In a shipping container parked next to Macnica’s headquarters in Yokohama, an innovative revolution in Japanese agriculture is taking root. Inside the 40-foot steel box, 1,800 premium wasabi plants thrive under LED lights, nourished by circulating purified water and monitored by AI-powered sensors. This isn’t a futuristic concept. It’s a solution to a very real crisis threatening one of Japan’s most iconic flavors. Tokyo-based AgriTech startup NEXTAGE has partnered with global technology firm Macnica to develop the Wasabi Cultivation Module. This container-based plant factory allows wasabi to be grown anywhere in the world.
The innovation comes as Japan grapples with a growing wasabi shortage driven by multiple converging pressures. Climate change, declining agricultural workers, and the strict environmental demands of traditional cultivation have created a perfect storm for this notoriously temperamental crop. Wasabi has always required clean water, precise temperature control, and meticulous soil management. Traditionally grown in cool mountain streams, the plant is particularly vulnerable to typhoons and floods. Climate change has intensified these challenges, threatening the survival of historic wasabi farms that have operated for generations. Global demand continues to surge alongside the worldwide popularity of Japanese cuisine, but supply has struggled to keep pace.
The cultivation module addresses these vulnerabilities through total environmental control. Each container houses five-tiered shelves equipped with sophisticated systems, including air conditioning, dehumidifiers, LED lighting, water temperature controllers, and carbon dioxide management devices. Cameras and sensors throughout the container continuously monitor conditions, tracking everything from temperature fluctuations to door usage that might affect air circulation. This data feeds into an AI-powered remote monitoring system, allowing NEXTAGE experts to provide real-time cultivation guidance to operators who may have no prior farming experience. The technology packages decades of specialized knowledge into an accessible, turnkey solution.
Perhaps most impressive is the dramatic acceleration in harvest times. The module cultivates Matsuma Wasabi, a premium variety from Wakayama Prefecture that is highly prized in high-end restaurants for its balanced aroma, spiciness, sweetness, and distinctive flavor profile. In natural conditions, this exceptional variety requires 20 to 24 months to reach maturity. Inside the precisely controlled environment of the cultivation module, the time drops to approximately 10 months. This dramatic reduction doesn’t compromise quality but rather optimizes growth conditions that would be impossible to maintain consistently in traditional outdoor cultivation, where weather and seasonal variations create unavoidable challenges.
Macnica became the pioneering customer in December 2023, installing a module at its Shin-Yokohama headquarters as both a demonstration facility and agricultural innovation laboratory. The semiconductor and IT company brought substantial technical expertise to the partnership, contributing specialized knowledge in growth visualization systems, communication technology, and customized LED development specifically designed for plant cultivation. In January 2024, following months of refinement and testing, the two companies officially launched commercial sales of the modules to businesses and agricultural entrepreneurs. NEXTAGE founder Takuya Nakamura, who started the company after witnessing the devastation of traditional wasabi fields, secured Series A funding in October 2024 to accelerate development of the automated cultivation technology.
The vision extends far beyond Japan’s borders. NEXTAGE’s ambitious slogan, “bringing ALL JAPAN MADE plant cultivation technology to the world,” signals plans to export this innovation globally. For high-end sushi restaurants that have long depended on limited supplies of fresh wasabi, the implications are transformative. The day may soon come when chefs grate wasabi grown in a container just blocks away, preserving the pungent, complex flavors that define authentic Japanese cuisine while building resilience into a supply chain threatened by our changing climate.
What really makes a desk stand out to me is the collection of stationery items placed on top of it (and also the manner in which they are placed). The true value and efficiency of your desk lie in the smart assortment of designs you adorn it with – these are after all the objects that are gonna help you get through your workday, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that really lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. But what’s even more integral than that is to have them organized and tidy, so they don’t clutter up your desk, and in turn hamper your productivity. This is where smart holders and containers come into the equation, as they ensure your stationery is stored efficiently but is also easily accessible!
1. Grovemade’s Hardwood Cups and Planters
Made the hard old school way in Grovemade’s Portland OR factory, the cups, planters, and dishes are carved from solid maple or walnut. These containers are functional and utilitarian but also quite good-looking.
Why is it noteworthy?
The detailed pieces are hand-sanded and finished with a clear vegetable-based oil which highlights the natural warmth, elegance, and sheer beauty of the wood. The collection basically consists of cups, dishes, and planters in a variety of different woods. The cups are tall containers that are ideal for holding your pens, pencils, scissors, markers, etc.
What we like
Come in various metal and material options, so you can pick and choose
What we dislike
Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and boring
2. The KNOB.
The KNOB. is a minimal and sleek pen tray with soft rounded edges, that adds an iota of personality and character to your desk. It is designed by Changho Lee and gives a refreshing yet simple twist to the regular pen tray.
Why is it noteworthy?
Despite its simple good looks, the KNOB. pen tray has quite a unique functionality. The pen tray was inspired by the knobs you find on a gas burner. Lee borrowed the design language of gas burner knobs, and replicated it in his tray creating a piece of stationery with intriguing-looking ‘control buttons’ or ‘knobs’.
What we like
The knobs or multiport radar allow you to adjust the internal space of the pen tray
What we dislike
Does not have a chance to accommodate unusually shaped objects
3. Scissors w/ Base
Why is it noteworthy?
