News

The rollout of an AI system designed to help child welfare centers identify abusive situations has been postponed due to concerns about its accuracy and reliability. The AI frequently missed significant signs of severe abuse during trials, prompting the Children and Families Agency to delay its implementation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Japan's role in deterring Chinese aggression and highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance during his visit to Tokyo in March 2025. Hegseth's visit also included a trip to Iwo Jima, where he commemorated the shared history and sacrifice of the two nations.

Japan Airlines has applied a riblet-shaped coating to a Boeing 787-9, inspired by the textured skin of sharks, to reduce air resistance and carbon emissions. This innovative technology is expected to save 119 tons of fuel and 381 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to the annual CO2 absorption of approximately 27,000 cedar trees.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki to discuss the rising issues of sexual assaults by U.S. military personnel and the broader burden of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. During the nearly 20-minute meeting, both officials underscored the need for stronger preventative measures and tangible steps to return U.S.-controlled land to Japanese administration.

JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi has embarked on a mission to the International Space Station, leaving behind the Operations and Checkout building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Meanwhile, the replacements for NASA's two astronauts who were stranded on the space station have finally launched, paving the way for their return after a grueling nine months.