Japan's 'Spaceguard' CentTo Track Celestial Clutter

Is it just me, or has it seemed in the past year or so that Japan has been
putting a lot more efforts into Space technology than even the United
States (Star Wars notwithstanding).

I have not been saving the articles, but I've also read that Japan is
seriously considering moving to SPS as an energy resource, and of course
it makes extensive use of satellite technology.

Has anyone been keeping closer tabs on Japan's Space
infrastructure? Given NASA's current goals, is it possible Japan is a
more fertile field in which to try to develop the technology which would
make the High Frontier possible?

--Justin