Society

Toyota to sell adapted Mirai fuel cell system to other sectors from spring

Feb 27 (Japan Times) - Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will put on sale in the spring its hydrogen-powered fuel cell system, which could be used by train and ship operators as well as power companies.

Toyota has made the fuel cell system, which it developed for the Mirai vehicle, easier for other firms to use, amid growing awareness about greener technologies. The system uses electricity generated through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and does not emit carbon dioxide.

The top Japanese automaker did not disclose its planned price or sales target for the eco-friendly system.

Toyota rolled out the Mirai vehicle with its world-first mass-produced fuel cell in 2014 and launched its second-generation model in December, touting improved fuel efficiency and a longer range.

The firm’s domestic rival Honda Motor Co. also has its own hydrogen-powered vehicle, the Clarity fuel-cell car.

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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Gang Members Arrested After Opening Office Near Nursery

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Six Police Officers Injured After Man Sprays Liquid at Station

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