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EXECUTIVES WITH JAPAN'S BIOTECH INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (JBA) discussed with me the issues they face. Despite creating hundreds of startups, and Bioclusters, they need a success. Their international BioJapan conference has a low participant to meeting ratio, and needs more international delegates. Japan is new to partnering. They are making strong efforts to connect to other Bioclusters worldwide. They recognize that Japan is a tough place for foreigners to navigate, and acknowledge that help is needed. The language and complexity of transportation require a local guide to help foreigners. View in LinkedIn

THE GREAT LEROY HOOD CALLS IT "P4 MEDICINE" basically predictive, preventative and participatory. This paradigm shift of Western medicine will be huge, and some believe it is just around the corner. No longer waiting until the sick patient shows up, but now using predictive data from gene sequencing to plan preventative lifestyles with the participation of the patient. Watch this space. http://lnkd.in/8qz9qs View in LinkedIn

THE FOUNDER OF JAPAN'S 22 Bn USD INCJ VC FUND is a super-smart man of about 47. Over lunch, Mr Sato disclosed to me some of the issues they face to innovate the economy. First, entrepreneurial talent is hard to find. Big company experts do not always learn to be entrepreneurs. Like Spain, the word ambition is synonymous with greed, and the nail that sticks up gets hammered in these group-centric family based societies. He believes that 'networking horizontally' across disciplines will bear fruit. He is focused on the early stage life science ecosystem, especially pluripotent stem cells. View in LinkedIn

PANEL DISCUSSES THE CAMBRIDGE BIOCLUSTER PHENOMENON: A MUST-READ! View in LinkedIn

JAPAN'S RANKING AS THE THIRD WORLD ECONOMY after the US snd China is remarkable for a population of 127 M living on an island s bit smaller than California. After the devastation of the war, they decided that hard work was the sacrifice required to rebuild their society. Along with only 1% of GDP going to military costs, they entered a three decade period of unprecedented growth, slowing in the 1990s. The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan's (INCJ) was recently created to stimulate the economy. As a 22 Bn USD VC fund it is the largest in the world. Plus doubling the money supply. Bold! View in LinkedIn

ANNE RICE'S VAMPIRE CHARACTERS LAMENT THE ENNUI OF ETERNAL LIFE, in her playful but serious books. The characters yearn a finite life. It is fascinating to see the sheer number of postings today on the preliminary hypothalamus findings. Remember the autumn leaf? It is easier to discard accumulated broken systems and build from new than to repair. We have increased our longevity in a few generations, but these aspirations being voiced are simply fantasy. http://lnkd.in/zRrRe3 View in LinkedIn

JAPAN IS AN ISLAND WITH CURIOUS CONSTRAINTS. It has no energy resources, so is the leading coal and liquified natural gas importer, second oil importer, and consequently has a nuclear power policy. It does not farm animals to a great extent and imports 60% of its calories (except rice), and with the world's largest fishing fleet, this 1.8% of the world's population eats 15% of the annual world fish catch. With 98.5% of Japanese ethnicity, and an elderly bubble, it must face a change immigration to endure s future workforce and tax base. These constrains significantly shape its choices. View in LinkedIn

TACTILE FEEDBACK FOR ROBOTIC SURGERIES. View in LinkedIn

A FAMOUS SCIENTIST IN THE LATE 1980'S answered a competitor's request for a sample of his new plasmid with a harsh 'no'. The competitor put the letter into a gentle solvent buffer and extracted enough plasmid to conduct his experiment, and then gave credits in the footnotes. This charming anecdote happens to be true but the names are withheld for discretion's sake. View in LinkedIn

MAY 5th, JAPAN'GOLDEN WEEK ENDS WITH THE DAY OF THE CHILD. This family-centric longest Japanese holiday is a combination of four celebrations, and is a chance to visit family and vacation. The last day celebrates the happiness of the children and gratitude to all mothers. On the 4th in Tokyo was an elaborate three and a half hour procession of marching children's bands View in LinkedIn