News
The YouTube Channel “Science Stars Japan” Was Launched to Provide Information on Bilingual Science Education
Released: November 17, 2024
Hirokazu Kobayashi has teamed up with Dr. Mamoru Isemura (Professor Emeritus and Visiting Professor at the University of Shizuoka) and others to launch the NPO Science Stars Japan (SciStars-J), an organization dedicated to fostering an interest in science among children. As part of this activity, they set up a YouTube channel called “Science Stars Japan” on November 4, 2024, to provide information on bilingual science education. The name “Science Stars” conveys the idea of nurturing “science stars.” There are already various initiatives to encourage children who like science. Still, this activity provides places for young people to present their scientific research online worldwide, in addition to YouTube. In the future, they will continue to develop this activity in collaboration with local governments, educational institutions, various organizations, etc. Visit the web page linked to the YouTube channel “Science Stars Japan” in detail.
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 Tokai Industrial Technology Foundation, the General Incorporated Foundation, for the research project entitled "Creation of genome-edited tea plants as raw 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 promote research further. The four prefectures in the Tokai region are responsible for about half of Japan's tea production, but the production value has fallen by nearly 40% in the past 10 years. Through new tea plants, they will contribute to developing the tea industry in the Tokai region, aiming for a global market of 9 T 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 the 500 respondents expressed interest in tea beverages derived from genome-edited tea plants if made with 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 subject is the improvement of tea plants by knockout-type genome editing. They sincerely thank Shizuoka Prefecture for this opportunity and want to meet its expectations. There are 9 T Japanese yen (approx. 61 B US dollars) in the world market of tea consumption, and decaf tea with the same taste as non-decaf one is highly needed. 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 done in collaboration with Sprout Club, Inc. Green Insight Japan, Inc. expresses its sincere thanks to this organization and will 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 assimilated a lot of leading knowledge of open science and business start-up through the Research University Consortium (RUC) and NAIST’s activity of innovation education, respectively.
He was pleased with the gift of tie with the characters of Sumikko-Gurashi by 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 has moved to Ikoma in Nara Prefecture, where he directs the Division for Research Strategy at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) starting in October 2021. According to him, he has returned to a location closer to his hometown, Fukuchiyama, in Kyoto Prefecture, after leaving Shizuoka, similar to the homing ability of salmons when getting old. His parents live in Fukuchiyama, which is why he serves for NAIST. NAIST is also attractive to him in its higher research activity, as judged by the fact that it launched a Nobel laureate, Shinya Yamanaka, and released publications in reputable journals by researchers there.
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 governed by the Japan Advanced Science and Technology Organization for Education, Human Development and Research (JASTO) in the fiscal year 2020 and 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, Shizuoka Prefectural Government, in this fiscal year and granted 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 invent new value by integrating technologies and ideas from industrial and academic fields. The AOI-PARC coordinator, Dr. Shinichiro Toki, mentions that this company is unique in many aspects, such as grappling with problems of crop productivity using its own technology, developing strategies for biologics production in plants, and enlightening the attractiveness 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 this university after the establishment of the Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences in April 1991 until he retired from this university in March 2020, while he played roles as associate professor and professor, as well as department chair, dean, and vice-president. The university issued him the title of emeritus professor in April 2020, and its conferment 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 in developing new markets with novel products derived from intellectual property with commercialization 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 started managing the Laboratory of Plant Molecular Improvement, formerly the Laboratory of Plant Cell Technology, in 1991 at the University of Shizuoka after working as an Assistant Professor at the Radioisotope Research Center, Nagoya University. Afterwards, he accomplished much in his research. He worked for the development of the graduate schools and the university as a Professor, Dean, and Vice-President during his 29 years at the university. He is going to 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.