In a world where tech tidies our desks, who knew scissors would steal the limelight? The Scissors w/Base aren’t just cutting-edge (pun intended); they’re reshaping workspace organization. That magnetic base? It’s the game-changer, giving these shears a permanent VIP spot on your desk—no more lost-in-the-abyss moments. Crafted with lustrous Japanese steel, they’re not just tools but desk decor that screams ‘next-gen chic’. And that bonus boxcutter feature? Consider it a nifty Easter egg in this age of multifunctional design.
That magnetic base is genius—ensuring your scissors have a dedicated spot
In the world of multifunctional gadgets, having a built-in box cutter is the kind of forward-thinking detail we appreciate
What we dislike
As much as they’re aesthetically pleasing, they will not replace the heavy-duty scissors you need for tougher tasks
4. UFO Desk Pen Holder
The UFO Desk Pen Holder is an innovative pen holder that is completely out of this world. It holds your pen, while suspending it in mid-air, giving the impression that aliens are going to kidnap your pen. The pen stands straight and upright in the holder.
Why is it noteworthy?
The top of the pen holder is your stereotypical alien spaceship in the shape of a flying saucer. You could put the USS Enterprise or a Star Destroyer, too, but its irregular shape would break the illusion and remove a bit of the eerie atmosphere surrounding this design.
What we like
Adds an element of fun to your workdesk
The saucer provides illumination
What we dislike
As a single pen holder, it takes up a lot of space on the desk
5. Effortless Standing Letter Cutter
Why is it noteworthy?
In the realm of desk organization, where every inch counts, this letter cutter reimagines a standard office tool. Beyond its efficient slicing, its ability to serve as a chic paperweight means less clutter and more style for your workspace. It’s not just about opening mail—it’s about elevating and decluttering your entire desk aesthetic.
The precision cut ensures there are no messy scraps left behind, making post-mail cleanup a breeze
By doubling as a paperweight, it ensures fewer items are scattered across your workspace, helping maintain a clean, organized desk
What we dislike
While fantastic for standard envelopes, it is not versatile enough for those bulkier packages or intricate mail
6. Grovemade Note-Taking Kit
The Grovemade Note-Taking Kit is the perfect product to effortlessly, efficiently capture, process, and store your notes.
Why is it noteworthy?
Grovemade’s Note-Taking Kit is essentially a refillable notepad with dot grid paper and a solid metal base, accompanied by a display rail to hold and accommodate your notes and devices, as well as a vertical organizer that will store your notes until you’re ready to use them – this keeps your workspace neat and tidy in the meantime.
What we like
Ensures that your workdesk is neat and tidy, helping you complete your important tasks first
What we dislike
Will consume a substantial amount of precious real estate on your desk
7. Quick-Access Organizer
Why is it noteworthy?
In a world buzzing with smart gadgets and digital reminders, something as fundamental as losing keys can feel archaic. This organizer isn’t just a storage solution; it’s a desk revolution. By using magnetic wizardry, it guarantees that your essentials have a designated, easily accessible home, marrying form and function in a way that shouts 21st-century design philosophy.
The rotating mechanism takes the guesswork out of storage. Drop your items, and they’re securely in place, ready for their next use
Not just a lid, but a tray? It’s this kind of dual functionality that truly maximizes space, and we’re all about efficient design
Even your Everyday Carry tools find a home, ensuring everything you need is in one spot
What we dislike
While spacious, those with a larger array of items will find it limiting
There’s always a concern about magnets around certain electronic devices or cards. You would need to be selective about what you store
8. Forest Tidy
This seat of minimal and solid containers is called the Forest Tidy and it is carved from rosewood. The set aims to bring a whole new level of organization to your desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
By splitting your workspace belongings into different categories, the Forest Tidy organizational kit gives you space for stationery, tech, EDC, cables, and even a dedicated stand for your monitor along with a stowaway space for your keyboard and mouse.
What we like
Available variety of shapes and sizes, tailor-made to your tabletop belongings
Features a dedicated phone stand that lets you dock your phone either in portrait or landscape
What we dislike
Unfortunately, the phone stand doesn’t come with a channel for a cable pass-through, which means it won’t function as a charging stand
9. Cyl
Cyl is an innovative desk organizer concept that utilizes the age-old stacking trick to free up horizontal space on your deck by using the unused vertical space that is often forgotten.
Why is it noteworthy?
This desk organizer concept doesn’t discriminate or put limits on what you can put inside. More importantly, you can easily see what’s inside and quickly get them without having to unstack the ones above. In theory, you can stack the containers as high as you can, presuming gravity doesn’t cause them to topple over.
What we like
You can easily see what’s inside and quickly get them without having to unstack the ones above
Organizers come in different sizes
What we dislike
No option to close the organizer when not in use
10. Hanging Desk Organizer
Why is it noteworthy?
In today’s ever-evolving workspaces, redefining how we utilize space is essential. This edge-hanging organizer doesn’t just challenge the norms; it entirely disrupts them. Leveraging often overlooked spaces, it offers a solution that’s as innovative as it is effective, allowing users to reclaim their desktop real estate for productivity while ensuring essentials are always within arm’s reach.
