Advancing global flood forecasting and water/climate risk prediction based on research outcomes from the University of Tokyo and JAXA
Aqunia Inc. (Headquarters: Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Satoru Demoto; hereinafter “Aqunia”) announces the launch of its commercial operations as of April 1, 2026. Since its establishment in August 2025, the company has focused on product development, technical validation, and partnership formation. Going forward, Aqunia will accelerate the development, demonstration, and societal implementation of solutions for global flood forecasting, water resource prediction, and climate change risk assessment.
Aqunia leverages the research outcomes o Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the University of Tokyo as the core foundation of its prediction systems, combining them with proprietary technologies to deliver flood and water resource forecasting solutions adaptable to diverse regions worldwide. The company advances the societal implementation of high-accuracy rainfall and flood forecasting for government agencies in the Global South and other regions where ground observation networks remain inadequate, contributing to the reduction of flood damage. At the same time, Aqunia addresses water scarcity challenges through water resource prediction, and supports risk assessment and adaptation investment planning by both public and private sector organizations through long-term climate change risk prediction.
Background: International Disaster Risk Reduction and the Growing Demand for Wide-Area, High-Accuracy Forecasting
As water-related disasters intensify worldwide due to climate change, the Japanese government has begun to accelerate the overseas deployment of disaster prevention technologies and infrastructure as a national strategy. In her policy speech in February 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed Japan’s intent to actively share its disaster management expertise and technologies with the world. In March 2026, a bill to establish a new “Disaster Management Agency” as the central command for disaster countermeasures was approved by the Cabinet, accelerating national resilience efforts and laying the institutional groundwork for public-private international disaster cooperation.
Amid this policy momentum, the Global South has emerged as a particularly important market. In December 2025, the leaders of five Central Asian nations visited Japan, and under the auspices of Prime Minister Takaichi, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry hosted the “Central Asia + Japan” Business Forum, at which 158 memoranda of understanding were signed across sectors including green technology and digitalization. Japan’s commitment to accelerating economic cooperation with Global South countries in a public-private partnership framework was clearly demonstrated, with climate change adaptation and disaster prevention identified as one of key themes of collaboration. Expectations for Japanese technology in predicting and mitigating water disaster risks are rising.
However, many of these regions lack adequate surface observation networks, and providing forecast information that covers wide areas while maintaining the precision required for local decision-making remains a significant technical challenge. Aqunia aims to address this challenge and accelerate the global contribution of Japanese disaster prevention technology.
Technology: Fusion of JAXA/University of Tokyo Research Outcomes and Proprietary Localization Technology
Aqunia’s technological foundation is built on the research outcomes of “Today’s Earth,” a global water cycle simulation system developed by JAXA and the University of Tokyo. This system integrates satellite data into a land surface and water cycle simulation, continuously estimating and forecasting water cycle information—including river discharge, soil moisture, and flood inundation risk—across the entire globe. Its ability to calculate such information at a planetary scale without relying on surface observations is a defining strength of the system. In March 2026, TE-Global was updated to enable real-time monitoring of global terrestrial water cycle information at approximately 10 km grid resolution and 5-day ahead forecasting.
https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/water/index_j.html
Aqunia combines this global-scale prediction technology with its proprietary “localization technology” that incorporates detailed regional data. By seamlessly connecting global models with regional high-resolution models and local surface and satellite observation data, the company achieves both the broad coverage needed to operate worldwide and the local adaptability required to be useful at the field level.
The company is currently refining its technology through a joint research collaboration with Professor Kei Yoshimura’s laboratory at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, and will continue advancing toward broader societal implementation.
【Comment】 Professor Kei Yoshimura, Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo
“The global real-time flood forecasting research I pursue is technology that only becomes meaningful when it is implemented in society and citizens can experience its value firsthand. However, there are inherent limits to how deeply academic research alone can penetrate the ‘implementation’ stage, and I sometimes wrestle with the concern that our work may remain confined to theoretical discussion. I have great expectations that the societal implementation efforts undertaken by companies like Aqunia will break through these limitations.”
Track Record: Three Grant Adoptions by Public Agencies and Private Foundations
Despite being a young company, Aqunia has already been selected for three grant programs by public institutions and a private foundation, reflecting recognition of the social significance and feasibility of its solutions.
① Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) — “FY2024 Supplementary Budget: Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project Subsidy (Small-Scale Demonstration / Feasibility Study)” (Adopted)
In collaboration with Spectee Inc., Aqunia is conducting a localization demonstration in Vietnam of a flood forecasting solution, targeting commercialization in the early warning systems domain.
② Tokyo Metropolitan Government / Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center — “Space Product Development Expense Subsidy (Solution Development Category)” (Adopted)
Aqunia is advancing the development and improvement of a global flood prediction system integrated with satellite data, leveraging satellite observation data to further enhance its core technology and conduct demonstrations toward global deployment.
③ PwC Foundation Japan — “FY2025 Autumn Grant: Earth Environment (Disaster Prediction)” (Adopted)
Aqunia has been awarded a grant for the development of a flood inundation prediction tool capable of addressing both wide-area and local needs, advancing the construction of a forecasting system that contributes to mitigating the increasingly severe flood damage caused by climate change.
Outlook
Going forward, Aqunia will accelerate the deployment of its flood and water resource prediction solutions across the Global South—including Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa—as well as within Japan. The company will deepen collaboration with domestic and international government agencies, local authorities, and related private enterprises, contributing to the advancement of early warning systems and climate change adaptation strategies.
■ Company Profile
| Company Name | Aqunia Inc. (株式会社Aqunia) |
| Representative Director | Satoru Demoto, Founder & CEO |
| Established | August 2025 |
| Headquarters | Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Business | Development of global flood, water resource, and climate change risk prediction systems; societal implementation through related consulting services |
| Website | https://aqunia.com |
Contact
For inquiries regarding system adoption, technology or business partnerships, career opportunities, or any other matters, please feel free to reach out.