Study: Two doses less effective against Omicron
NHK -- Dec 28
NHK has learned that laboratory tests in Japan show that two coronavirus vaccine shots are far less effective against the Omicron variant than the Delta variant.
A team led by Kitasato University Professor Katayama Kazuhiko measured levels of neutralizing antibodies in cultured cells taken from blood samples of 12 fully vaccinated people.
Neutralizing antibodies work as protection against a virus.
Six of the people had received two shots of the Pfizer vaccine and the rest were inoculated with the Moderna vaccine.
Levels of antibodies in the samples taken from people who got the second Pfizer shot three months ago were down 72 percent on average from the levels against Delta.
Levels in the samples from those who got the second Moderna shot three months ago were down 82 percent on average.
Professor Katayama says the findings in the lab experiment do not mean that vaccines are totally ineffective against Omicron.
He calls for fully vaccinated people to continue basic anti-infection measures.
Studies conducted overseas have also suggested that existing vaccines are far less effective against Omicron.
Strong earthquake hits western Japan
NHK - Jan 22
A powerful earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.6 hit western Japan early on Saturday. Strong jolts were felt in Oita, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Kochi prefectures. There was no tsunami.
'La Nina' may have been behind heavy snow
NHK - Jan 22
Japan's Meteorological Agency says a La Nina weather pattern could have contributed to the recent heavy snowfall across wide areas of the country.
Tsunami caused by Tonga volcano eruption stumps Japan weather experts
Kyodo - Jan 18
The eruption of an underwater volcano off Tonga on Saturday that caused tsunami waves of up to around 1 meter to hit parts of Japan's coast stumped weather experts, as volcanic eruptions are said to rarely cause a rise in tide levels.
Tsunami cause no major damage in Japan after Tonga volcano eruption
Japan Today - Jan 17
Japan saw tsunami waves of about 1 meter high in coastal areas on Sunday but no major damage or flooding after the eruption of an underwater volcano off Tonga led to evacuation orders for nearly 230,000 citizens.
This Small Japanese Town Is A UFO Hotspot
VICE News - Jan 16
In a small Japanese town with desolate streets and shuttered storefronts, aliens are said to be frequent visitors.
I put FRUIT in the Woods...What eats it??
Japan Trail Cam - Jan 15
Putting a whole Pizza in front of a trail cam, or putting a Peanut butter covered watermelon melon out in the woods is not responsible and not a good idea. It harms the animals and just not a good idea.
Intestinal bacteria could be behind Japan's low COVID deaths, study says
Japan Times - Jan 14
The abundance of a specific intestinal bacteria known to suppresses the binding of the coronavirus to human cell receptors is likely to play a role in the low COVID-19 mortality rates seen in Asia and Northern Europe, according to a study led by a team of researchers at Nagoya University.
Twin pandas born in Tokyo zoo make public debut
Nikkei - Jan 12
The twin giant pandas born at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens last year made their public debut Wednesday, but will be on view for only three days and to a limited number of visitors amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections.
Scientists prove snow monkeys eat fish to survive
NHK - Jan 11
Researchers have discovered that snow monkeys living in a mountainous region in central Japan eat fish to survive the harsh winter.
Japan seeks nuclear fusion reactor prototype by midcentury
Nikkei - Jan 10
Japan aims to hammer out its very first research and development strategy for nuclear fusion by summer, Nikkei has learned, with the goal of achieving a prototype reactor by around 2050.
Study: Omicron cases double in less than 2 days
NHK - Jan 08
Researchers in Japan estimate that numbers of coronavirus infections in Okinawa, Tokyo and Osaka prefectures are doubling in less than two days amid the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Japan billionaire grateful for Earth after space trip
Reuters - Jan 08
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, newly returned to Japan after a 12-day journey into space in December, said being launched into the cosmos was less scary than riding a rollercoaster and made him obsessed with Earth.
Keeping self-driving cars safe from hackers
NHK - Jan 05
Cars of the future will be heavily dependent on the internet for navigation and other basic operations. But that will also make them vulnerable to hacking attacks capable of causing serious damage.
Japanese Flying Fish Catching and Processing - How to fishing Flying Fish
Noal Farm - Jan 05
Flying fish live in all of the oceans, particularly in tropical and warm subtropical waters.Flying fish are commercially fished in Japan, Vietnam, and China.
Study: Omicron may be less pathogenic than Delta
NHK - Dec 30
A group of researchers in Japan says its animal experiments have suggested that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus may be less pathogenic than Delta.
How virtual reality is going to shape the future of casino gaming
newsonjapan.com - Dec 29
Online casinos are one of the most popular forms of entertainment these days.
