News
The Official X Ａccount, @GreenInsight_JP, and Others Have Been Newly Launched
Released: September 3, 2025
In addition to our official X account, @GreenInsight_JP, we have launched @SciStars_J for our YouTube channel, Science Stars Japan, and @SciStarsJournal for our open-access journal, Science Stars Journal. Please stay tuned for future posts.
Launch of "Science Stars Journal"
Released: September 3, 2025
As part of our "Intellectual Information Dissemination" initiative, this is the second phase of our activities to nurture children who love science. On August 19, we launched the open-access journal Science Stars Journal, which features research results from elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as their educational development partners. It is characterized by: (1) bilingual Japanese-English publication for global reach, (2) no author publication fees, (3) full open access, and (4) its role as a sister publication to the YouTube channel "Science Stars Japan." We have also created a promotional video. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Launch of Bilingual Science Education Information Site on YouTube: "Science Stars Japan"
Released: November 17, 2024
As part of our social contribution initiative, “2. Intellectual Information Dissemination,” we launched the “Science Stars Japan (SciStars-J)” activity to nurture children who love science. The first step was to launch the YouTube channel “Science Stars Japan” on November 4, 2024, to disseminate bilingual science education content. The name “Science Stars” embodies our mission to nurture “stars of science.” While other initiatives exist to foster children's interest in science, this activity provides a global platform for youth to present their scientific research online. Moving forward, we plan to expand this initiative in collaboration with local governments, educational institutions, and various organizations.
Research Grant Awarded to Study Enhancement of Tea Flavor through Genome Editing by "Tokai Industrial Technology Foundation"
Released: March 12, 2024 Updated: April 16, 2024
Green Insight Japan Inc., in collaboration with researchers at the University of Shizuoka, has been awarded the 36th General Development-Type Grant by the Tokai Industrial Technology Foundation, a general incorporated foundation, for the research project titled "Creation of genome-edited tea plants as source materials for aroma-enhanced tea for the global market." The grant amount for this project is 2 M yen, and its awarding ceremony was held on April 15 in Toyohashi City. They thank the foundation and look forward to working with tea manufacturing companies to further promote research. The four prefectures in the Tokai region account for about half of Japan's tea production, but production value has declined by nearly 40% over the past 10 years. By introducing new tea plants, they will help develop the tea industry in the Tokai region, targeting a global market of 9 trillion Japanese yen. Unlike genetic recombination, knockout genome editing, equivalent to a mutation that occurs in nature, can be cultivated and sold after notification to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. According to their survey, 54% of 500 respondents expressed interest in tea beverages derived from genome-edited tea plants if they offered a unique flavor. That is, the marketability of commercializing this research theme is high.
This Company Has Won the Prefectural Grant to Support University-Based Companies
Released: September 8, 2023
Green Insight Japan, Inc. was again chosen as a recipient of the Shizuoka Prefectural grant to support university-based companies, this time for the 2023 fiscal year, with the same subsidy amount. Its research focus is improving tea plants through knockout-type genome editing. They sincerely thank Shizuoka Prefecture for this opportunity and want to meet its expectations. There are 9 trillion Japanese yen (approximately 61 billion US dollars) in the global tea market, and decaf tea with the same taste as non-decaf tea is in high demand. The research will be done in collaboration with the Tea Science Center at the University of Shizuoka.
The Incubating and Promoting New Industry Organization, The Shizuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Supports This Company's Project
Released: July 24, 2023
Green Insight Japan, Inc. received a grant from the Incubating and Promoting New Industry Organization of the Shizuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support the experimental development of products. The project, “Utilization of ambient solution during plant culture,” will be conducted in collaboration with Sprout Club, Inc. Green Insight Japan, Inc. expresses its sincere thanks to this organization and expects to meet its expectations.
Hirokazu Kobayashi Has Left from the Office of Division for Research Strategy in Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)
Released: April 1, 2023
He had been in charge as the director of the Division for Research Strategy in NAIST, and he left its office on March 31, 2023, when MEXT’s “Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities" was terminated. He said that he gained extensive knowledge of open science and business start-ups through the Research University Consortium (RUC) and NAIST’s innovation education activities, respectively.
He was pleased to receive a Sumikko-Gurashi tie from San-X at the retirement event.
