Associate Professor SHIMOJO Hisashi of the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies conducts research on spaces where state intervention is difficult from the perspectives of anthropology and Southeast Asian studies. His main research focus is on the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam, but he aims to understand the backgrounds of how such spaces are formed regardless of the country, and the social order that people weave in these spaces. His efforts illuminate the image of the state as seen by ordinary people and challenge the understanding of society. We spoke with Shimojo about the results of his research and future prospects. In his words, “If the front side of a coin represents the state, then I study its reverse side.”

Geological resources like metals are vital for renewable energy and storage technologies but require significant energy and water, raising environmental concerns. An international research team led by AIST identified the safe operating space for geological resource production within regional water limits. They highlighted troubling trends for resources like copper which is one of the key metals for a decarbonized future. This study aims to inform policies for sustainable resource production within limits of available water.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) but its impact is not well understood. Japanese researchers have now examined severe TR in AFMR patients, revealing it affects one in seven to eight patients and significantly raises the risk of death or heart failure-related hospitalization by 1.65 times (95% confidence interval 1.09–2.47). These findings highlight the importance of monitoring TR severity to improve outcomes for AFMR patients.

Recovered grasslands need more than 75 years of continuous management to regain their biodiversity because specialized pollinators are slow to return. Kobe University's finding underscores the importance of preserving old grasslands as reservoirs of biodiversity, even if it is just as ski slopes.

Professor SAKURAI Aiko of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies has a unique background, pursuing a career in international cooperation before expanding her research to include disaster education. While keeping a focus on teachers and the classroom, she has been exploring the development of disaster education where schools can protect children’s lives, and has been involved in implementing and supporting efforts in the field. We asked her about how disaster education has changed after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake, and how she hopes to spread the initiatives to the world.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting in severe paralysis is known to deteriorate the quality of life of humans. However, the treatment strategies for recovery of motor function after SCI are limited. Now, researchers from Japan have identified a small compound, edonerpic maleate, which accelerates recovery from forelimb paralysis in non-human primates with SCI, showcasing potential for improving rehabilitation. This breakthrough research may pave the way for the development of new therapies for recovery after SCI.

Tracking targeted drug delivery is often a challenge due to limitations in the current imaging techniques. A recent study by Tokyo’s Waseda University reports a breakthrough imaging technique that allows direct and highly sensitive tracking of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) inside the body. This novel technique, which uses neutron activation of gold, could revolutionize cancer drug delivery by enabling real-time visualization of the gold nanoparticles without external tracers.

Challenging the long-standing belief that fibroblasts produce skin collagen, researchers at Okayama University have investigated collagen formation in the ‘glass-skinned’ amphibian axolotl and other vertebrates. They discovered that keratinocytes, the surface cells of the skin, are responsible for producing collagen, which is then transferred deeper to form the dermis. Later, fibroblasts migrate into this collagen layer, modifying and reinforcing its structure.

Thymic carcinoma, a rare cancer, is often associated with poor prognosis in advanced or recurrent stages. However, its rarity has delayed the development of novel pharmacotherapy. Now, researchers from Japan have evaluated the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with advanced or recurrent thymic carcinoma. The findings revealed that this combination exhibited a manageable safety profile and may redefine treatment strategies, offering new hope for patients with recurrent thymic cancer.

Metastatic melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. In an effort to achieve targeted therapy for metastatic melanoma, researchers from Japan recently developed a new radioactive drug that emits alpha particles. With their short range of emission and high energy, alpha particles are particularly promising for targeted therapies that require high energy release in the cancer tissue while minimizing the damage to nearby healthy tissues.