Japan aims for increased use of nuclear in latest energy plan

In December, Shimane 2 became the latest Japanese reactor to be restarted (Image: Qurren/CreativeCommons)Japan is to "make maximum use of nuclear power", with about 20% of the country's total electricity generation in fiscal 2040 coming from nuclear, according to the government's latest Basic Energy Plan. Previous plans have called for a reduction on its dependence on nuclear power.The Japanese government revises its energy plan about every three years. The plan is formulated based on the Basic Energy Policy Law enacted in June 2002. The latest plan, like its predecessors, recognises the necessity of energy security for the country, which is poor in fossil fuel resources. The policy includes commitments to "clean energy" initiatives but places emphasis on ensuring stable and secure energy supplies. The Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy started discussions on the 7th Basic Energy Plan in May 2024 and presented the draft version of the plan in December. It has since gone through a public comment procedure and other processes.Adopted on Tuesday by the cabinet, the 7th...

Read More........ → February 20, 2025

Japan wants to host 2031 World Cup to fire up women's football

TOKYO - Japan wants to host the Women's World Cup in 2031 to ignite the domestic game and cut the gap on Europe and North America, the country's football chief told AFP.In 2011 Japan won the competition but they have since been overtaken, with women's football booming in Europe in recent years."We would like to raise the value of women's football here," Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said in an interview at JFA headquarters in Tokyo, in front of a giant photo of Japan's World Cup-winning team.Miyamoto was captain of the Japan men's team when they co-hosted the World Cup with South Korea in 2002, a tournament that helped spark huge interest in football among the Japanese public.Now 47, he took over as JFA chief this year and has similar hopes for the 2031 Women's World Cup. The country has never hosted the event.Japan is likely to face stiff competition for hosting rights however with a joint bid from the United States and Mexico expected. England and China are also reportedly interested."We have the WE League, and it has been struggling to gather an audience,"...

Read More........ → November 26, 2024

Japan issues emergency warnings issued for Kagoshima as typhoon nears

Tokyo, (IANS): Japan's weather agency on Wednesday issued emergency warnings for storms and high waves in Kagoshima prefecture, calling for top-level alerts among residents as powerful typhoon Shanshan approaches Japan.The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) told a press conference that the maximum alert was issued due to unprecedented storms and expected record-breaking rainfall, Xinhua news agency reported.It also noted the possibility of issuing a heavy rain emergency warning for the prefectures of Kagoshima and Miyazaki.As of Wednesday noon, the 10th typhoon of the year was located 90 kilometres south-southwest of Yakushima Island in Kagoshima prefecture and slowly moving northward.It had a central pressure of 935 hectopascals, packing winds at a maximum speed of 180 kph around its centre, and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 252 kph.The JMA also called for extreme precautions against windstorms, landslides, flooding, and overflowing rivers. Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/japan-issues-emergency-warnings-issued-for-kagoshima-as-typhoon-nea...

Read More........ → August 29, 2024

Why did Japan’s prime minister decide to step down? And who might replace him?

Craig Mark, Hosei UniversityIn a surprise announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said today he would step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) next month, bringing his premiership to an early end. Since coming to office in October 2021, Kishida has struggled to overcome dire approval ratings. The party has been dogged by revelations of ties to the Korean-based Unification Church in the wake of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, as well as a political fundraising scandal uncovered last November. Kishida dissolved his own powerful faction in the party and pressured the largest conservative faction, formerly headed by Abe, to dissolve itself in the wake of the scandal. Up to 80 LDP members of the Diet (Japan’s parliament) were implicated, and four cabinet ministers resigned. Public prosecutors investigating the scandal decided not to proceed with indictments against Kishida and seven other senior LDP figures, due to lack of evidence. Just three months ago, Kishida vowed he would not step aside, instead pledging...

Read More........ → August 22, 2024

Japan Issues Megaquake Advisory After 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake

The Japanese Meteorological Agency has issued a megaquake advisory after a 7.1 magnitude quake rocked Japan, as part of the Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information protocol. It has also lifted all tsunami advisories. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the possibility of a mega earthquake is higher than usual. Earlier, Miyazaki Port in the southern Miyazaki Prefecture was hit by 50 centimetres of tsunami waves after the quake. Local media reported that no abnormalities were found in nuclear plants near the quake-hit area. It said, after the quake, the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train service was halted.Japan Issues Megaquake Advisory After 7.1 Magnitude Earthqua...

