Society

World's first cloned cow dies of old age in Ishikawa Prefecture

May 17 (Japan Times) - The worldâ€™s first cloned cow died of old age Monday, according to the prefectural government of Ishikawa.

The female cow, Noto, was 19 years and 10 months old when she passed away.

Officials announced Tuesday that an autopsy showed she was not suffering from any diseases at the time of her death.

According to the livestock experiment station of the prefectureâ€™s agriculture and forestry research center, Noto stopped moving about and began having breathing troubles around May 4.

The cow recovered enough to eat feed by itself after being administered special nutrients. But the animalâ€™s condition suddenly worsened Monday afternoon before dying.

Noto was born as a twin in July 1998 in a joint project with Kindai University using somatic cells of an adult cow. The technology used to create Dolly the sheep in Scotland in 1996 was used to create the two cows. Its sibling, Kaga, is alive and being taken care of at the livestock station. The two cows both gave birth to their own calves as well.

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) Moves Toward Vietnam, Heavy Rain Forecast For Japan

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) is strengthening over the South China Sea and is expected to make landfall in Vietnam later this week, according to forecasts. Satellite images on October 20th show extensive cloud coverage over the central South China Sea. After passing over the Philippines, Fung-shen temporarily weakened but is projected to intensify again as it continues westward through Tuesday.

Real-Life Water Police: Protecting Tokyo’s Seas and Rivers

Tokyo’s seas and rivers, once considered lawless backwaters beyond the reach of regular policing, are now under constant watch by a dedicated force known as the “water police,” specialists who patrol the capital’s waterways, chase down smugglers, stop reckless jet ski riders, and carry out dramatic rescue missions to save lives.

Tourist Graffiti Threatens Kyoto’s Iconic Bamboo Forest

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japanese Streaming Services Struggle Against Netflix

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Japan Tightens Rules on Foreign Business Visas

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

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