Japan Gathers Major Corporations and Startups for Industrialization of Nuclear Fusion

The Fusion Energy Industry Council (J-Fusion)., consisting of major corporations like Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corporation, Furukawa Electric, Fujikura, and engineering giants like JGC Corporation and Shimizu Corporation, as well as numerous startups born out of universities and research institutions, aims to commercialize nuclear fusion in Japan.

Nuclear fusion, which can produce energy equivalent to 8 tons of oil from just 1 gram of fuel, is being pursued vigorously by both large companies and startups. This collective effort aims to make nuclear fusion a viable industry in Japan.

J-Fusion was established in March 2023, following the government's "Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy." The council is led by Dr. Tetsuyuki Konishi, co-founder and CEO of Kyoto Fusioneering, Japan's first nuclear fusion startup, and a long-time researcher at Kyoto University.

Key members of J-Fusion include

President: Dr. Tetsuyuki Konishi (Kyoto Fusioneering)

Vice Presidents: Seiji Kitajima (Sumitomo Corporation), Takaya Taguchi (CEO of Helical Fusion)

Permanent Directors: Masahiko Fujiwara (JGC Corporation), Hideya Morihira (President of Furukawa Electric)

Dr. Konishi highlighted the growing global efforts to commercialize fusion energy, driven by the urgent need to address climate change. He emphasized the importance of Japan's involvement in this international movement.

In recent years, the environment surrounding nuclear fusion has significantly changed. Japan has been an essential contributor to the ITER project, an international nuclear fusion research and engineering project in France. Several Japanese companies, such as Furukawa Electric, have provided critical components for ITER.

However, the 2010s saw the rise of nuclear fusion startups globally, particularly in the UK and the US. According to the US Fusion Industry Association (FIA), private investment in fusion energy surpassed $6 billion (approximately 930 billion yen) by 2023. This surge in private investment marks a shift from government-led research to private sector-driven development.

In Japan, several nuclear fusion startups have emerged

Kyoto Fusioneering (2019): Originating from Kyoto University

Helical Fusion (2021): Partnering with the National Institute for Fusion Science

EX-Fusion (2021): Based on Osaka University technology

Blue Laser Fusion (2022): Founded by Nobel laureate Dr. Shuji Nakamura, leveraging laser technology

LINEA Innovation (2023): A collaboration between Nihon University and Tsukuba University