News On Japan

JR Central Unveils Gigantic 14-Meter Diameter Tunnel Boring Machine

TOKYO, Jan 17 (News On Japan) - JR Central has opened up to the press the construction site of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, which is slated to begin operations after 2027, showcasing a gigantic tunnel boring machine in use.

A reporter stated, "This tunnel, located about 90 meters underground, will be extended towards Nagoya using this large boring machine."

The site revealed to the media today is located in the Asao Ward of Kawasaki City, where the Linear Chuo Shinkansen tunnel is being constructed.

The equipment used is a massive tunnel boring machine, called a 'Shield Machine,' with a diameter of approximately 14 meters. It is capable of safely constructing tunnels even under urban areas dense with buildings.

This section of the tunnel is scheduled to start major excavation around September this year. JR Central aims to open the Shinagawa to Nagoya station section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen after 2027.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

President Trump arrived in Tokyo on October 27th for his first visit to Japan since beginning his second term, with the goal of reinforcing the Japan-U.S. alliance and strengthening deterrence amid growing regional tensions involving China and North Korea.

The Nikkei Stock Average surpassed the 50,000-yen mark for the first time ever as trading began on Monday in Tokyo, marking a historic milestone for Japan’s equity market. The breakthrough occurred just three minutes after the opening bell at 9 a.m., with traders at some securities firms preparing to celebrate with a traditional kagami-biraki sake ceremony.

Japan’s H3 Rocket No. 7, carrying a newly developed unmanned cargo spacecraft, successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 9 a.m. on October 26th, marking another milestone for the nation’s space program.

A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.

Fonts are an invisible part of daily life, yet they profoundly shape how we perceive information and emotion. From the elegant Mincho to the bold Gothic, these designs are chosen according to purpose—whether to convey clarity, trust, or impact—and their influence extends beyond readability into branding and communication.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Geothermal energy is drawing growing global attention as a key to combating global warming and achieving a decarbonized society. Among clean energy sources, it stands out for its stability and scalability. Japan, blessed with abundant volcanic activity, possesses the world’s third-largest geothermal reserves—yet its utilization remains limited.

A next-generation hydrogen-powered vessel that operated during the Expo is set to expand its role beyond the event.

A rare astronomical event will unfold next week as Comet Lemmon makes its closest approach to Earth on October 21st, offering skywatchers a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that will not return for roughly 1,400 years.

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that satellite images from the Himawari-9 weather satellite are currently unavailable due to a communication failure. While some functions have been restored through the backup satellite Himawari-8, key nighttime observation data such as infrared imagery remain inaccessible.

Tokyo has confirmed its first case of a dog infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal disease transmitted by ticks. It is the first time an animal infection has been recorded in the capital.

Osaka University’s Professor Shimon Sakaguchi has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering regulatory T cells that suppress excessive immune reactions, a landmark finding that has brought excitement to colleagues, students, and the medical community.

Collectors and growers in Australia have long been limited by availability. Import restrictions, shifting regulations, and supply gaps have made sourcing quality seeds a challenge.

TeamLab has opened a new art space, “TeamLab BioVortex Kyoto,” in Kyoto’s Minami Ward, featuring around 50 works including several unveiled in Japan for the first time. Spanning approximately 10,000 square meters, the facility offers an immersive interactive experience where light, sound, and motion respond dynamically to visitors’ movements.