# \[Interview+\] How Japan Built Its Crazy Space Agency

An episode of [Universe Today Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/794058155), 11 Feb 2026, 52 min.

Audio: https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/150441124/f8decbec4b904933b205d1d73fa9f9a1/eyJhIjoxLCJpc19hdWRpbyI6MSwicCI6MX0%3D/1.m4a?token-hash=JKYZi7hVB3k5TDPjUrrstF9OU4YJ7QtxGTFMVBMyEPk%3D&token-time=1794355200

Japan’s space agency often flies under the radar, despite pursuing missions many larger agencies haven’t attempted. Like returning samples from Phobos or deploying a Toyota-built lunar rover. In this interview, we trace JAXA’s origins and the decisions that defined it. Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_u9ZJBLCDBQ 🟣 Guest: Dr. Subodhana Wijeyeratne https://subowijeyeratne.com/ 📚 The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs https://bdo.wfu.mybluehost.me/the-islands-the-stars/ • 00:00 Intro • 02:01 Researching JAXA • 06:48 Star of Japan's space journey • 16:05 Japan's first liquid fuel rocket • 24:14 Japan's relationships with NASA and others • 31:23 Lesser known projects • 36:53 Dependency on the US • 42:00 Excitement for the Future • 44:41 Current obsessions • 50:17 Final thoughts

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