News On Japan

World's Largest Gold Nugget Now Worth Billions

SHIZOUKA, Feb 28 (News On Japan) - The world's largest gold nugget, certified by Guinness World Records, is currently on display in Izu, weighing in at 250 kilograms.

The giant nugget was successfully cast by Mitsubishi Materials in June 2005, when the gold market price was 1,600 yen per gram, giving it an approximately value of 400 million yen at the time.

The gold market price has since exceeded 10,000 yen per gram, bringing the market value of the nugget to 2,715,250,000 yen as of February 26.

The nugget is currently on display at the Toi Gold Mine tourist facility in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where visitors can actually touch the precious metal.

Kokubun Ayumu, Section Chief at Toi Gold Mine, expressed his astonishment, "I am simply amazed at the 2.7 billion yen value. If this trend continues, it might reach 3 billion yen by summer. However, the rise in gold prices is partly due to global uncertainties, so it's a mixed feeling of joy."

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is currently experiencing issues displaying images from the Himawari weather satellite on its official website. Efforts are underway to identify the cause and restore normal service, but the timeline for recovery remains unclear.

Major izakaya chain operator Watami has acquired Subway Japan in a large-scale acquisition it views as a 'second founding,' aiming to establish a foothold in the fast-food market.

Tokyo Skytree has started a pilot project for a 'Real-Time Translator' that can display up to 100 languages.

An autonomous driving experiment for electric vehicle (EV) buses is underway in mountainous terrain for the first time in Japan.

A research group from Osaka University has made a world-first discovery, revealing that the right and left sides of the colon serve different roles.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Business NEWS

Kioxia Holdings, a major semiconductor firm, has announced plans to seek listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange between next month and June of next year.

A proposal has emerged to sell the operating company of Tsutenkaku Tower, an iconic symbol of Osaka’s Shinsekai district. As inbound tourism rebounds in the post-pandemic era, questions are rising over the future of this popular landmark.

China is currently experiencing an unprecedented pet boom, with Japanese companies seizing the opportunity to promote pet-related products.

Nissan Motor Co. has announced it will cut 9,000 jobs globally in response to declining business performance.

During the regular Diet session in 2024, the Japanese government amended the Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas for the first time. The Basic Law was promulgated in 1999 and is the so-called ‘constitution of agricultural policy’ in Japan. (East Asia Forum)

The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) will extend its trading hours by 30 minutes starting on November 5th. This marks the first extension of trading hours in 70 years, with the last change occurring in 1954.

The Consumer Affairs Agency announced it has ordered a mail-order business based in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, which sells medicinal toothpaste and similar products, to halt certain business operations for three months due to exaggerated advertising.

The '1.03 million yen income cap' raised by Democratic Party for the People leader Tamaki has become a pressing issue for many students and part-time workers. How are they managing the realities of this policy?