VZCZCXRO7421
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHKO #4316/01 2570744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140744Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7620
INFO RUEHZN/EST COLLECTIVE
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6828
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 5598
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3908
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 2149
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3183
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 004316 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR STAS, OES, AND EAP/J 
PASS TO WHITE HOUSE OSTP 
PASS TO NSF FOR DR. FREEMAN/CLANDWEHR/AEMIG 
PASS TO DOE JGLASER 
PASS TO DOD WMCCLUSKEY 
PASS TO CDC JNICHOLSON 
PASS TO FBI GBISHEA/SLENZENWEGER/DHICKEY/MMILLER/ 
DHS FOR OFFICE OF S&T U/S 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TNGD PTER JA
SUBJECT: SAFE AND SECURE SOCIETY: MEXT FUNDS PROJECTS FOR JFY2007 
 
TOKYO 00004316  001.2 OF 002 
 
¶1.  Summary -- The Office of Science and Technology for a Safe and 
Secure Society in Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, 
Science and Technology (MEXT) has selected five science and 
technology related "Safe and Secure Society" projects to receive Yen 
405 million (USD 3.5 million) in JFY 2007.  From 69 proposals 
submitted by Japanese research institutes, MEXT selected three R&D 
projects and two technology feasibility studies in the areas of: 1) 
real-time detection of chemical and biological agents; 2) detection 
of illegal drugs and explosive or hazardous materials in the 
transportation/logistical system, and public buildings; and 3) 
hazardous materials dispersion modeling and damage mitigation.  The 
MEXT will allocate approximately Yen 100 million (USD 0.9 million) 
to each R&D project and Yen 50 million (USD 0.4 million) to each 
feasibility study.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Real-time detection of chemical and biological agents 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  Feasibility Study I: Bio-sensors for both Chemical and 
Biological Agents.  A team of researchers from Osaka University, 
Meidensha Corporation, Daikin Industries Ltd., Okayama University of 
Science, Bio Device Technology Co., and National Institute of 
Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) will conduct a one 
year study to develop bio-sensors capable of simultaneously 
detecting chemical and biological agents.  Dr. Eiichi Tamiya, a 
professor in the Division of Precision S&T and Applied Physics at 
Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering, will lead the 
team in creating a bio-chip that can detect chemical and biological 
agents using a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) and a prototype 
device equipped with the bio-chip that can be deployed in a variety 
of locations.  The team will also simulate a network monitoring and 
detection system in transportation networks and other public 
facilities. 
 
¶3.  Feasibility Study II:  Stationary Detection Device for 
Biological Agents in Public Areas.  Dr. Toru Okumura, Professor, 
School of Medicine, Saga University will lead a research team on a 
one-year study to investigate practical applications for a 
stationary device that can detect biological agents in crowded 
public areas such as mass transit and shopping centers.  Researchers 
from Saga Ceramics Research Lab., Chuo Electric Works Ltd., and 
Adtec Plasma Co., Ltd will participate in the study.  The team aims 
to develop fundamental technologies for auto-analysis of biological 
agents.  Such technologies could collect microorganisms through 
porous ceramics, detect biological agents through fluorescence 
staining, and then reproduce porous ceramics using plasma treatment 
to collect microorganisms for continual analysis.  Note: Saga 
Prefecture is a traditional center for Japanese high-quality ceramic 
products.  End note. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Illegal drug and explosive/hazardous materials 
detection 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4.  Project I: Walk-through Explosives Detection System.  Dr. 
Yasuaki Takada will lead a team from Hitachi's Central Research 
Laboratory that will aim to develop a system within three years to 
detect molecules released as odor from explosives in as little as 
one second.  The system is expected to be installed in crowded 
areas, such as train stations, escalators and entrances to sports or 
music events to detect explosives residue on clothing or baggage. 
Hitachi hopes to commercialize the technology in JFY 2012. 
 
¶5.  Project II: Passive Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Imaging 
Device.  Dr. Hiroyasu Sato, Associate Professor, Group of Electrical 
and Communication Engineering, School of Engineering, Tohoku 
University, will lead a team from Tohoku University, Maspro Denkoh 
Corp., and Chuo Denki Kogyo Co. Ltd to develop a portable, passive 
EHF imaging device to detect hazardous materials hidden in clothes. 
All materials emit EHF waves and the EHF wave is able to naturally 
penetrate clothes and walls.  By using these factors, the team will 
develop a device that can detect hazardous materials such as guns, 
plastic bottles containing hazardous liquids, and plastic explosives 
at airport or port facilities.  The goal is to develop the device 
within three years. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004316  002.2 OF 002 
 
¶1.  Summary -- The Office of Science and Technology for a Safe and 
Secure Society in Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, 
Science and Technology (MEXT) has selected five science and 
technology related "Safe and Secure Society" projects to receive Yen 
405 million (USD 3.5 million) in JFY 2007.  From 69 proposals 
submitted by Japanese research institutes, MEXT selected three R&D 
projects and two technology feasibility studies in the areas of: 1) 
real-time detection of chemical and biological agents; 2) detection 
of illegal drugs and explosive or hazardous materials in the 
transportation/logistical system, and public buildings; and 3) 
hazardous materials dispersion modeling and damage mitigation.  The 
MEXT will allocate approximately Yen 100 million (USD 0.9 million) 
to each R&D project and Yen 50 million (USD 0.4 million) to each 
feasibility study.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Hazardous material dispersion modeling and mitigation 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶6.  Project III: Hazardous Materials Dispersion Modeling.  Dr. 
Shinsuke Kato, Professor, Institute of Industrial Science, 
University of Tokyo, will lead a three year project to develop an 
accurate system to forecast the spread of hazardous materials and 
develop an evacuation guidance system for use during a hazmat 
emergency.  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Advance Soft 
Corporation and AIST will also collaborate in the project.  The 
team's forecasting system, based on physical data from spreading 
material, is expected to be more accurate than current conventional 
systems based on statistics and prior experience.  After testing the 
accuracy of their system using experiments and models, the research 
team will verify the effectiveness of their systems at local 
government NBC emergency drills. 
 
¶7.  For further information, please contact Mikako Sano at 
sanomx@state.gov or Bart Cobbs at cobbsbd@state.gov. 
 
SCHIEFFER