Research Reports
The 2009 International Forum on FFC Technology
The 2005 International Forum on FFC Technology
Researches on Coastal Ecosystems
Researches on agriculture
Other Research ( Plant Research / Skin Research / Microbiological Research )
*The website link shown for each research report will direct you to a third-party site.
*Stated information is as of the date the report was announced.
The 2009 International Forum on FFC Technology
The 2009 Forum was held on 2009 August 24 and 25 at Tokyo International Forum.
You can see the official pamphlet of the 2009 Forum with overviews of the research conducted at this link: [PDF/1.8MB]
The list of the oral presentations is as follows;
FFC, Pairogen, and the Global Water Supply (Special Lecture)
Jon D. Mills (Asia Center, Harvard University)
Decontamination of Lake Bottom Sludge by FFC Ace/Ceramics
Yoichi Nakano, Shiro Kubuki (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Ube National College of Technology)
FFC Ceramic Water and Plant Health
Tomonori Shiraishi, Kazuhiro Toyoda (Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology,Okayama University)
Effects of FFC Ceramic Water on Corrosion Behavior of Iron
Jun Takada, Tatsuo Fujii (Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University)
Difference of Freezing Characteristics between FFC Ceramic Water and Normal Water
Akihiko Horibe (Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University)
Different Influences of Pairogen/FFC Ceramic Water on Bacteria and Molds/Yeasts
Hidehiro Tsuneoka (Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University)
Tomio Nishimura, Sachiko Hasegawa, Jumpei Ueda (Institute for Biological Process Research, Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd.,)
The Economic Effects and Efficiencies of FFC in Livestock Farm and Food Industries
Isao Yokomizo (Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University)
FFC Inhibits Microbial Attachment
Ralph Mitchell (Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)
How Does FFC Water Keep Germs Away? A Surface Scientist's Perspective
Scot Martin (Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)
FFC Enhances Plant Growth
Ralph Mitchell, Nick Konkol (Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)
FFC Ceramic Water and Pairogen Stimulate Skin Cell Function
Tomohisa Hirobe (Radiation Effect Mechanism Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences and Graduate School of Science, Chiba University)
The Effects of Akatsuka FFC Ceramics on the Health of Water Environments
James Shine (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health)
FFC Bead Properties, Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia, and Characterizing FFC Aerosols
Joseph. Brain (Harvard School of Public Health)
The 2005 International Forum on FFC Technology
The 2005 Forum was held on 2005 July 12th and 13th at Nagoya Congress Center.
The list of the oral presentations is as follows;
FFC Water and Life (Keynote Lecture)
Jon D. Mills (Asia Center, Harvard University)
Water, like Oil: The Political Economy of Scarcity
Part I : Opportunities Conceptualized
Dennis J. Encarnation (Asia-Pacific Policy Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University)
Part II: Opportunities Measured
Mark Podlasly (John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University)
Environment, Your Body, Health, Air, Water, and FFC
Joseph D. Brain (Harvard School of Public Health)
Towards a Holistic Understanding of the Importance of Clean Water on Human and Ecological Health
James P. Shine (Harvard School of Public Health)
Interaction of FFC with Plants, Bacteria and Surfaces
Ralph Mitchell (Division of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University)
Thomas D. Perry IV (Division of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University)
Akatsuka's FFC Water: A Hidden Source of Supreme Virtue (Special speech)
Jun Kurihara (John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University)
Basic Research in the Nutritional and Physiological Functions of FFC Pairogen : Effects on Blood Fluidity and other Physiological Status
Naemi Kajiwara (The Graduate School of Life Science, Kobe Women's University)
Correlation between Commensals in the Gut and Immune System: Effect of Pairogen on Maintenance of Health
Ataru Kuroiwa (School of Medicine, Fukuoka University)
The Effects of FFC Pairogen on the Autonomic Nervous System and Body Temperature
Toru Abo (Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University)
Effects of FFC on Disease Resistance of Plants
Akane Meguro (Institute for Biological Process Research, Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd.)
