IRUNIVERSE (Provider of information on metal resources in MIRU) is pleased to announce that the 6th Circular Economy Symposium will be held on November 25, 2025, at Midland Hall in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
The symposium will feature speakers from leading recyclers, circular economy companies, and government organizations from Japan and abroad. This year’s program will be more comprehensive than ever—your participation is highly encouraged.
On the following day, November 26 (Wednesday), we also organize a factory tour visiting NJT Copper Tube (one of Japan’s largest copper product manufacturers), Topy Industries (electric furnace steelmaker), Sanko Metal (copper scrap yard), and Abizu (a company introducing AI sorting machines).
The tour includes lunch and offers a highly engaging lineup—please see below for details.
Registration deadline: November 19 (Wednesday) --> Reference: View the 5th Circular Economy Symposiums
Event Sponsors
We are still welcoming sponsorship partners for the symposium!
Please contact us for details.
Date & Time
November 25, 2025 (Tuesday)
12:00 – 18:30 (followed by a networking reception)
Registration opens at 11:00.
Venue
Midland Hall
Midland Square Office Tower 5F
4-7-1 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 450-6205
TEL: 052-527-8500
Access information (Midland Hall official site)
【Capacity】
150 participants
Participation Fees (excluding tax)
MIRU Members
- Symposium only: ¥17,000
- Symposium + Networking Reception: ¥22,000
Non-members
- Symposium only: ¥25,000
- Symposium + Networking Reception: ¥30,000
*Optional Factory Tour (Nov. 26)
+¥10,000 (includes lunch, available only for symposium participants)
Master of Ceremonies＊Speech Schedule＊
Mr. Kōmei Harada – Representative Director, Sustainability Technology Design Organization / Honorary Researcher, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Mr. Jun Nishida – Environmental Strategy Consultant, Office Nishida LLC
＊Speech Schedule＊
11:00～ Registration opens!
12:00～12:05 Greeting
12:05～12:30 Toyota Tsusho Co., Ltd. Kazuya Hirai
"Efforts and Challenges in Resource Recycling"
12:30～12:55 Kyoei Steel Masaki Masuda
"Initiatives to Realize a Circular Economy Society Centered on Ethical Steel"
12:55～13:20 Danieli Japan Naoki Izumi
"Introduction to Danieli Recycling Machines"
13:20～13:45 Tokyo Steel Co., Ltd Gaku Itō
“What Defines a True Electric Arc Furnace to Thrive in the New Era of Electric Steelmaking”
13:45～13:55 Break time（10min）
13:55～14:15 HRM Corporation Teddy Ju
"ECOYA EXPORT: Circular Resource Trade Management Platform"
14:15～14:25 Tanaka Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd. (The Sponsor Talk)
"Introduction to the Austin AI Europe LIBS Sorting System"
14:25～14:45 City of Nagoya Junichi Yoshihara
"Circular Economy Initiatives for Citizens"
14:45～15:05 PFU Limited Hongo Masanobu
"A Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) Detection System Equipped with the Raptor VISION AI Engine Specialized for Waste Sorting"
15:05～15:25 Coffee break（20min）
15:25～15:50 PwC Advisory LLC Hayato Mori & Ms. Taeko Suehiro,
“Circular Economy: Creating New Cycles through M&A and Beyond”
15:50～16:15 ASAHI SEIREN Noriaki Shiraisi＆Tsuyoshi Matsumoto
"Challenges and Proposals for the Domestic Circulation of Aluminum Scrap"
16:15～16:40 MAEDA INDUSTRY Co., Ltd Takahito Niwa
“Exploring Material Recycling Pathways for Plastics”
16:40～17:05 Novelis Japan Takao Hayashi
“Aluminum Recycling Practices at Novelis”
17:05～17:25 Ministry of the Environment Ryuzo Sugimoto,
"Measures Against Fire Incidents Involving Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) and Illegal Waste Yards"
17:25～17:35 Break Time（10min）
17:35～17:55 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Kei Oshita
"Measures and Challenges for Promoting Green Steel"
17:55～18:30 Panel Discussion（35min）
19:00~ Networking Reception
＊＊Panel Discussion＊＊
“What’s Next? - The Future of Japan’s Steel Industry and Scrap Metal Market”
Participants:
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) × Kyoei Steel × Tokyo steel × Nomura Research Institute (NRI) × ARBIZ
＊The Sponsor Talk Session＊
- Nippon Seam Co., Ltd. (plastic sorting equipment)
- "Introduction to the Austin AI Europe LIBS Sorting System" by Tanaka Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd. (agent for the Austin AI sorting machine).
The 26th Special Factory Tour in Aichi (Wed)
Limited seats available (approx. 30 people) – first come, first served!
