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A study by JAMSTEC, the University of Tokyo, and Hokkaido University reveals that climate change has led to a sharp increase in endangered Japanese eel larvae reaching rivers in Hokkaido, offering a potential boost to the species' conservation efforts. However, further research is needed to understand the long-term impact and ensure the sustainable management of this valuable species.

Nissan has appointed Ivan Espinosa, currently the company's chief planning officer, as its new CEO, effective April 1, 2024. Espinosa, who joined Nissan in 2003, has extensive experience in the automotive industry and will play a key role in leading the company through its transition to electric vehicles.

More than 1,000 people have applied to run as candidates for the new regional political party Saisei no Michi in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, with the party aiming to field up to 60 candidates across all 42 electoral districts. The party, founded by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture, will not set specific policy goals for the campaign and will limit its assembly members to two terms in office.

AIREC, an AI-driven humanoid robot, demonstrates its potential as a future caregiver for Japan's aging population, offering hope for alleviating the chronic shortage of care workers. However, challenges remain in terms of cost, safety, and the need for robots to understand individual needs and work alongside humans.

Japan Airlines has become the first airline to operate an international flight with a riblet-shaped coating on its aircraft, inspired by shark skin, to reduce air resistance and carbon emissions. This innovative technology is estimated to cut fuel consumption by 119 tons and CO2 emissions by 381 tons over a year, equivalent to the annual CO2 absorption of around 27,000 cedar trees.