Read More........ → August 09, 2024

World's first wooden satellite built by Japan researchers

TOKYO - The world's first wooden satellite has been built by Japanese researchers who said their tiny cuboid craft will be blasted off on a SpaceX rocket in September.Each side of the experimental satellite developed by scientists at Kyoto University and logging company Sumitomo Forestry measures just 10 centimetres.The creators expect the wooden material will burn up completely when the device re-enters the atmosphere -- potentially providing a way to avoid the generation of metal particles when a retired satellite returns to Earth.These metal particles could have a negative impact on the environment and telecommunications, the developers said as they announced the satellite's completion on Tuesday."Satellites that are not made of metal should become mainstream," Takao Doi, an astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, told a press conference.The developers plan to hand the satellite, made from magnolia wood and named LignoSat, to space agency JAXA next week.It will be sent into space on a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in September, bound for the International...

Read More........ → July 05, 2024

Japan to launch new banknotes on July 3

Japan will start issuing new banknotes on the 3rd of July next month. Local media reported that it is the world’s first use of cutting-edge holography that makes the portraits of historic figures appear to rotate in 3D. This new technology will allow visually impaired people to feel and discern which banknote they are holding. Tactile marks for the visually impaired will also make them recognizable to touch. By the end of March next year, nearly 7.5 billion new banknotes will have been printed. Existing banknotes will remain valid after the introduction of the new banknotes. Japan to launch new banknotes on July...

Read More........ → July 02, 2024

KDDI and Sharp to build Asia’s largest data centre

The new data centre will be built on the site of a former LCD panel factory owned by Foxconn, Sharp’s parent companyJapan’s KDDI and Sharp have begun discussions with Super Micro Computer Inc. and Datasection to build an AI datacentre in Japan, which they say will be the largest in Asia.According to the press release, the companies have entered into discussions and aim to “start operations as early as possible.”The data centre will be built on the Sharp Sakai Plant in Osaka, which is set to close in September having become unprofitable.The newly constructed data centre will be powered by Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72s, server racks specialised in training and running AI models. The site will host at last 1,000 servers.KDDI noted that there are three main challenges when building an AI data centre with a large scale computing platform:procuring state-of-the-art computing equipment;developing a highly-efficient cooling system to manage heat generation;and securing electric power and space.The companies claim they can “effectively and efficiently” tackle these challenges by combining their assets...

Read More........ → June 07, 2024

Japan wrestles with legacy of graft-stained Games in Paris warning

TOKYO - Japan is still grappling with the fallout of the graft-stained and pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, serving as a warning to Paris ahead of the Games this summer in the French capital.Cost over-runs, corruption and Covid all tarnished the Japanese public's memory of the Tokyo Olympics, which were held largely behind closed doors in 2021, a year later than planned.Japan consequently dropped the idea of hosting the Winter Olympics in the northern city of Sapporo because of a lack of public support.Kaori Yamaguchi, who served on the Japanese Olympic Committee's executive board for 10 years, told AFP that "Japanese people love the Olympics" and had high hopes for the Tokyo Games.But Yamaguchi, who stepped down from the board just before the Olympics, said the gap between expectations and reality left people "wondering who the event was for"."People felt positive watching the athletes compete (mostly on television) but they had a negative impression of the organisation and management of the event," said Yamaguchi, who won judo bronze at the 1988 Seoul Games."It felt like there...

Read More........ → May 22, 2024

SoftBank to invest $960m in Japanese AI

Posted by Georgia Sweeting: The investment follows the company spending JPY20 billion ($129.2 million) on computing infrastructure last year, Japanese tech giant SoftBank has announced that it will invest JPY 150 billion $960 billion to upgrade its computing infrastructure to deliver a Generative AI (gen AI) platform in the Japanese language, according to a report from Nikkei, which cited anonymous sources. Over the next two years, SoftBank will reportedly purchase GPUs (graphics processing units) from US based chip company Nvidia, using them to train and power its own large language models (LLMs), and then loan access to them to other firms. The investment in computing infrastructure is set to be the largest of any Japanese company, although SoftBank has not yet commented on the report. Last August, SoftBank invested JPY 150 million ($969 million) launched a new company, named ‘SB Institutions’, to research and develop homegrown LLMs that are specialised for the Japanese language. The company will ‘provide the necessary data sets and tools for LLM learning and develop models for...

