JAXA Venture Tenchijin Receives the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the "10th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards" Hosted by METI and Others
JAXA-certified space venture Tenchijin has been awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 10th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards for their "Space Water Bureau," a system utilizing satellite data and AI to evaluate and manage water leakage risks in aging water infrastructure.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 11:04
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 26, 2026 at 21:27 (1378h 22m after Published)
We are pleased to announce that Tenchijin, Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director Yasuhito Sakuraba), a JAXA-certified space venture, has received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the "10th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards," held collaboratively by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
About the Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards
The "Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards" commend individuals recognized as particularly outstanding among the generations engaged in "monodzukuri" (manufacturing/creation), including mid-career personnel who form the core of manufacturing and production sites, skilled personnel who have supported traditional and cultural "techniques," and young personnel who will bear the future. This award has been held since 2005 in collaboration with METI, MLIT, MHLW, and MEXT, and this marks its 10th iteration. On this occasion, the four related ministries decided on 8 cases (25 individuals) for the Prime Minister's Award. In addition to the aforementioned Prime Minister's Award, METI decided on 13 cases (58 individuals, 1 organization) for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.
Citation: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry News Release | Winners of the Prime Minister's Award and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for the 10th "Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards" Have Been Decided
Award Overview
Awarded Project Name: Development of a Water Leakage Risk Evaluation and Management System ("Space Water Bureau") Utilizing Artificial Satellite Data and AI Analysis
Project Overview: In response to the social issue of aging water infrastructure, the "Space Water Bureau," a water leakage risk evaluation and management system that allows easy identification of risk areas without requiring expertise in water pipes, was developed. The system evaluates the risk of water pipe leakage by investigating and analyzing surface temperature, climate, and ground data acquired from over 500 satellites held by domestic and international space agencies such as JAXA, NASA, and ESA, along with water pipe data held by water utilities, using AI. Examples of adopting municipalities have shown an improvement in leakage discovery efficiency to 6 times that of conventional methods and a 79% reduction in investigation costs.
Award Comment:
We are deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award. We believe this award was given not just to us, but together with the frontline workers who protect our water supply every day. The Space Water Bureau will continue to support the future of water supply with the speed of a startup by combining frontline wisdom and satellite data.
▼Click here for the list of the 10th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards Winners
https://www.monodzukuri.meti.go.jp/prizewinner/10/index.html
The award ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
▼Prime Minister's Office | Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards Prime Minister's Award Ceremony
https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/105/actions/202603/25monozukuri.html
About the "Space Water Bureau"
The "Space Water Bureau" is a water supply DX solution that supports the realization of sustainable water supply businesses utilizing satellite data. Since the start of the service in April 2023, the cumulative number of contracted municipalities* has exceeded 50.
*As of September 2025. Includes contract renewals.
1. Acoustic Investigation Support Based on Leakage Risk Diagnosis
By utilizing satellite data for risk diagnosis of pipelines on a scale of several meters, it is possible to grasp current and near-future leakage risks with high resolution. It also supports leakage risk diagnosis on a mesh unit depending on the application. By narrowing down the areas with a high probability of leakage, locations that should be prioritized for investigation can be easily found, realizing efficient maintenance and management.
2. Support for Formulating Pipeline Renewal Plans According to Regional Characteristics
By evaluating a combination of "soundness" (leakage risk diagnosis results) based on pipeline diagnosis results and "importance" that comprehensively considers the impact on all facilities and daily life, from general housing to critical water supply facilities (hospitals, schools, evacuation centers, etc.), multiple "renewal priority scenarios" are created. Flexible settings according to regional issues and objectives are possible, such as scenarios emphasizing peacetime leakage risks or scenarios emphasizing the social impact during disasters. Through scenarios that consider environmental fluctuations, it supports the formulation of highly useful plans by reasonably and transparently determining the renewal priority of each pipeline.
The essential value of the "Space Water Bureau" lies in the integration of municipal data accumulated over many years and the latest satellite technology. Through the new perspective of "leakage risk information" born from this integration, we believe that conventional approaches such as acoustic investigations and renewal plans will evolve. We will continue to contribute so that this initiative, which connects past wisdom and future technology, can realize a new water supply business that produces greater effects with limited resources.
