News

Astroscale Japan Inc. successfully approached a piece of space debris at high speed, marking a crucial step towards their goal of removing "space junk" from orbit by the end of March 2028. This achievement paves the way for their ambitious vision of providing a "space road service" that includes satellite refueling capabilities.

Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, criticized the Japanese government's decision not to attend an anti-nuclear weapons meeting, calling it "pathetic" and "disappointing." He argued that Japan, as the only nation to have experienced atomic bombings, has a responsibility to share its experiences and advocate for nuclear abolition.

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office distributed gift certificates worth 100,000 yen to parliamentary secretaries, raising questions about the practice within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. While Kishida's office maintains the meetings were conducted appropriately, other former prime ministers have offered varying responses regarding gift-giving practices.

The foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea will meet in Tokyo on March 22 for the first time in nearly a year and a half to discuss regional cooperation, including people-to-people exchanges, shared challenges, and regional problems. The meeting will also focus on coordinating a trilateral summit planned for later this year.

Japan's space agency, JAXA, is investing in significant upgrades to the Tanegashima Space Center to increase the launch frequency of its H3 rocket, aiming for at least seven launches annually and shorter intervals between liftoffs. These upgrades include expanding liquid oxygen storage capacity, increasing satellite assembly buildings, and implementing innovative measures to shorten the rocket production time.