Read More........ → April 30, 2024

OSAKA WANTS TO PLAY AT PARIS OLYMPICS 'IF THEY LET ME'

TOKYO - Former world number one Naomi Osaka said she "would love to play" at this year's Paris Olympics if she is granted a spot by tennis chiefs.The four-time Grand Slam champion may need to go through an appeals process to claim a place after failing to make a mandatory two appearances for Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup during the current Olympic cycle.Osaka lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, where she went on to make the third round.She has since become a mother, returning to tennis late last year after a 15-month maternity break.She told reporters in Tokyo after helping Japan qualify for the BJK Cup finals that she will play in Paris "if they let me"."Growing up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport," she said."I thought it brought everyone together and just to be able to be an athlete there and interact with other athletes is one of the funnest things that I've ever done."The 26-year-old said she "would hope that I get to play" at the Games."And if I do play, I have high ambitions of myself and...

Read More........ → April 14, 2024

Japan PM to visit Washington today

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida begins a much-anticipated visit to Washington today aiming to spotlight shared concerns about provocative Chinese military action in the Pacific. PM Kishida and his wife will stop by the White House tonight ahead of tomorrow’s official visit and formal state dinner as President Joe Biden looks to celebrate a decades-long ally he sees as the cornerstone of his Indo-Pacific policy. Kishida will be the fifth world leader honoured by Biden with a state dinner since he took office in 2021. Biden and Kishida on tomorrow will hold talks and take part in a joint news conference before Biden fetes the Japanese leader with the state dinner in the East Room. The prime minister has also been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. He will be just the second Japanese leader to address the body; Shinzo Abe gave a speech to Congress in 2015.Japan PM to visit Washington tod...

Read More........ → April 09, 2024

Record-breaking projections light up Tokyo skyscraper

TOKYO - The imposing towers of Tokyo's city government headquarters are now home to the world's largest permanent projection mapping display, which officials hope will become a new tourist draw. Soaring birds, traditional patterns and illustrations of landmarks including Mount Fuji are among the designs adorning the skyscraper in a nightly spectacle. The evening light show began on Monday, the day after an opening event was held with live instrumental music. Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) hopes the bright lights on its twin-towered building in central Shinjuku will "add colour" to the capital'sAFP | Kazuhiro NOGIskyline year-round. The city government, which already offers free viewing floors with large windows at the top of each tower, also hopes to create a new tourist attraction with the display. Visitor numbers to Japan have surged since pandemic-era border closures ended, with the number of foreign tourists hitting a record for December last year.Guinness World Records has certified the attraction, called "Tokyo Night and Light", as the "largest architectural projection-mapped...

Read More........ → March 07, 2024

Contaminated water leak at Fukushima Daiichi

The location of the leak (left) and a close-up of the vent (right) (Image: Tepco)A leak of contaminated water has been discovered from a pipe connected to a caesium adsorption device at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. The leak has been stopped and Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said it will check soil beneath the pipe for contamination.Tepco said that at about 8.52am on 7 February a worker from a contracted company found that water was leaking from the vent opening of the second cesium adsorption device installed on the east wall of the high-temperature and high-pressure incinerator building. The vent is for discharging hydrogen generated within the adsorption device. The second cesium adsorption device was currently out of service and was undergoing flushing work with filtered water for valve inspections.At around 9.10am, the main valve for filtered water was closed, and at around 9.16am, Tepco confirmed that the water had stopped leaking.The water had leaked onto metal plates located below the leaking pipe.Tepco estimates that about 5.5 tonnes of...

Read More........ → March 04, 2024

Tokyo confirms record-high 949 new virus cases

Tokyo, Dec. 26 (BNA): Tokyo has confirmed 949 new cases of the coronavirus, a new high for the Japanese capital, as the country struggles with an upsurge that is spreading nationwide, the Associated Press (AP) reported.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said Saturday that the additional cases bring the prefectural total to 55,851. Japan had 3,823 new cases Friday for a national total of 213,547, with 3,155 deaths, the health ministry said.Japan has not been able to slow the infections despite government requests for the people to avoid going out for dinner and parties before and during the holiday season.Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has ordered bars to close early and urged residents to avoid nonessential outings. But many people have continued commuting on crowded trains and going out for dinner and drinks.  Source: https://www.bna....

