Japan

No Comment

Pilgrims get a lift with robotic suit in development by Japanese university and airline

A Japanese university and airline company have held a feasibility study of a robotic suit designed to assist with walking. It was conducted in Shikoku, southwestern Japan, which is home to a famous traditional Buddhist pilgrimage.

14/12/2021

No Comment

Kyoto entertainers perform New Year greeting ritual

In Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, professional female entertainers known as "geiko," and their apprentices known as "maiko," have started offering early New Year's greetings.

13/12/2021

Mobility

Can a smart ramp solve transport's accessibility problem?

A Japanese rail company is trialling an automatic ramp that helps wheelchair users get on trains independently. But is it a long-term solution to a major problem?

02/12/2021

No Comment

Japanese coast guard rescues man after boat capsizes

A 69-year-old man drifted in rough waters off Japan for nearly a day clinging to the bottom of his capsized boat until he was rescued by the coast guard.

02/12/2021

Japan

Japan bans entry of foreign visitors as omicron variant spreads

Japan will suspend entry of all foreign visitors from Tuesday over a new COVID-19 variant.

29/11/2021

Art

Afghan mural destroyed by the Taliban recreated by Japanese designers

Researchers have crafted a "super clone" of an Afghan mural destroyed by the Taliban, to salvage the work's "spirit" for future generations. This one exists 6,000 km away in Japan.

17/11/2021

Japan

Japan's former princess leaves for US with commoner husband

A Japanese princess who gave up her royal status to marry her commoner college sweetheart left for New York on Sunday.

14/11/2021

No Comment

Japan's robotic dog owners celebrate children festival with their Aibos

Owners of the Japanese robot dogs "Aibo" take their robotic companions to the Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo for the children's holiday Shicigosan.

12/11/2021

Japan

Cementing a cleaner future: how Japan is cutting carbon from industry

In partnership with The Government of Japan

In this episode we focus on the latest innovations in Japan to capture and recycle carbon and develop zero-carbon concrete.

08/11/2021

Japan

Japan's low carbon technology lights up Kenya

In partnership with The Government of Japan

Japan’s expertise in low carbon technology is playing a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, particularly in developing countries, where such technologies are often out of reach. We take a look at how Kenya is benefitting from Japanese help.

01/11/2021

Japan

Man in 'Joker costume' attacks passengers on Japan train

A man attacked passengers on a Tokyo commuter train on Sunday, stabbing at least one and starting a fire.

01/11/2021

No Comment

Clean-up of shores covered with pumice stones due to underwater volcanic eruption underway

Okinawa Prefecture in southwestern Japan has begun removing large volumes of pumice stones that have drifted into a port in Kunigami Village.

29/10/2021

Japan

Japan's Princess Mako loses royal status by marrying a commoner

The Imperial House Law allows only male succession. Female members of the royal family must renounce their royal status when they marry a commoner.

26/10/2021

Japan

Japan's hydrogen power play

In partnership with The Government of Japan

In this episode of Green Japan we focus on the power of hydrogen as an alternative energy to fossil fuels

25/10/2021

Japan

Japan's new leader dissolves parliament, paving way for new elections

At the announcement, all 465 lower house lawmakers stood up, shouted “banzai” three times and left.

14/10/2021

Japan

Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida takes office

Japan elects former diplomat Fumio Kishida as its new Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote on Monday.

04/10/2021

Travel News

This ‘smart’ facemask can translate what you say into 8 languages

A Japanese robotics company has invented a face mask that can translate across languages. We also take a look at other interesting pandemic innovations.

30/09/2021

Japan

Japan's Fumio Kishida set to become new prime minister after vote

Kishida promised action on COVID-19 resurgence and to counter China in the region.

29/09/2021

Work

Robots are here to 'liberate' us from boring work, claims Softbank CEO

Masayoshi Son, one of Japan's wealthiest people, said a future generation of practical "smart robots" would "replace" the entire human working population.

15/09/2021

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Tokyo bids farewell to Paralympics with fireworks display

Tokyo bids a spectacular farewell to the Paralympics with a firework display over the city, as organisers hail the pandemic-delayed Games as the "most important edition" ever

05/09/2021

Japan

Japanese PM poised to resign after bowing out of party vote

Yoshihide Suga came under fire for his handling of the pandemic and for holding the Olympics despite the public’s health concerns.

03/09/2021

No Comment

Paralympian and musician: Manami Ito, Japan's show-stealing violinist

Haunting notes stream from Manami Ito's violin as she gracefully draws her bow back and forth, clasping it with her specially designed prosthetic arm

02/09/2021

Health news

Japan reports more contamination in Moderna vaccines from Spain

Japan has detected black particles in more vials of the Moderna coronavirus vaccines imported from Spain.

01/09/2021

Tech News

Tokyo 2020 self-driving buses restart after hitting athlete

The self-driving bus service used to transport athletes and staff at the Tokyo 2020 Games was suspended after an accident injuring a visually-impaired Paralympian.

30/08/2021

Health news

Two die in Japan after receiving suspended Moderna COVID vaccines

The Japanese government had suspended the Moderna vaccine earlier this week over concerns of contaminants in 1.63 million vaccine doses.

29/08/2021

Health news

Tokyo Paralympics putting Japan’s accessibility issues in spotlight

Activists have welcomed the progress made on accessibility and inclusion issues but warn that there is still a long way to go in changing attitudes towards disabled people in Japan.

27/08/2021