The Institute for Frontier Research on Earth Evolution (IFREE) involves 100 Japanese researchers focusing on central aspects of tectonic evolution over the last 200 Ma.  These include Pangaea break-up, mid-Cretaceous global warming and Eocene plate reorganization.  One particularly interesting study begun using initial funding of US$12 million is the Bonin-Mariana subduction zone.  Details at http://www.jamstec.go.jp/jamstec-j/IFREE.