Osaka - Akazawa said it had no meaning other than to encourage Trump to visit the event. He declined to comment on the item's origins, adding only that "Trump loves gold". The item is listed on the expo's website as being "Made in China" and Reuters confirmed this with the producer, Osaka-based Heso Production. THE PRICE OF RICE? While Tokyo is still sizing up what Washington will prioritize in the negotiations, it anticipates demands to lower barriers to U.S. agricultural and automotive imports, a government official close to Ishiba said. One of Trump's big gripes, Tokyo's tariffs on foreign rice, should be relatively easy to adjust as Japan faces a shortage of the staple and has seen prices rocket in recent months. However, bureaucrats hoping to score a bargaining chip in the negotiations are facing resistance from influential ruling party lawmakers wary of alienating voters in their farming constituencies ahead of the elections, the officials said. Trump's seeming unwillingness to offer exceptions for the 25% tariffs he has slapped on global auto imports, which make up nearly a third of all Japan's exports to the U.S., its biggest market, has also made Tokyo hesitant to offer concessions in other areas like rice, the officials said. A group of lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party issued a statement on Friday saying they would not accept any negotiation strategy that "sacrifices" agricultural products to gain exemptions on auto tariffs or protect other industries. On the plus side, Japan's initial concern that Trump may try to insert negotiations on foreign exchange rates into the talks has faded, while the U.S. President told reporters on Thursday that military matters were also likely to be treated separately. Trump had previously indicated he wanted to discuss Japan and South Korea's payments towards the cost of hosting U.S. troops in the trade discussions. Yet the anxious mood in Tokyo stands somewhat in contrast to the optimism Trump struck after his initial meeting with Akazawa, which he hailed as "big progress." The U.S. and Japan are working to reach an interim agreement, but many of the biggest issues are being put off, Reuters reported earlier this week. While Trump will face bigger battles ahead, especially as he hunkers down in a trade war with the world's No.2 economy China, getting a quick win in Japan is far from certain, analysts say. "A 'quick' deal means excessive compromise by one of the parties," said Joseph Kraft, a financial and political analyst at Rorschach Advisory in Tokyo. "I think Japan's strategy is to wait for the U.S. to show their hand ... They are likely to prioritize content over time. I speculate Trump will prioritize time over content." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
New Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Japan is a test case for Trump's tariff deals. But talks may be tortuous.
TOKYO/WASHINGTON: When Tokyo's top trade negotiator met U.S. President Donald Trump for tariff talks at the White House earlier this month, he presented him with a gold-coloured piggy bank. One detail, seemingly unnoticed by those in the room, is that the gift was made in China, the focal point for Trump's sweeping trade war that has engulfed Japan and dozens of other countries, roiled financial markets and stoked recession fears. As Trump seeks to leverage his tariff threats to strike scores of bilateral deals in a matter of months, the well-travelled present was an unintended reminder of the complexity of the global supply chains he is seeking to redraw. Negotiating a speedy deal with Japan, a close U.S. ally that counts rival China as its biggest trading partner, has been billed as a "test case" for Trump's chances of success. There are already signs, however, that negotiations with Tokyo may prove tortuous, especially as its embattled ruling party worries about signing up to a bad deal ahead of a dicey election. "Trump needs to get some concessions from Japan so that he can show he is a 'tough president'," said Daisuke Kawai, an economic security specialist at The University of Tokyo. "He needs to create a kind of example as soon as possible." While some analysts expect Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump to announce an agreement when they meet at the G7 summit in Canada in June, others say it will be risky for the Japanese government to cede ground on thornier issues before upper house elections expected in July. Polls show the ruling coalition is poised to lose its majority in that ballot, a result that could force Ishiba's ouster after he suffered the same fate in elections for the more-powerful lower house last year. Trump has hit Japan with 24% tariffs on its exports to the U.S., although, like most of his levies, they have been paused until early July to allow room for negotiations. A 10% universal rate remains in place, as does a 25% duty on cars, a mainstay of Japan's export-heavy economy. Japan's trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is set to depart for Washington for a second round of negotiations next week. A spokesperson for the U.S. trade representative declined to comment on negotiations. The White House and Japan's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked about the gift to Trump - modelled on the otherworldly mascot Japan chose for the World Expo it is hosting in the city of Osaka - Akazawa said on Friday it had no meaning other than to encourage Trump to visit the event. He declined to comment on the item's origins, adding only that "Trump loves gold". The item is listed on the Expo's website as being 'Made in China' and Reuters confirmed this with the producer, Osaka-based Heso Production. THE PRICE OF RICE? While Tokyo is still sizing up what Washington will prioritise in the negotiations, it anticipates demands to lower barriers to U.S. agricultural and automotive imports, a government official close to Ishiba said. One of Trump's big gripes, Tokyo's tariffs on foreign rice, should be relatively easy to adjust as Japan faces a shortage of the staple and has seen prices rocket in recent months. However, bureaucrats hoping to score a bargaining chip in the negotiations are facing resistance from influential ruling party lawmakers wary of alienating voters in their farming constituencies ahead of the elections, the officials said. Trump's seeming unwillingness to offer exceptions for the 25% tariffs he has slapped on global auto imports, which make up nearly a third of all Japan's exports to the U.S., its biggest market, has also made Tokyo hesitant to offer concessions in other areas like rice, the officials said. A group of lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party issued a statement on Friday saying they would not accept any negotiation strategy that "sacrifices" agricultural products to gain exemptions on auto tariffs or protect other industries. On the plus side, Japan's initial concern that Trump may try to insert negotiations on foreign exchange rates into the talks has faded, while the U.S. President told reporters on Thursday that military matters were also likely to be treated separately. Trump had previously indicated he wanted to discuss Japan and South Korea's payments towards the cost of hosting U.S. troops in the trade discussions. Yet the anxious mood in Tokyo stands somewhat in contrast to the optimism Trump struck after his initial meeting with Akazawa, which he hailed as 'big progress'. The U.S. and Japan are working to reach an interim agreement, but many of the biggest issues are being put off, Reuters reported earlier this week. While Trump will face bigger battles ahead, especially as he hunkers down in a trade war with the world's No.2 economy China, getting a quick win in Japan is far from certain, analysts say. "A 'quick' deal means excessive compromise by one of the parties," said Joseph Kraft, a financial and political analyst at Rorschach Advisory in Tokyo. "I think Japan's strategy is to wait for the U.S. to show their hand ... They are likely to prioritise content over time. I speculate Trump will prioritize time over content."
