Society

Japan team finds traces of one of largest craters in solar system

Jul 29 (Japan Times) - A Japanese research team has announced the discovery of traces of the largest impact craters in the solar system on a moon of Jupiter.

The group from Kobe University and National Institute of Technology, Oshima College analyzed images of Ganymede's surface taken by the Voyager and Galileo space probes of the United States.

It found that furrows, or troughs, on Ganymede, the largest moon of the fifth planet of the solar system, are distributed in a concentric pattern spanning some 7,800 kilometers in radius.

The team, including Kobe University associate professor Naoyuki Hirata, concluded that the tectonic structures are marks of a giant crater caused by a major collision, as similar features exist at 1,900-kilometer-radius Valhalla Crater on Callisto, another moon of Jupiter.

The group also studied the conditions for creating such a giant crater through computer simulations. An asteroid of around 150 kilometers in radius, mainly made of ice, may have crashed into Ganymede over 4 billion years ago, it said.

Zao’s Snow Monsters Face Extinction

Zao’s iconic snow monsters, the frost-covered trees known as 'juhyo,' face an existential threat. These towering, snow-laden trees have long been a winter highlight in the region, famously resembling monstrous figures covered in snow. However, their survival is now under severe threat.

Japan Ranks 92nd in English Proficiency, Lowest in History

EF Education First, a global education organization, published this year’s English Proficiency Index on Wednesday, ranking nations worldwide. Japan’s ranking stood at 92nd among 116 countries and regions, continuing a 14-year trend of record lows.

Famed Hot Spring Struggles to Handle Visitor Surge

Ginzan Hot Springs in Yamagata, known for its Taisho-era charm, is now at peak season for autumn foliage. While this secluded onsen town is a well-known destination in the Tohoku region, an influx of foreign tourists has led local officials to implement restrictions on day visitors starting next month.

Convenience Stores to Start Selling Over-the-Counter Drugs

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has announced plans to allow the sale of over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores without on-site pharmacists.

Japan Looks to Limit Continuous Work

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's advisory panel has outlined a proposal for amending the law to prohibit working more than 14 consecutive days. Under the current system, workers can technically work up to 48 days in a row through a system known as 'four-day-off-per-four-weeks,' while labor agreements also allow for holiday work, meaning there are no effective restrictions on consecutive workdays.

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