◾️Company Overview
Company Name: Tenchijin, Inc.
Location: 5th Floor, Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director Yasuhito Sakuraba
Business Content: Land evaluation consulting using satellite data
Official Website: https://tenchijin.co.jp/
About the Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards
The "Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards" commend individuals recognized as particularly outstanding among the generations engaged in "monodzukuri" (manufacturing/creation), including mid-career personnel who form the core of manufacturing and production sites, skilled personnel who have supported traditional and cultural "techniques," and young personnel who will bear the future. This award has been held since 2005 in collaboration with METI, MLIT, MHLW, and MEXT, and this marks its 10th iteration. On this occasion, the four related ministries decided on 8 cases (25 individuals) for the Prime Minister's Award. In addition to the aforementioned Prime Minister's Award, METI decided on 13 cases (58 individuals, 1 organization) for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.
Citation: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry News Release | Winners of the Prime Minister's Award and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for the 10th "Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards" Have Been Decided
Award Overview
Awarded Project Name: Development of a Water Leakage Risk Evaluation and Management System ("Space Water Bureau") Utilizing Artificial Satellite Data and AI Analysis
Project Overview: In response to the social issue of aging water infrastructure, the "Space Water Bureau," a water leakage risk evaluation and management system that allows easy identification of risk areas without requiring expertise in water pipes, was developed. The system evaluates the risk of water pipe leakage by investigating and analyzing surface temperature, climate, and ground data acquired from over 500 satellites held by domestic and international space agencies such as JAXA, NASA, and ESA, along with water pipe data held by water utilities, using AI. Examples of adopting municipalities have shown an improvement in leakage discovery efficiency to 6 times that of conventional methods and a 79% reduction in investigation costs.
Award Comment:
We are deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award. We believe this award was given not just to us, but together with the frontline workers who protect our water supply every day. The Space Water Bureau will continue to support the future of water supply with the speed of a startup by combining frontline wisdom and satellite data.
▼Click here for the list of the 10th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards Winners
https://www.monodzukuri.meti.go.jp/prizewinner/10/index.html
The award ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
▼Prime Minister's Office | Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards Prime Minister's Award Ceremony
https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/105/actions/202603/25monozukuri.html
About the "Space Water Bureau"
The "Space Water Bureau" is a water supply DX solution that supports the realization of sustainable water supply businesses utilizing satellite data. Since the start of the service in April 2023, the cumulative number of contracted municipalities* has exceeded 50.
*As of September 2025. Includes contract renewals.
1. Acoustic Investigation Support Based on Leakage Risk Diagnosis
By utilizing satellite data for risk diagnosis of pipelines on a scale of several meters, it is possible to grasp current and near-future leakage risks with high resolution. It also supports leakage risk diagnosis on a mesh unit depending on the application. By narrowing down the areas with a high probability of leakage, locations that should be prioritized for investigation can be easily found, realizing efficient maintenance and management.
2. Support for Formulating Pipeline Renewal Plans According to Regional Characteristics
By evaluating a combination of "soundness" (leakage risk diagnosis results) based on pipeline diagnosis results and "importance" that comprehensively considers the impact on all facilities and daily life, from general housing to critical water supply facilities (hospitals, schools, evacuation centers, etc.), multiple "renewal priority scenarios" are created. Flexible settings according to regional issues and objectives are possible, such as scenarios emphasizing peacetime leakage risks or scenarios emphasizing the social impact during disasters. Through scenarios that consider environmental fluctuations, it supports the formulation of highly useful plans by reasonably and transparently determining the renewal priority of each pipeline.
The essential value of the "Space Water Bureau" lies in the integration of municipal data accumulated over many years and the latest satellite technology. Through the new perspective of "leakage risk information" born from this integration, we believe that conventional approaches such as acoustic investigations and renewal plans will evolve. We will continue to contribute so that this initiative, which connects past wisdom and future technology, can realize a new water supply business that produces greater effects with limited resources.
◾️Company Overview
Company Name: Tenchijin, Inc.
Location: 5th Floor, Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director Yasuhito Sakuraba
Business Content: Land evaluation consulting using satellite data
Official Website: https://tenchijin.co.jp/