News On Japan

Deadly Blue-Ringed Octopus Spotted Near Tokyo

TOKYO, Jul 06 (News On Japan) - With rising sea temperatures, the habitats of marine life are changing, and some of these changes involve dangerous creatures that require caution. One such creature is the venomous Blue-Ringed Octopus, which has poison hundreds of times more potent than cyanide.

As the summer vacation approaches, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is issuing warnings. They state that in some cases, encounters with this octopus can be life-threatening.

Let's take a look at the Blue-Ringed Octopus in actual footage. When poked with a stick, its leopard-like patterns become more pronounced. According to the Shinagawa Aquarium, this is when the octopus might bite. Its saliva contains venom said to be hundreds of times more potent than cyanide, and a bite can sometimes be fatal.

Originally inhabiting the southern seas around Okinawa, due to the effects of global warming, it has recently been spotted near the Kanto region.

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is particularly troublesome because of its size. It is only about 10 centimeters long, small enough to be grabbed by a child's hand.

Another problematic feature is its ability to camouflage with its surroundings, such as rocks and seaweed, making it easy to accidentally step on. In the sea, it is even harder to notice, so wearing marine shoes to protect your feet might be a good precaution.

With the summer vacation approaching and people heading to the sea, the Shinagawa Aquarium advises people to enjoy marine activities by staying away from and not touching the Blue-Ringed Octopus.

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A deepening labor shortage in Japan’s construction industry is beginning to impact homebuyers, with some experiencing delays of more than six months before construction can even begin due to a lack of available carpenters.

From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless they install a designated smoking room. Establishments violating the rule face fines of up to 50,000 yen, while customers may be fined up to 30,000 yen.

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.

The Japanese government has released an updated damage forecast for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake, estimating that up to 298,000 people could die in the worst-case scenario. This projection reflects a slight reduction from the previous estimate of 332,000 deaths made 13 years ago.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

A museum dedicated to rockets and space has opened in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, home to Japan's first private rocket launch site.

The Japanese government has released an updated damage forecast for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake, estimating that up to 298,000 people could die in the worst-case scenario. This projection reflects a slight reduction from the previous estimate of 332,000 deaths made 13 years ago.

A rare pure white snow crab is now on display at Kinosaki Marine World in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture.

Infectious gastroenteritis cases are spreading rapidly across Japan, with the number of patients in March reaching the highest level in the past ten years for this time of year.

The Japanese government on March 21st released a report outlining countermeasures for volcanic ash in the event of a Mount Fuji eruption, including a four-stage evacuation plan based on ashfall volume.

A new facility for the research and production of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has been completed in Osaka's Nakanoshima district and was unveiled to the press on March 19th.

Chubu Electric Power has begun dismantling the reactor at Unit 2 of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Monday. This marks the first time a commercial nuclear reactor is being dismantled in Japan.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying astronaut Takuya Onishi, 49, of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and three others arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on March 16th at around 12:00 a.m. (Japan time: March 16th at around 1:00 p.m.), completing a journey of approximately 29 hours since launch.