Licube KK

Licube KK is Licube’s Japanese entity, working on lithium-refining technology. The official website lists it separately from US-based Licube, Inc. Group announcements should not automatically be attributed to the Japanese entity alone.

The Japanese entity is Licube KK, with a Japanese base in Hirosaki, Aomori. Its work concerns lithium refining using electrodialysis and LLTO solid electrolytes.

• Japanese entity: リキューブ株式会社 / Licube KK
• Japanese location: Within Hirosaki University’s Research Promotion Department, Hirosaki, Aomori, as listed officially
• Core technologies: Electrodialysis and lithium refining using LLTO solid electrolytes
• Connection to fusion: Lithium-related materials and J-Fusion membership
• Demonstration verified in primary sources: Refining equipment for crude lithium derived from oilfield produced water in the United States

Licube describes a platform combining electrodialysis with lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) solid electrolytes. Electrical driving forces and materials that selectively transmit lithium ions are used to separate lithium from impurities.

The company says it has begun pilot-scale production and sample supply of lithium carbonate with 4N5 purity, at least 99.995%. This is its statement about product development, not proof of mass-production scale.

NEDO’s project list, updated on October 23, 2026, identifies an ongoing demonstration of electrodialysis refining equipment for crude lithium derived from oilfield produced water. The recipients are listed as “リキューブ（株）” and “Licube Texas LLC”; the partner country is the United States and the project years are FY2025–FY2029.

Licube announced entry into the demonstration phase on the same date. The project concerns lithium-refining equipment, not operation of a fusion reactor or successful fusion electricity generation.

For deuterium–tritium (D–T) fusion, securing tritium fuel is an important challenge. ITER plans to test breeding blankets that produce tritium through reactions between lithium and neutrons. That fuel-supply role connects lithium to the fusion industry.

Removing chemical impurities and increasing the proportion of a particular isotope, such as lithium-6, are different technical tasks. A product purity of 99.995% does not by itself establish lithium-6 enrichment, fusion-sector supply volumes or performance in an operating reactor.

The J-Fusion membership directory dated September 17, 2026 lists Licube KK. However, the primary sources cited here do not establish deliveries by the Japanese entity to a named fusion device or achieved fusion-specific isotope-enrichment values. Progress in materials technology and deployment in fusion must be tracked separately.

On October 13, 2026, Licube announced its selection for TechCrunch Disrupt’s Startup Battlefield Top 20. This is an opportunity to present its technology and business, not certification that fusion technology is complete. Future evidence to follow includes refining-demonstration results, product specifications, supply scale and specific contracts or tests for fusion applications.

• Licube: technology, products and legal entities (checked October 27, 2026)
• NEDO: ongoing international demonstration projects (updated October 23, 2026)
• Licube: entry into the NEDO demonstration phase (announced October 23, 2026)
• Licube: Startup Battlefield Top 20 selection (announced October 13, 2026)
• J-Fusion membership directory (directory dated September 17, 2026)
• ITER: FAQs on fusion fuel and tritium breeding (checked October 27, 2026)