[Beetles as Saviors!?] Twin Brothers Discover a CO₂ Reduction Method — Could Solve Waste Disposal and Food Supply Issues
"The extreme heat is bringing terrifying consequences. Humanity has opened the gates of hell."
In July 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued this warning at a press conference.
The Earth is facing a critical crisis — not just global warming, but what he called the "era of global boiling." Record-breaking heat continues, with Japan's average temperature hitting historic highs for two consecutive years.
As urgent measures are needed, a surprising creature is now drawing attention.
That creature is… the rhinoceros beetle!
"Its wings are really beautiful, and if we're talking about cuteness, I love the little hairs under its horn," says Yosuke Ishida (27), a self-proclaimed beetle enthusiast.
Yosuke, along with his twin brother Kensuke, grew up loving rhinoceros beetles. Together, they launched TOMUSHI, a startup specializing in insect-related ventures.
According to Yosuke, when they began breeding beetles seven years ago, they stumbled upon an astonishing discovery.
Yosuke Ishida, CEO of TOMUSHI:
"By feeding beetles a certain material, we realized they could actually help solve problems humans have been struggling with. We only discovered this once we tried it ourselves."
So, what exactly do rhinoceros beetles eat, and how do they solve such problems?
The answer lies in Ookimachi, Fukuoka Prefecture, one of Japan's top mushroom-producing regions.
Here, shimeji mushrooms are cultivated. But a major challenge has long been the disposal of kinshō—the mushroom culture bed made primarily from sawdust.
Factory representative:
"There's no use for it. We end up just burning it. Around 100 tons of waste is produced every month."
Incineration releases huge amounts of CO₂.
Enter the beetle.
When the waste culture bed is ground up and fed to rhinoceros beetle larvae, there's no need to burn it, reducing CO₂ emissions by as much as 95%—down to one-twentieth.
The larvae's droppings, produced in abundance, can then be used as fertilizer. What's more, experiments are underway to use powdered larvae as feed for farmed fish.
In short, the "power of beetles" has the potential to address not just global warming, but also waste management and food supply challenges.
But the Ishida brothers' journey has not been without obstacles.
Yosuke recalls:
"One winter, a power outage struck. If the room temperature dropped, all the beetles we were raising could die. So my brother and I moved around through the night, raising our body heat and using it to keep the room warm, desperate to save them."
However, Kensuke has since chosen a different path.
In September 2024, he ran for mayor of his hometown, Ōdate City in Akita Prefecture—and won. At 27, he became the youngest mayor in Japan, leaving the company in Yosuke's care while dedicating himself to tackling local issues.
Still, both brothers' lives have been transformed by their love of beetles.
Even their company car is painted in rhinoceros beetle colors, and at events, they proudly showcase beetle-inspired decorations.
Today, TOMUSHI has expanded its waste-reduction system to 80 sites nationwide.
Yosuke Ishida:
"For us, it's about waste management and utilizing unused resources. The beetles are working incredibly hard. I always feel grateful—'You've done well, now carry this on to the next generation.'"
Rhinoceros beetles aren't just cool-looking creatures—they may hold the key to protecting Earth's environment.
日本テレビのニュースサイト「日テレNEWS NNN」は政治、経済、国際、社会、スポーツ、カルチャー・エンタメ・芸能、ライフなど、ニュース速報のほか天気、地震、津波、台風など防災・気象情報を配信しています。
news.ntv.co.jp
Last updated: June 14, 2025, 13:00
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