Inside Japan’s AI Tomato Robot

Feb 17, 2026 | News On Japan

NAGOYA - An AI-equipped harvesting robot is being used to pick mini tomatoes at the Tokuiten mini tomato farm in Chita, Aichi Prefecture, where efforts are underway to address the shortage of successors in agriculture while improving production efficiency.

At the roughly 2,000-square-meter farm, the robot has been deployed to harvest mini tomatoes, carrying out work that has traditionally relied on manual labor. The system was developed and refined entirely by employees of the farm, who handled everything from initial design to subsequent improvements.

The project began as a response to the growing lack of successors and workers in agriculture, prompting the farm to explore technological solutions that could maintain productivity while reducing labor burdens. The developers focused on creating a robot capable of identifying ripe tomatoes and harvesting them efficiently, with various adjustments made to improve performance in real farming conditions.

The initiative highlights how AI-driven automation is being introduced at smaller agricultural operations, not only to improve efficiency but also to support the long-term sustainability of farms facing demographic challenges.

Source: Nagoya TV News

Japan On Alert As Double Typhoons Approach

As of 10 p.m. on June 25, Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) was moving between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Okinawa’s main island from before dawn through the morning of June 26 while carrying a storm zone. Residents are urged to remain on alert for dangerous storm conditions.

Typhoon No. 7 Forces Dozens of ANA and JAL Flight Cancellations

Airlines canceled a series of flights on June 25 as Typhoon No. 7 disrupted services mainly to and from Naha Airport and Miyako Airport, with further cancellations and transport warnings spreading to air, rail and expressway operators ahead of the storm’s expected approach to western and central Japan. ANA has decided to cancel 22 flights, while JAL has canceled 11. Two JAL Group carriers that mainly operate routes linking Okinawa’s main island with outlying islands have also decided to cancel a combined 43 flights.

Aomori Hit by Quake Measuring Upper 6 as Hachinohe Shakes Again

A powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 struck off Iwate Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on June 25, shaking parts of Aomori Prefecture and leaving Hachinohe, which was hit by a similarly strong quake last December, facing fresh damage.

Strong Quake Hits Aomori Prefecture

A powerful earthquake registering a maximum intensity of 6 upper on Japan’s seismic scale struck Aomori Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. today. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, with a depth of about 50 kilometers. The earthquake’s magnitude was estimated at 6.9.

Inside The Shadow Market For Japan’s Temples And Shrines

The sale of religious corporations that operate temples and shrines across Japan is drawing growing scrutiny from authorities, who fear the transactions could be used for tax evasion and money laundering, as brokers openly advertise properties and corporate status for tens or even hundreds of millions of yen.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

Masayoshi Son Sets Out AI Vision at SoftBank Shareholder Meeting

SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said the company aims to become the world’s leading AI company, outlining a strategy centered on four key fields including physical AI, such as robots equipped with artificial intelligence, and data centers.

AI Wearables Move Toward Everyday Use

An international supply chain exhibition in Beijing has put artificial intelligence at the center of its program this year, with manufacturers and semiconductor companies from around the world showcasing products aimed at practical use, including AI-equipped smart glasses that could reduce the need to look at a smartphone.

AI Medical System Strengthens Disaster Bed Coordination

Osaka General Medical Center in Osaka's Sumiyoshi Ward has begun introducing artificial intelligence to strengthen its system for accepting patients during disasters, using electronic medical records to visualize in real time each patient's risk of deterioration and other key information so hospital beds can be coordinated more quickly.

What Makes Online Entertainment So Engaging?

Online entertainment holds attention because it blends speed, choice, and emotion in one screen.

50 Future Jobs For The AI Age

A Tokyo exhibition is offering a look at 50 possible professions that could emerge in the AI age, from skin bacteria pharmacists who analyze microbes on the skin to ad walkers who use electronic textiles to deliver advertising while moving through the city.