Participants will have the rare opportunity to join a special industrial tour in Aichi Prefecture, choosing between Group A or Group B (Please mention in the registration form!).
Group A (Nagoya Departure Course)
Meeting point: 8:15 a.m. at the Silver Clock inside Nagoya Station
Departure: Bus departs at 8:30 a.m.
- 10:00 – 11:45 Visit NJT Copper Tube Co., Ltd.
→ One of Japan’s largest copper product manufacturers. - 12:30 – 13:15 Lunch break
- Around 13:30 Visit Sanko Metal Co., Ltd. (approx. 30–40 min)
→ Tour of the copper scrap yard. - 14:30 – 15:30 Visit Abidz Co., Ltd. (Showa-cho plant) (approx. 40–60 min)
→ Observe AI-based sorting systems for aluminum and copper materials. - Around 17:30 Tour concludes at Nagoya Station.
Group B (Toyohashi Departure Course)
Meeting point: 8:30 a.m. at Toyohashi Station (IRuniverse staff will be waiting)
Transfer by taxi to Topy Industries Toyohashi Plant
- 09:00 – 11:00 Visit Topy Industries, Ltd. Toyohashi Plant
→ Electric furnace steelmaker effectively utilizing various types of iron scrap. - 12:10 Board the bus at JR Gamagori Station (South Exit) and merge with Group A.
- 12:30 – 13:15 Lunch break
- Around 13:30 Visit Sanko Metal Co., Ltd. (approx. 30–40 min)
→ Tour of the copper scrap yard. - 14:30 – 15:30 Visit Abidz Co., Ltd. (Showa-cho plant) (approx. 40–60 min)
→ Observe AI-based sorting systems for aluminum and copper materials. - Around 17:30 Tour concludes at Nagoya Station.
Introduction of the Visiting Plant Companies:
- NJT Copper Tube Co., Ltd. – One of Japan’s largest manufacturers of copper and brass products.
- Topy Industries, Ltd., Toyohashi Plant – An electric arc furnace manufacturer that efficiently utilizes various types of ferrous scrap.
- Recycle Tech Japan Co.,Ltd.
- Sanko Metal Co., Ltd. – A non-ferrous metal recycling service company specializing in copper, brass, and aluminum, etc.
Further details will be updated soon.
To join the factory tour, please indicate “Participation in Factory Tour(Gender)” in the “Application Details” section of the registration form.
Capacity: Limited to 30 participants (first-come, first-served basis)
The information provided will only be used for insurance processing purposes.
Registration Form
Click here to register (*Please specify which A or B group you will join for the 26th plant tour!!)
If the form does not open, please contact us at the address below.
Registration deadline: November 19 (Wednesday)
Participating Companies
(Listed in alphabetical/Japanese syllabary order; updates to follow.)
To be announced
List of Participating Companies (Alphabetical order)
Arthur D. Little Japan, Inc.
Asahi Kinzoku Co., Ltd.
Asahiseiren Co., Ltd.
AYE Co., Ltd.
Benikyu Co., Ltd.
Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd.
Danieli Engineering Japan Co., Ltd.
EVERSTEEL Co., Ltd.
F&A Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
Hirabayashi Metal Co., Ltd.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Honors Commodity Co., Ltd.
HRM Corporation
Japan Mining Industry Association (JMIA)
JFE Techno-Research Corporation
Kinki Sangyo Co., Ltd.
Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Kyoei Steel Ltd.
Kyoto Smelting Co., Ltd.
Maeda Sangyo Co., Ltd.
Materith Group Co., Ltd.
Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Ministry of the Environment
Mitsui & Co. Metals Ltd.
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Nihon National Seikan Co., Ltd.
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI)
Novelis
Nozue Shoten Co., Ltd.
OKAYA & CO., LTD.
PFU Limited
Rasa Corporation
Renet Japan Recycling Inc.
Royce Corporation
Seibo Steel Co., Ltd.
Shinei Kinzoku Co., Ltd.
Shinko Shoji Co., Ltd.
Shinwa Steel Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
Tanaka Scientific Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Technova Inc.
Teshishoten Co., Ltd.
Tochigi Goudou Yusou Co., Ltd.
Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.
United Resources
Urano Shoji Co., Ltd.
Vestera Co., Ltd.
Yamauchi Kinzoku Co., Ltd.
YKK Corporation
Yokoshiro Co., Ltd.
IRuniverse Inc.
Attn: Risa Sugihara / Nanaka Oshiro
TEL: 03-5847-6015
Email: info★iruniverse.co.jp (Please replace ★ with @)
We will continue to update this page with the latest information — please check back regularly.
