Establishment of Aqunia: Predicting Global Water Disasters, Resources, and Climate Change Risks

Context of Business Launch

As water-related disasters intensify globally due to climate change, the Japanese government has positioned the international expansion of disaster prevention technology as a national strategy. With the Prime Minister's policy speech in February 2026 and the cabinet decision for a new Disaster Management Agency, the institutional framework for public-private international cooperation is rapidly strengthening.

The Global South, in particular, represents a crucial market where rapid economic development requires enhanced infrastructure. During the 'Central Asia + Japan' Business Forum in December 2025, numerous cooperation documents were signed, underscoring high expectations for Japanese technology. However, these regions often lack adequate ground observation networks, making the provision of precise, actionable predictive information a long-standing challenge.

Technology Infrastructure and Social Implementation

The core of Aqunia’s forecasting system is the global water cycle simulation system 'Today's Earth,' developed by JAXA and the University of Tokyo. Through land surface simulation using satellite data, the system can estimate and forecast river discharge, soil moisture, and flooding risks on a global scale. As of March 2026, the system enables real-time global monitoring and 5-day forecasts at an approximate 10km resolution.

Aqunia integrates this global model with its own proprietary 'localization technology.' By seamlessly connecting with detailed local models and both satellite and ground observation data, the company balances global coverage with region-specific accuracy. Currently, through joint research with Professor Kei Yoshimura's laboratory at the University of Tokyo, the company is deepening its social implementation efforts.

Grant Awards and Recognition

Aqunia’s solutions have been selected for several prestigious grants, validating their social significance and feasibility:

- METI 'Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Grant': Conducting flood prediction demonstrations in Vietnam in partnership with Spectee, Inc. - Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo SME Support Center 'Aerospace Industry Entry Support': Advancing development and improvement of systems linked with satellite data. - PwC Japan Foundation 'Fall 2025 Global Environment (Disaster Prediction)' Grant: Developing flood inundation prediction tools for both regional and local needs.

Vision from Representative Director Tetsu Idemoto

'Delivering information that supports decision-making is an urgent priority, even in regions lacking adequate observation networks. I founded Aqunia to rapidly bridge academic research into real-world applications. We are committed to accelerating the contribution of Japanese disaster prevention technology in the Global South, including Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa.'

Representative Idemoto is an expert in meteorological forecasting, having obtained his weather forecaster license at age 14. He leads the company’s growth with extensive expertise in strategic consulting and climate-tech startup management.