Potentials of FFC Technology to Improve Marine Environment
Hiroyuki Sugiura (Institute for Biological Process Research, Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd.)
Researches on Coastal Ecosystems
(Each PDF report is written in Japanese and accompanied by an English abstract.)
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a type of seagrass widely distributed across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in the calm and inner coastal areas, and forms a dense population called ‘Zostera bed’ on the sandy and muddy bottoms. These meadows play a critical role as primary producers in coastal ecosystems and serve as vital nurseries for coastal fish and other marine species. Additionally, Zostera capture and store carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change mitigation as a form of "Blue Carbon." In Japan, eelgrass was once found along nearly all coastal areas, but since the 1950s, these Zostera beds have significantly declined.This study aimed to investigate the effects of FFC Ceramics on eelgrass growth through an aquarium experiment. Plants were collected from a natural Zostera beds, and seedlings were prepared by trimming them to retain five nodes on the rhizome and 1 centimeter of the true leaf above the leaf sheath tip. These seedlings were then transplanted into an aquarium prepared with 100 grams of FFC Ceramics placed on top of the sand, which had been pre-treated with 40 liters of seawater and 10 liters of sand. The eelgrass seedlings were cultivated in this aquarium for 120 days.
Compared to the control with no FFC Ceramics treatment, FFC-treated plants showed a significant increase, with leaf dry weight 2.57 times higher and rhizome dry weight 3.89 times higher. Although the aquarium setting differs from natural coastal conditions, the data suggest that FFC Ceramics could potentially promote eelgrass growth in natural coastal areas.
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
In our previous report, we demonstrated that FFC Ceramics promote the growth of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in aquarium settings. However, natural coastal environments differ significantly from controlled aquarium conditions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether FFC Ceramics affect the survival, growth, and rhizome branching of eelgrass in a natural coastal area (Miyajiura Bay, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture).To establish the FFC-treated plot, Zostera mat®— coconut fiber mats specifically developed for eelgrass bed restoration—were prepared by sandwiching eelgrass seeds, local sediment, and 40 grams of FFC Ceramics between coconut fiber mats. These mats were then placed at a depth of 4 meters at low tide. For the control plot, Zostera mat® containing only seeds and sediment (without FFC Ceramics) were positioned 2 meters from the FFC-treated plot at the same depth.
After 5 months, the number of surviving plants and rhizome branches on the mats was 74 and 16, respectively, in the control plot, while in the FFC Ceramics plot, these values were higher at 92 and 31, with rhizome branching nearly double that of the control. Furthermore, the FFC-treated plot exhibited significantly higher values for leaf count, root count, shoot length, maximum root length, shoot dry weight, and below ground dry weight compared to the control plot.
These findings suggest that FFC Ceramics facilitate eelgrass growth not only in aquariums but also in natural coastal environments. Given that eelgrass propagates through both seed dispersal and rhizome extension, the observed increase in post-germination survival and the enhancement of rhizome branching in the FFC-treated plots could be highly beneficial for the natural expansion of Zostera beds.
