Aug 13 (WION) - Japan has issued its first-ever advisory on higher-than-usual risks of a megaquake after an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 jolted on Thursday at the edge of a tremulous seabed zone along the Pacific coast known as the Nankai Trough. A possible Nankai megaquake and tsunami disaster could kill hundreds of thousands of people and cause a trillion-dollar damage to Japan.
The prestigious Matsusaka Beef Competition, a showcase of premium cattle from Mie Prefecture, was held Sunday, where the top-ranked cow was auctioned for almost $200,000 (30.32 million yen).
A renowned Japanese photographer based in New York, Yasuomi Hashimura, known for his groundbreaking contributions to American advertising photography, died after being pushed on the street by a man.
Japan is on track to surpass its all-time annual record for foreign visitors, with over 30 million arrivals so far this year.
A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.
China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)
Japan is on the verge of using leftover cooking oil to power airplanes. Universal Studios Japan has already adopted biodiesel, made from used cooking oil, to fuel boats in its popular attractions, signaling a shift towards sustainable energy.
An international team led by a Japanese researcher says it has developed a new type of plastic that is durable but breaks down in seawater. It says the new plastic is recyclable and will help reduce environmental pollution and the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans. (NHK)
A Japanese pharmaceutical company has announced the successful commercialization of fiber made from silk produced by bagworms.
Japan' Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Muto announced on November 19th that the government has decided to cease its support for APB, a company pioneering the development of the world's first all-resin battery.
Infections of lumpy skin disease have been confirmed among dairy cattle in Fukuoka Prefecture, western Japan, for the first time in the country. (NHK)
Hydrogen, anticipated as the next-generation automotive fuel, is seeing accelerated efforts for its real-world implementation. Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled its first hybrid vehicle that combines a hydrogen-powered engine and an electric motor, announcing plans to conduct on-road tests starting next spring.
Many people, especially children, dread injections. However, companies in the Kansai region are advancing the development of 'painless injections,' utilizing innovative technologies.
