Society

Subaru to introduce all-electric vehicles in Japan by 2021

Nov 22 (Japan Times) - Subaru Corp. will introduce a series of all-electric cars in Japan as early as 2021, sources said, as competition intensifies between automakers looking to develop eco-friendly cars in response to stricter global emissions regulations.

The carmaker will initially focus on releasing electric versions of its established gasoline-powered models â€” like the Legacy Outback, Forester sport utility vehicle and Impreza â€” in order to attract existing customers and brand enthusiasts.

The electric vehicles will likely be manufactured at its plant in Gunma Prefecture, the sources said.

Carmakers around the world are in a race to develop the technology, with Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. leading the way in Japan, while Honda Motor Co. also announced last month it is planning to launch compact electric vehicles for city driving in the domestic market in 2020.

Subaru is also considering selling its electric vehicles in the North American market, which is known for its stricter environmental regulations. The carmaker makes 60 percent of its global sales in the region.

The carmaker is aiming to develop electric vehicles that perform well on environmental benchmarks while remaining fun to drive, in line with the companyâ€™s motorsports and recreation-friendly image, according to the sources.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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