Shimane Prefecture greenlights restart of nuclear reactor
島根原発2号機再稼働に同意 知事が正式表明
Nikkei -- Jun 02
Shimane Prefecture in western Japan approved Thursday a plan to restart a nuclear reactor of the same type as those that suffered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant following the 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami.
The greenlight for operating the No. 2 unit at Chugoku Electric Power Co.'s Shimane nuclear plant in the prefectural capital of Matsue was announced by Gov. Tatsuya Maruyama in a prefectural assembly session.
The company is seeking to restart the reactor in 2023 at the earliest. Inactive since 2012, it will likely be the country's first boiling water reactor to be restarted since the Fukushima disaster.
Japan has been gradually restarting idled nuclear plants. But the reactors brought back on line have been so far limited to another type -- pressurized water reactors.
Chugoku Electric cleared national safety standards in September 2021 for restarting the reactor. The utility is scheduled to complete its safety measures next February. ...continue reading
Jun 02 (ANNnewsCH) - 全国で唯一、県庁所在地にある中国電力・島根原発2号機の再稼働について、島根県の丸山知事が同意する考えを正式に表明しました。 ...continue reading
Japanese Macaques Have Entered The Hot Tub Age
Animalogic - Jan 29
This is the northern-most living wild primate in the world, the Snow Monkey.
1st oral abortion pill steps closer to approval in Japan
Kyodo - Jan 28
A pharmaceutical advisory body for Japan's health ministry on Friday expressed no objection to the manufacturing and marketing of an abortion pill, bringing the medication a step closer to becoming the first of its kind to gain approval in the country.
Japan launches intel satellite to watch N. Korea, disasters
AP - Jan 26
Japan successfully launched a rocket Thursday carrying a government intelligence-gathering satellite on a mission to watch movements at military sites in North Korea and improve natural disaster response.
Wakata completes his 1st spacewalk
NHK - Jan 21
Japanese astronaut Wakata Koichi has completed his first spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
Japan divers capture rare footage of live giant squid
gulfnews.com - Jan 20
A pair of scuba divers has captured rare video and photos of a 2.5-metre giant squid swimming in the waters off Japan's west coast.
Large marine creature believed to be whale spotted in Tokyo Bay
NHK - Jan 20
Japan Coast Guard officials say they have confirmed a large marine creature believed to be a whale in Tokyo Bay.
Inside the Insane Japanese Mega Factory Producing the Honda Civic Type R - Production Line
FRAME - Jan 20
Today on FRAME, a feature on the Production line of the Japanese manufacturer, Honda. Check out how the iconic Civic Type R is made in one of the most advanced facilities in Japan, the Saitama Factory.
3 Japanese Species That Fight Back Against Invasive Species
- Jan 13
When it comes to wildlife Japan is one of the most interesting places in the world. It's landscapes and wildlife vary greatly from north to south and it's home to a lot of species that can't be found anywhere else in the world.
JAXA to begin final screening in astronaut recruitment
NHK - Jan 04
Japan's space agency is set to begin the final screening of applicants in its latest astronaut recruitment. Those who pass the screening will go on to take part in an international lunar exploration project.
Japan average temp in 2022 highest on record, 4th straight year
Kyodo - Dec 23
Japan's average temperature in 2022 was its highest ever for the fourth consecutive year, preliminary figures released by the country's weather agency showed Thursday.
Rule amendment to allow extended operation of Japanese reactors
world-nuclear-news.org - Dec 22
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved a draft of a new rule that would allow the country's nuclear power reactors to be operated for more than the current limit of 60 years. The amendment will require parliamentary approval.
Neutrinos: The key to unearthing the origin of the universe?
scotsman.com - Dec 20
Physicists have proposed that ‘neutrinos’ – one of the most abundant fundamental particles in the universe – could be the origin of all matter in the universe today.
Survey: About 5% of COVID patients have aftereffects one month after onset
NHK - Dec 15
A new survey in Japan shows that more than 5 percent of people who were infected with the coronavirus continued to suffer aftereffects one month after developing symptoms.
SpaceX launches lunar lander for Japanese venture ispace, which aims to create an economy around the moon
cnbc.com - Dec 12
Japanese lunar exploration company ispace began its long-anticipated first mission on Sunday, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching the venture’s lunar lander from Florida.
Japan’s sewer pipes may soon be crawling with spider-like inspection robots
South China Morning Post - Dec 10
A Japanese robotics start-up has developed spider-like robots to inspect and maintain the country’s sewer pipes as the country grapples with a labour shortage in the industry.
SolarDuck set to build Japan’s first offshore floating solar demonstrator
offshore-energy.biz - Dec 10
Dutch-Norwegian company SolarDuck has been awarded a contract to develop Japan’s first offshore floating solar power generation and automated sailing boat technology demonstrator together with local partners.
