Japanese Astronaut Onishi Becomes ISS Commander

Apr 19 (News On Japan) - Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi has been appointed commander of the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the third Japanese to assume the role.

"I took over command of the International Space Station on April 18th, 2025, and officially became the commander," said Onishi.

A change-of-command ceremony was held aboard the ISS on April 18th, during which Onishi became the third Japanese national to take command of the station.

In his remarks, Onishi stated, "I believe this appointment is recognition by the international community of Japan's contributions to manned space exploration, and a sign of the expectations for our future."

Onishi arrived at the ISS last month aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. He is scheduled to remain on the station for six months, conducting various space experiments, including those in the Japanese experiment module Kibo.

Source: TBS

Family Demands Full Disclosure of 295 Hours of Detention Footage

Four years ago, a Sri Lankan woman named Wishma died after repeatedly complaining of illness while detained at a Nagoya immigration facility. The government has admitted to possessing 295 hours of video footage documenting her condition leading up to her death—but has only disclosed five hours of it to the bereaved family.

Tokyo to Make Water Free for All Households

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to waive basic water charges for all ordinary households in the city this summer, covering approximately 8 million households.

Crack Down on Abusive Male Hosts Gains Momentum

Following a wave of disturbing cases in which women were emotionally manipulated into debt and coerced into prostitution through exploitative tactics used by hosts, the revised Entertainment Business Act aimed at cracking down on abusive host club practices passed Japan's Lower House on Tuesday.

Teen Suspect in Fatal Stabbing Bought Deadly Monkshood Seeds

A 15-year-old junior high school student arrested for fatally stabbing an 84-year-old woman on a street in Chiba City was found to have purchased 'monkshood' seeds of the highly toxic plant aconite before the incident, according to police.

Elderly Man Falls from High-Rise, Kills Cyclist Below

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Okinawa Builders Turn to 3D Printing to Tackle Labor Shortage

In Okinawa, the construction industry is exploring the potential of 3D printing as a solution to pressing labor shortages and to reduce project timelines. A demonstration event showcasing this emerging technology was held in the prefecture for the first time.

Space Rocks Without the Crowds

Visitors to the Osaka-Kansai Expo may be surprised to learn that one of the most popular attractions—moon and Mars rocks—can be seen and touched without waiting in long lines, thanks to a lesser-known exhibit at the far western end of the venue.

Japanese Team Finds Black Holes Shoot Gas Like Bullets, Not Wind

A research paper co-authored by a lecturer at Fukuoka University of Education has been published in the British scientific journal Nature, detailing a groundbreaking discovery about supermassive black holes.

Japan Marks 150 Years of Meters

Japan’s prototypes of the kilogram and meter, which once served as national standards for weight and length, were presented to the press this week ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Meter Convention, the international treaty that standardized global measurement systems, to be marked on May 20th.

Major Ocean Shift 'Kuroshio' Brings Changes to Weather

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced has that the Kuroshio Large Meander, a phenomenon that has lasted for 7 years and 9 months, is expected to come to an end. The agency is urging people to stay updated, noting that changes in the Kuroshio Current may affect both fish species and fishing grounds.