Japanese astronaut Onishi to go to International Space Station around 2025

Nov 15 (NHK) - Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya, a former passenger jet pilot, will head to the International Space Station around 2025.

Science and technology minister Moriyama Masahito announced Onishi's long-term mission at a news conference on Tuesday. It will be Onishi's second trip to the space station following his previous stay there in 2016.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says Onishi will hold a news conference on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, it has been decided that the mission of another Japanese astronaut, Yui Kimiya, initially scheduled around next year, will be delayed by one year to around 2025.

Astronaut Furukawa Satoshi has been conducting scientific experiments at the space station since August, focusing on research for future manned space exploration.

Nuclear reactor in northeastern Japan restarted 13 years after 2011 disaster

The operator of a nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, restarted one of its reactors on Tuesday, more than 13 years after it suffered damage in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. (NHK)

Japan's ruling and opposition parties engage in tug-of-war for Diet majority

Political parties in Japan are jockeying to form a majority in the Diet following an election that dealt a severe blow to the ruling coalition. A vote to name the prime minister is due to take place in the legislature in a few weeks.

Election Staff in Mini-Skirt Raises Questions

A woman in a neon-colored jacket and mini-skirt was seen supporting a candidate in Japan's latest Lower House election, sparking public debate on extremely short skirts, shorts, and other revealing outfits worn by female campaign staff.

Japanese Voter Turnout Drops to Third Lowest Post-War Level

Voter turnout for Japan's lower house election on Sunday stood at 53.85%, marking the third lowest rate since the end of World War II, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Calls for Accountability Grow Among LDP Leadership

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has fallen short of its majority target, and voices questioning the accountability of the party’s leadership, including Prime Minister Ishiba, are growing.

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