Heavy rain in quake-hit Japan leaves 6 dead, 10 missing

SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - At least six people have died and 10 remain missing after torrential rains lashed Japan's Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture, an area still reeling from a powerful New Year's Day earthquake, officials said on Sunday. The deluge triggered flooding in nearly two dozen rivers and caused landslides. In the coastal cities of Wajima and Suzu, located in the Noto Peninsula, rainfall reached about 500 millimeters and 400 millimeters respectively over a 48

September 23, 2024

Nintendo sues developer of 'Palworld' game for patent infringement

SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) - Japanese gaming giant Nintendo Co. and its subsidiary The Pokemon Company have filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer of the popular game "Palworld," alleging patent infringement, Nintendo said on Thursday. The lawsuit, filed in the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday, seeks an injunction and compensation for damages, claiming that "Palworld" infringes upon multiple patent rights held by Nintendo and Pokemon. "Palworl

September 20, 2024

Japanese schoolboy fatally stabbed in China's Shenzhen

SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) – A 10-year-old Japanese boy died after being stabbed near a Japanese school in Shenzhen, southern China, Japanese officials said. The child, born to a Japanese father and a Chinese mother, succumbed to abdominal wounds early Thursday morning at a local hospital. Police apprehended a 44-year-old male suspect near the educational facility. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the incident as an "extremely despicable crime" and s

September 20, 2024

U.S. panel allows Nippon Steel to resubmit U.S. Steel buyout review

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has permitted Japan's largest steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp. to withdraw and resubmit its application for review of its proposed $14.1 billion acquisition of United States Steel Corp., Kyodo News reported on Wednesday. This development suggests that the Biden administration will not be able to block the deal, with a decision likely to come after the November U.S. presidential election. Th

September 19, 2024

Chinese carrier sails near Japanese islands, raising tensions

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - China's aircraft carrier Liaoning and two accompanying destroyers entered waters near Japan's southern islands on Wednesday, Japan's Defense Ministry reported. This incident marks the Chinese Navy's fourth occurrence this year. The Chinese vessels traversed the contiguous zone, an area extending 24 nautical miles from shore, between Okinawa Prefecture's Yonaguni and Iriomote islands. While not violating Japan's territorial waters,

September 19, 2024

Sharp unveils electric vehicle prototype with living room-like interior

SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - Sharp Corp., a Japanese electronics manufacturer, revealed its inaugural electric vehicle (EV) prototype on Tuesday, featuring a spacious interior design reminiscent of a living room. The vehicle, named "LDK+," was developed in collaboration with Sharp's parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., and Kyoto-based EV startup Folofly. It boasts a 65-inch display screen in the rear, capable of transforming the vehicle into a mobile entertai

September 18, 2024

Yamaha Motor CEO wounded in alleged knife attack by daughter

SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - The chief executive officer of Japanese automobile parts manufacturer Yamaha Motor suffered an arm injury on Monday in what police describe as a knife attack by his adult daughter at their residence in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, authorities reported. Law enforcement officials said that they have taken into custody Hana Hidaka, 33, on suspicion of attempted murder of her father, Yoshihiro Hidaka, 61. The incident allegedly occurred around 3:00 a.m. local

September 17, 2024

Japan's elderly population reaches new peak, workforce participation rises

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Japan's population aged 65 and above has reached a record 36.25 million, constituting 29.3 percent of the total population, according to government data released on Sunday. This figure represents an increase of 20,000 from the previous year, further solidifying Japan's position as the country with the highest proportion of elderly citizens globally. The data, published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ahead of Respect for

September 16, 2024

Japanese, US researchers win Ig Nobel for anal breathing study

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - A team of Japanese and American scientists has been recognized for their groundbreaking research on intestinal breathing in mammals. The group, led by Professor Takanori Takebe of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, received the Ig Nobel physiology prize on Thursday for their work demonstrating that certain mammals can respirate through their intestines. The study, published in the journal Med in 2021, explored the potential of intestinal oxygen exchange

September 13, 2024

Japanese firm plans second lunar landing attempt in December

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Tokyo-based lunar exploration company ispace announced on Thursday its intention to launch a second Moon landing mission as early as December, following an unsuccessful attempt last year. The mission will utilize the company's Resilience lander, which is set to carry a rover named Tenacious to the Moon's northern hemisphere. The launch is scheduled to take place from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. If successful, ispac

September 13, 2024