Japan's First Private Rocket Launch Fails

Wakayama, Mar 13 (News On Japan) - A rocket named "Kairos," developed by the private company Space One, was launched from Kushimoto Town, Wakayama Prefecture, on Wednesday morning, only to explode and catch fire shortly after takeoff.

Kairos exploded shortly after takeoff and a fire broke out near the launch site.

The rocket was initially scheduled for launch on March 9th, but it was postponed because ships remained in the maritime warning area.

The rocket was carrying a small satellite for the government, and it would have been the first successful orbit insertion at an altitude of 500 kilometers by a private entity in Japan if successful.

Typhoon No. 22 (Halong) Pounds Izu Islands Triggering Emergency Alerts

A special heavy rain warning was issued for Hachijo Town on October 9 as Typhoon No. 22, classified as a very strong system, brought record-breaking rainfall and violent winds to the Izu Islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has also issued special warnings for storm-force winds and high waves across the region, urging residents to remain on maximum alert. Footage captured shortly before 6:30 a.m. by a camera installed in Hachijo Town showed a utility pole tilting and eventually collapsing under the severe conditions. Authorities said a linear rainband has been repeatedly forming over the area since early morning.

Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) Approaching South of Japan Over Holiday Weekend

As of 9 a.m. on October 9, Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) was moving quickly northwest over waters south of Japan and is expected to influence weather conditions over the upcoming three-day holiday weekend. The typhoon is forecast to strengthen slightly as it approaches the Okinawa and Amami regions between October 10 and 11. Afterward, it is expected to curve northward, moving off the coast of Kyushu on October 12 and reaching waters south of Japan’s main islands by October 13.

Japanese Teachers Still Work World’s Longest Hours

Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.

Beer Shortages Hit Japan's Izakayas

Beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack, causing shortages that have already begun to affect izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock falling to “only one left” as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.

Magnitude 4.9 Quake Off Fukushima, No Tsunami Warning Issued

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.

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