Stories from Japan

A NASA satellite has captured the first high-resolution imagery of a Pacific tsunami from space. The data provides new insights into wave travel mechanics and patterns.

Japanese government officials in Tokyo have begun wearing shorts instead of traditional business suits to reduce energy consumption. The initiative was launched by the Tokyo metropolitan government to lower air conditioning usage in offices. The city manages a workforce of tens of thousands of employees serving over 14 million residents. The move aims to address energy dependency on gas imported from the Persian Gulf. The Tokyo metropolitan government has launched an initiative to encourage civil servants to adopt more casual attire to save energy. Officials in the metropolis, which serves over 14 million residents, are transitioning from formal suits to shorts.

A windstorm warning has been issued for the Sanja Kamikita region in Aomori Prefecture, including Hachinohe, Towada, and Misawa.

Japan is accelerating its nuclear power revival to enhance energy security following the Middle East crisis. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant in Niigata Prefecture, north of Tokyo, has implemented additional safety measures.

AB Capital has completed the purchase of a hotel in Sapporo, marking its 12th acquisition in Japan.

Japanese authorities reportedly intervened to support the yen after it breached the 160 mark. Officials spent approximately $34 billion to strengthen the currency by about 3%. The yen is currently trading at 156.57 following these actions. The intervention follows the currency reaching near two-year lows. Policymakers view speculative surges in energy prices as a key driver of yen weakness against the dollar. Atsushi Mimura, a top currency diplomat, noted that speculation remains rife. The Japanese Yen is trading around the 157 level against the US dollar. The Japanese yen experienced a sharp decline in the Asian foreign exchange market over the weekend. This intervention occurs due to nervousness whenever the dollar-yen (USDJPY) approaches 160. The source did not specify the nature of the financial figure.

The withdrawal of US Marines from Okinawa spanned 13 years. The process cost the United States budget 6 billion dollars. A portion of these expenses was covered by Japan, according to the report. The news was reported by Valentin Bogdanov from New York.

Toto is investing $190 million to expand semiconductor production capacity. The investment aims to capitalize on rising AI-driven demand despite declines in its toilet business.

Professors Hiroyuki Ai from Fukuoka University in Japan and Jerome Betz from the University of Wurtburg in Germany developed a new technique using tetrode electrodes. The method records electrical signals emitted by insects during acoustic signaling in dances to decipher distance-related information. This technique tracks brain activity when spatial memory is activated. The research involves monitoring how insects use signals to communicate environmental data.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Tokyo for the Teknival International Impédance rave party.