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
In a previous report, we demonstrated that the application of FFC Ceramics promoted the growth of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in both controlled tank environments and natural coastal areas. Enhanced photosynthesis activity is generally regarded as one potential factor contributing to improved plant growth. Therefore, in this experiment, we investigated the effect of FFC Ceramics on the photosynthesis activity of eelgrass seedlings to elucidate the mechanism behind this observed growth promotion. The oxygen release rate—indicative of photosynthesis activity—of eelgrass seedlings in supplemented seawater treated with FFC Ceramics for 24 hours was significantly higher (1.25 times) than that of seedlings in supplemented seawater untreated by FFC. These findings suggest that the growth promotion observed in both aquarium and coastal experiments may be partly attributed to the enhanced photosynthesis activity induced by FFC Ceramics.[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
The seagrass Zostera japonica (commonly known as dwarf eelgrass) is widely distributed throughout Japan—from Hokkaido and Honshu down to the subtropical regions of Amami Oshima and Okinawa. Z. japonica propagates both sexually via seeds and vegetatively through branching. The vegetative propagation, occurring actively from spring to summer, depends on extending and branching of the rhizome. The Z. japonica meadows are distributed across the upper to lower intertidal zones, playing a crucial role in maintaining tidal flats and supporting biodiversity from tidal flats to shallow marine zones. Similar to eelgrass, Z. japonica populations are declining across Japan due to coastal reclamation and water pollution. However, ecological and physiological research on Z. japonica remains limited compared to that on eelgrass, and few restoration efforts have been attempted.In this study, we evaluated the effects of FFC Ceramics on the growth of Z. japonica in a tank-based experiment. Z. japonica seedlings consisting of two nodes from the rhizome tip and its shoot sections were transplanted into a tank containing 20 grams of FFC Ceramics, pre-filled with 4 liters of seawater and 1.8 liters of sand, and cultivated for 64 days. Compared to the control group, the Z. japonica in the FFC tank showed significant increases in biomass, with a 1.29-fold increase in shoot dry weight, a 2.47-fold increase in rhizome dry weight, and a 2.30-fold increase in root dry weight. While this experiment was conducted in a closed tank environment, distinct from natural coastal habitats, the addition of FFC Ceramics in the tank significantly promoted the growth of Z. japonica, particularly enhancing rhizome and root development, which are crucial for vegetative propagation.
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
In Miyajiura Bay, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, dense communities of Zostera japonica were once found in the inner bay. However, by around 2004, these populations had largely disappeared. To improve the bay’s environment, in April 2004, a substantial amount of FFC products—18 tons of FFC Ceramics and 1,000 bags of FFC marine conditioner—was applied to the bay. As previously reported, FFC Ceramics have shown a significant positive effect on the growth of Z. japonica in tank experiments, and it was hoped that similar effects would promote the reconstruction of Z. japonica meadows in the tidal areas of Miyajiura Bay.Since 2006, we have conducted periodic surveys using high-precision GPS to monitor the distribution of Z. japonica growth areas. Remarkably, the initially small Z. japonica meadows have expanded each year, with the total area increasing approximately fourfold from 2006 to 2018. Generally, efforts to restore or conserve Z. japonica meadows involve substantial financial and labor investment, as well as technical knowledge and skills. However, if the expansion of Z. japonica meadows observed in this study through FFC material application can be replicated with similar consistency and effectiveness, FFC products may prove to be a highly valuable tool for facilitating the restoration and creation of Z. japonica meadows.
Researches on agriculture
(Each PDF report is written in Japanese and accompanied by an English abstract.)
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate was at a low 38% in 2023, markedly lower than that of other developed nations. As the global population continues to rise, the competition for food resources worldwide is predicted to intensify. In such a scenario, one practical approach to ensure a stable food supply and increase Japan's food self-sufficiency is to enhance the productivity of existing farmlands.The use of FFC Ace has been reported by agricultural producers to have significant effects on promoting growth, improving and stabilizing crop quality and yields. In this study, we investigated the effects of FFC Ace, a unique soil conditioner, on the growth and yield of barley through field trials. When FFC Ace was thoroughly mixed into sandy soil at a rate of 900 kilograms per 0.1 hectares, notable improvements were observed in root and shoot growth, tillering and the total weight of grains per stock. The total yield in the FFC Ace-treated plots increased by 1.73 times compared to the control. The plants grown in FFC Ace-treated plots displayed deeper green coloration and higher SPAD values than those in the control plots. Our findings demonstrate that the application of FFC Ace to soil significantly enhances both the growth and the yield of barley.