Hirokazu Kobayashi Has Taken Office as Director of the Division for Research Strategy at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)
Released: October 9, 2021
He moved to Ikoma, Nara Prefecture, where he has served as Director of the Division for Research Strategy at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) since October 2021. According to him, he has returned to a location closer to his hometown, Fukuchiyama, in Kyoto Prefecture, after leaving Shizuoka, much like the homing ability of salmon as they age. His parents live in Fukuchiyama, which is why he serves for NAIST. NAIST is also attractive to him for its higher research activity, as evidenced by the fact that it has produced a Nobel laureate, Shinya Yamanaka, and published research in reputable journals.
This Company Has Won the Prefectural Grant to Support University-Based Companies
Released: December 26, 2020 Updated: August 14, 2021
Green Insight Japan, Inc. was selected as a recipient of the prefectural grant to support university-based companies for the project entitled “Commercialization of vegetables enriched with sugar, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals based on the enhanced photosynthetic activity.” This was administered by the Japan Advanced Science and Technology Organization for Education, Human Development, and Research (JASTO) in fiscal year 2020 and was granted on December 7, 2020. This company was continuously chosen for this grant. This project is managed directly by the Commerce and Industry Promotion Division of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government this fiscal year and was approved on June 30, 2021. The budget is 5 M yen in total over two years. This company is achieving the project in collaboration with the University of Shizuoka, Tokoha University, and several private companies.
The AOI-PARC has Spotlighted this Company
Released: January 28, 2021
The staff of the Agri Open Innovation Practical and Applied Research Center (AOI-PARC) of Shizuoka Prefecture interviewed this company, which is just shown on their webpage (see below in Japanese).
https://aoi-forum.jp/members/7456/
The AOI-PARC was established on August 1, 2017, in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, to create new value by integrating technologies and ideas from industry and academia. The AOI-PARC coordinator, Dr. Shinichiro Toki, notes that the company is unique in several respects, including addressing crop productivity challenges with its own technology, developing strategies for plant-based biologics production, and enhancing the visibility of Japan's culture and industry.
Hirokazu Kobayashi Received the Title of Emeritus Professor from the University of Shizuoka
Released: December 26, 2020
He served the university after the establishment of the Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences in April 1991 until his retirement in March 2020, during which he held roles as associate professor and professor, department chair, dean, and vice president. The university conferred the title of emeritus professor on him in April 2020, and the ceremony was held on December 21.
Emeritus Professor Conferment Ceremony on December 21, 2020
Kobayashi is third from the left in the first line.
Emeritus Professor Conferment Ceremony on December 21, 2020: The version of the coronavirus crisis
Kobayashi is third from the left in the first line.
Approval of This Company as a University of Shizuoka-based company Was Released on the University Webpage
Released: October 30, 2020
Green Insight Japan, Inc. was registered at the Legal Affairs Bureau on August 17, 2020, and approved as a University of Shizuoka-based company on August 28, 2020. This approval has been released on the university webpage. University-based companies are expected to promote innovation by developing new markets and commercializing novel products derived from intellectual property with commercial potential (translated from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan).
Hirokazu Kobayashi’s Last Lecture on February 17, 2020
Released: February 24, 2020
Hirokazu Kobayashi began managing the Laboratory of Plant Molecular Improvement, formerly the Laboratory of Plant Cell Technology, at the University of Shizuoka in 1991, after serving as an Assistant Professor at the Radioisotope Research Center at Nagoya University. Afterward, he made significant progress in his research. He worked on the development of the university and its graduate schools as a Professor, Dean, and Vice President for over 29 years. He will retire in March 2020. This lecture was organized by the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences and was held as follows.
Date: Monday, February 17, 2020, 4:00 PM
Place: Lecture room 13411, University of Shizuoka
Talk title: Amazing plants! Young people, go out into the world! (in Japanese)
Flier (in Japanese): Click here
Handout (in Japanese): Click here
His biography: Click here
A shot: Click here
Video (in Japanese): Click here (4.6 GB)
Hirokazu Kobayashi's Plenary Lecture at the 70th Anniversary of Tottori University
Released: January 4, 2020
Hirokazu Kobayashi, the CEO, graduated from Tottori University in March 1977. He gave a plenary lecture there at "The 70th Anniversary: Home Coming 2019" on October 12, 2019. His talk was entitled "Go out into the world! A curiosity about plants as cultured at Tottori University" (original title in Japanese). Information about this talk was displayed in Japanese on the official web page of Tottori University.