Osaka Tests Shinkansen Backup Hub

OSAKA, Dec 08 (News On Japan) - The three JR companies operating the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen demonstrated on December 6th how they would switch train control to a secondary command center in Osaka if a major earthquake or other large-scale disaster rendered the main command facility in Tokyo unusable.

On December 6th, a total of 115 personnel from the three companies oversaw operations for 538 trains from the first departure through the end of service, managing all control from the secondary command center located near Shin-Osaka Station. Inside the facility, staff from each operator monitored panels displaying train locations and coordinated with drivers and related departments to ensure smooth operations throughout the day.

Source: Kyodo

Heavy Snow And Bitter Cold Persist Along Sea Of Japan Coast

Intermittent snowfall has continued across areas along the Sea of Japan coast under the season’s strongest cold wave, and Fukui Prefecture issued a special weather alert on January 24th warning of significant heavy snow, with forecasters expecting conditions to worsen again through January 25th.Snowfall intensified around Fukui Prefecture overnight on January 22nd, with even low-lying areas in Hokuriku recording above-average snow depth for this time of year.

Japan Heads Into Snap Election

The Japanese government decided at a Cabinet meeting on January 23rd to dissolve the House of Representatives, with the Lower House set to be formally dissolved at a plenary session later in the day, effectively launching the election campaign.

Japan Astronaut Shares Aurora Footage

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