Society

CES goes virtual amid pandemic

Jan 13 (NHK) - One of the world's largest technology-trade fairs has kicked off. The "Consumer Electronics Show" normally attracts over 100,000 visitors who crowd into a venue in Las Vegas.

This year, the coronavirus pandemic has forced the event to go fully online.

The media got a glimpse of CES on Monday. Participating companies showed off their products and services. Organizers say over 1,800 are taking part, less than half compared to last year.

Panasonic is showcasing a new technology called "emotion and physical condition sensing."

It takes images of people's faces and analyzes their features and subtle changes in expressions. The data reveals their physical condition, feelings and personalities, which are indicated in colors and shapes.

Agarie Mayu, who is involved in the technology's development, said it helps people make smooth communications. She added it also gives them a chance to see themselves in a new light.

Japanese telecom giant NTT is screening a video explaining the concept behind its next-generation communication infrastructure.

Officials say the high-speed network will harness optical technologies to dramatically change autonomous driving and farming.

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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