Read More........ → December 27, 2020

Japan PM imposes ‘maximum alert’ after record virus cases

Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday said that the country is on “maximum alert” after logging a record number of daily coronavirus infections, however, no immediate restrictions are planned.“We are now in a situation of maximum alert,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters.“I ask you, the Japanese people, to fully implement principles such as wearing masks,” Suga added, urging people to wear them even while talking during meals in restaurants.National broadcaster NHK said Suga had asked expert advisers to meet on Thursday and Friday to examine the growing number of infections before the government takes any further measures.Suga said he would support local regions if they asked businesses to close early, and that restrictions including limiting groups at restaurants to four people should be considered.Tokyo is expected to raise its alert level to the highest of a four-tier scale on Thursday, but the move does not come with automatic restrictions.Japan has so far taken a comparatively relaxed approach to Covid-19 restrictions, with even a nationwide state of emergency...

Read More........ → November 21, 2020

Japan PM Shinzo Abe in hospital

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe entered a hospital for a medical check-up on Monday, Reuters News Agency reported, citing a government source. The news came out after a top official voiced concern the premier was suffering from fatigue because of his workload during the coronavirus pandemic. The 65-year-old plans to return home later on Monday after the examination at Tokyo's Keio University Hospital, the source familiar with the situation told Reuters. The reason for the check-up was not immediately clear. News of Abe's health comes as the country reported its sharpest economic decline due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kyodo News said it was a regular check-up, citing people near to the prime minister, while Nippon TV quoted government sources as saying it was not a worrying situation. Abe gets a regular check-up twice a year, with his most recent on June 13, said Kyodo, adding that Monday's visit was a follow-up to the June check-up, citing a hospital source. Abe's office did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The news follows weekend...

Read More........ → August 19, 2020

Japan lifts Tokyo's state of emergency, eyes fresh stimulus

Tokyo, May 25(BNA): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas on Monday after the number of infections fell across the country, but warned that it could be reimposed if the virus started spreading again. The move meant that the whole country would now have the social distancing curbs loosened, after an initial lifting of restrictions for most areas on May 14, according to Reuters. Abe said that the total amount of stimulus from two economic packages would exceed 200 trillion yen ($1.86 trillion) but it would still take considerable time to get back to normal life while controlling infection risks. “Today we are taking a firm step towards the next stage following the removal of the state of emergency,” the visibly relaxed prime minister told reporters gathered in Tokyo. Abe acknowledged Japan has faced some problems with its response and promised a review once the outbreak was over. But he also praised the “Japan model”, in which it brought the outbreak under control in six weeks without strict...

Read More........ → July 15, 2020

Fuel removal gear place at Fukushima Daiichi unit

The arched cover over the fuel handling machine at unit 3 (Image: Tepco) A cover has been installed over the fuel handling machine that will help remove fuel from the storage pool of unit 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. The removal of the fuel is scheduled to start in mid-2018. The section of the reactor building that sheltered the service floor of unit 3 was wrecked by a hydrogen explosion three days after the tsunami of March 2011 - leaving the fuel pond exposed and covered by debris including many twisted steel beams. Once the largest pieces of rubble had been removed, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) began construction of a separate structure to facilitate the removal by a remotely-operated crane of the 566 fuel assemblies from the storage pool. This 54-metre-tall structure includes a steel frame, filtered ventilation and an arched section at its top to accommodate the crane. Measuring 57m long and 19m wide, it is not fixed to the reactor building itself, but is supported on the ground on one side, and against the turbine building on the...

Read More........ → April 13, 2018

Brake glitch triggers Japan’s giant carmaker Toyota Prius recall

Toyota has recalled 340,000 units of its Prius hybrid sedans over a potentially deadly brake defect. Japan’s giant carmaker Toyota has announced a major recall of its latest redesigned Prius hybrid sedan to fix a parking brake glitch. The company said in a statement on Wednesday that it is recalling 340,000 units of the Prius globally, including 212,000 in Japan and 92,000 of the 2016 and 2017 models in the US. The balance would be recalled in Europe, Australia and other regions, Toyota added in its statement. The company said the parking brake cable can disengage unexpectedly, causing the brakes to stop working properly. So if the car is left in any gear other than park, it could start rolling away, and possibly crash, reported the Associated Press. "On the involved vehicles, there is a possibility that the parking brake could become inoperative," read part of the statement as reported by the USA Today. "If this occurs and the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in a gear other than ‘Park’ while the ignition is on, the vehicle could roll away, increasing the risk of...

Read More........ → October 13, 2016