Japan hopes to turn sci-fi into reality with elevator to the stars

Summary

September 22, 2008: Japanese scientists who are part of the Japan Space Elevator Association are confident that it will be feasible and relatively cheap to build a space elevator, and are planning to hold an international conference in November 2008 on the issue.

Source

Bibliography

1. Original article

Game and Story Use

• Many Twenty Minutes Into The Future settings assume that the United States will dominate manned space flight and build the main colonies in the solar system. If Japan manages to create a working space elevator, the solar system might end up being dominated by them instead.
  • Many older Cyberpunk settings assume Japanese dominance, too - and such a project would fit right in.