The innovations in quantum computers are bringing about immeasurable changes to industry and society. At the same time, however, international competition for technological superiority is intensifying, and we have reached a critical juncture where Japan’s standing is being called into question. The future opened by quantum computers and security threats The digital society, which forms the foundation of modern civilization, has been built upon the staggering pace of progress in semiconductor technology. However, this progress is approaching its physical limits. The technology that holds the potential to fundamentally break through this sense of stagnation and fundamentally change the nature of computation is “quantum computers.” They are entirely different from conventional computers, bringing about a leap in computational power by orders of magnitude. As a result, for specific problems, they are expected to solve in just a few seconds calculations that would take a conventional ... ... [Read more]

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the November 2025 issue of Sekai, as the 38th and penultimate installment of the series Kiko Saisei no Tame ni (For Climate Renewal). This is actually my final contribution to this series. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to explore the scientific and social aspects of climate change in my own way. In this article, I will discuss how we should respond to the imminent reality of a 1.5°C global average temperature rise and the attitude we should adopt moving forward. Japan’s record-breaking heatwaves and global warming The summer of 2025 in Japan was astonishingly hot. The daily maximum temperature reached 41.8°C, far higher than ever before, and the number of people receiving medical attention for heatstroke increased sharply across the country.[1] Many people undoubtedly felt the seriousness of climate change firsthand. In lectures ... ... [Read more]

Distinguished Honorary Professor Sakaguchi Shimon of the University of Osaka was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Distinguished Professor Kitagawa Susumu of Kyoto University received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. They were each selected together with their co-researchers. Sakaguchi was recognized for his “discovery of mechanisms that suppress immune responses,” which has led to the prevention and treatment of diseases involving immunity, such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. Kitagawa was honored for his “development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)” that allow gases to be freely stored and released, with applications expected across a wide range of fields including environmental and energy challenges and new materials development. This is the first time in seven years that a Japanese researcher has received the Prize in Physiology or Medicine, with Sakaguchi as the sixth recipient, and the first time in six years for the ... ... [Read more]