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
In our previous field experiments, we demonstrated that the application of FFC Ace to soil significantly enhances the growth and yield of barley. In this study, we focused on examining the effects of FFC Ace application on the photosynthesis rate, a critical factor closely linked to crop productivity. The photosynthesis rate in barley leaves from FFC Ace-treated plots was significantly increased across a wide range of photosynthetic photon flux densities. Therefore, it is suggested that the growth promotion and yield increases observed in barley treated with FFC Ace are associated with an enhancement in photosynthetic activity.[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
The application of FFC products in agriculture has been reported not only to enhance growth, quality, and yield but also to improve disease resistance and environmental adaptability. This study investigated whether FFC products could promote the growth of barley and enhance its resistance to powdery mildew disease. By incorporating 3% FFC Ace into a vermiculite-based growth medium and treating seeds with a 1,000-fold dilution of FFC Pairogen (diluted using FFC Ceramic-soaked water) during germination, we observed a significant increase in total plant biomass and a deeper green coloration of the leaves. Additionally, cotyledon sheath of barley seedling treated with FFC products showed a tendency to resist infection by powdery mildew fungi. These findings suggest that FFC product treatment not only promotes plant growth but also enhances disease resistance.[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
Field trials by agricultural producers have demonstrated various benefits of using FFC Ace, including not only enhanced growth, improved quality, and increased yields but also enhanced disease resistance and environmental adaptability. In this experiment, we cultivated Shirona (a type of Japanese leafy vegetable) under both adequate and reduced watering conditions to evaluate the effects of FFC Ace application on Shirona growth under water deficit stress.Under adequate watering conditions, Shirona grown in potting soil mixed with 2% FFC Ace showed higher values than the control: shoot dry weight increased by 1.49 times, root dry weight by 1.22 times, and leaf area by 1.42 times. Under reduced watering, Shirona in the FFC Ace treatment group demonstrated significantly greater enhancements compared to the control, with shoot dry weight 1.54 times, root dry weight 1.76 times, and leaf area 1.43 times higher.
When comparing the adequate-watering control group to the reduced-watering FFC Ace treatment group, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and leaf area in the FFC Ace group were reduced by 12.5%, 24.2%, and 23.6%, respectively. Notably, the reduction in growth under reduced-watering combined with FFC Ace was less than half that observed in the reduced-watering control group without FFC Ace. These findings indicate that the application of FFC Ace significantly mitigated the growth inhibition typically caused by water deficit stress.
[PDF/700KB *Japanese version]
[English Abstract] *click to open/close
One major environmental issue surrounding agriculture is groundwater pollution, largely caused by nitrate leaching from farmland. This pollution is a global concern as it affects not only human and livestock drinking water but also sensitive natural environments, such as coral reef ecosystems. The application of FFC Ace to farmland has been reported by farmers to benefit crops through growth promotion and yield increases, as well as improve soil properties by softening the soil and enhancing drainage.In this study, we examined the effects of FFC Ace application on sugarcane yield and nitrate leaching from fields. In plots treated with 7.5 bags (150 kilograms) of FFC Ace per 0.1 hectares, yields were 1.3 times higher than those in control plots in which only standard chemical fertilizer was applied. The result was a significant difference. Additionally, in plots treated with FFC Ace, nitrate leaching was reduced by up to 30% during certain periods compared to plots where standard applications of chemical fertilizers and compost were used, and leaching was reduced by 21.1% over the entire cultivation period. These results suggest that FFC Ace application not only enhances crop productivity under limited nutrient availability but may also help mitigate groundwater pollution by reducing nitrate leaching.
Other research reports
Plant Research
Effect on growth and quality of berries of wine grapes by the Soil Conditioner FFC-Ace
Kazuhiro Ichikawa, Tadao Fujimori (Institute for Biological Process Research, Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd.,) [PDF/210KB]
Effects on growth of plants by the Soil Conditioner FFC-Ace
[Acta Hort. (ISHS) 1014:459-462 (website)]
Kazuhiro Ichikawa, Tadao Fujimori (Institute for Biological Process Research, Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd.)
