Travel

TeamLab Planets Expands With New Immersive Experience

TOKYO, Jan 31 (News On Japan) - A new area has opened at TeamLab Planets in Toyosu, Tokyo, bringing an expanded, immersive experience to visitors. The museum, known for its cutting-edge digital art installations, has increased its exhibition space by 1.5 times, adding around 20 new interactive artworks.

One of the new installations features a space filled with colorful spheres. Visitors can navigate through the exhibit by stepping on spheres of the same color. As they move, the walls illuminate in a dazzling display of light, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

Another area allows visitors to bring their own drawings to life. Using a dedicated app, guests can scan their illustrations—such as butterflies or dolphins—and watch them swim and move within a digital environment. One visitor demonstrated this feature with a hand-drawn dolphin, which could be controlled in real time using a smartphone.

The interactive exhibits also extend to customized souvenirs. Guests can have their drawings printed on various items, including T-shirts. A live demonstration showed how a visitor’s illustration was digitally converted into a three-dimensional print and applied to fabric, creating a unique and personalized memento.

The expanded space also features an installation with glowing pillars that change color when stepped on. As visitors walk across, birds flying above also change color in response to their movements, enhancing the sensory experience with both visuals and sound.

With its latest expansion, TeamLab Planets offers an even more dynamic environment where visitors can engage with art through movement and technology. The museum continues to attract crowds, making it a must-visit destination for those looking to experience digital art in an interactive and immersive way.

Source: TBS

Typhoon No. 22 Forecast to Strengthen and Approach Mainland Japan

As of 9 a.m. on October 6th, Typhoon No. 22 (Halong) was located over the ocean south of Japan, moving slowly northward with a central pressure of 994 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds near its center of 23 meters per second. The system is projected to develop into a strong typhoon by October 8th and may reach a “very strong” category when approaching the Tokai region around October 9th. However, the storm’s path remains uncertain, and weather authorities are urging the public to stay alert for new updates.

Driver In Training Behind Tokyu Line Collision That Caused Train Derailment

A collision occurred on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line on the night of October 5th when a local train attempting to arrive at Kajigaya Station in Kawasaki City struck a stationary out-of-service train, causing several cars of the latter to derail. Investigators from the Japan Transport Safety Board arrived at the scene on the morning of October 6th to begin examining the cause of the accident.

Spanish Tourist Injured in Bear Attack at World Heritage Shirakawa-go

A Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear while visiting Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO World Heritage village in Gifu Prefecture known for its traditional thatched-roof houses, on October 5th. The incident adds to a growing number of bear encounters reported across Japan in recent weeks.

Takaichi Wins Leadership Race, Declares All Must Work Like Horses

Sanae Takaichi, elected as the Liberal Democratic Party’s new president on October 4th, declared on stage, “I ask everybody to work like a horse,” after defeating agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff to become the party’s first female leader.

Honey Trap Crimes Becoming More Malicious

A string of so-called “honey trap” cases is drawing attention across Japan as schemes once limited to extortion have become increasingly violent, involving physical assaults and life-threatening intimidation.

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