Tokyo eyes flying-car landing pads atop skyscrapers

Aug 05 (Nikkei) - Mitsubishi Estate is readying for Japan's first crewed flying-vehicle test flights in fiscal 2024, turning the rooftops of Tokyo high-rises it owns into takeoff and landing pads.

The real estate developer has been picked as an operator of a Tokyo Metropolitan Government project, partnering with Japan Airlines as well as Kanematsu, a trading house that has a tie-up with Skyports, a U.K. developer of landing infrastructure.

Rooftops of Mitsubishi Estate skyscrapers in Tokyo's Marunouchi business district are being considered as possible pad sites, as are suburban parking lots it owns. Aircraft from Volocopter, a German startup in which JAL has a stake, are under consideration.

Hopes are high for electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which offer flexible mobility, to reduce traffic and even shuttle visitors between airports and tourist destinations. The Yano Research Institute sees the global eVTOL flying-car market growing to exceed 120 trillion yen ($900 billion) by 2050.

Many players in Japan seek to take their businesses to the skies at the Osaka World Expo in 2025. Mitsubishi Estate aims to achieve a commercial launch in the second half of the 2020s, leasing takeoff and landing platforms to aircraft operators. It also plans to expand the business beyond Tokyo to Nagoya and Osaka. ...continue reading

Japanese Photographer Dies After Being Pushed in New York

A renowned Japanese photographer based in New York, Yasuomi Hashimura, known for his groundbreaking contributions to American advertising photography, died after being pushed on the street by a man.

Foreign Visitors to Japan Set to Hit All-Time High

Japan is on track to surpass its all-time annual record for foreign visitors, with over 30 million arrivals so far this year.

Student's Homemade Bomb Sparks School Lockdown in Sapporo

A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.

China to resume visa-exemptions for short-term Japanese travelers

China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)

Japan Grapples with Poverty and Rising 'Invisible Homeless'

Japan is facing a deepening crisis of poverty and inequality, with rising reports of 'invisible homeless' individuals and growing economic hardships among the population. Discussions over reforms to the country's tax and welfare systems have taken center stage, as policymakers grapple with how to provide meaningful support.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Japan-led team develops new ocean-degradable plastic

An international team led by a Japanese researcher says it has developed a new type of plastic that is durable but breaks down in seawater. It says the new plastic is recyclable and will help reduce environmental pollution and the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans. (NHK)

World's First Fiber Made From Bagworm Silk Revolutionizes Industry

A Japanese pharmaceutical company has announced the successful commercialization of fiber made from silk produced by bagworms.

Japan Halts Support for Next-Generation Battery

Japan' Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Muto announced on November 19th that the government has decided to cease its support for APB, a company pioneering the development of the world's first all-resin battery.

高さ調整デスクの正しい使い方と注意点

デスクで効率的に作業するには、ただ座って作業を開始するだけでは不十分です。

Lumpy skin disease found in dairy cattle for 1st time in Japan

Infections of lumpy skin disease have been confirmed among dairy cattle in Fukuoka Prefecture, western Japan, for the first time in the country. (NHK)

Toyota Advances Hydrogen Tech With Hybrid Engine Development

Hydrogen, anticipated as the next-generation automotive fuel, is seeing accelerated efforts for its real-world implementation. Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled its first hybrid vehicle that combines a hydrogen-powered engine and an electric motor, announcing plans to conduct on-road tests starting next spring.

New Innovations in Painless Injections

Many people, especially children, dread injections. However, companies in the Kansai region are advancing the development of 'painless injections,' utilizing innovative technologies.

Japan Rises to 31st Place in Global Digital Competitiveness Ranking

This year's 'Global Digital Competitiveness Ranking' was released, placing Japan at 31st among 67 countries and regions, up one position from last year.

< 2 3 4 5 >