The Ceramic Bead That Is Suitable for A Carrier of Plant-Rooting Accelerator, Streptomyces sp. MBR-52
[Actinomycetologica(2006) 20:23.29 VOL.20, NO.2 (website)]
Sachiko Hasegawa, Akane Meguro, Masafumi Shimizu, Tomio Nishimura, Hitoshi Kunoh (S.Hasegawa, A.Meguro, T.Nishimura, H.Kunoh : Institute for Biological Process Research, Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd. / M.Shimizu : Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University)
Novel Method of Micronutrient Application Increases Radish (Raphanus Sativus) and Shirona (Brassica Rapa. Pekinensis) Biomass
[Journal of Plant Nutrition, 35:3, 471-479, 2012 (website)]
Nick R. Konkol, Christopher J. McNamara ,Kristen A. Bearce-lee, Hitoshi Kunoh, Ralph Mitchell (N.R.Konkol, C.J.McNamara, K.A.Bearce-Lee, R.Mitchell : School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University / H.Kunoh : Akatsuka Group)
Enhancement of Growth and Yield of Barley by the Soil Conditioner FFC-Ace
[Scientific Reports of the Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University Vol.99，13-20(2010) (website)]
Keiko Fujita, Tomoko Suzuki, Sachiko Hasegawa, Akane Meguro, Hiroyuki Sugiura, Kazuhiro Toyoda, Tomonori Shiraishi, Ei Sakaguchi, Tomio Nishimura, Hitoshi Kunoh (Course of Applied Plant Science, Okayama University)
Effect of FFC Ceramic Water on the Infection Process of a Fungal Pathogen
[Scientific Reports of the Faculty of Agriculture Okayama University, 99(1), 27-34 (website)]
Tomonori Shiraishi, Kazuhiro Toyoda, Tomoko Suzuki, Akane Meguro), Sachiko Hasegawa, Tomio Nishimura, Hitoshi Kunoh (Course of Applied Plant Science, Okayama University)
Skin Research
Ferrous Ferric Chloride Stimulates the Proliferation and Differentiation of Cultured Keratinocytes and Melanocytes in the Epidermis of Neonatal Mouse Skin
[Journal of Health Science, 53(5)576-584(2007) (website)]
Tomohisa Hirobe (Radiation Effect Mechanism Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences and Gradualte School of Science, Chiba University)
Ferrous Ferric Chloride Induces the Differentiation of Cultured Mouse Epidermal Melanocytes Additionally with Herbal Medicines
[Journal of Health Science, 55(1)86-94(2009) (website)]
Tomohisa Hirobe (Radiation Effect Mechanism Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences and Gradualte School of Science, Chiba University)
Ferrous Ferric Chloride Stimulates the Proliferation of Human Skin Keratinocytes, Melanocytes, and Fibroblasts in Culture
[Journal of Health Science, 55(3)447-45(2009) (website)]
Tomohisa Hirobe (Radiation Effect Mechanism Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences and Gradualte School of Science, Chiba University)
Ferrous Ferric Chloride Stimulates the Skin Cell Function and Hair
Growth in Mice
[Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 32(8):1347-53 (2009)(website)]
Tomohisa Hirobe (Radiation Effect Mechanism Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences and Gradualte School of Science, Chiba University)
Stimulation of the Proliferation and Differentiation of Skin Cells by
Ferrous Ferric Chloride from a Distance
[Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 34(7):987-95 (2011)(website)]
Tomohisa Hirobe (Radiation Effect Mechanism Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences and Gradualte School of Science, Chiba University)
Microbiological Research
The use of force-volume microscopy to examine bacterial attachment to titanium surfaces
[Ann Microbiol (2010) 60:495.502 (website)]
Chongzheng Na, Christopher J. McNamara , Nick R. Konkol, Kristen A. Bearce, Ralph Mitchell, Scot T. Martin (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)
