Innovation

OLEDs

Yamagata: Bringing Next Generation Lighting to the World
Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are thought to be the future of lighting, due to their surface luminescence, extreme thinness, light weight, wavelength of light close to that of the sun, and the fact that they contain no environment harming mercury.
Yamagata is actively working to increase OLED use and build OLED related industries in the prefecture, offering incentives to companies that develop products associated with OLEDs.

QMONOS Fiber

"Jomon no Megami (National treasure)" with OLED lighting system. (ODELIC CO.,LTD. Yamagata factory)

Metabolome Analysis
Yamagata University Innovation Center for Organic Electronics.

Ultra High Precision Processing and MEMS

Further development is expected in the field of nano-technology, so Yamagata takes ultra high precision processing technology and MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology to standards on the nanolevels. We produce the technological base and application products, and promote the competitiveness of industrial companies that possesses nano-technologies in Yamagata.
The Yamagata Research Institute of Technology forms the core of a group of 1600 companies, universities, and other research institutions working together to form Yamagata's very own ultra high precision process cluster MEMS and/or semiconductor fabrication industries.

Biotechnology

The Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata, is a pioneer in the new life science field of "Integrated Systems Biology." Using cutting-edge biotechnology, intracellular metabolites can be analyzed comprehensively to construct computer simulation models and that can be applied in fields such as medical science and also the food industry.

Traditional Crafts

Hammer Forged Knives
Hammer Forged Knives

The high level craftsmanship developed by artisans throughout Yamagata's long history of manufacturing has been passed down to this day, and it continues to evolve further through fusion with modern design sensibilities.
Products include cast metal objects with a history of craftsmanship going back over 900 years, knives forged from hammers using traditional techniques passed down from sword making blacksmiths, furniture brought to life by top class wood molding technology, and carpets that are renowned throughout the world.