News

A report on climate change in Japan warns that if temperatures continue to rise significantly, the nation could experience once-in-a-century heat waves annually. The report, released by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the science ministry, is intended to help the central and local governments in their climate change measures.

Visitors from outside Japan are taking part in a trial of a non-contact fingerprint authentication system at Haneda Airport, designed to streamline entry procedures. The test, using a Panasonic Connect-developed technology, assesses the system's ability to accurately match fingerprints without physical contact, with trials set to continue until the end of February.

Land prices in Tokyo rose across nearly all surveyed locations, with an average overall increase of 7.3 percent, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. The upward trend was fueled by strong demand for high-rise condominiums in central Tokyo and increased commercial activity powered by foreign tourism.

In Tokyo, researchers at Waseda University demonstrated AIREC, a 150-kg AI-driven humanoid robot designed to assist with tasks such as changing diapers and preventing bedsores for the elderly. Developed in response to Japan’s rapidly ageing society and acute nursing care worker shortages, AIREC represents a promising technological solution expected to evolve further by 2030.

For the first time since World War II, a group of scholars were permitted to explore the Daisen “kofun” burial mound, widely known as the Emperor Nintoku Mausoleum, a prestigious site dating from the fifth century. The visit revealed new features and sparked calls for further public and academic access to this historically significant and restricted imperial site.