Major Maglev Excavation Begins

KANAGAWA, Feb 27 (News On Japan) - The assembly of a massive shield machine for tunnel construction at the Kanagawa Station site of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen has been completed, with the site opened to the media as excavation prepares to move forward toward Nagoya.

The location shown to reporters is the tunnel construction site for Kanagawa Station on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen line.

At the site, assembly of the giant tunnel-boring shield machine, which began in June 2025, has now been completed. The machine is scheduled to excavate approximately 3.6 kilometers toward Nagoya in the coming phase of construction.

The Linear Chuo Shinkansen project has long faced delays due to discussions between Shizuoka Prefecture and Central Japan Railway over water resources related to the Oi River. However, progress has been made, including the conclusion of a compensation agreement in January 2026, raising expectations that construction on the Shizuoka section — previously a major obstacle to the line’s opening — will begin within the year.

Source: FNN

Father Admits Killing and Body Abandonment in Kyoto

Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

Strong Typhoon Raises High Surf Risk for Pacific Areas of Japan This Weekend

A large and powerful Typhoon No. 4, internationally named Sinlaku, was located near the Mariana Islands and moving north-northeast as of the latest update. The storm is expected to gradually shift its course eastward and pass southeast of the Ogasawara Islands around April 18, before making its closest approach around April 19.

Japan to Release 50 Million Stockpiled Medical Gloves

Japan will release around 50 million stockpiled medical gloves from next month as concerns grow over shortages of medical supplies linked to tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Fully Reopens

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route connecting Toyama and Nagano fully reopened on April 15th, marking the start of the spring tourism season along one of Japan’s most celebrated mountain routes.

Typhoon No. 4 Slowly Weakens, Ogasawara Islands Expects Rough Seas

A large and extremely strong Typhoon No. 4 (Sinlaku) was tracking north-northwest near the Mariana Islands as of April 15, with forecasters warning of high waves exceeding 4 meters around the Ogasawara Islands later this week despite a low likelihood of a direct approach to Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Why Expo EV Buses Went to the Graveyard

The fleet of 190 EV buses introduced for the Osaka-Kansai Expo has been withdrawn from plans for reuse on regular routes, with Osaka Metro abandoning efforts to redeploy the vehicles after the event.

OPPO To Launch Foldable Smartphone in Japan

Chinese smartphone maker OPPO announced it will release its foldable smartphone “OPPO Find N6” in Japan on April 15th, marking the company’s first entry into the country’s foldable device segment.

Deep-Sea Research Heats Up

An event aimed at bringing the mysteries of the deep sea closer to the public was held in Nago City, where a researcher who has explored oceans around the world delivered a talk.

Japan Military to Exit Antarctica

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will withdraw from Antarctic research vessel operations after nearly six decades, with private-sector entities expected to take over following the retirement of the icebreaker Shirase in fiscal 2034.

New Science Reveals Hidden Gases Emitted From the Skin

As temperatures rise, concerns about body odor return, drawing attention to a lesser-known scientific field that examines the invisible gases emitted from human skin, with Tokai University professor Yoshika Sekine leading research that could even help detect disease and stress levels.

Japan's Supercomputer 'Fugaku' Expands Frontiers in Science After Five Years

Five years have passed since Japan’s flagship supercomputer Fugaku, based in Kobe, began full-scale operations, achieving a series of breakthroughs by simulating complex phenomena on a massive and highly precise scale, ranging from the formation of galaxies to the behavior of nerve cells.

Japan Faces Shortage of Medical Supplies

Rising tensions in the Middle East are raising concerns over potential disruptions to medical supplies in Japan, particularly due to uncertainty surrounding naphtha used in products such as gloves and gowns, with hospitals warning that a halt in supply could significantly impact medical care while authorities move to reassure that stockpiles are sufficient for the time being.

New Deep-Sea Survey Reveals Two Fatal Blows That Sank Tsushima Maru

An extensive deep-sea investigation has revealed new details about the final moments of the Tsushima Maru, a wartime evacuation ship that sank during World War II, uncovering two critical points of damage that led to its rapid sinking in just 10 minutes.

< 2 3 4 5 >